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The writer of the attached article is accusing Brett Favre and Penn State coach of being selfish in not letting go of their respective positions.
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Indecision for Favre, Paterno Proving Selfish
By Vito Forlenza
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:05:33 GMT
Are we doing this to them? Or are they doing it to themselves?
Two football legends, one a player and one a coach, appear to be ripping apart the legacies they created by refusing to confront the future. Brett Favre and Joe Paterno, names that will rank among the all-time greats in football history, each deciding to remain indecisive about life after football.
Ever since Favre’s retirement press conference last winter, speculation persisted that he will be back under center at Lambeau Field this coming season. And ever since Paterno signed a four-year contract before the 2005 season, rumors swirled that JoePa would personally pick a successor to walk the Beaver Stadium sidelines in ’09.
Those prickly issues popped up again this week, with “sources” telling ESPN.com that Favre has spoken to the Packers about playing again this season and a recruit revealing to the Altoona Mirror that Paterno promised him Penn State’s next coach is already on the Nittany Lions’ staff.
Neither Favre nor Paterno can stop people from talking, from playing the guessing game, from creating news. But both have put themselves in this situation—Favre by making comments earlier this offseason that his career might not actually be over; Paterno by claiming during spring practice that he’ll just coach without a contract if Penn State doesn’t give him one.
I’m not overly concerned about their legacies. I’m sure they aren’t concerned either—they’re too close to it. So if they want to brush aside history’s hospitality by remaining in the game too long, that’s their call.
Still, they must understand that it’s not all about them—other people are affected by their incertitude. It’s time for Favre and Paterno to finally figure out what the near future holds for them.
In Favre’s case, he must decide now if he’s playing this season. That’s it.
Brett, either you’re in or you’re out. If you’re in, we’ll see you at camp. If you’re out, end all communication with the Packers until the season begins. That’s the only way to stop rumors of your return—assuming, of course, that you want them to stop.
Because, again, you are the one who’s fueling them. You haven’t filed your retirement paperwork yet and you keep giving interviews that hint your playing days are still in the present, not the past. It’s not fair to the team and it’s definitely not fair to would-be starter Aaron Rogers for you to be abusing your power by threatening to strut into camp and steal his position.
In JoePa’s case, he must outline a succession plan and then throw an asterisk next to it.
Joe, we know you want to coach forever, but you can’t. No one can. Decide now how many more years you want to coach. And stick to that number. At the same time, name the person you'd prefer to replace you and how you’d like your staff to look when you’re watching from the luxury box. Then, explain that this is only a recommendation and that the university should go outside the program for a new coach if it sees fit.
Saying that you want to coach 10 more years, even if you’re joking, displays a lack of respect for the university to which you gave international acclaim. Moreover, it shows a lack of regard for longtime assistants Tom Bradley and Larry Johnson—both of whom have people pressing them regularly on their chances of being the Lions’ next coach. If you and your staff have agreed on a plan, it’s time to make it public.
Favre and Paterno might not believe that it’s fair to force them to make such decisions. But they have to remember that other people are involved—people who were forever good to them, who protected them, who moved mountains for them because they loved them, admired them, and respected them.
It’s time for Favre and Paterno to return the favor and make up their minds.
Should Favre and Paterno be forced to make a decision? Click here to comment.
Message Edited by Vito_Forlenza on 07-03-2008 10:22 AM
Why do you think of this article?
Indecision for Favre, Paterno Proving Selfish
By Vito Forlenza
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:05:33 GMT
Are we doing this to them? Or are they doing it to themselves?
Two football legends, one a player and one a coach, appear to be ripping apart the legacies they created by refusing to confront the future. Brett Favre and Joe Paterno, names that will rank among the all-time greats in football history, each deciding to remain indecisive about life after football.
Ever since Favre’s retirement press conference last winter, speculation persisted that he will be back under center at Lambeau Field this coming season. And ever since Paterno signed a four-year contract before the 2005 season, rumors swirled that JoePa would personally pick a successor to walk the Beaver Stadium sidelines in ’09.
Those prickly issues popped up again this week, with “sources” telling ESPN.com that Favre has spoken to the Packers about playing again this season and a recruit revealing to the Altoona Mirror that Paterno promised him Penn State’s next coach is already on the Nittany Lions’ staff.
Neither Favre nor Paterno can stop people from talking, from playing the guessing game, from creating news. But both have put themselves in this situation—Favre by making comments earlier this offseason that his career might not actually be over; Paterno by claiming during spring practice that he’ll just coach without a contract if Penn State doesn’t give him one.
I’m not overly concerned about their legacies. I’m sure they aren’t concerned either—they’re too close to it. So if they want to brush aside history’s hospitality by remaining in the game too long, that’s their call.
Still, they must understand that it’s not all about them—other people are affected by their incertitude. It’s time for Favre and Paterno to finally figure out what the near future holds for them.
In Favre’s case, he must decide now if he’s playing this season. That’s it.
Brett, either you’re in or you’re out. If you’re in, we’ll see you at camp. If you’re out, end all communication with the Packers until the season begins. That’s the only way to stop rumors of your return—assuming, of course, that you want them to stop.
Because, again, you are the one who’s fueling them. You haven’t filed your retirement paperwork yet and you keep giving interviews that hint your playing days are still in the present, not the past. It’s not fair to the team and it’s definitely not fair to would-be starter Aaron Rogers for you to be abusing your power by threatening to strut into camp and steal his position.
In JoePa’s case, he must outline a succession plan and then throw an asterisk next to it.
Joe, we know you want to coach forever, but you can’t. No one can. Decide now how many more years you want to coach. And stick to that number. At the same time, name the person you'd prefer to replace you and how you’d like your staff to look when you’re watching from the luxury box. Then, explain that this is only a recommendation and that the university should go outside the program for a new coach if it sees fit.
Saying that you want to coach 10 more years, even if you’re joking, displays a lack of respect for the university to which you gave international acclaim. Moreover, it shows a lack of regard for longtime assistants Tom Bradley and Larry Johnson—both of whom have people pressing them regularly on their chances of being the Lions’ next coach. If you and your staff have agreed on a plan, it’s time to make it public.
Favre and Paterno might not believe that it’s fair to force them to make such decisions. But they have to remember that other people are involved—people who were forever good to them, who protected them, who moved mountains for them because they loved them, admired them, and respected them.
It’s time for Favre and Paterno to return the favor and make up their minds.
Should Favre and Paterno be forced to make a decision? Click here to comment.
Message Edited by Vito_Forlenza on 07-03-2008 10:22 AM
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