Brett Favre Plays The Packers Twice Per Season

by Brandon on Jul 31, 2008 10:34 AM CDT in News Comment 3 comments

Over the last month, GM Ted Thompson has been fumbling the Brett Favre retirement saga. He should have brought him back as the starter, or just released him. He couldn't let him start ahead of QB Aaron Rodgers because Aaron's Ted's guy and he's got to give his guy a chance over the superior player. And he could never, ever release Favre was because he might go play in Minnesota, but now he's conceded that he may have to trade him within the division.

How can he even justify that to himself? They will offer next to nothing since he might be released in a day or two anyway, the Packers will be choosing the inferior player (at least in 2008, Rodgers will be better than Favre someday), and gives one of his opponents a huge upgrade at their most vital position.

Favre won't play for Chicago. Just as Rodgers is Ted's guy, QB Rex Grossman is GM Jerry Angelo's guy, and Angelo's giving Grossman the best opportunity possible to win the starting job in Chicago. He's not trading for or signing Favre to ruin that opportunity.

In Minnesota, he's known both offensive coaches (Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell) for many years, and Favre's golfing buddy, K Ryan Longwell, is already on the team. Although Minnesota might decide they don't need Favre either, and join the long list of shrewd NFL teams that have determined that they don't need a future Hall of Fame quarterback who just finished a near MVP season.

I watched Mike McCarthy's interview on ESPN and he again said that it's too late to turn back, they've moved forward without Favre, etc. Again he didn't explain himself, he just it's far far too late and we should all accept his wisdom.

Both Thompson and McCarthy are early in their careers leading an NFL franchise. Most great coaches and GMs, if not all, have to make a couple (a few) bone-headed mistakes in their careers. The good ones learn from their mistakes, and hopefully this is their big mistake and they get it out of their system. Both of them are very good at their jobs, although they've screwed this up, and now they just have to get this situation resolved and focus their Super Bowl caliber team on the 2008 season. And get RB Ryan Grant signed.

Poll

Who Will Favre Play For in 2008?

Chicago

6 votes

Minnesota

60 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I really don’t think it would be all that bad if we played him twice a season.
http://www.totalpackers.com/2008/07/29/no-one-wants-brett/

It certainly would make a division rival better, but I still think we’d have the superior team in the end, or, at least, that whichever team he played for wouldn’t get to the Super Bowl. Let’s get something for him and move on.

by totalpackers on Jul 31, 2008 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a mistake

I know this Brett Favre situation is painful for everybody, but I agree with Ted and Mike that it is time for the organization to move on. Ted Thompson has assembled a talented, deep roster of young players with a few key veterans, but Brett Favre sticks out like a sore thumb on this team. He has taken the Packers as far as he can. Last year was an amazing year – the perfect ending to the Favre story in Green Bay – he broke all the records in the book, took us to the NFC Championship Game, but when push came to shove he threw the same back-breaking interception that he has always thrown. It was the 4th and 26 game all over again – everyone remembers Freddie Mitchell but nobody remembers the wounded duck he threw up in OT.

The media has conveniently forgotten that prior to last year, Brett Favre was not superman in 2005 and 2006. And maybe Brett Favre can lead us to a better season in 2008 than Aaron Rodgers can – but we don’t know. What I do feel fairly confident in is that we cannot trust Brett Favre to last 3 to 4 playoff games in succession without blowing up. My goal in life is not to go 11-5, win another NFC North title, and bow out in the playoffs. I am fairly confident Brett Favre can get us there. I don’t know what Aaron Rodgers can do for us, but it’s time to find out.

The ideal solution would be for Brett to understand the Packers’ position on things, like he claims to, and have an adult conversation with the New York Jets. The Jets are coming off a lousy season, but a lot of that has to do with injuries and spotty quarterback play, and they were a 10-win team two years ago that came into Lambeau Field and decimated us. Favre should look past last year’s 4-12 record and think back to the drubbing the Jets handed us in 2006 and at least give them a shot. Bubba Franks plays for the Jets now – at least give him a call and see what he can tell you about Mangini, Schottenheimer, and New York in general.

If I’m Ted Thompson, and Brett won’t stand to reason and talk to the Jets, then I would still call the Jets and give them the Jake Plummer offer – trade him for a conditional 7th round pick, get some assurances they won’t trade or release him, and call it a day. Then instead of Brett calling Ted’s bluff, we’re calling his – if you want to play so badly, you’ll play for the Jets or you won’t play at all.

by Packschmid on Jul 31, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Those first two paragraphs are exactly the point. Very well said. When was the last time that he strung together 3-4 good games in the playoffs without some back-breaking picks? There still is NO EXCUSE for the throw he made in OT against the Giants.

I can understand if Brett doesn’t want to play for the Jets but he has to at least provide TT with a list of teams that he would accept a trade to. I personally don’t think he could find anywhere in the league that would want him (cause his baggage comes along with him) besides the Vikes and he’s finding that out the hard way.

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on Jul 31, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs