No. 4 Should Have Been At Mini-Camp, If He's Still A Leader

[swede]

I guess I 'd like it if I had read an article that spoke to Favre's commitment and leadership by attending every mini-camp and holding extra workouts with his receivers.

Since I am not extraordinarily unhappy to read that he's taking off for one mini-camp in May I am forced to admit that I must be holding on to some sort of double standard that I would grant, I think, to Brett alone.

I am not so certain that TT and MM are holding on to the same sort of warm, cuddly, all-forgiving feelings that I am. Brett will play well and limit his picks during the regular season or he will be asked to sit down.

Now here is a true poser: if Brett had a start taken away for poor play would he ride the pine in dutiful silence or immediately retire? If he were playing poorly and Rodgers came in and played well you'd still want Brett to be there backing Rodgers up. That would be the best thing to do for the team at that point.

My guess is Brett retires the minute he's asked to sit. With all due respect to a player I greatly admire, at this point in his career every decision Brett has made seems to be more about him than about the team.

[Patler]

gloom-and-doom whiny ass threads like this one and the ones by polar bear are starting to make this board as lame as jso.

vic, is this supposed to be an objective discussion? or, are we just supposed to agree to your point of view without question?

in the future, i for one will just be reading and responding to the informative ones by motife and others who actually share information, rather than wasting my time viewing pointless rants like this one.

peace....

And you are telling everyone this, why? Most of us do not read every thread, nor feel an obligation to respond to everything. There is nothing wrong with this thread. It is an opportunity for those who want to to discuss what the real motivation is behind the handling of Favre. Nothing wrong with that.

If you don't want to participate, don't.

[Patler]

I guess I 'd like it if I had read an article that spoke to Favre's commitment and leadership by attending every mini-camp and holding extra workouts with his receivers.

Since I am not extraordinarily unhappy to read that he's taking off for one mini-camp in May I am forced to admit that I must be holding on to some sort of double standard that I would grant, I think, to Brett alone.

I am not so certain that TT and MM are holding on to the same sort of warm, cuddly, all-forgiving feelings that I am. Brett will play well and limit his picks during the regular season or he will be asked to sit down.

Now here is a true poser: if Brett had a start taken away for poor play would he ride the pine in dutiful silence or immediately retire? If he were playing poorly and Rodgers came in and played well you'd still want Brett to be there backing Rodgers up. That would be the best thing to do for the team at that point.

My guess is Brett retires the minute he's asked to sit. With all due respect to a player I greatly admire, at this point in his career every decision Brett has made seems to be more about him than about the team.

Interesting. I agree, too, that a man who seemed to be the ultimate team player is now more interested in what makes him feel good, but I doubt he would retire in the middle of the season.

[son of a vic]

So Fritz Don't Blitz is boycotting threads that require reading without the green tinted spectacles. My life is now pointless, and I will drink myself to an early death.

[mraynrand]

How about this: The minicamp is a lame-ass minicamp that has three practices filled with a bunch f guys that won't even make it through half of training camp running around. Did any of you guys notice that a few guys got hurt running around on the turf and that a ton of guys didn't practive or show up because of injuries of different degrees. I wonder if some of you might be singing a different tune if Favre had gotten hurt (Ooops, I forgot - a lot of you think that Favre was the problem last year - not that fact that the entire team was injured).

The real question should be why anyone really gives a flying crap about a stupid 3 practice mini camp. What a waste of 00000s and 1111111s.

[swede]

Shamrock,

A digression: Do you recall a time when Lynn Dickey was struggling with interceptions and poor play? Subsequently he was benched, I think. In favor of whom I do not know.

I seem to remember him responding to a media question about it that if Coach Starr hadn't benched him he'd have benched himself. He went on to play very well after that.

("You can't lick our Dickey" was the sign that was NOT shown on the televised games in those days.)

Sorry for the digression people. You may now return to spirited debate over whether Favre's decision to miss a May mini-camp was an inconsequential event or indicative a growing and troubling self-centeredness in our legendary quarterback.

[MJZiggy]

Here's something that may interest only me. There were 23 people missing from this voluntary camp for various reasons. Why aren't we calling out the rest of them? The included rookies and team leaders (Al Harris). Is Al Harris less selfish than Favre because he was out for family reasons instead of a charity event? By the way, charity events are scheduled months and sometimes a year in advance. Should he have dumped the commitment he made to help the kids/sick people or whatever charity this was and cost them research and support dollars? What if this was the research money that was to cure childhood cancer that would not get raised so that Brett could be at mini camp? What if Coach Mac is telling the truth and doesn't want Brett throwing too much in the offseason thereby possibly injuring his throwing arm and at the same time costing Rodgers who will someday have to lead this ship the experience that he cannot get during the season. M3 said that once the season starts, Rodgers gets no reps with the first team unless he has to go into a game. Isn't it possible that while you want Favre in there, it's also to Rodgers' benefit to assert himself as the future leader of the team without Brett's dominant presence getting in the way? Who the hell's gonna pay any attention to Rodgers if they know Favre's taking the next snap? I don't see the big deal with Favre not being there. We've known he wouldn't be around for a long time (since before the first camp) and he will be at 10 of 14 OTA's so what's the big problem except that you all want him to be there. You seem to be the only ones who care because our team coach sure doesn't seem bothered by it, nor do the GM or any of his team mates.

