If Brett Favre was to enter the market as an unrestricted free agent, would the Washington Redskins consider bringing him in? Should they?
I didn’t consider this at all when the news that Favre had inquired with the Green Bay Packers about the possibility of a return last week. Wake me when it’s over, I thought then.
It’s looking more and more, though, that Favre will end up playing somewhere in 2008. Peter King thinks that it will happen, as does Pat Kirwin on Sirius NFL Radio.
If Favre does indeed want to play, all he has to do is tell the Packers that he is no longer retired and that he intends to report to training camp. They then will have three options: bring him back, trade him, or release him.
The pressure to bring him back would, of course, be overwhelming.
Imagine if in July of 2003 that Darrell Green announced that he would like to return for another season and the Redskins said, "No thanks, we’re moving forward with the people we have."
Now imagine the hue and cry of protest coming from Redskins fans in that situation and multiply it by a factor of about 1,000. That would be the reaction in Wisconsin, and around the country, if the Packers told Brett Favre to drop dead.
It’s possible, though, that the Packers won’t be so eager to welcome back the living legend. They have gone through the offseason preparing Aaron Rodgers for the role of starting quarterback. The word is that one of the reasons that Favre decided to retire in February is that the Packer organization gave him strong hints that they were ready to move on from the Favre era.
So, let’s say that Green Bay is willing to take the PR hit in the short term and do what they think is best in the long term and let Favre walk.
Are the Redskins shoppers in a market for Favre? And, assuming that he has considerable say over where he goes, would he be interested in coming to Washington?
I’ve heard in a few places that the 'Skins would be in the picture. As far as I can tell, this was nothing more than speculation, an attempt to connect the dots. Whenever a big-name player is on the market, there are those in the media who will speculate that Dan Snyder will make a play for him.
24 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Rohit Banerjee about 1 year ago
Good article as always Rich..do you think they should bring in Favre? I personall don't, sure he played a season that was among the best he had ever played but his interceptions are what ended up killing the team...The skins need to look to the future, not to immediate success and they dont want to end up killing the confidence of yet another young quarterback (See Patrick Ramsey).
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Shaun Ahmad about 1 year ago
The Redskins love Campbell too much to give Favre a one year shot. Besides, I don't think Favre would have any interest playing here. If the Packers anger him by not letting him come back to Green Bay, he will find a way to go to Minnesota. It's going to be an ugly divorce.
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Jack Anderson about 1 year ago
There is no way he will be in DC...Shaun is right he will end up in Minnesota or Chicago. Besides I am not even sure if Favre will end up coming back when the Packers turn him down. Ted Thompson clearly is not friends with Favre as their relationship has been very icy the past three or four seasons. If the Skins bring in Favre I would be rather confused about what to think though.
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XXX XXX about 1 year ago
This would be tough and very confusing...
I think he'll be back but to whom???
Minnesota would need em...
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Matty K about 1 year ago
Stop with this silly rumor already. It's simply not going to happen.
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Robert Johnson about 1 year ago
This is all based on a rumor that Favre has "an itch to play." Well of course he'll have that itch, he's only been playing football for how many years now? This would be about the time that he'd be getting ready for training camp. I think his "itch" is more akin to an amputee still feeling an itch on a limb that no longer exists, than him actually wanting to come back.
Even if he did want to come back (which he still says he doesn't) I don't think he'd want to go anywhere else besides Green Bay.
I think you were right on the money the first time when you said the King just threw the Redskins out there because of Snyder's previous history of buying up over-priced veterans well beyond their prime.
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Rich Tandler about 1 year ago
The odds certainly are against it, but if you look at my history I'm not one of those who throws things like this out there just because it gives me something to write about. Right now, I think that the best bet is that Favre will come back and the Packers will (reluctantly) take him back. It's not out of the question, though, that the Packers will risk the wrath and cut him loose. If that happens, I have no doubt--none--that the Redskins would be interested.
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chuck dunnington about 1 year ago
I wouldn't count on it!
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Jack Anderson about 1 year ago
Wow Rich I would disagree... Though the Skins go for just about every name player, this is one I don't see them going for...I feel Zorn will make sure there is a commitment to Campbell.
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Matty K about 1 year ago
A few years ago I believe the Redskins would be interested in making a dumb move like this, but now I'm not buying it. If they went out and got Favre that would send a clear sign that Campbell isn't the guy and they're basically throwing in the towel with him before they even gave him a fair shot. I believe the organization is committed to Jason Campbell 100%.
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H Martin about 1 year ago
It's not worth seting Campell back any more because Farve has "an itch" and is well past his prime.
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Joe Blow about 1 year ago
if the redskins have a chance, they will take him and bench Campbell. It is apparent that Campbell is not the future of the team and they are just letting him start because they have no other viable options. he simply is not a playoff/pressure QB
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Rich Tandler about 1 year ago
Favre is "well past his prime?" He threw for over 4,200 yards last year. He took his team to the NFC championship game. No Redskin quarterback has ever done the former. No Redskin quarterback has done the latter in 17 years. If that's washed up, give me some of it.
Look, I'm a big supporter of Campbell. But I don't think that he can get the Redskins to the Super Bowl any time soon. Brett Favre can.
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Charles Campagna 11 months ago
Did you know that Peyton Manning(2006 season), and Kurt Warner(1999) are the only quarterbacks to throw for over 4000 yards and win the Super Bowl that year?
Also, Favre threw for 4155 last year, not "over 4200".
As for your last 17 years, the Skins have won a Super Bowl in that time period-1991 with Mark Rypien who threw for 3564 yards. The key was the record low 7 sacks allowed by that team.
