In recent seasons it has been relatively easy to pick the league’s MVP, since record-breakers often get the nod, especially when the record is significant (i.e., throwing 50 touchdowns in one season is usually worthy). This season, however, it doesn’t seem quite so clear-cut. I think it’s fair to suggest the league MVP will be a quarterback or running back because that is the trend in the NFL. Offensive skill positions are in for two reasons: one, in the era of fantasy football, few fans care enough about individual players on defense to argue for them a case as the league’s “most valuable player.” You will never see an offensive lineman win the award because that offensive group is, well, a group. As far as wide receivers or tight ends are concerned, it’s difficult to point to one as being the reason for a team’s success since their success depends heavily on the quarterback.

With that “narrowing” concluded, here is my list of candidates (four quarterbacks and two running backs) and my pick, which is probably obvious if you caught the drift of my article’s lame clever title. I encourage you to also take advantage of the comments section to voice your opinion. Who do you think deserves the league’s most prestigious individual award?

Quarterbacks

1. Brett Favre - New York Jets

His individual numbers warrant some attention: 2,461 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. But the most telling stat isn’t on Favre’s NFL.com page. Instead, let me point to the New York Jets’ record without Brett Favre (last season): 4-12. Since acquiring Favre, New York is 8-3 and on top the AFC East. Might I also mention they just beat the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team? The Jets are serious Super Bowl contenders, and I would argue that Brett Favre is the catalyst of the surge.

2. Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers’ numbers might not be gaudy (2,351 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions through ten games), but his play has been more than impressive this season. The Packers remain in the postseason hunt, and it sure isn’t because the running game has led it. Rodgers has showed incredible poise in the pocket and is the single biggest reason Green Bay’s offense is clicking. Now, normally he might not be worth an MVP bid, but consider the pressure he is playing under: he replaced Brett Favre in the offseason, much to the dismay of a good many Packers fans, and has spent the entire season gaining the respect of them and his teammates. I think he’s earned it.

3. Kurt Warner - Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals (7-4) have emerged this season as a contender in the NFC, something that is sure to have made fans believers in Ken Whisenhunt. The team hasn’t been perfect, and Arizona has had trouble running the football this season, which has led to Warner throwing 40-50 passes per game. His response can be described, in a word, as admirable. Warner was impressive in 2007, as well, but he has been in the zone this season. Through eleven games he has thrown for 3,506 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 touchdowns and has put the Cardinals’ offense, which ranks 3rd in points per game and 2nd in passing yards per game, on the map.

4. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints

The Saints (5-5) have struggled this season - mostly because the defense can’t shut down anyone - but the team’s passing game has not. In ten games this season, Drew Brees has passed for 3,251 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 touchdowns. The number in that group to watch is his passing yards - he’s averaging 325 yards per game. That puts him on pace for 5,200 yards, enough to easily snag a record. He hasn’t thrown fewer than 30 passes in a game this season, and only twice has he passed for fewer\ than 300 yards.

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings

No running back means as much to his team as Adrian Peterson. While the Vikings have had their ups and downs this season with a pair of ill-suited quarterbacks and a disappointing corps of wide receivers, Adrian Peterson has kept the team afloat through his undying determination. Against the Green Bay Packers I saw a running back take command of an offense in the final minutes to lead a scoring drive. Rarely will we witness a player rush for 40 yards and catch 2 passes for 24 yards to directly account for 64 of an offense’s 69 yards on a scoring drive that puts his team ahead with less than three minutes to play. The dependence on Peterson has been tremendous all season long, and his numbers reflect that: 1,180 yards rushing and 8 rushing touchdowns.

2. Michael Turner - San Diego Chargers

Describing Michael Turner’s numbers in one word is simple: remarkable. Turner has rushed for 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns through eleven games, taking much of the pressure off rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons are 7-4 right now for a number of reasons, but I don’t think anyone would deny that Turner has played a very significant role.

My Pick: If you haven’t guessed yet, I’m going with Favre. He’s the biggest reason New York has turned it around so dramatically this season, and with him at the helm it’s not hard to envision a Super Bowl run for the Jets.

