I know, I know. Geez, the guy ought to make up his mind. If you're going to retire, then retire already.
While it's easy for you and I to think that way, and perhaps that's the thought process of many Green Bay fans and management, I'm sure it's not so easy for Brett Favre.
The rumors of Favre's retirements have been coming for years. But following last season, the time seemed finally right and one of the best QBs of all time was actually leaving the game forever.
But not so fast, buddy. Brett has the itch again. No, not the kind that Lotrimin® can cure. He says he was forced to make a decision too quickly. Bottom line, the man ain't ready to hang 'em up.
But the Packers, for reasons unknown to this reporter, don't seem to really want him back. I'm sure part of it is the money they will have to pay him. Likewise, there is the desire to get on with the Aaron Rogers era.
For whatever reason, Favre says he doesn't feel welcome any more in the place he once practically owned. And that is a damn shame, because he still has much to offer.
Look, we're not talking about a washed up Joe Montana going to the Chiefs. We're not talking about a fading Jerry Rice or an embarrassing Willie Mays in his last days at Shea Stadium.
- B/R Ticket Guide
No, sir. We're talking about a QB that is coming off of one of his better seasons. And, at 38, he is probably still capable of producing one more stellar season. His arm is still strong, we know that. And the desire is still there, we know that, too.
But the Packers won't let him.
They say, fine, if you won't go away like a good little boy and head off into the sunset, we'll take you back and make you a backup for Aaron Rogers.
Say what?
Like Rogers won't have paranoid visions seeing Favre waiting on the sidelines every time he throws a bad pass. Not a good idea. Plus, what has Rogers ever done to warrant such confidence?
Let him go to another team if you don't want him, Green Bay. Oh no, they say, we won't let that happen. Again, say what?
I'm basically divorcing you, honey, but I won't let you re-marry. Well, that sucks, doesn't it?
And there are teams out there who would love to have the services of one Brett Lorenzo Favre, believe me.
My Bears, for one, could certainly use a QB, though it's not going to happen for other reasons, even if they did let him go. The Bears won't pay him, for one, and I can see Favre taking one look at the running game and the wide receivers on the roster before running away screaming.
He wants to win. It would make sense for him to go someplace where he could produce one last championship to add to his impressive, Hall of Fame resume. Like Green Bay, for example. Hey, there's an idea. If only they wanted him.
Listen, as tiring as this soap opera is, it's difficult for a professional athlete to leave the game he loves. He misses the adulation, the respect, the competition, the fame, and yes, the money. Look at Michael Jordan as one example.
For once he is gone, he's gone, and everyone will be longing for the days when they had one of the greatest QBs of all time leading their team. Come to think of it, that's why they say hindsight is 20-20. Do the right thing, Green Bay, and let the man come back and lead your team one last time. Or set him free.
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4 months ago
Great stuff Bob. Can you imagine knowing this scenario would play out during last years playoffs? People would've called you nuts! Besides the Patriots, Favre's revival was THE story of the NFL last season. To think half the Green Bay fans would claim Aaron Rogers time is now is insane.
The one point I try and make to people who support Rogers is this: When you play the game of football, the object is to WIN the game. Brett Favre gives the Packers the best chance to win the game. Period.
When did the object of the game become anything different.
Vince Lombardi, the king of the Packers, is famous for saying, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
from 4 months ago
Well said, Sam.
4 months ago
Ted Thompson won't be able to get rid of Favre. He'll eventually have to call in a hit on him or something. lol
4 months ago
I think the thing that is most unbelievable to me is that the fans dont want him. A rally of 200 people and under 50 percent approval in a newspaper poll? Thats absurd. This man was a god not six months ago and now they want to replace him with Rodgers?
I just don't understand how one of the best quarterbacks in history wanting to play for you became a bad thing.
4 months ago
This is what prompted me to write this piece. Sitting back, I just can't understand how they don't realize what they have here? The Bears, for example, haven't had a truly great QB since Sid Luckman in the 1940s!! It's not like they grow on trees. And Rogers is no sure thing. Granted, Favre's in the twilight of his career, and has had a terrific run, but the arrogance of a management that wants to prove it can win without him will be the undoing of that franchise probably. I remember when the Bulls GM Jerry Krause pushed hard for Jordan, Pippen and Phil to leave because "organizations win championships, not players" - how did that one turn out?
4 months ago
The packers NEVER should have drafted Rogers! As a Packer fan I was knew that he would never start for us. He's got 2 years on his contract. Trade Rogers let Favre start and keep Brion Brohm as the successor to Favre. Some one will take Rogers.
4 months ago
This isn't the first time Favre has asked to be traded. He did in the past when he threw his fit because the Packers wouldn't draft Moss (who many Packer fans disliked in the first place). And apparently Favre has been trying to tell the management who they should draft.... which isn't his job.
4 months ago
Apparently you guys here don't comprehend the fact that Favre isn't loyal to the Packers. Or he wouldn't be lieing and asking for trades.
You can't just sit around waiting for Favre to make up his mind at the last minute. At some point you have to draw the line. And Favre crossed that line.
4 months ago
To take what Sam ended with...
Vince Lombardi, the king of the Packers, is famous for saying, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
Favre will = winning!
