Brett Favre Wears Out Welcome With One Contender, Seeks Trade To Another

Brett Favre is officially no longer welcome in Green Bay. Coach Mike McCarthy confirmed today that Favre is not the starting QB for the Packers, saying that he was "not in the proper mindset" (ESPN). 

When I first heard that Favre was un-retiring, my first thought was that it was his right to do. After all, he was a legend, but he had also performed well last season, and did not seem especially washed-up in any way.  If Steve Young could sit behind Joe Montana, then Aaron Rodgers could suck it up and sit behind Favre.

But Rodgers and Favre had a not-so-friendly relationship. This is nothing new. Montana hated Young for trying to take his place, and Young became restless as a backup. When Montana was traded to Kansas City, Young had to put up with divided loyalties, even to the point of Bay Area newspapers openly following the Chiefs, an AFC team and a rival to the Raiders.

Young also was chilly with Jeff Garcia, despite Montana's treatment of him. This is why Young has no place commenting on the Favre saga.

But, Young and Montana never hurt their organization by un-retiring. They accepted their legend status and lived with the fact that they would never set foot on the field again. Their decisions were made easier by injuries, but they had too much respect for the Niners organization to un-retire. 

Montana did request a trade, but the circumstances were much different. Montana had been injured for almost 2 full seasons prior to the trade. And two years later, as Montana made his last playoff appearance, the Niners won their last Super Bowl.

To continue with greatness, teams need to move on eventually. Favre shouldn't have a choice as to where he lands, even as a Packers legend. He forfeited that right when he essentially quit on the team after a tough loss, much like the receiver he wanted in Green Bay, Randy Moss.

What did Favre expect? The organization had already spent two draft picks on quarterbacks, and declared that Rodgers was the starting QB. Favre had an almost-career season in 2007, didn't he know that he would want to come back?

Some of the blame has to fall on the Packers' organization, who should have anticipated the whole fiasco. But they had to take a stand sometime. After all, how many times can a player change his mind. And if he was really 100% committed to playing, Favre would not have retired the first time.

Would Favre as a Viking vs. Rodgers as a Packer approach the level of drama that KC (Montana) vs. SF (Young) generated? Not likely. But it would still be interesting to watch, especially as a fan not invested in either player.