from
http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/ ..........
Retirement and return (2008)
On March 4, 2008, Favre formally announced his retirement. On July 2, 2008, it was reported that Favre was in contact with the Packers about a possible return to the team. On July 11, 2008, Favre sent a letter to the Packers asking for his unconditional release to allow him to play for another NFL team. Packers general manager Ted Thompson announced he would not grant Favre an unconditional release and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to Aaron Rodgers as its new quarterback. Complicating matters was Favre's unique contract giving him the leverage to void any potential trade by not reporting to the camp of the team he might be traded to if the Packers elect to go that route.
Favre spoke publicly for the first time about his potential comeback in a July 14, 2008, interview with Greta Van Susteren on the Fox News Channel's On the Record with Greta Van Susteren. In the interview, Favre said he was "guilty of retiring early," that he was "never fully committed" to retirement, and that he was pressured by the Packers to make a decision before the NFL Draft and the start of the free agent signing period. Favre disputed the notion that he doesn't want to play for Green Bay and said that while he understands the organization has decided to move on, they should now allow him to do the same. He made clear that he would not return to the Packers as a backup and reiterated his desire to be released rather than traded, which would allow him the freedom to play for a competitive team. Favre also accused the Packers of being dishonest, wishing the team would have been straightforward with him and the public.
In the second part of the interview, which aired on July 15, Favre expressed his frustration with Packer management, spoke of his sympathy for successor Aaron Rodgers' predicament, and affirmed he is 100 percent committed to playing football in 2008.
Favre formally filed for reinstatement with the NFL on July 29, 2008, and his petition was granted by Commissioner Goodell, effective August 4, 2008. Favre then flew to Green Bay to report to Packers training camp. After a lengthy meeting with head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson, however, both sides agreed it was time for Favre and the organization to part ways
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We can all remember things differently, or revise history to suit our own arguments. The Packers did rebuild when Thompson came to town. Saying that they didnt just because the Packers went 13-3 during Favre's final year with the team is a lame argument. From what i recall of that year, Favre had a crap O-line to play behind with such greats as "The Human Turnstyle" playing in front of him. I honestly dont think any other QB could have produced a winning record with that team.
again, put yourselves in his shoes, its not like this all just happened out of the blue.
So, lets say that
YOU are a professional QB in the NFL. The team
YOU play for, hadnt even made it into a playoff game in over 10 years prior to
YOUR arrival.
YOU have played with that same team for 14 years, without missing one single start.
YOU have played in two Super Bowls,
YOU have won 3 consecutive MVP awards,
YOU have set the NFL record for 13 consecutive winning seasons..........along with a number of other records, to many to mention. People refer to
YOU as a Gunslinger, and always talk about how
YOU play the QB position with so much heart and passion.
You have been through a lot with this team, but now, there is a new GM, and a new Head Coach. The GM has made it very clear to
YOU, that he is going to rebuild, hoping that
YOU will either retire, or stick around and do
YOUR part to help sell tickets while the team works its way through the rebuilding process. Most if not all of the veteran players that
YOU had played with have been cut or let go via free agency.
YOU are nearly twice as old as most of the other players on the team and
YOU want to chase one more Super Bowl before
YOU retire.
YOUR replacement has been drafted and is ready to play.
YOU are sick of looking over
YOUR shoulder, and the team decides it wants
YOU in their past, not in their future (except maybe to help peddle merchandise, lol) The GM has told
YOU that he will not release
YOU outright, even though he thinks that the team has a better chance of winning with his #1 draft pick than with
YOU at the QB position........and the new Head Coach agrees with the GM (can you say "yes man"?)
In the previous couple of years,
YOU have had to deal with YOUR Fathers death,
YOUR wifes cancer scare, the accidental death of
YOUR brother-in-law, and the destruction of the family home by way of Hurricane Katrina......and now
YOU have to deal with this.
So, How would
YOU have dealt with the situation, in a way that would be so much better than how Favre handled it? Please, step down from
YOUR high-horse for a moment and enlighten us all as to what
YOU would have done differently.
Personally,
I would probably have sent a picture of
MY weiner to a cheerleader and just moved on.