JS-"Ready to take Heat" Pressure Builds

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=724827

[HarveyWallbangers]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/275577

Packers: Rodgers cool, but others stunned by Favre's decision
By JASON WILDE, Press Gazette

GREEN BAY -- The text message arrived on Aaron Rodgers' phone around 8:15 Tuesday morning -- or 6:15 in California, where Rodgers was at the time.

FoxSports.com is reporting that Brett Favre is retiring, it read.

A little less than two hours later came Rodgers' reply.

MyBed.com is reporting that I'm trying to sleep.

So give the Green Bay Packers' new starting quarterback this much: He's cool under fire, at least when it comes to the biggest story in Wisconsin sports, and a life-changing moment for him personally.

That was the last we heard from Rodgers, whose voicemail box was full and unable to accept messages by Tuesday evening. And while coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson didn 't want to talk about how Rodgers will fare as Favre's heir, Thompson did admit "it's a little bit daunting knowing you're going to be going forward without Brett as your quarterback." McCarthy said "leadership-wise, there's definitely a void."

"I think the finality of it just kind of hits you," said Thompson, who'll have to re-sign No. 3 quarterback Craig Nall or add a veteran backup -- Tim Rattay, Mark Brunell, Chad Pennington and J.P. Losman could be among the options -- via free agency or a trade. "Brett Favre's not going to be our quarterback anymore."

McCarthy, whom Favre informed of his decision Monday night, said he spoke with Rodgers "briefly" on Tuesday morning, "just to update him on what's going on here and what was in front of him." Asked how Rodgers reacted, McCarthy replied, "I think he was a little surprised, but we really didn't talk much about Brett's decision. His comment to me was, 'How is Brett doing?' ''

The question now becomes, how will the Packers do without Favre? While no one was suggesting Tuesday the Packers are better off without Favre and with Rodgers as their starter, the fact Rodgers played so well in the in the Packers' 37-27 loss at Dallas Nov. 29 -- completing 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions for a 104.8 passer rating after Favre injured his elbow gave his teammates confidence he could do the job if called upon.

And now, he's being called upon.

"It's going to be different. I think there's going to be a little bit of a transition here in Green Bay because the first thing you think of when you think of the Green Bay Packers is Brett Favre," linebacker A.J. Hawk said when reached Tuesday afternoon. "But I'm excited for Aaron to step in and get his chance.

"I think if you ask anyone on our team, the confidence level in Aaron is really high. I've only been around for two years, but I've seen what he can do in practice, how he prepares, everything he does. The Dallas game was a big test, and he stepped in to what at that time was the biggest game of the year and had a great game for us and handled all the pressure.

"You can tell in practice that Aaron has that 'It' factor. Whatever 'It' is. You can't know for sure until someone's been tested for many seasons, but Aaron's a confident guy, he knows the offense very well, and I wouldn't want anyone else leading this team. If you can't have Brett, I'm taking Aaron for us -- ahead of anybody."

Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler still isn't convinced Favre will stay retired -- having seen Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White unretire twice -- but cautioned the Packers could find themselves in an awkward situation if Favre reconsiders later this spring or summer.

"Until I hear from him -- and I haven't to this point yet, (although) I'm sure I will later -- that he's retiring, I'm going to assume he 's still going to play. I think he's one of those kind of guys who has a change of heart sometime after the draft or minicamps or training camp, and I think he'll want to come back and play," Butler said.

"But this is the hard part: How do you move your team forward, and give Aaron the keys to the franchise, and then Brett comes back and you snatch (the keys) away from him? You've got to let him play. So that's tough. It's not tough now. But it's tough if some team calls and says, 'We'll give you a second-round pick and a couple million dollars in cash, (we) want Brett's rights.' Do you do it?"

[Partial]

Man, there has to be some legs to the story about Favre not happy with management. Most statements from former players, friends, relatives, and agents have been about him still having the desire to play.

[Jimx29]

It's not just coincidental that Moss signs, and next thing ya know Brett calls it quits

[Lurker64]

It's not just coincidental that Moss signs, and next thing ya know Brett calls it quits

For the life of me I just cannot understand this line of reasoning. The only way it can make sense that Brett's retirement is tied to not getting Moss or other inaction of management to give him everything he wants is if Brett is some sort of petulant idiot child, which I refused to believe he is.

[twoseven]

It's not just coincidental that Moss signs, and next thing ya know Brett calls it quits

For the life of me I just cannot understand this line of reasoning. The only way it can make sense that Brett's retirement is tied to not getting Moss or other inaction of management to give him everything he wants is if Brett is some sort of petulant idiot child, which I refused to believe he is.

Give him everything he wants? I think management has given him a lot of things he needs since 05', but I cannot recall too many examples of giving him things he actually asked for, and if anyone suggests this team has been pandering to Brett's demands since TT took over I would ask for examples of the organization actually complying.

[LL2]

If Favre retires because TT didn't sign Moss then so be it. Moss doesn't provide a guaranteed SB win. The Pats had the best season in NFL history, plus Moss and Brady broke records and they still didn't win the SB. So, Favre knows you can be that good and still not win it, and probably factored that into his decision.

[RashanGary]

I get the sense that Favre would have came back if something convinced him they were going to win the SB this year. Signing Faneca or Moss might have convinced Brett but I odn't think we would have won teh SB anyway. This team is being rebuilt right, but the real greatness is yet to come as Thompson starts creeeping closer to the cap the right way, not the false-quick way.