Maybe I’m right (I like to think so), maybe I’m wrong. Put your pick in the comment, and let’s get some discussion going!

The Green Bay Packers are 5-5, but the record doesn’t do justice to the team’s talent. It’s hardly a stretch to suggest the Packers could quite easily have three more wins when considering three losses were within three points.

Unfortunately, talent can carry a team just so far. It doesn’t matter that Aaron Rodgers is a fantastic quarterback or that Green Bay has one of the league’s most underrated defenses; when it’s all said and done, the record is what counts. Nothing else.

Of course, there is some very good news for cheeseheads reading this. Green Bay might have a 5-5 record, but that’s enough to keep it atop the NFC North. Minnesota and Chicago have the same record, but both teams are shaky at best. It’s heartening to consider that the Packers are 3-1 in division games, the most recent victory being a rout over the Bears. It is also worth noting that Green Bay’s one division loss was a one-point loss at Minnesota, a game that Green Bay would have won if Adrian Peterson wasn’t so darn impressive and Mason Crosby had nailed the game-winning field goal.

Are the Packers good enough to make a run in the postseason, assuming they get that far? Well, it’s a bit complicated.

Green Bay is not without weaknesses, but some have been a bit exaggerated. For example, many pundits are quick to point out that the offense has had trouble running the ball. While this is true to some degree, it’s a flawed argument. Consider Ryan Grant’s last six starts: in each he rushed for at least 75 yards. And in three of Green Bay’s last four games he found his way to the endzone. His yard per carry average this season is also deceptive; he has kept it at a level of 4.3 or higher in his last three starts.

Watching the Packers, I’ve picked up on two more troubling observations. First, Green Bay’s offense moves the ball down the field but sometimes has trouble scoring touchdowns; it seems that Coach Mike McCarthy has no problem settling for field goals. That wouldn’t be a big issue but it has kept the Packers from pulling away and winning several games. The most obvious of these was the loss against Tennessee. Green Bay’s offense had 390 yards but scored just one touchdown. Green Bay was able to move the ball; in fact, all three of the field-goal scoring drives were of at least 51 yards. Not scoring touchdowns allowed Tennessee to hang with Green Bay in a game that could have been won by the Packers.

Second, Green Bay has an outstanding defense. I don’t know anyone who would deny that. But near the end of close games, fans can witness it changing its gameplan to avoid giving up anything too big. This “prevent defense” cost them victories against both Tennessee and Minnesota. In the former, Green Bay couldn’t stop Kerry Collins from driving the Titans straight down the field at the end of the fourth quarter, nor could the Packers stop the run in overtime. Against Minnesota, Adrian Peterson picked the Packers apart in the fourth quarter. Somehow - I’m not certain how this could happen - the Packers appeared to forget Peterson is the Vikings’ best player.

To return to the original question, can the Packers make a run in the postseason? Absolutely, but it will take the right coaching. The defense is loaded with ball hawks in the secondary and has little trouble forcing turnovers. On offense, as pointed out earlier, the Packers running game has been improving in recent weeks, whilst Aaron Rodgers may be considered the best first year starter in the NFL this season in not one of the league’s best starters. Green Bay’s fate this season is heavily dependent on Mike McCarthy. He has been given a great group of athletes - now it is his responsibility to steer them to a championship.

—-

On a side note that is completely unrelated to this post, I’d like to thank everyone who has read this blog. I looked at my profile today and noticed that my blogs have drawn one million views.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my thoughts on the NFL and fantasy football.

Sincerely,
Tom Van Wyhe

The euphoria for Packers fans is over. Time for reality to kick in.

After a 2-0 start to the season, the Packers have stumbled offensively the past two games and now sit at .500. Aaron Rodgers either separated his shoulder or sprained it - depends on your source. The Packers running backs have gained 94 yards the past two weeks, and the team as a whole has turned the ball over five times. The defense now ranks 23rd in points per game allowed.

Not quite what fans had in mind after seeing the Packers first two games. So what’s going wrong?

