Five guys who might see a change of scenery, as jarring as that would be.

All signs pointed to Elton Brand finishing his career as a Clipper. Now, he is a Sixer. Nobody thought His Airness would wind up playing anywhere other than the Windy City. He ended his illustrious career in a Wizards uniform. And Jerry Rice never looked right in Raiders and Seahawks jerseys. Now there are grumblings regarding the chance Brett Favre returns to play for a team not named Packers, though we can dismiss that as strictly rumor amidst all the exhausting Favre hoopla. The following athletes are beloved by their respective cities and each are closely associated with their respective franchises. However, these players might see a change of scenery sometime soon, following in the footsteps of Brand, Jordan, and Rice. With no further ado, they are.........

LeBron James: LeBron and the Cavs were a match made in heaven. He was born and raised in Ohio, so it was only fitting that King James was drafted by Cleveland. But make no mistake about it, he wants to play in New York. After all, he has alienated Cavs fans by saying New York City is his favorite city and by donning a Yankees cap at a Cleveland Indians playoff game against the Yankees. Cleveland will never forgive him for leaving, but expect to find LeBron in the Big Apple by 2010.

Ken Griffey, Jr.: This one could happen as soon as this season. Griffey loves Cincinnati, and Cincinnati loves Griffey. However, Junior has a burning desire to play for a contender, and he craves a World Series title. If Griffey wants his dream to be realized, he has to leave the Reds, as they are nowhere near championship status. Cincy GM Walt Jocketty understands this, and do not be surprised to see Ken Griffey, Jr. shipped to a contender like the Rays or Mets.

Kobe Bryant: Dismiss this as far-fetched if you wish, but I just do not think Kobe "me first" Bryant is done whining. Sure, the Lakers are fresh off a Finals appearance, but Bryant is the most petulant athlete around. If the Lakers are not as good as advertised, Kobe will request another trade. If Andrew Bynum fails to live up to the hype, Kobe will request another trade. There is no team in Kobe (Sorry, I just had to let out my daily vent. Now I'll return to my genial self).

Jason Taylor: Forget Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. The real odd couple is Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells. The Big Tuna, who now calls the shots in the front office for the Fish, has publicly expressed his displeasure in Taylor's participation on "Dancing with the Stars". Taylor has said he's cool with the Dolphins, but it is not difficult to see what is really going through Taylor's mind. Deep down, he wants to take his sacks elsewhere. There is just too much tension for Taylor to thrive in South Beach.

Jason Varitek: Varitek has been tremendous for the Boston Red Sox, just not this year. While he still calls a good game behind the plate, his productivity at the plate has been dwindling. He now bats a measly .220, and even Varitek says he does not belong in the All Star game. There is still a good chance the Red Sox captain will get his act together. He better improve sooner or later, before Theo Epstein turns the reigns over to youngster Kevin Cash, forcing Varitek to find another home.

My apologies to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles. These cities do not want to see their guys depart. I'm not saying the five athletes I mentioned should start packing immediately. I just recommend they keep a suitcase handy, just in case.