As for Tim "Apparently you guys here don't comprehend the fact that Favre isn't loyal to the Packers." He is a football player whom wants to play. I understand him wanting to go play somewhere other than the packers. Is any TEAM loyal?? So why should any player be??
Also Favre wanted the packers to get Moss as a free agent not in the draft!!!
4 months ago
Great read, Bob. Gave you my pick of the day, five stars and couldn't say it any better.
from 4 months ago
Thanks SM. And to Tim, let me echo what Chris wrote. Teams certainly aren't loyal so why should players be expected to be? I don't think Favre really wants to be traded - it's just that he doesn't want to be a backup and he wants the erspect he's earned. Hell, that understandable. Why should a HOF QB backup a nothing like Rogers? The Pack shoud kiss his ass if that what it takes for they would have been nothing all these years w/o him. Nothing. As for the timing of everything, too damn bad. If you don't like it, then let him go and play elsewhere. It's not fair to hold him back yet say we don't want you.
4 months ago
When it comes down to it, athletes (especially quarterbacks) just want to play. If they feel they CAN play, they feel they SHOULD play. They're just too competitive to sit and watch.
At this point, I honestly don't think that Favre would think twice about playing for someone else, in fact he may even prefer it.
That said, I couldn't agree with your point more, Bob. To me its insanity to not want a top ten quarterback (and yes, he's still top ten) on your team.
from 4 months ago
That's the point - he can still play. He doesn't just think he can play, like Montana. He proved last eyar he can still play at a high level.
4 months ago
I think they would have taken him back, had he made his decision in March. Once they drafted another quarterback, it became too expensive to keep all three guys. They're certainly not cutting either of the young QBs, and Favre (best case) has one or two years left.
Best to start fresh with the kids.
Plus, Favre is a playoff nightmare... you might not get to the playoffs with the kids, but if you do, I'm sure they won't play any worse than Favre has over the second half of his career.
from 4 months ago
Go ahead ans start fresh but plan on going back to being an average football team with no chance of a championship. I think Favre played pretty damn well the second half last year.
4 months ago
Great read!
But to the question why would they would'nt want him back I think I have the awnser. The reason why the Packers don't want to take him back is because it is easier to develop a QB on a team where you can have a bad game and still be competitive in it. Rather then having him start on a rebuilding team where there is a chance for him to lose all his confidence.
I also believe that if they were gonna bring him back, make it as back-up QB and QB coach for Brian Brohm.
from 4 months ago
You're asking a HOF QB to be a backup? That's just such a slap in his face in my opinion. I undersatnd the development thing, in fact I mentioned having Brett looking over his shoulder would be very tough for Aaron. But why even worry about Aaron Rogers when you have a great QB who is still capable of playing good football wanting to come back? The chance of Rogers being a very good QB in the NFL is about 25%, tops. That's a stat I heard from Pro Football Weekly.
4 months ago
Brett forgot that there is no I in team. In his interview on Fox News, he skipped over the part where he is ready to play, then a couple days later he is not. I don't want show my age, but was a Packer fan when Tobin Rote was QB. When he was traded to Detroit, a lot fans tought the world was ending. But a few years later Vince shows up.and all is happy. Sometimes the quarterback does made a team great, but
from 4 months ago
Jack, do not underestimate what Brett has meant to your team. He is the most responsible for the success the Packers have enjoyed the past 10-15 years. The odds of Rogers being any good aer slim, and there won't be another truly great QB in GB for maybe 25 years.
4 months ago
The pack has one of the most talented teams in the NFL this year! Their tough, strong and still a young team. I'm actually suprised at the early predictions from many of the oddsmakers and NFL analysts. I pick them as a top ten team with or without Farve this year. I think the question to Farve or not to Farve is a stupid one. They really have no choice! If they send Farve packing he will probably end up in Minnesota! If that happens and the Vikings spank the Packers this year, the Press will eat the Packers alive.
from 4 months ago
With or w/o Favre? Really? As if the QB position is that unimportant? Uh, no. With Rogers, who knows? Probably they still have a chance because the division will be weak but with Favre they definately win the division.
4 months ago
Best Football move is Brett Favre. The Packers needed every inch of Favre's 4,000 yrd 28 TD season last year to make it where they did. Poor Aaron Rodgers is in the unenviable position of having to produce that, in what is essentially his rookie year. Indeed, this appears to be what Green Bay is banking on: that Rodgers has the best rookie season EVER. In the absense of that decision, then you need to release him. For all the talk I hear about "Favre distracting the team," it's the Packer's management that is now prolonging this fiasco. This after they had been none too cordial with the ol' gunslinger over the past two years (to say the least). Release Favre, the circus leaves with him. The REAL issue here is that they don't want him going to the Vikings. They are TERRIFIED of Favre with the Vikings. With a running prodigy and a solid O-line can you imagine what he'd do? This basically means that management is scared of how good he is. So good that you can't afford to release him. But not good enough to start in front of Aaron Rodgers? Who?
from 4 months ago
Right, and as I said before, the odds of Rogers having success is slim. Not because of anything specific that he has or has not done, just going by the probabilities here. Only 15-25% of first round QBs have sustained success. Go with the known over the unknown. Besides, don't you owe it to Favre? The guy has played his heart out for the Packers over the years and people are ready to just dump him. It's amazing, really. Tragically, the fans and mgmt will realize too late what they had. Start the downfall of the Pack everybody.
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