Farve Reinstated; expected to report Monday (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Borbely]

If the Packers said "Favre was not wanted", or "there will not be an open competition", I'd like to see the direct quotes from Thompson or McCarthy. I don't mean the opinions or interpretations from the media, I mean direct quotes. And I don't mean after the meeting when McCarthy knew that Favre did not want to play for the Packers. I mean before that. I have not seen one as of this post.Edit to add...after he was reinstated.

Glad you got that edit in. TT clearly (to us normal people) stated that in an interview before the reinstatement. Since then, I haven't seen anything.

Before Favre was reinstated, there was no way they would say anything about an open competition out of fairness to Rodgers. What else could he say? I think anything said prior to Favre being reinstated is irrelevant now. The circumstances were completely different then. Since reinstatement and prior to yesterday, I have not heard anything direct that says there would definitely not be an open competition. They have since said Favre was not going to be a Packer, but only because they determined (after meeting with Favre), that he did not really want to play there because too much had happened. There is a lot of speculation about a lot of things. I do believe that the Packers did not want Favre to come back because they had moved on. I also think if Favre wanted to compete, the Packers would have let him. They had no intentions of ever releasing him, but I doubt they would deny him the chance to compete. It's clear to me Favre never wanted to come back to the Packers. The only thing Favre wanted to play for the Vikings.

 

[packersfan]

From ProFootballTalk. I agree with the league exec - it's nothing short of shocking how the Packers have screwed this up. And I also agree that both Thompson and McCarthy (especially Thompson) are on the hot seat because of this:

HOT SEAT FOR MCCARTHY, THOMPSON?

Posted by Mike Florio on August 6, 2008, 9:46 a.m.

Two months ago, life was good for Packers coach Mike McCarthy and G.M. Ted Thompson. A strong 2007 season, culminating in an NFC title game berth, resulted in new contracts for both of them.

And with that job security likely came the courage to make 2008 the first Favre-free year in Green Bay. Given that it was inevitable that Favre would someday leave the team, this year was the best year, from the perspective of McCarthy and Thompson, to make it happen. Indeed, the Packers could struggle for two or three years before either man’s job would be in jeopardy.

But given the manner in which McCarthy and Thompson have mishandled Favre’s attempt to return, some league insiders think that both men could be in danger, if the team tanks in 2008.

Said one team executive, “I can’t believe how the front office has f–ked up this thing. He is one of the two or three best all time players in franchise history. You can’t treat him like a piece of dirt. I would bet that this is going to end up costing a few people their jobs next January.”

But what of those new contracts, which include hefty buyouts? Well, if the Packers were willing to pay Brett Favre $20 million not to play football, they’d be willing to pay McCarthy not to coach and Thompson not to, um, generally manage.

Regardless of whether they’re on the hot seat right now, it’s fairly clear to us that the bungling we’ve seen over the past month has undone a lot of the goodwill that they earned a year ago. And just as the organization now wants to move forward into a new era without Brett Favre, the fact that McCarthy and Thompson are so closely linked to the ugliness that has unfolded could mean that the new era can’t truly start until both of them are gone, too.

 

[fatness]

If anyone heard this on Mike and Mike this morning...and believes Glazer...but still think its all Ted's fault, they might be brain dead.He was very clear that he feels his sources are solid...that they had plenty of evidence to support their claims.This goes back to the whole timeline thing and what Favre apparently thinks is not true.Favre did, according to these sources, contact Ted and McCarthy right around the time of the owners meetings in March saying he wanted to come back. They asked him if he was willing then to help out more with Rodgers because he was the future of the team. Brett was pumped up about it and ready to go. They have it documented where they had the press release ready, the had the jet ready. This is documented somewhere. Brett called 2 days later not long before it was supposed to happen and said no, he was staying retired. They asked if he was sure, saying they had everything all ready, lets just do this. He said no.Right before the draft, he called them again, stating he wanted to come back. They again asked if he was sure, that they needed a firm committment...he waivered and said again that he thinks he might just stay retired.They said this went on several times this offseason. They would get calls from Brett that he thought he might want to come back. And each time he waffled and then said he was staying retired.That when Thompson went to visit him in May...just to talk about anything. Favre again confirmed he was staying retired.He was made aware that if Brett was not coming back, they had to move forward. He understood that.June comes and he decides he is now supposedly ready. They then got irritated saying "Brett, you cannot do this to us now, we have moved on...you had plenty of chances to do this and waivered each time" That is a paraphrase not really a direct quote. It was then that Brett got mad and said something along the lines of give me my helmet or give me my release. And it kept escalating from there.

in other words Jay Glazer was confirming the timeline of Favre-related events that the Packers had released several weeks ago?

 

[ConstruxBoy]

If the Packers said "Favre was not wanted", or "there will not be an open competition", I'd like to see the direct quotes from Thompson or McCarthy. I don't mean the opinions or interpretations from the media, I mean direct quotes. And I don't mean after the meeting when McCarthy knew that Favre did not want to play for the Packers. I mean before that. I have not seen one as of this post.Edit to add...after he was reinstated.

Glad you got that edit in. TT clearly (to us normal people) stated that in an interview before the reinstatement. Since then, I haven't seen anything.

