Shameless Favre Puts Packers in No-Win Situation
I really don’t care for all the Brett Favre hoopla that’s been circulating since he predictably admitted that he’s still got the “itch” to play. My feeling is that the guy has accomplished all he possibly can and solidified himself as one of the greatest gunslingers to ever fire the pigskin. So why linger like a bad rash and flip-flop like a wannabe politician? Why make your own legacy so awkward and uncomfortable when it should be shiny and brilliant? And finally, why toy with the feelings of rabid Packer fans?
This whole Favre story makes me fume internally because of the unenviable position it puts the Packers in, one season after they nearly made the Super Bowl. If they take him back and hand him the starting job, they’ll be vilified for not giving Aaron Rodgers his much-deserved chance in 2008. If they trade or release him and he catches on with another NFC team, Green Bay might have to face him in a make-or-break game, possibly even in the postseason. Plus, team brass would be relentlessly attacked for turning their backs on the guy who gave Packer fans so many fond memories over the last 15+ years.
With all that said and off my chest, I’d like to see the Packers close the door on the Favre era for good and deal with whatever ramifications arise. If he makes them pay on the field, so be it. If the public backlash is huge, ignore it. If Rodgers falls flat on his face, deal with it. But they shouldn’t even entertain thoughts of welcoming him back with open arms because of the sheer egotism he’s shown by teetering on the brink of retirement for the last three off-seasons.
Although he thinks he is, Favre is not a savior. And he has absolutely no right to put himself above the concept of a team. The last time I checked, 53 men suit up on Sundays for the Packers. Not just one.
This is just the kind of circus, and the kind of mess this team doesn’t need. The franchise was at a pretty low ebb back in the 70’s and 80’s until Wolf, Holmgren, Favre and finally Reggie arrived, and Brett is the last link to the feel good 90’s and beyond, so there’s a lot of sentiment tied into this thing. I had a hard time believing this guy could retire when the last pass of his career was an ovetime interception in a game that would have taken us to the Superbowl, but I accepted it when Brett had his press conference and then up and left the building.
The timing is miserable. All the offseason preparation, the draft, the OTAs and so forth have been geared towards Rodgers taking over this team. I’m fairly certain the offense has been altered somewhat to reflect what #12 does best, and to minimize his weaknesses. And now what?
To some degree, this will split the fan base, and to some degree it might even split the locker room. Reporters will love it, and they’ll get more mileage out of it than they should, and we’ll all be more sick of it than we are right now. The salary cap takes a 12 million dollar hit, and Favre now comes right back to all the things that burned him out in the first place … the grind, the practices, the minor injuries, the film study, the physical conditioning.
If they trade him … they trade a legend. Namath never looked good in a Rams uniform, Unitas didn’t fit into a Chargers uniform and Montana never looked right in a Chiefs uniform. If they cut him … I’d bet the farm he winds up a Viking and there he is on the first Monday Night game of the season, in a purple outfit, when he was scheduled to have his number retired at Lambeau. Keep him and we’ve got a 39 year old quarterback who missed the entire offseason, and a coaching staff scrambling to readjust.
If Favre’s around - somewhere - and Rodgers is playing … the only way out of this thing is for Rodgers and the Packers to win. If we start the year at 5-1, that’s one thing … but if we start 1-5 … look out!
At a time when Packer fans should be optimistic about the upcoming season, this is the sideshow and the distraction we really don’t want to see.
Should be somewhat interesting to watch this thing unfold, I guess. Maybe this is fate’s way of spreading misery around … the Bears have the Cedric and Rex thing, the Vikes have the Boat incident, the Lions … well, they’ve got Matt Millen and the 58 coaches he’s let go, and now we’ve got the Favre comeback.
Comment by PackFan — July 8, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
The Packers may not want Favre but they’ll need him. Rodgers isn’t a bad QB but he can’t last two games. Last year after Dallas he was listed as Doubtful the rest of the season. In 2006 he went on IR after throwing 12 passes against the Pats.
Comment by Gump — July 8, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
I don’t completely disagree, but I find that many people are really excessive when it comes to criticizing athletes that decide to retire and then want to return based on their love of the game.
In my opinion, if Favre wants to come back and play, he has every right. The Packers can then release him, trade him, or have him compete with Rodgers in training camp. Who cares if the Packers are in an awkward situation?
