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ND72
08-06-2008, 12:03 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-favrerodgers080508&prov=yhoo&type=lgns



GREEN BAY, Wis. – Aaron Rodgers dropped back, set his feet and prepared to release a routine slant pass when he heard the squeaky voice from behind the fence. The fourth-year quarterback paused during an individual drill late in the Green Bay Packers’ training camp practice Tuesday afternoon and spied a little boy, maybe 6, among the hundreds of spectators lining the Oneida Street side of Clarke Hinkle Field.

“We don’t love you,” the kid said. “You suck.”

Rodgers didn’t respond to the taunt, nor did he acknowledge the pockets of fans chanting “we want Brett” and “bring back Favre” at sporadic points during the practice. But given the way things had played out since a certain legendary quarterback’s dramatic return to Titletown less than 48 hours earlier, there was an obvious message that should have been delivered to the kids – and the people acting like them – going to pieces over the messy divorce between the Packers and Brett Favre.

The Aaron Rodgers era has begun in Green Bay, and if you don’t like that, you’re taking it out on the wrong quarterback.

“I know people are emotional, but that’s an interesting way of expressing yourself,” Rodgers told Y! Sports after Tuesday’s practice. “All I know is we have a really good team, and we’re excited to get ready for the season.”

It’s a season which, it now seems painfully clear, will take place without Favre in a Packers uniform for the first time since 1991. And if you want to know who’s most responsible for that, Packers fans, take a look at that No. 4 jersey in the mirror above your dresser.

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There have been numerous tactical missteps made by Favre and the bosses he publicly suggested are dishonest – general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy – during this month-long saga, and Packers fans have a right to be frustrated at both camps. But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

As McCarthy stated in his news conference after Tuesday’s practice, and as Favre himself had stated more clearly in his latest woe-is-me interview (this one to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen) earlier that morning, the reason the future Hall of Famer couldn’t come back to the Pack was that he can’t let go of his ill will toward his employers.

Rodgers, meanwhile, has every right to be bitter about the way things went down since Favre stepped onto the tarmac at Austin Straubel Airport on Sunday night. Yet he’s the one biting his lip and acting like the adult.

Let’s see it from his perspective: After waiting three years for his shot, and without much warmth or mentoring from the guy he was playing behind, Rodgers finally was told he was The Man after Favre’s tearful retirement news conference in March. Shortly before training camp, a story surfaced that Favre had the itch to return. Favre, via text message, dismissed the report as “just rumors,” which was a lie.

After floating his desire to come out of retirement, Favre waited for Thompson and McCarthy to embrace him as the reinstalled starter, just as he so often has demanded to be indulged over the latter part of his career. This time, they didn’t respond positively – partly because they didn’t believe he wanted to come back and play, partly because they already had committed to Rodgers and didn’t want to destroy their relationship with a talented quarterback they had spent years grooming, and partly because they were tired of being in a subservient position.

Favre got more and more resentful, lashing out publicly and privately demanding to be released. The team held firm, insisting that it would only trade him to a team outside its division. To force the issue – and thanks largely to the intervention of commissioner Roger Goodell – Favre secured his reinstatement, flew to Green Bay and, in a shameless bit of showmanship, showed up at Lambeau Field with his wife Deanna to watch the team’s “Family Night” scrimmage from a luxury box.

In that glorified 11-on-11 drill, with some of the 56,000-plus fans booing him, Rodgers completed just 7 of 20 passes. Afterward, he fielded questions from reporters and learned – from them – that the Packers supposedly had declared an open competition between him and Favre for the starting job.

Gulp.

“It was news to me,” Rodgers admitted Tuesday. “All of a sudden people are talking about ‘open competition,’ and I’m wondering what happened.”

For the next day and a half, Rodgers, like the rest of us, wondered what it all meant when Packers CEO Mark Murphy said the team would welcome Favre back “and turn this situation to our advantage.”

On Monday night, as Favre was staging meetings with his superiors that dragged on so long that McCarthy had to cancel a quarterbacks meeting, it certainly didn’t seem that things were working to Rodgers’ advantage.

Nonetheless, publicly and privately, Rodgers did what Favre can’t seem to do these days: He kept his cool.

