First impressions, second thoughts and the third degree:

The latest Brett Favre controversy comes down to what he had in his alleged crime against the Packers (motive, opportunity, weapon) and what he doesn't have (high-grade credibility with the national media after he denied reports of his comeback). ...

From what we've seen of Favre in the past five months, would he lie about his true — re: vindictive — feelings toward his old team? Would he be petty enough to plot and scheme even though he might further alienate Green Bay fans? Would he go so far as to call other NFL clubs, intent on cold-blooded sabotage of the Packers? ...

Sadly, the answers are yes, yes and yes. ...

The point has been made that Favre didn't break NFL rules by calling Detroit coaches and giving them a prolonged glimpse into the Green Bay playbook. There's no law against adultery, either, but both are crimes against character. ...

And to think "Aaron Rodgers" was mentioned in the same sentence as "NFL Most Valuable Player" over the weekend. ...

News: Brewers general manager Doug Melvin agreed to a three-year contract extension, which is the most important development of the offseason. Views: If Melvin had issues with owner Mark Attanasio over the firing of manager Ned Yost — it was clearly Attanasio's call — then they were secondary to Melvin's desire to keep building a pennant contender. ...

Two questions for Melvin should the Brewers worm their way into bidding for San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy: 1) How worried are you about suggestions that Peavy's throwing motion and slight frame make him a higher injury risk? 2) You wouldn't trade shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Rickie Weeks for Peavy, would you? ...

If Melvin hires Bob Brenly as Milwaukee manager, then we can safely say this trend toward alliterative front-office names in Wisconsin-related sports — Bret Bielema, Mike McCarthy, Ted Thompson, Scott Skiles — is getting out of control. ...

Melvin didn't necessarily make a mistake by not keeping Dale Sveum as manager — too much of a risk experience-wise — but in many important respects, Sveum reminds me of Boston manager Terry Francona. ...

You can't compare the down seasons of former University of Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez with the current meltdown taking place on Bielema's watch. Alvarez could put bargaining chips on the table — Big Ten Conference titles and Rose Bowl wins — to counter 1995, 2001 and '03. Bielema can't. ...

Something's not right: Alvarez found time to call a local sports talk show to discuss the nuances of football recruiting and, ultimately, chide the Fire Bielema crowd last week. Yet the UW athletic director declined interview requests from both local newspapers. ...

So, Jose Canseco now regrets writing "Juiced" and fingering former major leaguers who used performance enhancing drugs? His guilt probably stems more from the book royalties he squandered than the enemies he made. ...

My Heisman Trophy ballot is pretty cut and dried at this point: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.