First, the Packers offense isn’t scoring enough points. Against the Cowboys the offense found itself in or near the red zone three times in the first three quarters, but scored just nine points. Mason Crosby’s longest field goal was a 38-yarder, which means the Packers were on the 21 yard line when they settled for three points. Had Green Bay scored just one touchdown instead of a field goal on those drives it would have been a much different game.

Second, Aaron Rodgers himself is having some trouble. He doesn’t look as comfortable in the pocket because he’s taking a lot of hits. He was sacked just once in the first two games of the season. Compare that to him being taken down a combined eight times against the Cowboys and Buccaneesr. One hit this weekend left him walking off the field to get checked on by the trainers. Rodgers said it felt as if he separated his shoulder, though Mike McCarthy said today that it was a sprain. (He expects Rodgers to be ready for the Falcons game.)

It’s also hurting the offense that Rodgers has trouble throwing into traffic at times. He looked that way against the Cowboys, almost as if he was afraid to make a mistake. Fans are accustomed to Favre throwing into difficult situations regularly and usually that has led to scores. Instead, the Cowboys would drop seven or eight into coverage and make sure no one was open, while Rodgers struggled to make a decision.

Then he went to the other extreme this week against the Bucs. Granted, his first interception was 100 percent the fault of running back Brandon Jackson, who let the ball bounce off his chest and into the hands of Derrick Brooks. But there were two other passes that could have easily been intercepted, both of which were poor passes, and two more that actually were caught by the defense.

Also, the Packers running game has been largely inneffective in the past two weeks. Ryan Grant and Jackson have combined for 94 yards on 32 carries, dipping to just 20 yards on 16 carries against Tampa Bay this past Sunday. That’s just a bit below 3.0 yards per carry on the season.

But here’s the good news. Both losses have been relatively close, which is a good thing for a team that is losing turnover battles by landslides. It means that the defense has been relatively strong, no matter what the numbers say. Turnovers oftentimes mean that there is a tired defense on the field, good field position for the opposing offense, and a shift in momentum. Consider: against the Buccaneers the Packers turned the ball over twice in the second quarter; that resulted in 10 points because the Bucs only had to drive 32 yards and 27 yards. On the same token, the Packers aren’t taking advantage of turnovers enough. Against Tampa Bay, the Packers defense forced three interceptions and a punt in the third quarter while allowing zero points. What did the Packers offense turn that into? One touchdown, two punts, and a fumble. That the Packers have lost the past two weeks by relatively close margins is a good sign.

So what’s to come for the Packers? I think as the season goes on the team will start focusing more attention on running the football to keep defenses from focusing on Rodgers and dropping seven or eight into coverage. Rodgers himself should also grow more comfortable in the offense and with his receivers. He already loves throwing the ball to Greg Jennings (who is arguably the NFL’s most dynamic wide receiver this season), but he should also start spreading the ball around more. The defense is there; Green Bay just needs to start getting that offense jumpstarted again; expect McCarthy to make that a big priority and for the team to respond.

The focus of this past offseason has been on the Packers switching to quarterback Aaron Rodgers after more than a decade-and-a-half of hall of fame play by Brett Favre. But let’s forget about that, the obvious, for a moment and consider that this team doesn’t have a quarterback with an NFL start.

Let me repeat that: the Green Bay Packers, a franchise that has watched Brett Favre start the past 275 games (includes postseason), will enter the 2008 NFL season Monday Night with a roster full of quarterbacks who haven’t started a single NFL game.

Interesting. Incredible. Insane. Three descriptors that could all very well be used to describe the Packers current quarterback situation.

It’s funny, actually. We all watched the Packers offseason unfold, shedding tears when we saw Favre do the same and standing by, intrigued, as we anticipated the beginning of the Rodgers’ era. But after the Favre debacle, most seemed to ignore the emergence of Matt Flynn, a 7th round draft pick who sits second on the depth chart, ahead of second round pick Brian Brohm. And let’s consider: the Packers are the only team in the NFL where the combined experience at the quarterback position is three seasons.

Three quarterbacks. Three seasons of experience. Unbelievable.

So, let’s ignore the obvious question that this article seems to ask and focus on this: did the Packers make the right decision when management opted to not sign a veteran?