“If I was going to get mad, or throw something against the wall, what difference would it have made?” Rodgers asked rhetorically. “All I can do is control the attitude I bring into every day, stay positive and think about leading this football team to the best of my ability.”

Favre, meanwhile, couldn’t overcome the negativity that apparently has been swirling inside his mind for quite some time. In that lengthy vent session last month to Greta Van Susteren of Fox News, Favre complained that he couldn’t trust Thompson because, among other things, the GM had ignored his pleadings to acquire Randy Moss and hired McCarthy over Steve Mariucci, the one-time Packers assistant and former 49ers and Lions coach with whom the quarterback is extremely close.

Think about that: Favre was affronted because the Pack’s general manager wouldn’t follow his quarterback’s decree about whom to hire as head coach.

The Packers hired former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer as a PR consultant, but in truth, Favre is the one more in need of such image management.

Consider that Favre, in another interview, said he only wanted to play for another NFC North team – in order to play the Packers twice a season. Now that’s loyalty.

Yet, for all his regrettable posturing, Favre still had the image war won when he stepped off that plane Sunday night and received a hero’s welcome and an invitation to return to the Packers’ roster. At that point, the coach of another NFL team told me, “The game’s over. There’s no way Favre won’t get his job back now. If you don’t start him, how are you going to explain it to all of those fans?”

If Favre, as some suspected, was preparing to engage the Packers in a game of chicken, be it in an attempt to go where he wanted to go (Minnesota) or to get his old job back, this is what he should have done:

1. Not attend the scrimmage. (Perhaps he and Deanna could have stayed home and rented a DVD.)

2. Apologize to McCarthy and Thompson for having called them dishonest and assure his bosses he had overcome his ill feelings and was embracing a return to the organization under any terms.

3. To prove he totally was on board, show up for practice on Tuesday, wave to the adoring fans, meet with reporters afterward and tell them, “I just want a chance to compete for my job and help this team” – even if he believed the competition was going to be a sham.

4. Quietly push for a trade or his outright release and wait for the Packers, facing the prospect of a season-long quarterback controversy and a $12 million tab for a player they had hoped would stay retired, to blink first.

Alas, Favre couldn’t help himself. On Tuesday, while still in discussions with McCarthy about his future, he took a break to call Mortensen and confirm what many of us had suspected all along: Favre, despite another public statement to the contrary (“My intentions have always been to play for Green Bay,” Favre had told the Sun Herald of Gulfport, Miss., before returning on Sunday), was the one who wanted out.

“The problem is that there’s been a lot of damage done and I can’t forget it,” he told Mortensen. “Stuff has been said, stories planted, that just aren’t true. Can I get over all that? I doubt it. … So they can say they welcome me back, but come on, the way they’ve treated me tells you the truth. They don’t want me back, so let’s move on.”

Move on is what most of Favre’s teammates were eager to do on Tuesday, even some of the Packers who’ve been most supportive of his return.

“I think it should end today,” veteran cornerback Charles Woodson said. “We should be talking about the team; instead, we’ve talked about one guy for the last five minutes. This is a situation unique to itself, and it has become its own monster.

“You’ve got fans out there yelling ‘we want Brett,’ yelling A-Rod this and A-Rod that, Ted Thompson this and Ted that. That’s not looking at the grand scheme of things. It’s not helpful at all. You’ve got fans that are die-hard Brett fans, and they’ve put that above the team.”

If Favre, by forcing the issue, did the Packers and his successor one favor, it was this: We’ve gotten a small taste of Rodgers’ demeanor under intense pressure, and to the young passer’s credit, he has kept his cool a lot better than the outgoing legend.

“Aaron Rodgers has done everything right,” McCarthy said during his news conference. Later, the coach talked about his conviction that Rodgers will succeed in his new role.

“You just have to believe in a number of things,” McCarthy said. “Number one, I think he’s prepared himself for this opportunity. I think he has the tools, physically, mentally, emotionally. I mean, you talk about what he’s been challenged with emotionally of late, this is great (training). Who’s had better training to play in the National Football League than Aaron Rodgers, and I think he’s handled it well.”

Hopefully, that maturity will start to rub off on Favre – and the fans who can’t find the grace to cope with the fact that their hero willfully abandoned them.

