Harlan Huckleby
07-17-2008, 10:36 PM
Wilde: A different path would better serve Favre
By JASON WILDE
GREEN BAY — Now that Brett Favre's three-part softball-a-thon with Greta Van Susteren is finally over, how do you feel about the Green Bay Packers retired-for-now quarterback?
From Favre's liar-liar, pants-on-fire rip job of general manager Ted Thompson; to the Packers' tampering allegations against their rivals, the "Minneapolis" Vikings (thanks, Greta!); to Favre showing up at the ESPY awards in an out-of-character black suit instead of Wranglers and flip-flops — the story has taken a few strange and ugly turns, and it's hard to imagine how the two sides will ever get over it, regardless of where Favre ends up in 2008.
It's incredible just how divided Packer Nation has become.
Based on an overflowing e-mail inbox and unscientific sports talk radio sampling, there are three clear groups: Favre lovers who still think their favorite quarterback can do no wrong, reasonable people who effectively argue that Favre still gives the Packers the best chance to win this season, and Favre-fatigued Packers fans who've maxed out on his annual hemming and hawing about playing.
We're not here to judge, although after all that's happened, that first group — some of whom could absolve Favre of blame for all 316 interceptions he's thrown (including playoffs) in his career — might have a slight credibility problem.
But here are couple of thoughts to chew on:
At any point during his chat with Van Susteren, did you hear Favre say anything remotely about the team and its potential?
No. It was all about him.
He said in passing that he liked his teammates and had fun with them, but he should've said, "I want to come back because I know we can win it all this year. We were 13-3 last year, made it to the NFC Championship Game with the youngest team in the league, and we'd have been in the Super Bowl if not for my overtime interception against the Giants. We've got a great team, and I want to be a part of it."
Second, it's too late now, but public opinion would be completely on his side had he come out and said, "I love playing in Green Bay, I love that franchise, I love the fans, and I don't want to go anywhere else. If the Packers only want me back as a backup, then that's what I'll do. I'll be the backup, I'll be third-string, heck, I'll play tight end if they want me to.
"Sure, I want to play — every backup does — but what we have in Green Bay is special. We've got a great team, and I want to be a part of it, no matter what my role. I'll support Aaron Rodgers, give him any advice I can, and I'll prepare so I'm ready if needed."
Had he just said this — rather than trashing Thompson and throwing both Rodgers and Favre's pal, offensive line coach James Campen, under the bus — he would've been a sympathetic figure who was, despite incredibly unfair treatment, doing the right thing because he's that great of a guy.
It's hard to figure out whether anyone in Mississippi is giving Favre any public-relations advice.
From here, it sure looks like he's surrounded by a bunch of enablers who keep telling him how great he is and how unjust and disrespectful the Packers' treatment of him has been — rather than warning him that he might be eroding some of his fan base with his words and actions.
As for Thompson, while Favre's beef that Thompson wasn't forthcoming with him about his decisions — not signing Randy Moss, not re-signing guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, not interviewing Steve Mariucci for the head-coaching job — might be valid, let's not forget that Rivera's body broke down as soon as he got to Dallas, Wahle had one good year in Carolina and is now in Seattle, and no one, including New England, knew Moss was going to have the monster year he had last year.
And his complaint about hiring Mike McCarthy without interviewing Mariucci, Favre's buddy and ex-quarterbacks coach?
Explain this: Favre throws 29 interceptions in a 4-12 season in 2005 because his head coach, Mike Sherman, didn't crack down on him for his decision-making and risk-taking.
And then Favre wants his best friend in the coaching world to get an interview? So he can keep doing what he wants?
Where's the credit McCarthy deserves for reining Favre in and helping him produce the renaissance season he had last year?
Sure, Favre's point probably was that he felt Thompson hadn't been fully truthful with him about not wanting to hire Mariucci, but is it really Favre's right to expect the GM to interview a candidate of his choosing?
The tampering charges Wednesday were simply the capper.
The Vikings released a statement Thursday, saying, "We are not commenting on the issue. These types of matters are handled by the league."
But the guess here is that the Packers' accusations against the Vikings are less about sticking it to their rivals and more about sending the following message to Favre and Cook: We've told you we're not releasing you, we know you want to play in Minnesota, and hell will freeze over before we let that happen.