When you look around the NFL, it’s obvious that quarterbacks almost invariably improve as they grow in experience. In most scenarios teams add a backup veteran to provide some bits of wisdom to the younger crowd. Heck, if nothing else that veteran can step in to play in the event that an injury sidelines the young starter. But instead, the Packers are gambling the season on the hopes that Rodgers stays healthy and Flynn doesn’t disappoint. That’s risky, to say the very least.

Then again, remember that Rodgers has spent the past three seasons learning the Packers offense and adjusting to the game in practice. He’s become a starting quarterback the old-fashioned way, beginning his career as an apprentice and growing into the role of the team’s leader. So far things look good: he was impressive during preseason, though analysts’ constant criticisms may have affected a casual fan’s view of him.

Again, however, most of the worry comes into play when you look at the team’s depth at quarterback. At number two on the depth chart is seventh round pick Matt Flynn, a quarterback with “intangibles” but apparently not enough talent to satisfy the 31 other teams that passed on him again and again and again and … well, you understand. Meanwhile, Brian Brohm appeared lost during preseason, completing 19-of-42 for 155 yards and one interception.

Matt Flynn has looked good during Green Bay’s exhibition games. Statistically, he’s completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns, and his quarterback rating is well over 50 points better than Brohm’s. Perhaps that is because, contrary to the latter, Flynn is playing like someone with nothing to lose. After all, how can a seventh round pick supplant a second round pick on the depth chart in one offseason? Brohm apparently didn’t think it could happen, whereas Flynn seemed to figure, why not?

I guess that’s what the Packers thought when Brett Favre announced his retirement. While the rest of the world seemed to question the logic of the decisions to keep Favre away and enter an NFL season with almost no game-experience on the roster, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy both simply thought, why not?

This is a list of those players who I think are poised to exceed expectations this season, and are thus undervalued in my opinion. I’d love to make a spot on my roster for these guys because the reward makes the risk worth taking. Oh, and most of these guys are just flat out fun to watch.

8. Aaron Rodgers - The one reason I’m not 100% on this is because I don’t know if Rodgers can stay healthy for an entire season. But as a QB2, he has plenty of potential and his supporting cast is vastly underrated. Just think of it this way: Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have enough faith in Rodgers that they sent a sure-fire Hall of Fame quarterback packing. If they’re willing to risk their careers on Rodgers, I think I’m willing to risk a mid-late round pick.

7. Selvin Young - The Denver Broncos starting running back fits the offense’s mold for a running back and looked excellent in his appearances last season. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and should score more touchdowns this season, assuming the offense improves (as I believe it will).

6. Larry Johnson - Why all the hating on Larry Johnson? He had one seemingly bad season after two tremendous seasons. And I say seemingly because it wasn’t all that bad - he finished strong and looked very good before an injury cut him short of hitting his stride. I expect a big bounce back for L.J.

5. Chad Johnson - He’s being drafted as a WR2 these days, making him an incredible value. He’s had at least 87 catches the past five seasons and only once in that time has his yard per catch average dipped below 14.8. He’s also averaged just under 9 touchdowns per season in that time, and he remains a big-play threat in a pass-first offense.

4. Darren McFadden - For the past several years I’ve avoided drafting Raiders - and for good reason. But I really don’t want to pass on McFadden, a tremendous athlete playing in an offense where he’ll be counted on to produce big on a weekly basis. He was a home run hitter in college, and I think he can bring that to the pro game.

3. Jay Cutler - He has a cannon arm and Mike Shanahan is still adjusting to the fact that he has a young quarterback with this much talent and potential. I think Cutler will be more consistent in his second full season, and with the team taking care of its distractions, I think Denver will be more focused this year.

2. Marvin Harrison - There are those who are worried that last season’s injury may have set Harrison back, and, coupled with his age, he’s a liability. Nonsense. Manning still loves playing catch with the Colts former number one receiver, and though Harrison may have given up that title to Reggie Wayne, I think it’s safe to say Manning trusts Harrison to make the big catch.

1. Tony Gonzalez - He’ll probably be the fourth tight end off the board on draft day, and this is following one of the best seasons of his storied career. I think Gonzo is going to continue seeing success in the Chiefs offense this season, especially with Brodie Croyle taking full reign of the offense this season. Young quarterbacks love to throw to the slot and to the tight end - Gonzalez is still one of the best in the NFL.