Chevelle2
08-06-2008, 12:04 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

ND72
08-06-2008, 12:07 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

:lol:

cpk1994
08-06-2008, 12:12 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.Come on now, Woody is a fellow Packerrat. No need for ARod to slap him.

BallHawk
08-06-2008, 12:13 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

His Dad probably promised to buy him a Wii if the kid said it.

Cowards.

bobblehead
08-06-2008, 12:14 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

No, his mother should have. (the kids mom, not arods)

cpk1994
08-06-2008, 12:16 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

No, his mother should have. (the kids mom, not arods)In fairness, the kids mother was probably serivcing Favre at the time....

boiga
08-06-2008, 12:17 PM
You know, I read this article earlier and really hoped that no one would post it here.

Nothing good comes from wading back into this mess.

HarveyWallbangers
08-06-2008, 12:22 PM
This guy is spot on. I'm pretty sure most of the young guys are behind ARod. Kampman too. Wood just seems to want it over. You can read his comments however you want, but this is pretty telling. Outside of Al and Drive, I'm not sure how torn up the team will be about Brett leaving.


“I think it should end today,” veteran cornerback Charles Woodson said. “We should be talking about the team; instead, we’ve talked about one guy for the last five minutes. This is a situation unique to itself, and it has become its own monster.

“You’ve got fans out there yelling ‘we want Brett,’ yelling A-Rod this and A-Rod that, Ted Thompson this and Ted that. That’s not looking at the grand scheme of things. It’s not helpful at all. You’ve got fans that are die-hard Brett fans, and they’ve put that above the team.”

Brett can't help himself.


Alas, Favre couldn’t help himself. On Tuesday, while still in discussions with McCarthy about his future, he took a break to call Mortensen and confirm what many of us had suspected all along: Favre, despite another public statement to the contrary (“My intentions have always been to play for Green Bay,” Favre had told the Sun Herald of Gulfport, Miss., before returning on Sunday), was the one who wanted out.

ND72
08-06-2008, 12:27 PM
You know, I read this article earlier and really hoped that no one would post it here.

Nothing good comes from wading back into this mess.

It's about as true a story as there is right now though.

Chevelle2
08-06-2008, 12:31 PM
Woodson is simply the man.

BallHawk
08-06-2008, 12:32 PM
“I think it should end today,” veteran cornerback Charles Woodson said. “We should be talking about the team; instead, we’ve talked about one guy for the last five minutes. This is a situation unique to itself, and it has become its own monster.

“You’ve got fans out there yelling ‘we want Brett,’ yelling A-Rod this and A-Rod that, Ted Thompson this and Ted that. That’s not looking at the grand scheme of things. It’s not helpful at all. You’ve got fans that are die-hard Brett fans, and they’ve put that above the team.”

Woodson is dead on. Very smart comment.

Chevelle2
08-06-2008, 12:33 PM
Another comment by Woodson, scrolling on ESPN ticker....

"it's over...we don't want brett favre and brett favre doesnt want the packers...today we officially moved on"

boiga
08-06-2008, 12:33 PM
It's about as true a story as there is right now though.It really doesn't matter. Silver's as much of a douche as the guys over on ESPN. The only reason he's bashing Favre is to make up for ESPN's love fest, hence the digs at Mortenson.

No matter what you think about this ordeal, it's time to get over it. Brett left Green Bay around noon today after making some concessions to help the Packers make a favorable trade. Rodgers is our QB going forward.

That's where things stand, Further recriminations just increase the animosity unnecessarily.

Despite one pick, Rodgers apparently had a good practice this morning. Let's shift our attention and move on.

vince
08-06-2008, 12:34 PM
Harsh, but true, and it needs to be said...


But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

LL2
08-06-2008, 01:21 PM
Another comment by Woodson, scrolling on ESPN ticker....

"it's over...we don't want brett favre and brett favre doesnt want the packers...today we officially moved on"

I wonder if that is how most of the players feel. I wouldn't doubt that some of them do...Driver might be the only exception.

The Leaper
08-06-2008, 01:23 PM
I think most of the players are extremely tired of the situation at this point. They have ZERO control over it, but have to answer questions about it night and day.

