Ted Thompson and the Favre Situation

[Scott Campbell]

Make fun of Minnesota next. Um, K?

Who needs to make fun of Minnesota when you keep saying stuff like "Um, K".

Um, K.

You make fun of someone's handle because you have zero argument and then have the nerve, not balls, balls are certainly foreign to you unless of course they are slapping you in the face, to say man-up?

Um, K.

Good one! I'm starting to like you. Quick question - are they Harlan's balls? Because if they're not, I don't like you quite as much.

[Scott Campbell]

Who's only argument is to make fun of someone else's handle?

Only argument? There you go again - overstating - maybe?



My argument was that you were factually incorrect, and I proved it.

[Brainerd]

Who's only argument is to make fun of someone else's handle?

Only argument? There you go again - overstating - maybe?



My argument was that you were factually incorrect, and I proved it.

Your opinion is that I was factually incorrect. You proved it to yourself. Why you are going to such pains over a simple statement only you, in your little scott world, can understand.

The statement was against point of course. The point being much is being made of a rift betweeen TT and Favre. They, as far as we have been told, don't like each other much. Favre left because TT wanted to move on. Why can't you TT lovers simply admit that. So what? TT doesn't like Favre and wanted him gone. Big deal. Favre's done anyway so I would gather if this was the only place I came to for Packers info. Oh, and that TT has alot of very special friends here. Cool. No judgement.

[Scott Campbell]

The statement was against point of course. The point being much is being made of a rift betweeen TT and Favre. They, as far as we have been told, don't like each other much. Favre left because TT wanted to move on. Why can't you TT lovers simply admit that. So what? TT doesn't like Favre and wanted him gone. Big deal. Favre's done anyway so I would gather if this was the only place I came to for Packers info. Oh, and that TT has alot of very special friends here. Cool. No judgement.

I don't consider myself a TT lover. I agree with the bulk of what he's done so far, but I'll turn on him if he really starts screwing the franchise up. I want Ted to do well because I want the franchise to do well - not out of personal affection. Your (and lots of others) theory about Brett leaving - certainly plausible. Factual? I'm not ready to concede that, in large part because of the comments from Brett himself and him hosting Ted on a visit to his ranch in May. That doesn't jive neatly with the major rift theory. But again, I admit that the rift is certainly plausible.

[Fritz]

Couple things. First, I don't want to get into ripping Brett Favre just yet, because at this point he's been consistent about saying he wants to retire, that TT and MM are fine, and that the return alk is just rumor. The smoke seems to be coming from his family (and that Al Jones dude), and the media, which is always dying for a story to fill up the airwaves. So until Favre says otherwise, I am going to believe him. Now, if it turns out he is using his family members to air his grievances publicly, I will lose a whole lot of the respect he has earned from me over time. But at this point, I believe what Favre has said publicly.

Secondly, I'm curious as to why the family appears to want Favre to go back to football - at least his mother and brother. (Nothing from Deanna so far, or from his daughters.) Is it possible that the great NFL QB, the funny, loveable Brett Favre we all know, is actually a pain in the ass to have around the house? I don't think they'd want him back to make more money - they would all seem to have enough by now. So why? Is Brett annoying Mom? Is his brother Scott feeling like his turf's invaded? Is Brett becoming that annoying, clingy family member?

As for TT, I agree with his stance - as an adult, you state your beliefs (in this case, TT has said he's told Favre that TT thinks Favre can still play at a high level, and that the team has a chance to win.) All sides admit too that MM tried to talk Favre into coming back, back in March. Then you let the other person in the situation make a decision. That's how adults operate. If you start having to guess what the other person wants ("Gee, Brett says he wants to retire but I'm guessing he really just wants us to beg him to come back"), you're in a dysfunctional situation. In that scenario, everybody is guessing where everyone's really coming from. In the end, that doesn't work.

So let's wait and see for now. At this point, you don't have to choose TT or Brett.

[Scott Campbell]

Re: Favre

Yep, I noticed that too. Then again, how many of those same posters said Favre was done a few years ago? I can remember arguing constantly with them about it. Then, when I was proven right, very few of them had the class to admit to being wrong. Instead, the teams success was all due to Teddy and MM.

I think Favre is the best player in the history of the franchise, and still easily capable of putting up a Probowl season. He was the best player on the team last year. My problem with Favre has always been about his role in this retirement debacle. Well, that and the couple of games that he seemed to stink in every year.

We all watched how gracefully he handled his addiction to painkillers, the tragic loss of his brother and father, and he and Deanna's public display of courage in the battle against breast cancer. And God was he fearless on the field. The dude was Superman - the bar was set pretty high.

So when all this crap started seemingly back in 1896 with his retirement talks to the media, I was naturally disappointed. He hasn't handed this nearly as well as every other public issue I've watched him handle. It's disappointing. I expected more. Especially after his "Javon should take one for the team" sermon.

Now the Packers are in a pickle. Ted had to replace Brett. Sooner or later he had to, or be derelict in his duties. It's his job, and any other GM would have had to do the same thing.

Was Brett slighted by Ted? Or was Brett just upset that the Packers are moving on without him? I honestly don't know. Maybe it was some of both. Too bad, because its a shitty way for him to go out.

[mraynrand]

Is it possible that the great NFL QB, the funny, loveable Brett Favre we all know, is actually a pain in the ass to have around the house?

Probably all that farting and the 'pulling pants down' gags got old pretty fast. Ole Favre is going to have to find something to do in retirement. Every washed up NFL star has to go through this stage. Favre probably hasn't figured out what to do. The Forrest Gump plan of mowing the rest of his life isn't going to cut it (pun intended).

[Fritz]

Excellent analysis, mraynrand.