So it would be easy to infer that what the Skins need is to keep what has been an injury-plagued line healthy in '08. Give Campbell time and then see what he can do.
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Matty K about 1 year ago
Rich, if you're Dan Snyder what would you do? Would you make the move for Favre??
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Rich Tandler 12 months ago
It depends on the deal. As an unrestricted free agent, yes. If the Packers are looking for a one or a two in a trade, which seems likely now, I probably steer clear.
This story is a long way from over, however.
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Cordell Hansen 12 months ago
I'm a fan of your articles Rich...another well written piece. Although it's a long-shot and I don't believe it will happen, it's fun to imagine Farve in a Skin's uniform. How much would he have to pay Derrick Frost (punter) for the #4 jersey? just kidding.
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Justin Hokanson 12 months ago
Please no! JC is my boy and if they brought in Favre I'd be pissed. It will never happen. JC isn't coming into his own and they wouldn't screw that up for one or two years with Favre.
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Osi Umenyiora 12 months ago
That would be great, please Danny Boy bring in Favre! The Giants could use the easy interceptions this season.
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Stephen Ellis 12 months ago
That is true. Because Redskins quarterbacks this year versus the Giants threw for 1 touchdown and zero interception in 2 games. Favre, on the other hand, threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions in one of the coldest games on record. Oh, and he also had three touchdowns and one interception in their first meeting in the season. I think the Redskins would take the interceptions with the touchdowns, especially with a new young corp of receivers. I just do not think they are close enough to Super Bowl contention for Favre to choose Washington as his final spot. It could happen, but they are not even the best team in their division.
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Brian Whitacre 12 months ago
Bring on Farve. Jason is too inconsistant and if not for his injury last year the skins aren't in the playoffs
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Rohit Banerjee 12 months ago
dude, it was his first season as a starter...give him a chance before you bash him
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Big Blue 12 months ago
I'm a DIE HARD giants fan and i dislike most of the other teams in the league....but from the standpoint of just your typical NFL FAN...which i am...i love football whether my superbowl champs are playing or not...
I think Favre playing for the Redskins could be MAJOR!!!! Brett Favre....mind you...he was 1 win away from the superbowl last year...and was having a GREAT season last year before he lost in overtime to my boys(yeah yeah..he threw an interception)...that was a mistake that he clearly recognized as a veteran as soon as he let the ball go...but he's still a GREAT HALL OF FAME PLAYER...
Redskin fans can't really believe they'll go to the superbowl with Jason Campbell....Not a chance with Manning, Romo and McNabb all in the same division....
Favre will have plenty to prove after all this hoopla and i think he'll be more focused than ever to Prove all the Nay-sayers wrong....why go thru all of this if you're not committed to winning??? He's focused and i feel he was pressured to Retire...
Talk about motivation...i know Redskin fans hate the idea....but i'm a Giants fan and SO DO I...but Brett Favre with the Offensive weapons yall have in D.C.....what??? Better than what he had in Green Bay and look how far they made it...Just my opinion...
Now that i have my Ring...i'm happy...i thought last year was Brett Favre's year...but it was Strahan's...This year...I have my money on Brett for one last go....if he becomes a Redskin, i think it'll happen...
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Charles Campagna 11 months ago
How do all of you "Favre to the Redskins" guys explain the two seasons prior to last year? Favre threw a lot more interceptions than touchdowns(38td/47int). He averaged less than 20 TD/season and almost 24 int's per season.
2007 was an anomaly(look it up). The facts are tha Favre is well past his prime, his age is against him, the Skins are a YOUNG team with a bright future, his signing would be a set back for Campbell(who has a tremendous upside), and the Packers will want more than a two-year-at-best non-guaranteed Super Bowl quarterback is worth. He benefited from a light schedule(the division he was in was poor against the pass and he played each of them twice). The Vikings(32), Lions(31), and Bears(27) were in the bottom six in pass defense.
And Favre is arguably the most OVERRATED QB in history. How many Super Bowls has he won? Hint: He has won as many as Trent Dilfer. His numbers are akin to Pete Rose's in baseball. They are the product of lots of games and the MOST career passing attempts. Project out other QBs at Favre's number of attempts and see what you get. He isn't as good as Marino and he never won a Super Bowl. I would argue that he isn't as good as Dan Fouts and can back it up statistically.
On top of that, in the last three seasons Favre has 79 turnovers vs. 67 total tds. For his career Favre has 455 total tds(passing+rushing) and 342 turnovers(ints+fumbles lost). Thats 1.33/1 ratio. In other words, in a 4 td gane Favre will turn it over 3 times.
His 288 career interceptions are the most in NFL history. He is third in career fumbles. At his career pace, he would surpass Dave Krieg for second on the all time list if he played another year and Warren Moon for first if he played two. Favre is only 19th in career passer rating behind such all-time greats as Chad Pennington, Duante Culpepper,Trent Green, Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, and Jeff Garcia.
Finally, do any of you remember how going after high-priced, low output free-agents got this team into trouble? Remeber Deion Sanders? How did that work out for us? Dana Stubblefield? Etc., etc., etc. We had the most picks we have had in the first three rounds of the draft in forever. We have a tremendous amount of young talent at nearly every position (via the draft), including QB. We have a veteran mentor in Todd Collins to help guide Campbell and Brennan as well as a head coach with a decent NFL resume himself.
There are just too many negatives in bringing in Favre. Let him go to Carolina and hope we get to play them in the playoffs.
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