Article here: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms," the team's statement said. "We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion. Brett's press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement. The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team." The 38-year-old Favre retired March 6 after a 17-year career, openly sobbing as he contemplated a future without football. But almost immediately, he began dropping hints that he was having second thoughts. The most recent and intense round came Friday, when ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that sources close to Favre and the team told him agent James "Bus" Cook asked the Packers for Favre's release in a letter because the Packers were not receptive to the idea of Favre wanting to play again. The Packers' front office has spent the past several offseasons dealing with weeks and months worth of speculation about the three-time MVP's future plans. But this time, they're apparently not biting. The Packers' statement said Favre, who was placed on the reserve/retired list, has the right to petition NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to be reinstated -- a request the league would grant automatically. After that, Favre would return to the team's active roster. But the statement did not specify what the Packers would do after that, beyond doing "what's right and in the best interest of the team." If the team has committed to moving forward without Favre, their options once he was reinstated would include trading him to another team or releasing him so he would be free to sign with the team of his choice. The Packers have made it clear they're committed to going with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a first-round pick in 2005 who has been sitting behind Favre for his first three seasons in the NFL. Releasing Favre presents the possibility that he will sign with NFC North rivals Minnesota or Chicago, where he would be an upgrade over the incumbent QBs. If the Packers traded him, there would be teams outside the division such as Baltimore or Tampa Bay, and perhaps Washington, that would be interested. There also has been speculation he could go to Miami for disgruntled defensive end Jason Taylor, the 2006 defensive player of the year. Either way, it would be an ugly end to what has been one of the most celebrated partnerships in recent NFL history. "As with all Packers greats, Brett's legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions," the statement said. "Brett and Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family." Even if that family is looking awfully dysfunctional these days.</div>
Now, Ted Thompson is just being a turd. You don't want Favre. That's fine. It's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, but fine. Have some respect for the man and all he has done for the Packers and let him go play some football while he has time rather than waste that time having him hold a clipboard.
The Pack should not reward Favre for Jordanesque like indecisiveness. Green Bay sure knows how to pick 'em. First, Minister White now this yahoo.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ras alghul @ Jul 13 2008, 06:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Pack should not reward Favre for Jordanesque like indecisiveness. Green Bay sure knows how to pick 'em. First, Minister White now this yahoo.</div> That yahoo and Minister White led the Pack to a Super Bowl Championship. Since when is it a sin for a football player to have trouble deciding if he should play or hang it up? Like I have said before, if you don't understand that the competitive nature that drove great players to be great is the same drive that makes it hard to give up the game, then you are clueless about great athletes. It would be nice if the Packers would show a little respect to the future Hall of Famer and sit down with him and work things out. That's not the Packers way. They would rather make things ugly in the press for players and drive them out. Just ask Javon Walker.
Competitive nature? That's yet another great overused sports cliche. So, let me trot out my own. Professional sports, especially the NFL, has a what have you down for me lately mentality. So, it really doesn't matter what happened 5 to 7 years ago. Resting on your laurels and/or expecting to be rewarded for such only leads to complacency then to failure.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thoth @ Jul 14 2008, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Competitive nature? That's yet another great overused sports cliche. So, let me trot out my own. Professional sports, especially the NFL, has a what have you down for me lately mentality. So, it really doesn't matter what happened 5 to 7 years ago. Resting on your laurels and/or expecting to be rewarded for such only leads to complacency then to failure.</div> This is what Brett has done for the Packers lately: 2007 Season 4155 yards 28 touchdowns 15 int's 95.7 rating We know what Brett can do. We don't really know what Aaron Rogers can do. Brett gives them the best chance to win the Superbowl in 2008. Given that, I don't see how people can declare that Brett's needs are getting in the way of the Packers' needs. The bottom line for any NFL team is to win a Superbowl, every year if possible. We are all aware that Aaron Rogers was Ted Thompson's first ever draft pick as a Packer GM. Hmmmm, perhaps Ted is not putting the needs of the team before his own?