Before Favre was reinstated, there was no way they would say anything about an open competition out of fairness to Rodgers. What else could he say? I think anything said prior to Favre being reinstated is irrelevant now. The circumstances were completely different then. Since reinstatement and prior to yesterday, I have not heard anything direct that says there would definitely not be an open competition. They have since said Favre was not going to be a Packer, but only because they determined (after meeting with Favre), that he did not really want to play there because too much had happened. There is a lot of speculation about a lot of things. I do believe that the Packers did not want Favre to come back because they had moved on. I also think if Favre wanted to compete, the Packers would have let him. They had no intentions of ever releasing him, but I doubt they would deny him the chance to compete. It's clear to me Favre never wanted to come back to the Packers. The only thing Favre wanted to play for the Vikings.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I think when he first called TT in June, he did want to come back as the starting QB for the Packers. When TT told him that they had moved on, AR was the starter, he would be the backup, etc. then his dislike of TT boiled over and he started doing everything he could to get to the Vikings, starting with the "leak" of TT's comments to the media. If TT says sure, come on back, I feel sure he's there. Not arguing, at all, whether TT should have said that after all the waffling. Not arguing that TT may be right about Rodgers or the long term future of the team. Just arguing with you that you imply (if I read this right) that if TT says sure, come on back for 2008 when first called by Favre, that Favre would have just said forget it, trade me to the Vikings.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I'm sorry but Mike McCarthy doesn't deserve some of the spew that is being put on him. I am not a GB fan, but I think MM is doing a damn good job of coaching that team. he took them to within 1 play of making the SB. I don't think the pack will implode without Favre the way some do but McCarthy would be unemployed for about 3 seconds if he were fired at the end of 2008. A lot of teams would welcome him. He's young, he has an exciting offense and I think he is one of the great young minds. If I were a player, I would want to play for a guy like McCarthy.

 

[Todem]

I'm sorry but Mike McCarthy doesn't deserve some of the spew that is being put on him. I am not a GB fan, but I think MM is doing a damn good job of coaching that team. he took them to within 1 play of making the SB. I don't think the pack will implode without Favre the way some do but McCarthy would be unemployed for about 3 seconds if he were fired at the end of 2008. A lot of teams would welcome him. He's young, he has an exciting offense and I think he is one of the great young minds. If I were a player, I would want to play for a guy like McCarthy.

Agreed.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

I'm sorry but Mike McCarthy doesn't deserve some of the spew that is being put on him. I am not a GB fan, but I think MM is doing a damn good job of coaching that team. he took them to within 1 play of making the SB. I don't think the pack will implode without Favre the way some do but McCarthy would be unemployed for about 3 seconds if he were fired at the end of 2008. A lot of teams would welcome him. He's young, he has an exciting offense and I think he is one of the great young minds. If I were a player, I would want to play for a guy like McCarthy.

FWIW, I agree and that's why I try to say TT or Green Bay FO in my posts. I feel bad for him, although I do think that his idea that any QB can excel in his system (as has been reported here by an ex-player) has helped contribute to the mess. Of course, he may be right. We'll see with Rodgers.

 

[packersfan]

I'm sorry but Mike McCarthy doesn't deserve some of the spew that is being put on him. I am not a GB fan, but I think MM is doing a damn good job of coaching that team. he took them to within 1 play of making the SB. I don't think the pack will implode without Favre the way some do but McCarthy would be unemployed for about 3 seconds if he were fired at the end of 2008. A lot of teams would welcome him. He's young, he has an exciting offense and I think he is one of the great young minds. If I were a player, I would want to play for a guy like McCarthy.

If the report we were given here is true that McCarthy told Favre there would be no open competition than he has to share in the blame in my opinion. But I do believe the primary problem here is Thompson, moreso than anyone else in the organization.

 

[sho nuff]

If anyone heard this on Mike and Mike this morning...and believes Glazer...but still think its all Ted's fault, they might be brain dead.He was very clear that he feels his sources are solid...that they had plenty of evidence to support their claims.This goes back to the whole timeline thing and what Favre apparently thinks is not true.Favre did, according to these sources, contact Ted and McCarthy right around the time of the owners meetings in March saying he wanted to come back. They asked him if he was willing then to help out more with Rodgers because he was the future of the team. Brett was pumped up about it and ready to go. They have it documented where they had the press release ready, the had the jet ready. This is documented somewhere. Brett called 2 days later not long before it was supposed to happen and said no, he was staying retired. They asked if he was sure, saying they had everything all ready, lets just do this. He said no.Right before the draft, he called them again, stating he wanted to come back. They again asked if he was sure, that they needed a firm committment...he waivered and said again that he thinks he might just stay retired.They said this went on several times this offseason. They would get calls from Brett that he thought he might want to come back. And each time he waffled and then said he was staying retired.That when Thompson went to visit him in May...just to talk about anything. Favre again confirmed he was staying retired.He was made aware that if Brett was not coming back, they had to move forward. He understood that.June comes and he decides he is now supposedly ready. They then got irritated saying "Brett, you cannot do this to us now, we have moved on...you had plenty of chances to do this and waivered each time" That is a paraphrase not really a direct quote. It was then that Brett got mad and said something along the lines of give me my helmet or give me my release. And it kept escalating from there.Its like the boy who cried wolf...they kept believing him and believing him and believing him...until finally they had to move on and put it behind them.If all of this is true...and yes, its a big if as it is according to some unnamed sources...then I don't see anything Ted could have done outside of going down and blowing Brett himself to beg him to come back.

If this is the true story...I am waffling my stance on this whole nightmare.They did everything in their power to leave the door open. I agree at some point an orgainization does have to "move on". If they indeed went to Aarron Rodgers in May as well as the rest of the team and commited to him I fully understand what's going on. What drives me crazy though is all the posters that can actually try to argue that Rodgers is the better choice for the team all waffling and BS aside ( Brett is being an ### we all know that). I lose football knowledge respect for posters that try to convince others that Rodgers will be the better QB and that Favre is washed up or an average QB or can't win the big one blah blah blah.Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.Let's see what happens.And let's hope this story just goes away already. Trade Brett, let him go and move on. If he goes to the Buc's I predict they get farther this year than the Packers will. Get Ready Green Bay fans for the Aarron Rodgers era.......the next few years will be about pain and suffering. I am a Dolphin fan so I have a ton of expereince in this department (HOF QB retiring or leaving ala Marino).

