Mark Craig: Marshall hopes his record falls

Vikings legend Jim Marshall wants Packers active legend Brett Favre to play not one but at least two more seasons.

"And I would love to see him break my record," said Marshall, referring to his mark of 270 consecutive starts (1961-79). "And I would go to that game because I would love to be there to shake his hand and congratulate him."

Favre will start his 252nd consecutive regular-season game today at Soldier Field against the Bears. If he doesn't retire or get seriously injured, he would break Marshall's record during the second week of the 2009 season. He would be in his 19th season and a month shy of his 40th birthday.

"I admire that man and what he has done, and I don't see any reason why he would want to stop playing now," Marshall said. "He's somebody who really and truly deserves a record like that. What's he's done for this game, he's a football player's football player."

Unless the Packers win the Super Bowl and Favre pulls an Elway and retires, one has to expect he will return next season. Now a nine-time Pro Bowl pick, he's completing a career-high 67.1 percent of his passes, his passer rating (97.7) is within striking distance of his career high of 99.5 in 1995, and he is second in the NFL in passing yards (3,905). He also has led the league's youngest team to a 12-2 record and shots at home field advantage in the NFC playoffs and a team-record 14-2 mark.

Marshall was watching the Packers-Cowboys game last month when Favre injured his throwing arm and missed most of the game. Did Marshall think Favre's streak might end?

"Not at all," Marshall said. "He's not the kind of guy who is going to let something like that keep him down."

-- Redskins cornerback and former Viking Fred Smoot when asked about tonight's game earlier this season.

"I don't care who we play."

-- Smoot when asked about tonight's game earlier this week.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs has only three losing seasons as a head coach. The first two times, his teams bounced back with a winning record the following season (7-9 in 1988 to 10-6 in 1989; 6-10 in 2004 to 10-6 and the playoffs in 2005). To keep that streak alive, the Redskins, who were 5-11 last season, would have to win tonight and next week against Dallas.

So how does a 66-year-old three-time NFL retiree with a history of heart problems end up taking on the long-term project of turning around one of the worst teams in NFL history?

Even on a private course, 18 holes can take a while. Plenty of time for a gazillionaire and a guru to talk shop.

That golfing friendship led to Huizenga signing the guru, Bill Parcells, to a four-year contract as executive vice president of football operations.

Parcells will oversee all football operations, which basically means GM Randy Mueller is outta there. Coach Cam Cameron might also get the boot, although he has connections to Parcells through mutual friend Bobby Knight.

Whether the three play golf together isn't clear. But Cam might want to pick up a set of clubs. Pronto.