And that, as opposed to a softball, is a fastball high and tight.
By JASON WILDE
GREEN BAY — Now that Brett Favre's three-part softball-a-thon with Greta Van Susteren is finally over, how do you feel about the Green Bay Packers retired-for-now quarterback?
From Favre's liar-liar, pants-on-fire rip job of general manager Ted Thompson; to the Packers' tampering allegations against their rivals, the "Minneapolis" Vikings (thanks, Greta!); to Favre showing up at the ESPY awards in an out-of-character black suit instead of Wranglers and flip-flops — the story has taken a few strange and ugly turns, and it's hard to imagine how the two sides will ever get over it, regardless of where Favre ends up in 2008.
It's incredible just how divided Packer Nation has become.
Based on an overflowing e-mail inbox and unscientific sports talk radio sampling, there are three clear groups: Favre lovers who still think their favorite quarterback can do no wrong, reasonable people who effectively argue that Favre still gives the Packers the best chance to win this season, and Favre-fatigued Packers fans who've maxed out on his annual hemming and hawing about playing.
We're not here to judge, although after all that's happened, that first group — some of whom could absolve Favre of blame for all 316 interceptions he's thrown (including playoffs) in his career — might have a slight credibility problem.
But here are couple of thoughts to chew on:
At any point during his chat with Van Susteren, did you hear Favre say anything remotely about the team and its potential?
No. It was all about him.
He said in passing that he liked his teammates and had fun with them, but he should've said, "I want to come back because I know we can win it all this year. We were 13-3 last year, made it to the NFC Championship Game with the youngest team in the league, and we'd have been in the Super Bowl if not for my overtime interception against the Giants. We've got a great team, and I want to be a part of it."
Second, it's too late now, but public opinion would be completely on his side had he come out and said, "I love playing in Green Bay, I love that franchise, I love the fans, and I don't want to go anywhere else. If the Packers only want me back as a backup, then that's what I'll do. I'll be the backup, I'll be third-string, heck, I'll play tight end if they want me to.
"Sure, I want to play — every backup does — but what we have in Green Bay is special. We've got a great team, and I want to be a part of it, no matter what my role. I'll support Aaron Rodgers, give him any advice I can, and I'll prepare so I'm ready if needed."
Had he just said this — rather than trashing Thompson and throwing both Rodgers and Favre's pal, offensive line coach James Campen, under the bus — he would've been a sympathetic figure who was, despite incredibly unfair treatment, doing the right thing because he's that great of a guy.
It's hard to figure out whether anyone in Mississippi is giving Favre any public-relations advice.
From here, it sure looks like he's surrounded by a bunch of enablers who keep telling him how great he is and how unjust and disrespectful the Packers' treatment of him has been — rather than warning him that he might be eroding some of his fan base with his words and actions.
As for Thompson, while Favre's beef that Thompson wasn't forthcoming with him about his decisions — not signing Randy Moss, not re-signing guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, not interviewing Steve Mariucci for the head-coaching job — might be valid, let's not forget that Rivera's body broke down as soon as he got to Dallas, Wahle had one good year in Carolina and is now in Seattle, and no one, including New England, knew Moss was going to have the monster year he had last year.
And his complaint about hiring Mike McCarthy without interviewing Mariucci, Favre's buddy and ex-quarterbacks coach?
Explain this: Favre throws 29 interceptions in a 4-12 season in 2005 because his head coach, Mike Sherman, didn't crack down on him for his decision-making and risk-taking.
And then Favre wants his best friend in the coaching world to get an interview? So he can keep doing what he wants?
Where's the credit McCarthy deserves for reining Favre in and helping him produce the renaissance season he had last year?
Sure, Favre's point probably was that he felt Thompson hadn't been fully truthful with him about not wanting to hire Mariucci, but is it really Favre's right to expect the GM to interview a candidate of his choosing?
The tampering charges Wednesday were simply the capper.
The Vikings released a statement Thursday, saying, "We are not commenting on the issue. These types of matters are handled by the league."
But the guess here is that the Packers' accusations against the Vikings are less about sticking it to their rivals and more about sending the following message to Favre and Cook: We've told you we're not releasing you, we know you want to play in Minnesota, and hell will freeze over before we let that happen.
And that, as opposed to a softball, is a fastball high and tight.