I won't ever say Rodgers is the better QB for them this year...no matter how much waffling Favre did.I can see how it would be possible if Favre was not committed and into it or prepared...but even so...he was just so damn good.I cannot say that Favre is better now than Rodgers will ever be...we just don't know what Rodgers can be.But you would have a point, and have a good chance at being right on that.The story will not just go away with Brett being traded...that train has left the station (to use McCArthy's line).No matter where Favre is...people will question every Rodgers pass as if Favre never threw incomplete or an INT.

 

[tonydead]

If the Packers said "Favre was not wanted", or "there will not be an open competition", I'd like to see the direct quotes from Thompson or McCarthy. I don't mean the opinions or interpretations from the media, I mean direct quotes. And I don't mean after the meeting when McCarthy knew that Favre did not want to play for the Packers. I mean before that. I have not seen one as of this post.Edit to add...after he was reinstated.

Glad you got that edit in. TT clearly (to us normal people) stated that in an interview before the reinstatement. Since then, I haven't seen anything.

Before Favre was reinstated, there was no way they would say anything about an open competition out of fairness to Rodgers. What else could he say? I think anything said prior to Favre being reinstated is irrelevant now. The circumstances were completely different then. Since reinstatement and prior to yesterday, I have not heard anything direct that says there would definitely not be an open competition. They have since said Favre was not going to be a Packer, but only because they determined (after meeting with Favre), that he did not really want to play there because too much had happened. There is a lot of speculation about a lot of things. I do believe that the Packers did not want Favre to come back because they had moved on. I also think if Favre wanted to compete, the Packers would have let him. They had no intentions of ever releasing him, but I doubt they would deny him the chance to compete. It's clear to me Favre never wanted to come back to the Packers. The only thing Favre wanted to play for the Vikings.

I think the most intriguing part of this whole thing is how people can all hear the exact same things and interpret them completely different at fare ends of the spectrum. It's quite a fascinating social experiment. FWIW, I'm not a GB or Favre fan or hater and consider myself to be a neutral observer here.....forgetting what might have happened two or three months ago...today Favre is coming off looking like the sissy. Show up to practice and demand to compete for the job if you want it!! I just hope he doesn't start crying again when he changes his mind and retires again.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.

I think you may be eating those words in a few years. How good is a 38 year old Favre, really?Are you already forgetting 2005 and 2006 when he was one of the biggest liabilities in the league? If Favre's name wasn't Favre, he would've never even gotten the chance to start in 2008. He made Rex Grossman look like a pro bowler. I don't know about everyone else, but I just find it really odd that supposedly this guy forgot how to play football at the age of 36, and then remembered again at the age of 38.I think it had more to do with the guys around him. A great running game, an offensive line that gelled, and a group of young talented WRs that really stepped up. Even after getting off to a good start last year, he didn't really step it up until Ryan Grant came in.Defenders will say that he had nothing to work with in 2005 and 2006, which is true, but isn't that kind of the point? Great QBs are good no matter who's around them. Tom Brady was fine with trash at WR and RB for years. Favre himself in his prime was successful regardless of who was around him.Mediocre QBs, meanwhile, are good when there are good players around them, and bad when there are bad players around them. This describes 35+ year old Favre to the letter. At this point in his career, Favre (IMHO) falls into this category.

 

[packersfan]

Even after getting off to a good start last year, he didn't really step it up until Ryan Grant came in.

That isn't correct. In the first six games before Grant took over, Favre threw for 286 yards or more in four of them, had one 2-TD game a pair of 3-TD games. In those six games, he threw 0 or 1 INT in a game four times. He was playing quite well before Grant took over. One could say his production then was extremely impressive given how bad Brandon Jackson was and how one-dimensional the Packers' offense was. He also didn't have Greg Jennings in the first two games.

 

[renesauz]

Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.

I think you may be eating those words in a few years. How good is a 38 year old Favre, really?Are you already forgetting 2005 and 2006 when he was one of the biggest liabilities in the league? If Favre's name wasn't Favre, he would've never even gotten the chance to start in 2008. He made Rex Grossman look like a pro bowler. I don't know about everyone else, but I just find it really odd that supposedly this guy forgot how to play football at the age of 36, and then remembered again at the age of 38.I think it had more to do with the guys around him. A great running game, an offensive line that gelled, and a group of young talented WRs that really stepped up. Even after getting off to a good start last year, he didn't really step it up until Ryan Grant came in.Defenders will say that he had nothing to work with in 2005 and 2006, which is true, but isn't that kind of the point? Great QBs are good no matter who's around them. Tom Brady was fine with trash at WR and RB for years. Favre himself in his prime was successful regardless of who was around him.Mediocre QBs, meanwhile, are good when there are good players around them, and bad when there are bad players around them. This describes 35+ year old Favre to the letter. At this point in his career, Favre (IMHO) falls into this category.

VERY, VERY

 

[Phil Elliott]

On Sirius NFL Channel this morning, probably about 9:45, Paul Horning's perspective was that he was upset the Packers would offer Brett $10-15 million (we know its closer to $25 million) to not play and horning has 5 or 6 ex team mates that are barely getting by and need insurance help, etc... I only caught a portion of the comments but many of you know there are retired players trying to raise the awareness of the needs of the retired veterans that need help (like effects of concussions, bad knees, etc when they played).

 

[Todem]

Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.