Those I've spoken with who are retired and happy all say that the key is having a plan, or some goals. It might be traveling, or volunteer work, or writing that novel you've always wanted to, or learning to play the guitar - but there's got to be something more than sitting on a lawnmower.

Unless the real problem is that in Mississippi in July the best part of lawn mowing season is over. Maybe it's drying up a little and the grass is getting brown, so now Favre is restless.

Perhaps starting a lawn mowing business is the answer. He could go around to the neighbors' with his mower and offer to do their yards for twenty bucks or something.

[Scott Campbell]

Excellent analysis, mraynrand.

Those I've spoken with who are retired and happy all say that the key is having a plan, or some goals. It might be traveling, or volunteer work, or writing that novel you've always wanted to, or learning to play the guitar - but there's got to be something more than sitting on a lawnmower.

Oh come on. There's a lot more to Brett in retirement than just mowing the lawn. He likes to chase those pesky beavers too.

Seriously though, how hard is it to keep a redneck busy?


Fishing rod? Check.
Hunting rifle? Check.
Whoopee cushion? Check.
$45 million banked? Check.


He's all set.

[mraynrand]

Perhaps starting a lawn mowing business is the answer. He could go around to the neighbors' with his mower and offer to do their yards for twenty bucks or something.

Cut your grass, mister?

Oye!

I actually thought Favre might do well as a high school coach, but perhaps he's too much of a goof off for that. I wish the guy all the best trying to figure it out though. What do you do when the only thing you've ever done, and that you've done so well for all your life is suddenly over - and you could have well over half your life left?

[Fritz]

Excellent analysis, mraynrand.

Those I've spoken with who are retired and happy all say that the key is having a plan, or some goals. It might be traveling, or volunteer work, or writing that novel you've always wanted to, or learning to play the guitar - but there's got to be something more than sitting on a lawnmower.

Oh come on. There's a lot more to Brett in retirement than just mowing the lawn. He likes to chase those pesky beavers too.

Seriously though, how hard is it to keep a redneck busy?


Fishing rod? Check.
Hunting rifle? Check.
Whoopee cushion? Check.
$45 million in the bank? Check.


He's all set.

You forgot the John Deere tractor with the hedge hog.

[mraynrand]

There's a lot more to Brett in retirement than just mowing the lawn. He likes to chase those pesky beavers too.

So do I.

[Fritz]

Now if Zig or 007 would chime in with a similar comment, Bretsky could die happy.

[Carolina_Packer]

Yeah, all that speculation on what would Vince Lombardi do, etc., it's interesting, but not really relevant to the topic.

These are uncharted waters for most GM's, so I can understand erring on the side of team vs. holding the team up while trying to figure out the mahcinations/intentions of Favre.

Did he or didn't he "force him out" (I thought they got rid of the force out rule anyway)?

It's sounding like TT agreed that he could still play, but wasn't going to massage his ego to get him to come back. Perhaps that's just TT's style, or perhaps he was trying to respect Favre's space and place as the franchise player and not put pressure on him, so he soft-sold it too much in an effort to show respect. Geez, TT is a good football mind. He doesn't seem like he boldly or brashly does anything, unless he's a public/private Jekyll and Hyde. He seems like he would understand the importance of a guy like Brett and if he thought the guy could still play/help the team win, he would have no problem wanting him back.

As many have said, Brett retired very publicly. I refuse to believe that he did this because he felt like the team didn't want him. You can hate on TT, but you can't just make stuff up to support your own hate. You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts, unless they are with an ironclad source, one in the same.

OK, so here we stand about a month before training camp with a QB who may or may not have expressed a desire to come back with people in his camp stating that not enough was done to make him stay so he had no choice but retire. The thing that I can't get past with his Mom and other people sticking up for him and the apprarent "lack of front office support" is Brett has two more years on his contract, so he could have forced their hand by saying he wanted to come back and they would have had to make a decision on wheter to keep moving forward with him, trading or releasing him.

I'm pretty sure that the organization handled Favre reverently and with class and that Favre made a hard decision for him to make. None of us as fans have ever dealt with something like this, as we haven't ever had a Packer great who could play like this at an advanced age. Time and injuries usually make the decision for all-time greats, but not in this case.

It's a shame he has such a hard time deciding, but I can understand how it must be really hard to decide. Retirement is forever. If you love it, and can keep doing it, then keep going. The man's a freak, so who's to say he can't keep doin it?

As for TT, I think he is just in uncharted territory and is trying to balance his respect for Favre (and if you are that close to Brett, and be a former player, you'd probably respect him all the more) and his desire to move past the will he/wont he return that is an annual thing. All great things must come to an end, unless the man who makes the greatness keeps getting the itch. I say if he strongly wants to come back, have it be as a Packer. Let Rodgers wait. Sorry, dude, this is Brett Favre, and if he can still play at a high level, that's probably better than you'll ever be. No slight, man. We were close last year, we can be over the top this year and why not.

All he did was have a press conference. Since many of us didn't want to see him go anyway then I would gladly accept his mulligan for holding a premature presser. I don't want to ever see him go out an embarras himself, but I don't see him as being close to doing that.

BF must decide first, then TT has a tough decision to make, but I think it will all be done respectfully. I don't buy into the holdiing the team hostage crapola. I think it's one of the toughest decsions he'll ever make, since he is a hall of famer in waiting. TT just needs to focus on winning and if BF can help Green Bay do that. I think he can. Sorry A-Rod, this has to be torture.

[The Leaper]

To me, a lot of Favre's failure handling the retirement issue is due to the death of his father. Without Irv, I'm guessing Favre had a tough time finding someone to talk to about the issue from a fatherly viewpoint. Sure, he can get advice from Thompson or McCarthy or former players...but it isn't the same thing as having a talk with your dad, who understands YOU in an entirely different way than others do.