I know I'd be ready to stop answering questions about it. They've all come to the realization that management has made the decision that Favre isn't coming back, and it is time to move on.

Freak Out
08-06-2008, 01:25 PM
Arod should have smacked that 6 year old across the face.

He did the right thing by not doing it...the parent should learn to parent. Some of these losers are starting to give you flatlanders a bad name.

prsnfoto
08-06-2008, 01:27 PM
The fact he looked at the kid let alone heard him tells me he already has head problems.

prsnfoto
08-06-2008, 01:34 PM
Harsh, but true, and it needs to be said...


But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

How the hell can that be true they have never backed down from their stance of you won't start,won't compete, it would be best if you don't come, stay retired. How the fuck is that wanting him. Only red headed MM said he was welcome. Brett fucked up,but it obvious to anyone with any brain cells there is more to this story than we all know.

sharpe1027
08-06-2008, 05:05 PM
Harsh, but true, and it needs to be said...


But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

How the hell can that be true they have never backed down from their stance of you won't start,won't compete, it would be best if you don't come, stay retired. How the fuck is that wanting him.

Please find where they said he couldn't start; that he couldn't compete. All you will find in statements that they have moved on and the Rodgers was their QB, all of these statements made before Favre even bothered to file for reinstatement, and thus, wasn't even a member of the team. Once he got reinstated, they asked him if he was ready to compete for the starting job, it was Favre who didn't want to compete for the job.

Gunakor
08-06-2008, 05:45 PM
Harsh, but true, and it needs to be said...


But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

How the hell can that be true they have never backed down from their stance of you won't start,won't compete, it would be best if you don't come, stay retired. How the fuck is that wanting him. Only red headed MM said he was welcome. Brett fucked up,but it obvious to anyone with any brain cells there is more to this story than we all know.


Why can't you just take McCarthy's press conference at face value, especially after Favre and Cook have confirmed that the meeting went down just as McCarthy said it did? McCarthy should not have welcomed Favre back if he couldn't get over what has transpired recently, and I'm glad he didn't. Favre agreed 100% with that. He said so himself. Favre walked away, and did so for the right reasons. I know he's not our QB anymore, but I'm sure he earned some of the respect back that he lost over the duration of this circus.

He didn't want to be a distraction to the players. He said this has gone on too long, and it wasn't fair to those guys who are trying to prepare and win ballgames. He still loves this team and this town, and didn't want to put any more pressure on them than he already has. So he left.

So it goes back to a question McCarthy posed in his presser. Why on earth would McCarthy allow someone with a negative mindset to come in and disrupt the locker room? Favre made it clear he didn't want to play for TT or MM. Whatever your feelings for Favre, MM is still the coach and TT is still the GM and that's not going to change anytime soon. So put 2 and 2 together, and - just like both Favre and McCarthy have said and agreed upon - it just wasn't going to work for Favre here in Green Bay.

And it has little if anything to do with football, which is the point I've been trying to stress so hard for the last couple of weeks here. It's bigger than 2008, bigger than either Favre OR Thompson by themselves, bigger than football. Like I said on Monday, if Favre couldn't get over what happened this summer and make it all water under the bridge then I didn't want him here. He could not get over what happened, he agreed it would have been a distraction for him to be here, he acknowledged that it wouldn't be fair to his former teammates that he cares deeply about, and walked away because he felt it was what was best for this team. I don't see how anybody could have a problem with either side on this. This outcome is one of the best things that coulda happened coming out of this.

MJZiggy
08-06-2008, 06:32 PM
Harsh, but true, and it needs to be said...


But if you believe that the quarterback soon will be leaving Green Bay, most likely via trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because those merciless meanies just didn’t want poor ol’ Brett around, you’ve got more than cheese clouding your head.

How the hell can that be true they have never backed down from their stance of you won't start,won't compete, it would be best if you don't come, stay retired. How the fuck is that wanting him. Only red headed MM said he was welcome. Brett fucked up,but it obvious to anyone with any brain cells there is more to this story than we all know.

McCarthy has said all along that he was welcome. When Favre came in, he was welcomed and M3 took a lot of time to have a long discussion with him to talk things out. If Favre had been able to let all this go, he'd be in a competition right now, but he couldn't. So he isn't.