I think you may be eating those words in a few years. How good is a 38 year old Favre, really?Are you already forgetting 2005 and 2006 when he was one of the biggest liabilities in the league? If Favre's name wasn't Favre, he would've never even gotten the chance to start in 2008. He made Rex Grossman look like a pro bowler. I don't know about everyone else, but I just find it really odd that supposedly this guy forgot how to play football at the age of 36, and then remembered again at the age of 38.

I think it had more to do with the guys around him. A great running game, an offensive line that gelled, and a group of young talented WRs that really stepped up. Even after getting off to a good start last year, he didn't really step it up until Ryan Grant came in.

Defenders will say that he had nothing to work with in 2005 and 2006, which is true, but isn't that kind of the point? Great QBs are good no matter who's around them. Tom Brady was fine with trash at WR and RB for years. Favre himself in his prime was successful regardless of who was around him.

Mediocre QBs, meanwhile, are good when there are good players around them, and bad when there are bad players around them. This describes 35+ year old Favre to the letter. At this point in his career, Favre (IMHO) falls into this category.

Maybe and it will be fun to watch. However Favre had no OL in front of him in 2005 and really not much talent at all. The defense was a mess the running game was toast with Green hurt, 2005 was a very bad year. But 2006 was not horendous. You saw signs that this team was coming around.Don't fool yourself....Favre has made a career out of making guy's like Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman look like all pros. Greg Jennings as nice a player he is will take 2 steps back this year. I have even scene posts and comments made by some in other forums that Rodgers throws a better deep ball.....based on what LOL!

If Farvre was not the QB last season the Packers do not sniff the post season......just watch this year and you will know what I mean about Aarron Rodgers. I am merely making an evaluation on his past pre-seasons. His limited game time in Dallas was impressive no doubt. He did look in control and had more confidence during that half or so of football.

Let's see what happens once the game film get's around the league and defenses and D.C's get a book on his tendencies and overall weakness's. They will be exploited. The other thing too is teams will focus on the run this year and dare Aarron Rodgers to beat them. I think most teams will get enough pressure on him to also make a lot of rookie (this is his first full year under center) mistakes. It will come to pass the Rodgers will not be what TT hoped he drafted. And I would not be suprised to see Brian Brohm get PT this year if the team tanks.

From a fantasy perspective I would only look at starting Donald Driver ( he will be a saftey blanket all year for Rodgers) as a WR3 or 4 and hope they find another QB (maybe it's Brohm) in the very near future to hold or increase the value of Jennings and Jones who are both very talented and exciting young WR's. As far as Ryan Grant...he will be in for a long year and the Packers have taken a 4.25MM risk in guranteed $$$. So if he ends up being a 10 game wonder they can cut bait next season as well. Expect to see Brandon Jackson get some significant PT as well. It is going to be a long year for Green Bay.

To be continued.......

 

[T Bell]

It is crystal clear now that the Packers moved on after his March retirement. So with that if Brett truly wants to play football he will be traded in the next 24-48 hours. I was wrong in calling out MM. He is just a coach in the middle of this mess trying to prepare his football team. However TT for all the great work he has done rebuidling the talent in Green Bay will be remembered as the guy who closed the door on the PAckers all time most popular player and the current face of the NFL. I will stand by my statement though that if Rodgers flops (and i think he will). Thompson will be run out of town in a New York minute. Rodgers is a stiff. A hig draft pick that will end up being a mistake. Not anything new when it comes to QB busts.I am calling it now. I am not waiting to watch him play in a real NFL game...I have seen enough with his pre-seasons and that Family night....OMG...brutal.

TT can be redeemed in two ways. 1) Rodgers succeedes.2) Favre continues to play and shows that he's washed up, or at least that he's incapable of winning another championship.People seem to discount the latter, but I think it's a real possibility. Nobody has said Aaron Rodgers is great or is a sure-fire winner, just that it's now time for them to evaluate him. Only the Favre crowd seems to ignore that.

I think it's likely that he declines this year regardless of where he plays. But let's be honest, if your only "redemption" for Favre is that he wins a SB in the two years or so he has left, you're not being fair. I also think that Rodgers is going to be Kyle Boller part 2 and have said so long before this started. He just isn't that good.

I'm not arguing "Super Bowl or bust" for Favre, but if he goes 9-7 and flames out in the first round of the playoffs with multiple INT's, I think a lot of pro-Favre Packers fans will be finally convinced/reassured that he wasn't going to be the difference-maker that brought the team one last championship this year.

 

[footballman_696969]

Not sure if its been posted yet, but.......

LINK

 

[T Bell]

Umm...what stuff was not true? You have some evidence of their lies?

Tampering by Minnesota allegations were proven to be false.

Really? What was the proof? I'd heard the league's conclusion, but I didn't hear about any "proof".

 

[T Bell]

If anyone heard this on Mike and Mike this morning...and believes Glazer...but still think its all Ted's fault, they might be brain dead.He was very clear that he feels his sources are solid...that they had plenty of evidence to support their claims.This goes back to the whole timeline thing and what Favre apparently thinks is not true.Favre did, according to these sources, contact Ted and McCarthy right around the time of the owners meetings in March saying he wanted to come back. They asked him if he was willing then to help out more with Rodgers because he was the future of the team. Brett was pumped up about it and ready to go. They have it documented where they had the press release ready, the had the jet ready. This is documented somewhere. Brett called 2 days later not long before it was supposed to happen and said no, he was staying retired. They asked if he was sure, saying they had everything all ready, lets just do this. He said no.Right before the draft, he called them again, stating he wanted to come back. They again asked if he was sure, that they needed a firm committment...he waivered and said again that he thinks he might just stay retired.They said this went on several times this offseason. They would get calls from Brett that he thought he might want to come back. And each time he waffled and then said he was staying retired.That when Thompson went to visit him in May...just to talk about anything. Favre again confirmed he was staying retired.He was made aware that if Brett was not coming back, they had to move forward. He understood that.June comes and he decides he is now supposedly ready. They then got irritated saying "Brett, you cannot do this to us now, we have moved on...you had plenty of chances to do this and waivered each time" That is a paraphrase not really a direct quote. It was then that Brett got mad and said something along the lines of give me my helmet or give me my release. And it kept escalating from there.Its like the boy who cried wolf...they kept believing him and believing him and believing him...until finally they had to move on and put it behind them.If all of this is true...and yes, its a big if as it is according to some unnamed sources...then I don't see anything Ted could have done outside of going down and blowing Brett himself to beg him to come back.

