Could McCarthy have been taking a subtle dig at Favre?

by MikeDB on Oct 26, 2011 3:45 PM CDT

Mike McCarthy recently complemented his quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, saying that he is the best decision-maker at the position since Joe Montana. He then listed some of Rodgers' attributes as a passer: "He can throw to tight spots, and he has the anticipation, arm strength and accuracy to attack the seams. But he does a great job of staying disciplined and staying within the offense." McCarthy also added that Rodgers is "clearly in tune with taking what the defense gives you." Then came the clincher, "He does not get bored throwing the easy completion, and that’s a great attribute to have as a quarterback."

What quarterback might McCarthy have coached who did get bored with "the easy completion"?

Of course, I've never met Brett Favre. However, considering his difficulties with addiction problems, sexting in New York, making controversial comments in interviews and throwing for touchdowns or interceptions at crucial moments, one may wonder if Favre hasn't had a strong risk-taking personality, which affected his play. When McCarthy first became the head coach of the Packers, one of the first things he tried to do was convince Favre to check down to the easy completion rather than force a throw downfield. He was only moderately successful at this.

After Favre's recent comments about Aaron Rodgers, could McCarthy have been subtly taking a shot at Favre, defending his Super Bowl MVP quarterback?

Poll

Do you think Mike McCarthy had Favre in mind when he made this comment?

Yes

171 votes

No

116 votes

Maybe

82 votes

369 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Favre

Let me first say I have no ill feelings towards Favre. I was gone for the whole divorce, so that never affected me. Favre did a lot of great things for the Packers. I’ll always remember his performance the day after his dad died.

Now, that said…what a squander of talent. If he could’ve reigned in his gambling with the football, if he could’ve been disciplined, if he could have understood that a proverbial bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bushes….he would’ve gone down as a top 3 QB of all time. He had as great of talent as anyone to ever play the position….but his personality and decision making left so much to be desired. I still like the old gunslinger…but his career is a sad story of wasting talent (at least compared to what he could have been)

by Jeffersap on Oct 26, 2011 4:42 PM CDT reply actions

Favre just kind of fell into a good situation.

by dan115loop on Oct 26, 2011 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs

Damn sure did....

had he been stuck in Atl, with the way they felt about him there, he’d have never started a game more or less accomplished what he did in the NFL.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 26, 2011 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

Rodgers fell into a nice one too though. :-)

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 27, 2011 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Rodgers worked his arse off, and studied

Far more than Mr. Early-In-His-Career-Party-Boy ever did, from all I’ve ever read.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Oct 28, 2011 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Oh not saying he didn’t work for it, just saying the he inherited a pretty nice situation (drama aside), unlike most first round (potential #1 pick) QBs out there who have to suffer on terrible teams for years.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 28, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I think I gotcha. :)

You mean he fell into a situation where he got to sit and learn every mistake in the book not to make, from an expert at it, and develope for a few years.

That’s a good point. :)

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Oct 29, 2011 1:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don't think it was a dig at Favre

I think it was just an accolade McCarthy was giving to Rodgers. Of course, if the sports media has nothing else to write about, I’m sure this’ll come up too and we’ll have the back and forth.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Oct 27, 2011 12:12 AM CDT reply actions

Driver and Jennings

Shortly after Favre’s “I was surprised Rodgers didn’t win one (Super Bowl) sooner” remarks, I was surprised to see both Driver and Jennings, in separate interviews shortly afterwards, answer reporters’ questions by saying they preferred playing with Rodgers. I was expecting a PC response such as great to have played with two outstanding QBs, or such, but both receivers made it clear that Rodgers was their preference.

McCarthy is not shy at complimenting his star QB. Because of those very same Rodgers attributes, I think the Packers do have a several year window with a chance at multiple titles.

Nitschke never wore an earring!

by Packer Pete on Oct 27, 2011 5:06 AM CDT reply actions

Taking risks and being a professional athelete

These two things sort of go together: risk-taking and playing professional sports. A lot of QBs have been risk-takers. Roethlisberger is one, Vick is another, Romo, Rivers. Of past QBs, Marino took risks, so did Elway, so did Favre.

My guess would be that when McCarthy said this he was thinking primarily of Rodgers’ good qualities, but that he also had in mind other QBs, including some very good ones, who didn’t always take what the defense gave them. This would have, of course, included Favre with whom McCarthy had worked personally.

by MikeDB on Oct 27, 2011 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

Way above that...

Why would he bring Favre into something when he’s retired and clearly not coming back. Nothing good would come from it…he was just making a point that he probably felt makes him stand out from most QBs he has worked with.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 27, 2011 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Enough about Favre. Jeez.

There should have been a fourth option: Who cares. Honestly, we need to stop trying to correlate every damn thing to him.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Oct 27, 2011 8:09 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

Woohoo

Best post yet!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 28, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I think that

the only quarterback that Coach Mac had in mind with his comments was Aaron Rodgers.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Oct 28, 2011 12:41 AM CDT reply actions

And, FWIW,

Rodgers is better than Montana, IMO.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Oct 28, 2011 12:43 AM CDT reply actions

I think there are a bunch of QBs better than Montana…talk about a QB falling into a great situation! :-)

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 28, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

All top QB's fall into good situations for them

Thats part of why they are so good. Teams get a Franchise QB and they build the system and team around the strengths of the QB. #4 had that happen too… Same w/ Montana, Young, Aikman if you wanna include him, Peyton, Brady, Brees. all have that.

Its also true that the best QB’s can pretty much succeed in any system tho.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 29, 2011 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't know if I'd call it a great situation.

Yes, great coach with a great system, but the coach was new then and the system hadn’t been implemented there yet. The 49ers were 2-14 the year befor Montana, and also his rookie year when he wasn’t the starter. His rookie year the top WR was Freddie Solomon and the top rusher was Paul Hofer.

by Zundar on Oct 29, 2011 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Reasons this was not a dig

1: Coach’s focus has been and always will be the Packers…..Favre is not a Packer, therefore, Coach probably hasn’t thought about Favre since he left the Pack….except to game plan for him.

2: Coach has too much respect for Rodgers to try to work in a jab at Favre while complimenting Aaron.

3: Coach is not afraid to speak his mind….if he wanted to say something about Favre – he’d come right out and say it. He is not passive-agressive like Favre has proven to be.

4: Coach has way too much class to even think about behaving in a sophomoric manner.

by Starr2Hornung on Nov 7, 2011 10:22 AM CST reply actions