We’re thinking no. Everyone seems to assume Tampa’s a lock for the services of the retirement-challenged Brett Favre, so for the moment, we’ll view the outlook as such.

Since Tampa’s Super Bowl triumph over Oakland, there have been two Bucs postseason games and in both of losses (to NFC East teams), the offense stalled miserably under the direction of Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia.

A 38-yard-old man can somehow change that? Throwing to fossils like Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard? That’s a downgrade from Driver and Jennings. Favre better hope Caddy Williams bounces back from a patellar tendon injury that ended his 2007 season after four games, because Earnest Graham can score from in close, but he only had three 100-yard games last year.

On the plus side … Favre’s an upgrade over the motley crew currently in place: Garcia (37), McCown (a capable 2nd stringer), Brian Griese (his better days are behind him; fact: His brother was one of our teachers senior year in high school), Simms (poor kid) and Josh Johnson (no idea). The division remains full of excrement – Carolina’s a mess thanks to punchy Steve Smith, Atlanta’s the worst team in the league, and the Saints are supposed to be improved, but that remains to be seen.

Which is yet another incentive for the Packers to deal with the Jets: If Max Wasserman were to tally the chances of the Packers and Bucs meeting in the playoffs, it might be in the 10-20 percent range. Meeting the Jets in the Super Bowl? Less than one percent. And imagine the Packers getting their hearts broken in January by the face of their franchise for the last two decades. Aaron Rodgers would soil his pants prior to kickoff, that’s for sure.