If this is the true story...I am waffling my stance on this whole nightmare.They did everything in their power to leave the door open. I agree at some point an orgainization does have to "move on". If they indeed went to Aarron Rodgers in May as well as the rest of the team and commited to him I fully understand what's going on. What drives me crazy though is all the posters that can actually try to argue that Rodgers is the better choice for the team all waffling and BS aside ( Brett is being an ### we all know that). I lose football knowledge respect for posters that try to convince others that Rodgers will be the better QB and that Favre is washed up or an average QB or can't win the big one blah blah blah.Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.Let's see what happens.And let's hope this story just goes away already. Trade Brett, let him go and move on. If he goes to the Buc's I predict they get farther this year than the Packers will. Get Ready Green Bay fans for the Aarron Rodgers era.......the next few years will be about pain and suffering. I am a Dolphin fan so I have a ton of expereince in this department (HOF QB retiring or leaving ala Marino).

The guy who most comes to mind when I think of Rodgers is Danny White, the guy who had the misfortune of following Staubach in Dallas. Like White, I view Rodgers as a relatively non-descript guy who has probably above-average talent and will, if he stays healthy, have an above-average career, but the fans will never forgive him for replacing a beloved legend. It's a shame, really.

 

[Todem]

I view Rodgers as Jay Fielder with more arm stregnth.

It will be fun seeing how this plays out.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

It is crystal clear now that the Packers moved on after his March retirement. So with that if Brett truly wants to play football he will be traded in the next 24-48 hours. I was wrong in calling out MM. He is just a coach in the middle of this mess trying to prepare his football team. However TT for all the great work he has done rebuidling the talent in Green Bay will be remembered as the guy who closed the door on the PAckers all time most popular player and the current face of the NFL. I will stand by my statement though that if Rodgers flops (and i think he will). Thompson will be run out of town in a New York minute. Rodgers is a stiff. A hig draft pick that will end up being a mistake. Not anything new when it comes to QB busts.I am calling it now. I am not waiting to watch him play in a real NFL game...I have seen enough with his pre-seasons and that Family night....OMG...brutal.

TT can be redeemed in two ways. 1) Rodgers succeedes.2) Favre continues to play and shows that he's washed up, or at least that he's incapable of winning another championship.People seem to discount the latter, but I think it's a real possibility. Nobody has said Aaron Rodgers is great or is a sure-fire winner, just that it's now time for them to evaluate him. Only the Favre crowd seems to ignore that.

I think it's likely that he declines this year regardless of where he plays. But let's be honest, if your only "redemption" for Favre is that he wins a SB in the two years or so he has left, you're not being fair. I also think that Rodgers is going to be Kyle Boller part 2 and have said so long before this started. He just isn't that good.

I'm not arguing "Super Bowl or bust" for Favre, but if he goes 9-7 and flames out in the first round of the playoffs with multiple INT's, I think a lot of pro-Favre Packers fans will be finally convinced/reassured that he wasn't going to be the difference-maker that brought the team one last championship this year.

Agree. Thanks. And to be sure, I'm not saying that won't happen. Again, I'm not making the argument in these threads as a Favre lover or whatever. I think he will decline quickly and any team giving up much for him will be disappointed. I'm arguing based on what I think is right and fair in the whole situation.

 

[Franknbeans]

I view Rodgers as Jay Fielder with more arm stregnth.It will be fun seeing how this plays out.

I view him as Brett Favre with a lot less talent

 

[ScottyFargo]

Umm...what stuff was not true? You have some evidence of their lies?

Tampering by Minnesota allegations were proven to be false.

Really? What was the proof? I'd heard the league's conclusion, but I didn't hear about any "proof".

WHAT? The burden of proof is on those making the allegations. You can't PROVE you haven't done something, you can only prove that something was done. There was no proof that any tampering occured, therefore they were false allegations. Sheesh.

 

[Stealthycat]

I just wanted to post and get in on 1274 responses to this thread

I have nothing of value to add

 

[Kiddnets]

“BIDDING WAR” BETWEEN JETS, BUCS?

Posted by Mike Florio on August 6, 2008, 1:22 p.m.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that a “bidding war” has emerged for Favre’s services. The candidates are the Jets and the Bucs.

It’s not clear whether the bidding war relates to what the Packers will get for Favre, to what Favre will be paid, or both.

Also, G.M. Ted Thompson’s weekly press conference, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT, has been postponed.

As to those who believe that the Jets or Bucs might then try to flip Favre to the Vikings, keep in mind what we pointed out on July 15. Any trade of Favre by the Packers will likely include a term that dramatically increases the compensation if Favre is re-traded.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined at the time to comment on whether such a tactic would be permitted. But many other trades have been done with conditional terms relating to things that might happen in the future.