[Noodle]

Ziggy -- what charity event was Favre at? I didn't see a mention of it on his website.

And for those needing some sort of confirmation that skipping practice was Favre's idea, I provide you the following from a story appearing May 8 before the current "this was M3's idea" spin: http://www.packersnews.com/archives/...5926182.shtml:

"While McCarthy didn’t say so, he implied the decision was Favre’s. Last year, former coach Mike Sherman excused Favre from both minicamps. Although attendance at the next minicamp is optional, the majority of the players are expected to attend.

“Brett’s plan is that he will not participate in the next minicamp,” McCarthy said. “He will not be here.”

Finally, by way of contrast, I give you Ahman Green. Now, I'm admittedly a big Green fan. Green, of course, suffered a terrific injury last year and is still rehabing his thigh. No reason for him to be at camp, as he can't go full speed yet. But, according to Christl's camp report, Green showed up and even took some half speed hand-offs. Why? Because Green's a leader. Ever seen how he's the first guy to give congrats to the other backs when they do something well? Do you really think Favre would react the same way about Rogers?

It's not that anyone on the team cares that Favre is gone, but you can't tell me that they wouldn't dig it if ol' No. 4 were out there doing the do. He shoulda been there. And don't try telling me this was M3's idea. He's making the best of a situation thrust on him by Favre.

[Patler]

Shamrock,

A digression: Do you recall a time when Lynn Dickey was struggling with interceptions and poor play? Subsequently he was benched, I think. In favor of whom I do not know.

I seem to remember him responding to a media question about it that if Coach Starr hadn't benched him he'd have benched himself. He went on to play very well after that.

("You can't lick our Dickey" was the sign that was NOT shown on the televised games in those days.)

Sorry for the digression people. You may now return to spirited debate over whether Favre's decision to miss a May mini-camp was an inconsequential event or indicative a growing and troubling self-centeredness in our legendary quarterback.

That seems to be dredging a recollection of sorts, but nothing too specific. I have a vague recollection of him saying something about benching himself once, too.

[MJZiggy]

It's weird...I went digging for Favre's commitment and found this instead from packersnews.com.

Favre is one of several players who will miss this minicamp, which is voluntary, though McCarthy suggested all the absences were agreed upon shortly after he put out his offseason schedule in February. McCarthy mentioned only one player who won’t attend, halfback Ahman Green, because of a charity commitment. Green is recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon and won’t be ready to practice until late August anyway.

https://www.packersnews.com/archives...26082430.shtml that's bizarre because Green was there.


"It's voluntary. I mean, you'd like to have everybody here," McCarthy said. "We have a number of people (who may miss this camp) and we're working through that. I'll make those announcements (today). But we have some guys with excused absences, dealing with charity things and the sort. Some of these plans were made a year in advance. This is something that will iron itself out a little cleaner in the second year."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=425021

Anyway, I can't find it--must've been something I read or misread back a couple of months ago when it was first announced that Favre wouldn't be at this camp. That was a long time ago.

[GrnBay007]

Really.......as Packer fans we should all be hoping for a great year from the whole team, right? If Favre has a good year do you really think anyone will remember or dwell on the fact that he missed a mini camp? Last season left a scare for everyone. The media has done a good enough job jabbing Favre since day 1 of off season. Lets not buy into that make mountains out of mole hills. Would it have been nice if he didn't miss this one? YES. Will the sky fall that he did miss this one? NO.

[MadtownPacker]

gloom-and-doom whiny ass threads like this one and the ones by polar bear are starting to make this board as lame as jso.

I wouldnt put SOV along sidetank at all. SOV may not have a popular opinion but he always brings a well explained arguement not rancid waste like tank.

SOV - I somewhat feel you on saying Favre should have been there but like others have mentioned he wasnt the only vet not to show up. Let's let him throw his first interception at least before we brand him a loser.

Besides, what good is being at your job for years if you cant have any perks?

[Patler]

Here's a reason I hadn't thought of, why Favre should be there:

"But for the third straight day, Ruvell Martin turned heads, especially with a deep sideline catch. It looked as if he went up a stepladder to get the ball and he landed well in bounds.

"The three quarterbacks in camp, Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin and Tom Arth, seemed to be throwing the ball higher to the 6-foot-4 Martin. Now the Packers will have to determine whether Martin is one of those players who looks great in May but fades to a memory by mid-August. They'll also have to find out how he does catching one of Brett Favre's missiles."

[GBRulz]

SOV complains about Favre receiving special treatment yet he ONLY creates a thread about Favre not attending mini-camp, but not for the other 30 something players that did not attend? Where is the attention they deserve?

[GrnBay007]

Here's a reason I hadn't thought of, why Favre should be there:

"But for the third straight day, Ruvell Martin turned heads, especially with a deep sideline catch. It looked as if he went up a stepladder to get the ball and he landed well in bounds.

"The three quarterbacks in camp, Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin and Tom Arth, seemed to be throwing the ball higher to the 6-foot-4 Martin. Now the Packers will have to determine whether Martin is one of those players who looks great in May but fades to a memory by mid-August. They'll also have to find out how he does catching one of Brett Favre's missiles."

God forbid......lets not let Martin or the others have to wait a day or two or a week or two to catch one of Favre's "missiles". Please........lets not be Drama Queens over this.
Favre spreads it out....he's always shared the passes. If this guy is good enough, Favre will find him.