I don't see it as anyone getting the better end of any deal. The Green Bay Packers decided to terminate Brett Favre as their NO. 1 QB in lieu of Aaron Rodgers.
Ted Thompson traded Brett Favre to NFL Siberia or the New York Jets. We saw Brett Favre re-generate 'the Jets' during the 2008 season. Elevating them from a 4 win season in 2007 to 10 wins and an almost playoff berth in 2008. After that 2008 season, Brett Favre advised the New York Jets that they should not count on his services in the 2009 season or find another QB. As you may re-call as that season concluded Brett Favre's arm was impaired (with a shoulder injury ) as I re-call it.
Subsequently .... the Minnesota Vikings came calling and Brett Favre became their starting QB and had one of the greatest seasons in his career. That season 'of course' include two games vs the Green Bay Packers and as it turned out. Both victories for the Minnesota Vikings. There had to be a winner and a loser. It simply turned out that the loser was the Green Bay Packers.
This idea that Brett Favre took some circuitous route to get revenge on Ted Thompson is IMO simply foolish thinking on the part of simple minds. People that need to make too much of really nothing.
Countless times Brett Favre has said publicly that he didn't hold resentment against Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy. 'In fact' Brett Favre has openly stated that loved his time as a Green Bay Packer, loved his fellow teammates and loved Green Bay Packer fans.
Favre had his time in the NFL as a Green Bay Packer and that had to end as it was time for Aaron Rodgers to step up. With Aaron Rodgers steering the Packers offense, we enjoyed our fourth Super Bowl win after a successful playoff run following the 2010 season.
It's simply a matter of history and nothing more than that. I'll try to explain it as I saw the Favre - Packers divorce go down. Try to do that in subsequent posts.
Some here at Packerrats may re-call a little story that I composed way back in the Spring of 2006. When some of us were posting on JSO. I set that story in the winter following the 2004 season and playoffs. To re-cap that 2004 season:
The 2004 season started with the Packers losing four of their first five games, then winning their next six games, and finally winning three of their final five regular season games. The Packers season ended in a Wild Card playoff (31-17 loss) to the Minnesota Vikings. The Green Bay Packers took the NFCN Championship in 2004; and finished with an overall record of 10-7.
It's difficult to defeat an NFL team 3X in a season; yet 'in review' that total loss was inexcusable. We had defeated the Vikings 2X in close games by identical 34-31 scores. In the 'Wild card' game the Vikings got out of the gate fast and never looked back.
I felt that Brett Favre looked terrible in that Wild card playoff loss. In particular the way he acted on what should have been a sure scoring drive late in that game; that might have set up a comeback win. A close friend of mine watching that game with me was enraged at Brett Favre. I was unable to defend Favre after that 'no' performance. That loss stuck with me for months. I re-call clearly feeling that the writing was 'now clearly on the wall' and that Favre was about done as the Green Bay Packer starting QB.
Again back at JSO and in the Spring of 2006 when I was meeting some of the current Packerrats. I wrote this little story about a group of men at an ice fishing shack after the embarrassing Brett Favre and Green Bay Packer performance Vs the Minnesota Vikings in that playoff Wild Card game at Lambeau field. It's so difficult to defeat an NFL team 3X in a season; yet 'in review' that total loss was inexcuseable and Favre simply stunk up the joint. We had defeated the Vikings 2X during that 2004 season by identical 34-31 scores but in this game the Vikings got out of the gate fast and never looked back. It was one of those 'what have you done for me today' ... things. Brett Favre had a solid season with 4,088 yards passing and 30 TD's; but that playoff loss looked bad on him as I saw it.
This group of men at the ice shack included the then HC and GM of the Packers, Mike Sherman. Who was about to lose that second title as Packer GM to Ted Thompson. The President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers and some prominent members of the Packers Board. The other members there informed Mike Sherman that he would be relieved as Packer GM in the near future. They also informed Sherman that Brett Favre's days as an active Green Bay Packer were coming to an end.
Brett Favre hung on for three more seasons, but the young QB taken in the first round of the 2005 draft (Aaron Rodgers) was designated; and 'in fact' would succeed him. All good things must come to an end. Favre's days as a Green Bay would end.
That didn't mean that his days as an NFL QB should end as Ted Thompson/Mark Murphy and the Green Bay Packers tried so hard to determine as fact. We're talking about Brett Favre here; not some ordinary Pro athlete. We're talking Brett Favre ...LEGEND. We're talking about a man that was determined to get back to the Super Bowl and win a second ring. We're talking about a simple man with simple ideals that certainly deserved his 'Freedom Of Rights' as a member of a Democratic Society.
Any Packer fan that continues to be confused by this. Had better look up the definition of fascism. Had better re-examine the God given privilege he/she deserves being an American citizen. The same privilege that Brett Favre deserved and that including any potential outcome after the Green Bay Packers rejected his will to continue as their starting QB.
It's really that simple Packer fans. If you don't get it...try harder.
GO PACKERS !