i heard Stephen A Smith's opinions on this, and though i disagree with him 90% of the time, but i agree 100% on this. he says just go away, and i agree.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jul 14 2008, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i heard Stephen A Smith's opinions on this, and though i disagree with him 90% of the time, but i agree 100% on this. he says just go away, and i agree.</div> Training camps have not even started yet. Why is everyone so excited about kicking this guy to the curb already? I never hear anyone having this much venom toward guys like Doug Flutie, who played even long than Favre, and is also legendary in his own right. To tell an able-bodied, NFL quarterback to just "go away" is just being selfish, because there are teams out there that would contend immediatly if he were starting for them in 2008. If the guy couldn't do it anymore, then I would understand your opinion a little better. He can still bring it at a high level, period.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Jul 14 2008, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jul 14 2008, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i heard Stephen A Smith's opinions on this, and though i disagree with him 90% of the time, but i agree 100% on this. he says just go away, and i agree.</div> Training camps have not even started yet. Why is everyone so excited about kicking this guy to the curb already? I never hear anyone having this much venom toward guys like Doug Flutie, who played even long than Favre, and is also legendary in his own right. To tell an able-bodied, NFL quarterback to just "go away" is just being selfish, because there are teams out there that would contend immediatly if he were starting for them in 2008. If the guy couldn't do it anymore, then I would understand your opinion a little better. He can still bring it at a high level, period. </div> he's a drama queen, and it's annoying
ill will add this though, if he comes back fine but i really hope the media isn't on him like he's a god
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jul 14 2008, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ill will add this though, if he comes back fine but i really hope the media isn't on him like he's a god</div> The media will overreact to anything that happens regarding Favre and oversaturate the public with those stories. That's a given. Week one, if Favre has a great game, there will be a ton of stories of how Favre has proven everyone wrong. If Favre has a bad game, there will be a ton of stories of how he should have stayed retired. That will go on all season long. That's not Favre's fault. Favre doesn't control what the media covers. The only thing that Favre has done to contribute to the media's obsessive coverage of every move he makes is be one of the NFL's all-time great QBs. If Favre sucked, then no one would care.
Rhetorical question: What does Favruh have left to prove? Rhetorical answer: Nothing! BF, like George Costanza, needs to know when to go out on a high note.
This whole saga is just getting absolutely ridiculous. I can honestly say that I don't blame the Packers for what they're doing. Favre has been toying with them for the past few seasons. Will he retire? Will he stay? Those were the questions that have been going through managements and the coaching staffs brains for the past few offseasons. Why? Because Favre has been so indecisive over this whole retirements situation. And now that he said he was finally hanging 'em - give the Pack a chance to move on. And then just what, a month and half later, he's come back saying that he made a mistake. I don't care how capable he is, he needs to learn how to make a decision. He needs to learn how much his indecisiveness actually affects the team. So honestly, I can truly say that I don't blame the Pack for what they're doing. As much as he's done for the organization - the wins, the Super Bowls, etc. - it's time for the Packers to move on, and by him coming back and saying he made a mistake, he's not making it easy on them, much like he wasn't making things easy for them the past few seasons as he mulled over retirement each and every offseason.
Fav-ray's indeciveness affects how the Packers run the team, be it in the NFL draft, free agency, building towards the future, etc. Sounds like the Packers were ready to move one. I do hope they move Favre though; let him play for someone else if he wants too.
His indecisiveness is a non-issue for everyone but Aaron Rogers and his daddy Ted Thompson. Every year there are veterans who will either not work out or hold out until training camp. Then, they join their teams and it moves on. Favre is no different, and is only being treated different because he is a living legend. Ted Thompson is just impatient to install his own draft pick into the starting offense.
It is an issue to the Packers front office. Case in point: last year offseason with Favre, Rodgers, and (????) they were set at QB. This offseason, with Favre retiring, they needed at least one QB. Enter Brohm. His indeciveness every offseason impacted the front office in terms of what they needed in free agency, the draft, etc. Yeah, he's a HOF QB and probably a better QB than Rodgers will be next year.... but him staying/retiring does impact how a front office will manage things in regards to the overall roster. My guess is the Packer F.O. got tired of the offseason saga.
Wish I could see it. Just to add to that point about Favre's indecisiveness messing with everything else, Peter King pointed out that Aaron Rodgers' contracts expires in '09. Its not as simple as just starting Favre for one more year. Giving him the reigns for one more year could potentially F up the franchise for the next few years after this season, if Rodgers decides he's fed up with the bullshit (very possible). Then the Packers are faced with the fact that they might've wasted two high draft picks, and could be in a Chicagoish situation, where a contending team is held back by shoddy QB'ing.
After listening to Brett's side of the story in the interview, I really think the Pack should just let him go his own way. It sounds to me like they are trying to keep him from playing anywhere at all. They told him they don't want him starting in Green Bay, and they don't want him to ever play for another team. It's his life, I don't think the Pack should try to <u>play God</u> with him the way they seem to be. Brett has accepted their decision to start Aaron, so just let Brett go his own way.