Comment by JOOCE — July 8, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
This is why you are supposed to actually think this retirement thing thru BEFORE you retire. This does indeed put the Packers in an unfair situation. Clearly they are looking towards the future with Rogers and /or one of the other 2 QB’s they just drafted. They have a plan. Some might think that it’s not a great plan, but hey, it’s a plan. Now Favre is thinking of coming back? First off, who knows if he can still have another great season. Last year he was outstanding, but how many people thought he’d look that good coming into the season? He might not look all that good this year, and then that just sets the Packers back another year in developing another QB to replace Favre. And what if he does look good? Anything short of a Superbowl win again sets the Packers back in their development of a QB for the future. Hey, as a Chicago Bears fan I love to see the turmoil going on there, but as a football fan I have to say this is a sad story that just needs to go away.
Comment by ScottB — July 8, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Jooce, I care if the Packers are in a tough spot because it could impact their offense’s performance on the field and, in turn, have fantasy implications. I appreciate your stance, though.
Comment by Zap — July 8, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
I also appreciate your opinion Zap, along with the rest of you guys. But what I have always loved most about Favre is his passion for the game. His head led him to the decision to retire, but his passion for the game is pushing him to make a comeback. It is very inconvenient for the Packers, their offense, and fantasy implications for sure. But does that mean that Favre should stay home? I don’t think so. But again, I do appreciate the stance that Favre’s timing is terrible.
Comment by JOOCE — July 8, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
well as I do think this is bad timing and a bad decision to retire in the first place
favre gives them the best chance to win a superbowl now
the packers are not in a rebuilding mode, they have a team now
the ultimate goal of a franchise is to win a superbowl
they have all the pieces in place to make a run NOW
what have the packers lost if favre does come back
a brohm draft pick, OTAs, minicamp
it has already been stated that they were not going to change the offense for rodgers
and to what do they owe rogers NOTHING
he can’t even stay healthy in the limited playing time he has had
I would just tell rodgers you are going to have to wait
take favre back and make a run for it, he gives you the best chance to win now
it is not like he even missed training camp yet, it is not to the point of no return
and nobody in football loves to play the game more than favre
and nobody is more durable,
everybody is worried for rodgers that it is going to retard his progress. What progress!
with that being said, if he is going to return, make it swift
I do not believe anything that has been done so far will hurt the packers future
packers go and try and win a superbowl, and stop over thinking this
Comment by zzzanook — July 9, 2008 @ 2:12 am
Favre is a pain in the a$$. Obviously, a selfish guy who has bought into the hype that he is some type of God in Wisconsin. The fans are tired of him, the Packers are tired of him, football fans are tired of him. Instead of going out as a great player, he will be remembered for trying to hold the Packers down. Not to say he can’t play. He had a great year, and is healthy. But why go through this stupid drama every year?? Be a man, Brett.
I hope they release or trade him. Rodgers doesn’t deserve this crap, and if Favre comes back to the Pack, Rodgers should ask to be released or traded.
Comment by JBeau — July 9, 2008 @ 7:43 am
Why wouldn’t the Packers want their Best player back?!?
Do the Packers think they have a better chance winning this year with Farve or Rodgers?!?
Geez Packer fans, seems like a no brainer to me! The man can still play! Greet him back with open arms!
Comment by CCarter — July 9, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
Favre has brought a lot to this game and I will always appreciate him for that. But, I have to say that his ego (like most star players) will tarnish the way he ended his career by making him look selfish. Frankly, I think that very same ego was part of the reason the Packers missed out on the Super Bowl last year. Last year, from weeks 8-16, Ryan Grant averaged 20 carries a game. In the Championship Game, he only got 13 carries and that was arguably the coldest day in football. To me, it seemed like Favre tried to win the game single handedly by throwing it all day. Enough about spilled milk. He is bound to hurt the moral of the team by causing a division inside the locker room and may not have enough gas in the tank to make it worth while for this season. Farve, do us a favor and stay retired. Just one guys opinion.
Comment by avm23 — July 17, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Love it! Well said. And with these vomitous interviews he’s doing, we’re seeing his ego inflate even more. Can’t wait for training camp to begin, so the Favre talk will subside.
Comment by Zap — July 17, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
The best solution.
Let Farve come back.
Let him start each game. Continue streak.
Let Rodgers play 2nd and 3rd quarter. See what he can do.
If an injury occurs you’re covered.
Opposing team has to prepare for both.
It worked at Arizona. When Lienart got hurt Warner was great.
A very similar condition.
Comment by VTomes — July 22, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Why is everyone buying into the GM’s theory that having Rodgers at QB is better than having Farve??
Then let Farve go. And watch Brett take some other team to the playoffs!
The Packers will not make the playoffs this year without Brett Farve. Period.
Aaron Rodgers is Not your next “Brett Farve”. Packer fan, use Brett while you can. The search for your next hall of fame QB can wait another year. Or two…
Comment by CCarter — July 22, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
CCarter, I will agree with you on this point - Rodgers is no Favre … but heck, nobody else is either - they broke the mold with ol’ #4. But does Favre really even want to play? Has he paid the price during the off-season to be ready for this year? I kind of doubt it, but I really don’t know. All I know is we basically have a 39 year old quarterback who didn’t show up for any of the off-season OTAs, has never met his new teammates, seemed to be mentally & emotionally burned out, and - as late as June 20th (if the articles I’ve read are correct) couldn’t tell Mike McCarthy he was 100% committed to football - even with a 12 million dollar payday hanging in the balance. Sound like a guy who can lead you to the Super Bowl? Thompson and McCarthy aren’t the sentimental types who base their decisions on what a player has done for them in the past, and when they say they’ve moved on, I tend to believe them. Turning back the clock isn’t their style.
All I know is that it looks like Ted Thompson has put together a fairly young squad with a considerable amount of potential, in an extremely short period of time - less than 3 years. I’m a big fan of this front office and this coaching staff because in part, they are the best thing I’ve seen in Green Bay since the Ron Wolf / Reggie White era. Say what you will … Reggie was the missing link. He laid the law down … told Favre to quit his drinking and marry his woman, whom he had fathered a child with while in college. Without Reggie this team doesn’t GET to a Super Bowl, let alone win one.
I don’t know how Rodgers will do, but if this staff has faith in him, that’s good enough for me. Remember - Rodgers once was in the conversation as the #1 pick in the entire draft before the 49ers decided on Alex Smith. The kid they drafted from Louisville this year might have been the #1 pick if he would have decided to enter the draft after his junior season instead of playing out his senior season under a new coaching staff. Also, the other rookie QB just lead LSU to a national championship in his senior year. Now maybe all this doesn’t mean much but Damn! I kinda like the bloodlines myself.
Rodgers is in a perfect situation. He’s been able to sit and learn for 3 seasons in a stable organization (2 seasons with McCarthy) and not simply thrown to the wolves like Alex Smith was. What he needs at this point is game experience … and now is the time. The young QB grows up along with the young team. No clue how he’ll do - but I like his situation.
I’ve really loved watching Favre play over the years … but check his stats over the last seven seasons or so. Early on - we used to win all the close games - or so it seemed. Hasn’t happened in some time now. He looked good this past season - but I tend to believe the talent around him had quite a bit to do with it, along with the firm hand of Mike McCarthy.
Also, it doesn’t appear he can play real well in cold weather anymore … Orton outplayed him in miserable conditions in Chicago, and Manning outplayed him in the ultra-frosty NFC Championship game.
Throw in the unbelieveably miserable pop-fly interception he threw in the Philadelphia “4th & 26″ playoff game some years back that indirectly sent Ed Donatell to the Falcons … and the one he fed the Giants in overtime this past season, and for me, I kinda think the gig is up. I think he’s maxed out … I don’t think he can take us any farther.
Right now Brett is retired … if he calls the Packer’s bluff and unretires, I wouldn’t be a bit suprised to see them trade him … as sad a situation as that might be in Packerland. They won’t cut him - he’ll wind up in Minnesota - an organization who has a curious habit of loading up on ex-Packer coaches and players.
We survived Lombardi coaching the Redskins for a year … we survived Holmgren taking the team to 2 Super Bowls and winding up coaching the Sea Hawks … and we’ll survive this mess.
Sorry for writing a book here CCarter … but you just happened to push the wrong button. :o>
Comment by PackFan — July 22, 2008 @ 11:45 pm