The way I read Favre’s comments and actions are that he never really had any intentions of playing here unless the Packers completely reversed course, handed him the starting job, and apologized for the audacity of ever trying to replace him.

It seems to be that the best compromise at this point would be to try to work out a trade with Tampa Bay. I would prefer the Jets, but if the Packers are smart and continue to refuse to trade him within the division and Favre is stubborn and continues to want to play for a team that gives him a chance to “stick it” to Green Bay, then Tampa Bay is the best option.

The Packers play the Bucs this year – in Tampa, so we don’t have to go through the circus of Favre coming back to Lambeau Field in a different uniform – but aren’t directly competing with us for a division title and it’s only one game instead of two. We keep him out of the division and end the circus at Lambeau once and for all, and Favre gets his opportunity to try to get revenge against us on the field.

Brett needs to understand once and for all that the franchise has moved on but is prepared to keep him on the roster rather than trade him to Minnesota, and the Packers need to be prepared to take whatever they can get in return from Tampa Bay just to end this fiasco.

Brett Favre, for the duration of his career, was viewed as the patron saint of all that was good in the NFL. You really would have to look no further than how the media treated/s him to agree with me.

The problem Packers brass is facing right now is that they simply cannot win a PR battle with #4. It just is not posible. Sure there are few columnists here and there that call out Favre, but overall this story has evolved to the point where Favre has been taken advantage of, etc etc.

Allow me to put forth a hypothetical situation to you all: After 4 years of a relationship that was enjoyable for both you and your girlfriend/boyfriend, your significant other decides it is time to move on. Naturally you would feel depressed, melancholy, and possibly angry. Once you had spent the first few weeks post-breakup listening to Barry Manilow play constantly from your stereo while crying alone on your sofa in the dark, you would have only one choice: to move on.

Flash forward to a few months later. Your friends and family have really been there for you, helping you get past the relationship. Sure you may be single, but after a little while, you decide to finally make a move on that waitress who had caught your eye a while back. You take her Irish dancing one night, maybe grab some sushi on another, and before you know it you’re dating the waitress. Everything seems to be working out right?

Then, one day while you are walking back from work on a gorgeous fall day, you run into your ex. You engage in the casual pleasantries, ask her how things are going, whether or not she finally was able to get that dress that had been backordered when you broke up, things of that nature. Suddenly, she starts to break down in tears, jumps into your arms, and sobbingly confesses she made a mistake and that she never should have left you.

Let’s analyze this situation. You are over this girl, for all intents and purposes. Sure, there’s no hate present, but it sure is not love anymore. You gave her back everything she had left in your apartment, and even sold some of the stuff both of you had bought. You’re dating another woman whose company is really enjoyable, and there is a future in your viewpoint. Your friends and family all know the relationship ended a long time ago, and they of course have spent the past few months attempting to comfort you saying things along the lines of, "She was never right for you anyways." Are you going to take back your ex, and pretend that the past few months just never happened?

Favre made the choice to retire; and he reiterated that decision before the draft. The Packers probably are a better team with Favre, but at what cost do you sacrifice long term success? I doubt that the Packers could play better with Brett this year, but who knows? The only way Favre’s return would be acceptable is if the Packers were to win the SB. That is the ONLY reason for bringing him back. If the Packers make the playoffs but get bounced in the divisional or conference round, then what was accomplished?

It would seem apparent to me Favre never really wanted to return to the Packers, and somehow expected that because he played for a long time in Green Bay, he’s deserving of special treatment. Really? I know that as a normal joe, if I signed a contract, I wouldn’t expect to just be let out of it, no matter how long that business relationship had lasted.

TT and MM have made mistakes in this business, but I am terribly confused as to what else could have been done. Just release Favre, and get absolutely nothing for him? That makes absolutely no sense. Trading him makes even better sense, but shocker of shockers, Favre refused to go to the teams he doesn’t want to be traded to. Are the Packers asking for a high price? yes they are, and they should BE! Does anyone doubt Favre can’t still gunsling it up? It’s just a matter of fit, and right now, Favre coming back to the Packers would be a mistake. Thompsons would have absolutely zero credibility and influence, McCarthy would have been immasculated, and guess what folks? Those two are responsible for the Packers renaissance. Favre has always been Favre, when those two came along they brought the strategy, plan, and players with them.

Ari Fliesher….need I say more?

The way I see it, Brett showed up to play, and the Packers closed the door. Since “we’ve moved on” and “Brett’s not in the right mindset to play here” is the official word from the Packers camp, I find myself mulling over the interpersonal dynamics. I’m convinced this is a battle of ego’s and Mccarthy has outdone Farve on this. Too bad for Packer fans, I’m inclined to think that at this stage in his career, Brett is uncoachable. He is a gunslinger and will do things his way, as he has done for years. Mccarthy resents Brett’s bigger than the team persona and coach want’s a slice of that pie. For Mccarthy what’s best for the team has been trumped by what is best for coach. He simply want’s to be the man, and with Farve in town, that isn’t happening. According to reports, Farve has given plenty of consideration to his teamates and wanted to avoid being a distraction, so he walked away. Once again, the Packers fans are the X factor here and lose out. If I were a diehard fan I would be danged upset.

I’m picking up what your laying down Packsmith. Like the way Farve plays the game, I’m probably guilty of tossing the emotional softball at this one. Your reasoned response is a better way to approach the whole deal. Certainly, there’s more than enough blame to spread around here, but what good possibly comes of that? I can support both sides, thanks for the clarity.

It is a fascinating story though. Can there be two winners? Not likely. I’m not a diehard Packer fan (long live the Black and Gold) but have rooted for them for many years with Farve at the helm. My point was that Mccarthy won this battle of egos. This isnt going to endear him to fans such as me. For the record, I will probably root for Farve in the event he squares off against his former team.

Whether or not Farve is capable of winning another SB, I am not convinced he isn’t. I do think he can still play at high level and it remains to be seen if the FO decision to go in another direction at the most critical position will pan out. In most cases it takes a special QB to win a SB. If Rodgers totally bombs, the plot will thicken. If he brings home the goods, then Mccarthy’s a genuis.

I’m left with the notion that Farve’s a gunslinger and Mccarthy’s a gambler. I still like the guy with the gun.