Finally!

The melodrama is over. Last night it was confirmed that the Green Bay Packers have parted ways with un-retired quarterback Brett Favre, in exchange for a conditional fourth round draft pick that will adjust itself based on the number of games Favre plays in New York. It will become a third round pick if he plays 50 percent of the team’s plays this season, a second round pick if he plays 70 percent and the Jets make the postseason, and a first round pick if he plays 80 percent and the Jets win the AFC Championship game.

This is the biggest move in Packers history, at least since an early 1990s trade brought Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White to the city of Green Bay. It’s also a huge move for the New York Jets (think “Randy Moss to New England” huge), and one that deserves to be broken down from all angles.

This is that breakdown.

How the Move Will Affect the Green Bay Packers as a Whole and Aaron Rodgers Specifically

Let’s begin with the Packers because this moves affects them the least, assuming a few things happen. First, I think that a lot pressure has been put on Aaron Rodgers and, whether he admits it or not, his performance this season is going to be heavily scrutinized by fans. Now, this is both good and bad. If Rodgers pulls off a pretty good season (think 3,000 passing yards, 18 TDs, and 14 INTs) he’ll earn the admiration of the fans and most will choose to ignore the Favre debacle that transpired this offseason. However, if the team struggles Rodgers fails, whether due to injury or lack of experience, he will face heavy criticism, along with GM Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy who have stood by his side.

The good news is this: the Packers are a pretty solid football team. Rodgers won’t be relied upon to put up 30 points per game because the defense is good, and he’ll have time in the pocket because he has a great offensive line and Ryan Grant looks very good. Also, he has one of the league’s most underrated receiving corps and one that will prove to be invaluable to him this season. Also, Green Bay’s West Coast-style offense relies on the quarterback to make smart, quick throws. Rodgers is capable of that and his receivers will make it much easier for him.

I think the most crucial thing for Rodgers is staying healthy over the course of the season. I’m sure he’s gone through rigorous conditioning this offseason with the expectation of being the team’s starting quarterback and Brian Brohm is going to be pushing him for the starting role, so there’s competition there.

The bottom line: Aaron Rodgers is walking into the perfect situation, and his composure under pressure will be his greatest asset.

How this Move Will Affect the Rest of the Packers Offense

Green Bay is very solid on offense. The offensive line is the core and it is improving every season, thanks to the bookends at tackle - Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher - remaining the key components.

This bodes well for the running game and Ryan Grant. Grant put up some pretty good numbers last season, despite playing in only half the team’s games. This season he’ll be out to prove that he can do that with or without Favre under center. Personally, I think he can.

Also, the offense is going to revolve around Grant a lot more this season, too. The team doesn’t want to rush Rodgers into his new role as the starter. Plus, a successful running game will open things up for the passing game, making Rodgers duties much less stressful.

The passing game, then, is going to look very similar to last season’s West Coast approach. The Packers are going to throw passes in the 5-10 yard range, expecting the wide receivers to make something happen. In fact, most passes will probably be looked at as successful rushing attempts, based on the number of yards gained. There will be times when the team takes advantage of Rodgers mobility and pushes him outside the pocket and there will be times when the team throws the ball downfield, but Rodgers isn’t Brett Favre, so don’t expect the offense to look exactly the same as it did last season.

How this Move Will Affect the Jets

The Jets were expected to start either Kellen Clemmons - the team’s expected quarterback of the future - or Chad Pennington - the oft-injured interim quarterback. But Favre’s arrival completely turns that upside down.

There is no doubt in my mind (or anyone else’s mind) that Favre will start for the Jets this season. And that means the team as a whole is better because of it.

The running game, led by Thomas Jones, is going to see more touchdowns and perhaps fewer attempts. Jones scored one rushing touchdown last season; expect him to get more red zone touches this season and more scores, thanks to the improved offense. Is he a top 20 running back now? I would certainly draft him ahead of Edgerrin James and perhaps LenDale White, but I’m not sure he’s top 20 material yet.

The passing game, which will be the most affected aspect of this offense, will definitely be interesting to see and the two players who will most benefit are Jericho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles. Both players will near or break previous career highs, especially Cotchery who just might catch 100 passes this season. Favre opens up so many things for this offense, which was once restricted because of lack of experience or talent at quarterback.

Speaking of which, Chad Pennington is going to be released, making Kellen Clemmons the Jets clear backup to Favre. That means a lot of reps during the preseason, as he adjusts to the idea that he’ll be riding the bench throughout the regular season unless Favre does something he hasn’t done since he became a starting quarterback in 1992: miss a game.

Will the Jets make the postseason this season? I won’t be surprised if they do. Favre brings a lot to the table and it will certainly be interesting seeing two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in the same division, going head-to-head twice this season. I thin that the Jets now have what it takes to overthrow the Patriots in the division, assuming the defense lives up to its expectations.

How long will Favre be a New York Jet? If things go well this season, he might stick around for one more. If things don’t go well or he becomes seriously injured at any point (think broken bone - but not a finger because he’ll play through that), I think Favre will officially call it a career for the last time immediately after the conclusion of the season. And what a career it will have been.

I must admit, this offseason has been full of drama. But the biggest story of them all is finally resolved. Well, sort of.

The NFL re-instated future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre earlier today, and the Packers are apparently ready to welcome him back with open arms. NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports that the team will have an open competition at quarterback before the start of the season, meaning fans are forced to wait to learn who the team’s quarterback will be.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy will hold a press conference on Monday at 9:15 ET to discuss the situation, something that ESPN and every newspaper in the country will no doubt scrutinize and analyze to death. But here’s what I want to know: if it really is an open quarterback competition, who will win?

Let’s think about this because it’s not as simple as Favre waltzing into camp to retake the starting duties. Remember, he’s missed an entire offseason; the Packers adjusted the entire offense to better suit Aaron Rodgers, someone who has reportedly looked good this offseason and has handle the hoopla admirably.

So who’s really the favorite?

Ted Thompson doesn’t want Brett Favre to play for the Packers. Heck, he offered him in excess of $20 million to stay retired. It’s not about the money, Brett said. But you’ll get me fired, Thompson apparently complained, pleading with the 38 year old to just call it a career and go home and spend his days fishing while the checks roll in.

“I’m coming back.”

And now he is. Maybe he didn’t use those words exactly, but that was the point he made when he applied for reinstatement. And actions speak a heckuvalot louder than words, especially in this case.

So that left the Packers with no choice. The team couldn’t cut him; he’d go to Minnesota. They couldn’t trade him; he didn’t want to go to move to Florida or New Jersey. That left them with one option: they had to welcome him back.

“Sixteen years after Brett Favre came to the Packers, he is returning for a 17th season,” Murphy said in a statement. “He has had a great career with our organization and although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back. We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage.”

Brett is coming back, but he’s not being given the starting job, and that makes sense. He should still have to earn it, regardless of how many MVP awards he has in his trophy room. Favre is a great quarterback and, if the competition is fair and McCarthy isn’t stacking it against him, I have to believe that Favre is still the best quarterback on this team. Last season was evidence of that. Plus, his body will probably hold up better than Rodgers over the course of the season. The past two seasons are evidence of that.

Yes, Favre will start this season. The fans will demand it if he doesn’t. In that respect, Mike McCarthy’s hand will be forced.

“We will welcome him back.” Well, sort of.

________________________________________

Fantasy Note: Until Mike McCarthy reveals that he has the starting spot, refrain from drafting Aaron Rodgers. Favre will be a top ten fantasy quarterback if he starts this season. And Ryan Grant? He’s probably better off with Favre back in a Packers uniform. So are the receiving corps.

Bottom line: every player on the Green Bay offense should see their stocks soar, except Rodgers.

The NFL season is now fast approaching, which means your fantasy football draft is probably right around the corner. To better prepare you for that, I’m releasing my fantasy football pre-draft rankings. Remember, these are to be used as a guide on draft day, so feel free to move players around and stray from the list when draft day actually arrives.

This is the third part in a series. Part one is here. Part two is here. (more…)