 

[Texican]

I just wanted to post and get in on 1274 responses to this thread I have nothing of value to add

You'll fit right in

 

[Mik789fl]

I just wanted to post and get in on 1274 responses to this thread I have nothing of value to add

And this may be the most relevant post in this thread.Favre....need to mention his name so as not to hijack

 

[Phurfur]

I just wanted to post and get in on 1274 responses to this thread I have nothing of value to add

 

[Enraged Nerfball]

Per the SP times, Favre's agent saying any minute now.....

http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/08/favre-agent-res.html

 

[Moniker]

A poll on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website:Who is most to blame for the Brett Favre mess?GM Ted Thompson (93.3%)Favre (6.3%)Coach Mike McCarthy (0.4%)Total votes: 7,282

Finally some real numbers... and just about what I thought they would be.

 

[sholditch]

Wow, up to the minute Favre news. My question is will the blanket coverage that has just about snuffed out every other bit of NFL news let up even a bit once he signs with a new team, or will it just shift to endless conversations about Brett making the transition, the effect on his legacy, blah blah freaking blah. Meanwhile, in other NFL news, Tom Brady out for the season with some kind of injury. But now back to Favre...

:

 

[T Bell]

Umm...what stuff was not true? You have some evidence of their lies?

Tampering by Minnesota allegations were proven to be false.

Really? What was the proof? I'd heard the league's conclusion, but I didn't hear about any "proof".

WHAT? The burden of proof is on those making the allegations. You can't PROVE you haven't done something, you can only prove that something was done. There was no proof that any tampering occured, therefore they were false allegations. Sheesh.

That's not what "proven to be false" means. Not guilty <> proven innocent.

 

[Prussian]

Even if Favre does not land in Minnesota, which I am not convinced the Vikings would even want at this point, the Vikings have to be relishing how this is playing out.

As if having a new QB in Green Bay (the other "good" team in the division this year) wasn't already going to be a hurdle the Packers would have to overcome, the whole Favre saga play out so openly and for so long has to be playing with his head and the team's chemistry already. Rogers' confidence will be shaken for weeks in to the season. Lay a whooping on Green Bay opening night and and the division is for the Vikings to lose.

If by some crazy twist Favre does land in Minnesota, and the team doesn't implode by the late aquisition, the Vikings become a monster in the NFC this year. Not because of Favre's talent, but because of his stability and imrpovement of the position perceived to be weakest link.

But, I like the Vikings chances with an improving TJack just the same.

At the last minute, I think Favre ends up with the Jets or stays retired. Too many rumors swirling about the Bucs flipping Favre over to the Vikings. True or not, Thompson won't allow that without some pricey compensation that the Buc's would never agree to unless they planned on keeping Favre themselves. The rumors continue to suggest that the Jets have an offer on the table and that it is the "best offer" out there for Favre.

(For the record, I blame Favre's inability to make a decision on his own future rather then the idea that the Packers screwed this up.)

Bottom line, I think everyone has had enough and wants to get off the merry-go-round already.

 

[meeka]

Umm...what stuff was not true? You have some evidence of their lies?

Tampering by Minnesota allegations were proven to be false.

Really? What was the proof? I'd heard the league's conclusion, but I didn't hear about any "proof".

WHAT? The burden of proof is on those making the allegations. You can't PROVE you haven't done something, you can only prove that something was done. There was no proof that any tampering occured, therefore they were false allegations. Sheesh.

I think the point is that just because you can not prove that it happened does not mean that there is proof that it did not happen. Sheesh.

 

[RIM]

monitor Favre here

 

[T Bell]

Wow, up to the minute Favre news. My question is will the blanket coverage that has just about snuffed out every other bit of NFL news let up even a bit once he signs with a new team, or will it just shift to endless conversations about Brett making the transition, the effect on his legacy, blah blah freaking blah. Meanwhile, in other NFL news, Tom Brady out for the season with some kind of injury. But now back to Favre... :

God help all of us if he goes to the media center that is NYC to play for the Jets. Remember, we're getting this much coverage already from the smallest media market in the country, Green Bay, WI.

 

[sholditch]

I think those rumors are totally bunk. No way would Gruden give up Favre if he got him. Gruden likes new toys too much.

 

[ScottyFargo]

That's not what "proven to be false" means. Not guilty <> proven innocent.

I think the point is that just because you can not prove that it happened does not mean that there is proof that it did not happen. Sheesh.

So absent proof of the allegation we are left with...

 

[dapunisher]

I hope he goes to the Jets. Then we can all see if he and Deanna still want to jump in front of any and every available camera that the NY media will provide.

 

[T Bell]

That's not what "proven to be false" means. Not guilty <> proven innocent.

I think the point is that just because you can not prove that it happened does not mean that there is proof that it did not happen. Sheesh.

So absent proof of the allegation we are left with...

. . . a buttload of unexplained phone calls between a player and a team with whom the player had no prior connections but who he has expressed a desire to unretire and play for. :(

 

[fatness]

A poll on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website:Who is most to blame for the Brett Favre mess?GM Ted Thompson (93.3%)Favre (6.3%)Coach Mike McCarthy (0.4%)Total votes: 7,282

Finally some real numbers... and just about what I thought they would be.

An updated poll on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website:

Posted: Aug. 5, 2008Sixty percent of Wisconsin residents think Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy are more concerned about the long-term future of the franchise than Brett Favre is, a statewide poll released Tuesday shows.

Finally some real numbers.

 

[Phase of the Game]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...,4097994.column

THE BRETT FAVRE SAGA

Packers' message clear: Please leave

Rick Morrissey

In the wake of the news

August 6, 2008

GREEN BAY -- And so one of the more bizarre stories in American sports history came to its illogical conclusion Tuesday, with the Packers all but showing Brett Favre the door.