I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist about Ron Wolf. I think Ron Wolf talks to Brett and tells him that Ted is thinking of the future and when Brett hears that, he thinks it's not worth it to come back just to lose. Trading CW was a future move. Not signing UFA's is a move that says we're not trying to sell the farm for a shot now.

If Thompson suddenly turned into Sherman with his philosophys and actions, I think Favre would come back but he would have been unpleasantly suprised by the results. TT is doign what is right IMO, but some people will never see it that way. But I did get the sense from everything I've heard that Favre would come back if he thought they were going to win the SB. Favre won the SB last time after some big moves. LIke many here, he might get the false impressoin that, that is how it has to be done. I think he was leaning on not coming back anyway, but if he really thought he was going to win the SB (Big signings) it might have been enough to get him back.

[packinpatland]

HH....I thought you retired.

[Bretsky]

I get the sense that Favre would have came back if something convinced him they were going to win the SB this year. Signing Faneca or Moss might have convinced Brett but I odn't think we would have won teh SB anyway. This team is being rebuilt right, but the real greatness is yet to come as Thompson starts creeeping closer to the cap the right way, not the false-quick way.

I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist about Ron Wolf. I think Ron Wolf talks to Brett and tells him that Ted is thinking of the future and when Brett hears that, he thinks it's not worth it to come back just to lose. Trading CW was a future move. Not signing UFA's is a move that says we're not trying to sell the farm for a shot now.

If Thompson suddenly turned into Sherman with his philosophys and actions, I think Favre would come back but he would have been unpleasantly suprised by the results. TT is doign what is right IMO, but some people will never see it that way. But I did get the sense from everything I've heard that Favre would come back if he thought they were going to win the SB. Favre won the SB last time after some big moves. LIke many here, he might get the false impressoin that, that is how it has to be done. I think he was leaning on not coming back anyway, but if he really thought he was going to win the SB (Big signings) it might have been enough to get him back.

You love TT more than any person I've ever met in my life

[swede]

It's not just coincidental that Moss signs, and next thing ya know Brett calls it quits

For the life of me I just cannot understand this line of reasoning. The only way it can make sense that Brett's retirement is tied to not getting Moss or other inaction of management to give him everything he wants is if Brett is some sort of petulant idiot child, which I refused to believe he is.

I do think the Moss deal had a little to do with it. Brett was looking for some good reason to overcome the malaise he felt and get excited about an 18th season. When Moss once again played Bus, Brett, and the Eagles like a fiddle and got as much money as he could out of the Pats the dream was done.

I think Moss was the white whale that gave Brett a Moby Dick about playing one more year. How about a 50 td year and a shot at the SB?

When it didn't happen the letdown just left Favre feeling a little down. He realized, as clearly as one can realize it, that he didn't have to come back. He could stay home and it would be okay.

Edit: And Bus Cook said some crappy things about Green Bay "not showing love." He is just ticked that Green Bay wouldn't help his client Moss sign for the Patriots for 35 million instead of 27 by getting into the bidding war. I always wondered, was Bus Cook a serious agent before he met Brett, or was he a hack that hit the lottery with the greatest qb of the era?

Edit Edit: And that doesn't mean that I'm critical of the team for not going after Moss. I would have been more welcoming of Moss this year than last, but the dude was just teasing the league to scare up more money from the Pats. ANd how DO the Pats have enough money to sign all these guys?!!!
Edi

[RashanGary]

That's how I see it too, swede. I don't think he wanted to come back. I think it's too much for him. He's lost too many times to think it's likely to win but was looking for an excuse to believe again. He never got it and the last chance of getting it passed.

From there, he made the anouncment.

[Bretsky]

That's how I see it too, swede. I don't think he wanted to come back. I think it's too much for him. He's lost too many times to think it's likely to win but was looking for an excuse to believe again. He never got it and the last chance of getting it passed.

From there, he made the anouncment.

That might be 100% spot on IMO

[PackerBlues]

I think Favre knew that the Packers got a little lucky last year.

How many games were won by a Mason Crosby FG?

How many times did M3 make a play calling decision, that made you as a fan want to tear your hair out?

How many times did Special Teams pull off a much needed turnover to keep the Packers in a game they would have otherwise lost?

How many times was Favre able to get rid of the ball without throwing an interception or getting sacked, after the pocket collapsed in front of him?

Favre said it himself that it was the mental stress of always trying to improve on what he had done before. That the only way he could feel successful, would be to go to the Super Bowl and win. He said that the only way he could come back and feel like he had made the right decision is if he was to come back to win a Super Bowl. He did not feel that the odds were very good, and that he was not up to the challenge.

Would Moss have made a difference? Would any activity from Thompson in Free Agency have made a difference? None of us can know for sure, but I can guess that part of the reason that Favre didn't "feel up to the challenge" may have been because the only off season moves made up until his announcement to retire, had been to cut Bubba, get a 2'nd round pick for Williams, and the signing of Joe Toledo. Would those moves bring someone around from feeling a little lucky, to feeling like the team is now good enough to go all the way without relying on a little luck?

[Green Bud Packer]

When I hear Brett Favre say he retired because of differences with the G.M. then i'll believe it. Scott Favre said Brett was done 3 years ago. Bus cook is a sport agent.Yeesh