"They don't want me back," he said.

Damned if they really don't.

It's as if the people who run this team are operating in a parallel universe in which clarity and common sense are considered evil.

"It's not as simple as No. 4 coming out there and playing football," coach Mike McCarthy said.

But it is that simple. It's absolutely, outrageously that simple. When Favre decided he wanted to come out of his brief retirement, all the Packers had to do was open their arms and welcome their icon back. All they had to do was say yes.

But they didn't. They told him he would be the backup to Aaron Rodgers, who never has started an NFL game. They tried to pay him to stay retired. All of this makes as much sense as a bratwurst panini, which is what a restaurant was selling down the street from Lambeau Field.

"It's a situation that's extremely personal for him," McCarthy said. "The path to get to where we are has done some damage."

Good Lord. The Packers Paving Co. created this odd, mystifying path by insulting him.

The team that played in the NFC championship game last season no longer has need of a quarterback who has started 275 straight games, who finished second in voting for the NFL's most valuable player last season and who was voted MVP of the 2007 Packers. If you're a clear-thinking person, it's impossible to get past that strange, almost maddening idea.

To repeat: The Packers do not want the future Hall of Fame quarterback, even though there is little doubt he is better than Rodgers.

It's why Packers fans were chanting "We want Brett" just before Rodgers took his first snap on the practice field Tuesday and why others were chanting "Free Brett Favre" afterward. And it's why a fan was holding a sign that read "Prepared to Be a Vikings Fan. We're Losing a Hero." And, for good measure, the sign added that team general manager Ted Thompson ought to be fired. It was a sign with a lot to say.

McCarthy and Favre had a lot to say, too, talking for four hours Monday night, then again Tuesday morning at Lambeau.

"My whole intent was, is he coming into the locker room to play for the Green Bay Packers?" McCarthy said. " 'Where's your mind?' That's the first question I asked him. We could never get back to that point where he's comfortable."

McCarthy said Favre isn't in the proper frame of mind to be part of the team, but underneath it all is an anal-retentive football organization that can't stand to see its intricate plans disrupted.

Favre was supposed to practice for the first time Tuesday, but it became clear as he shared his thoughts with ESPN reporters throughout the day that A) the Packers really, really don't want him around anymore and B) the three-time league MVP was hoping to force Green Bay either to trade him to a team he wants to play for—hello, Minnesota—or release him.

Many people in Chicago would die for the chance to have the 38-year-old Favre playing quarterback for the Bears. For their part, the Bears have said they're happy with their two quarterbacks, Rex Somebody and Kyle That Other Guy. Either the team doesn't want to be accused of tampering or else clinical insanity is a shared NFC North trait. Favre said the Packers refuse to trade him within the division.

This is a hostage situation, though each side claims to be the one being held against its will.

"They want to know if I'm committed, but I want to know if they're 100 percent committed," Favre told ESPN. "The problem is that there has been a lot of damage done, and I can't forget that. Stuff has been said, stories planted that just aren't true. Can I get over all that? I doubt it."

As badly as this has been mishandled, someone in the Packers organization had to realize just how difficult this situation would be for poor, pitiful Rodgers. But the team moved ahead anyway, convinced that an unproven quarterback would be able to handle what's ahead.

During practice Tuesday, one yelled, "Nowhere to hide, Rodgers!"

"We have great fans, and I hope I can win them over," Rodgers said later.

What would it take to win them?

"Win a lot of games," he said.

He threw two interceptions Tuesday.

Lots of people are wearing "Favre '08" T-shirts around town, though it hasn't had any effect on the shame-resistant Packers. The will of the people is not always easy to gauge, but of the 62,473 votes cast on www.bringbackbrettfavre.com, 72 percent of the poll respondents said they wanted Favre back as the Packers' starting quarterback this season.

You would think former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who is serving as a Packers public relations consultant, would fill the team in on the power of those numbers.

"The football team has moved forward," McCarthy said. "The train has left the station—whatever analogy you want. [Favre] needs to jump on the train and let's go. Or we can't get past all the things that happened. I have to keep the train moving."

Even if it's off the rails.

 

[ScottyFargo]

That's not what "proven to be false" means.

Not guilty <> proven innocent.

I think the point is that just because you can not prove that it happened does not mean that there is proof that it did not happen. Sheesh.

So absent proof of the allegation we are left with...

. . . a buttload of unexplained phone calls between a player and a team with whom the player had no prior connections but who he has expressed a desire to unretire and play for.

Which sounds a lot like what the allegations were riding on in the first place, but since those were explained due to previous relationships between all involved, I guess we're left with a whole lot of nothing and allegations that went unfounded. Here's my latest on the situation: Favre to Tampa. That's it. I don't see him moving back to the Vikes because Tampa is truly interested in him. I think he plays for one more season in Tampa, and beats Green Bay handidly in week 4. Green Bay out of the playoffs this year, Tampa in again.

 

[Phase of the Game]

newsday.com/sports/football/ny-spglaub0806,0,962385.column

Newsday.com

Esiason: Packers vs. Favre is nasty divorce

Bob Glauber

What we are witnessing, Boomer Esiason was saying Tuesday amid the dizzying swirl of developments surrounding Brett Favre, is a very public, very bitter divorce.

"This is a divorce between two people who have been married for a long time, and right now, it's at the ugly stage," the former NFL quarterback said. "This is a divorce between [Packers general manager] Ted .Thompson and Brett Favre, and as long as those people stay in place, there's no way this thing is going to come to a satisfactory agreement in the long term. You like both of them. You want the best for both of them. Unfortunately, they're going to get dragged through the mud and the rest of us are getting dragged through right with them."

Yes, it is ugly. And yes, the final papers have been drawn up, with Favre mostly likely settling on a trade to Tampa Bay after his request to be dealt to divisional rival Minnesota has been rejected. The Jets? A possibility, albeit remote, because they've had a chance to pull the trigger, only to get negative vibes from Favre on a move to New York.

Favre spent a tumultuous two days in Green Bay discussing his situation for hours on end with Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy. But as McCarthy explained Tuesday in his first public remarks since Favre's return, he thought Favre wasn't mentally prepared to carry on with the Packers.

"He was not in the proper mindset to move forward to be a part of the football team," McCarthy said. "The team is moving forward. The train has left the station. He needs to jump on the train. If we can't get past the things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving."

Translation: Thanks for the memories, Brett. It's over.

Too bad, says Esiason.

"If he wants to play, he should play," Esiason said. "The Packers paid him for his services, and he delivered those services every single game since he got there in 1992. If you're a Packers fan, who makes you a better team, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers? There isn't any question that it's Brett Favre. That's why this whole thing is so ridiculous. If they're so convinced that Aaron Rodgers is the better player, then why didn't he beat out Brett Favre before?"

Esiason can empathize with Favre over the lingering distrust he has of the organization, based largely on the "he said, he said" comments that surfaced throughout the offseason.

"It wasn't remotely close to what Brett is going through, but I got really mad when I was with the Cardinals [in 1996]. I claimed they didn't start me for a game or two because they wouldn't have to pay a $400,000 bonus to me. I basically told them I didn't want to come back unless they pay me the money. And if they didn't pay me the money, it would be in their best interests to release me."

The Cardinals did release .Esiason, and he rejoined the Bengals the following year.

"I understand where he's coming from, especially if Ted Thompson is hostile to Brett Favre. There is a disconnect between those two guys. I don't think he ever wants to play for Ted Thompson again."

The soap opera has dragged on for months, and Favre's image has taken a hit -- deservedly so, in many ways. After all, he told the Packers he was retiring, then changed his mind several times before finally declaring he was ready to play again shortly before training camp. He left the team in the lurch, then demanded to return, only to chafe at the parameters of the terms.

But the Packers were at fault, too, for being too rigid in shielding Rodgers from any true competition. And in not doing more to assuage Favre's concerns about whether he was truly wanted back. After all, we are talking about a future Hall of Famer who last season got his team within an overtime of going to the Super Bowl.

"In the short term, his legacy will take a hit," Esiason said. "But seven years from now, all this nonsense will be put behind everyone, and they'll talk about how he was the Cal Ripken of the NFL and did something no other player was able to do, and everybody will celebrate a great career."

In the meantime ...

"There will be these Brett Favre detractors," Esiason said, "either because they've never played before or they're completely miserable and they sit in judgment about somebody and they don't know how difficult it's been to do what he has done."

And so we move on to the next and final chapter of the Favre saga. Wherever that takes him.

 

[Joe Bryant]

"There will be these Brett Favre detractors," Esiason said, "either because they've never played before or they're completely miserable and they sit in judgment about somebody and they don't know how difficult it's been to do what he has done."

J

 

[tonydead]

"Good Lord. The Packers Paving Co. created this odd, mystifying path by insulting him."

Poor guy, emotionally damaged because of these insults. This is football, not America's top model, if you want to get back at'em do your talking on the field Brett.

 

[vitaflo]

I will stand by my statement though that if Rodgers flops (and i think he will). Thompson will be run out of town in a New York minute. Rodgers is a stiff. A hig draft pick that will end up being a mistake. Not anything new when it comes to QB busts.I am calling it now. I am not waiting to watch him play in a real NFL game...I have seen enough with his pre-seasons and that Family night....OMG...brutal.

Man, you must have REALLY hated Favre the first few years he was in the league.

 

[T Bell]

"There will be these Brett Favre detractors," Esiason said, "either because they've never played before or they're completely miserable and they sit in judgment about somebody and they don't know how difficult it's been to do what he has done."

J

 

[vitaflo]

Let's get this straight. Brett Favre is a much better QB now at 38 then Rodgers will ever be. That I can say without waiver.

I think you may be eating those words in a few years. How good is a 38 year old Favre, really?Are you already forgetting 2005 and 2006 when he was one of the biggest liabilities in the league? If Favre's name wasn't Favre, he would've never even gotten the chance to start in 2008. He made Rex Grossman look like a pro bowler. I don't know about everyone else, but I just find it really odd that supposedly this guy forgot how to play football at the age of 36, and then remembered again at the age of 38.I think it had more to do with the guys around him. A great running game, an offensive line that gelled, and a group of young talented WRs that really stepped up. Even after getting off to a good start last year, he didn't really step it up until Ryan Grant came in.Defenders will say that he had nothing to work with in 2005 and 2006, which is true, but isn't that kind of the point? Great QBs are good no matter who's around them. Tom Brady was fine with trash at WR and RB for years. Favre himself in his prime was successful regardless of who was around him.Mediocre QBs, meanwhile, are good when there are good players around them, and bad when there are bad players around them. This describes 35+ year old Favre to the letter. At this point in his career, Favre (IMHO) falls into this category.

You also have to remember what has changed in the last few years since they went 4-12. Namely the addition of TT and MM. They have built and coached this team to where it was last year and finally made Brett accountable in a way he wasn't under Mike Sherman. This only *helped* Brett.I think the issue is I see TT and MM as guys who see things in black and white, and make business decisions and don't play favorites. Brett is much more emotional and they don't play that game. I think this is where a lot of the impasse has stemmed from.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Rodgers is Rob Johnson. Another hyped Pac 10 QB failure living off 1 decent NFL game.