A battle is brewing. Time to pick sides

[sheepshead]

This is easy. TT has to react and do his job with the resources available. If Brett retires and especially if he says he has lost the desire to play, then by all means, TT has a responsibility to move on. Geez, what if Brett retired and TT held out hope like a love struck school girl and hoped Brett would change his mind. Brett stays home and we end up with Jeff George or somebody under center signed in August. Then what would you knuckleheads be writing? Think of an employee of yours who says they're burnt out and cant get up everyday and report to work. Do you beg them to come back and expect the same great employee?

If what Silverstein wrote is true, this is Brett being Brett and TT doing the job were paying him to do. All emotions aside, you have to side with TT on this.

[sheepshead]

By the way, how much sleep did TT get last night???

[sheepshead]

Packers: Sources say Favre reneged on deal to return
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY — Brett Favre had his chance to come back to the Green Bay Packers at the end of March, but the legendary quarterback reneged on an agreement then to unretire — part of the reason why the Packers aren't now welcoming back the legendary quarterback.

According to two NFL sources, Favre informed the Packers during the annual NFL meetings in late March — less than a month after his tearful March 6 retirement news conference — that he wanted to play again. FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer first reported that information Friday afternoon.

The State Journal's sources along with Glazer's sources said that, at the time, Packers coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson told Favre they would welcome him back, and plans were made for him to return — a colossal commitment to a player who had just publicly said he no longer wanted to play anymore, wiping away tears while saying he didn't have "anything left to give."

In fact, Thompson — he has been criticized publicly by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, and by members of Favre's family for supposedly not wanting the quarterback back — made the final call on whether the team would welcome Favre's return. Thompson agreed to bring back Favre, even though it meant forcing heir apparent Aaron Rodgers to sit yet another year behind the future Hall of Famer.

The Packers went so far as to charter a plane to Mississippi to finalize the agreement.

But two days before the meeting was set to take place, Favre called and informed McCarthy that he had changed his mind yet again and had decided that he wanted to stay retired.

Burned by the change of heart, the team decided to commit fully to moving on without Favre, the sources said. Rodgers was told the starting job was his, and the Packers drafted a pair of quarterbacks — second-rounder Brian Brohm and seventh-rounder Matt Flynn — as backups. They also began altering the offense to accomodate Rodgers' strengths.

Then, three weeks ago, Favre contacted McCarthy and said he had the "itch" to play again, and the team was cool to the idea. That led to what transpired Friday, when the Packers received a letter from Cook asking for Favre's unconditional release.

Sources said the team has no intention of releasing Favre, however. Instead, the Packers would be more likely to try to trade Favre, to control his destination and to prevent him going from an NFC North Division rival.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears could be interested in Favre, who would be considered a significant upgrade over the Vikings' (Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte) and the Bears' (Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton) options at quarterback.

The Bears reached Super Bowl XL two years ago despite Grossman's inconsistent play. The Vikings, meanwhile, are a chic pick for Super Bowl XLII, and coach Brad Childress runs a version of the West Coast offense. Favre's former quarterbacks coach in Green Bay, Darrell Bevell, is the Vikings' offensive coordinator, while ex-Packers Ryan Longwell, Darren Sharper and Robert Ferguson are on the roster.

The Packers are scheduled to retire Favre's No. 4 at a ceremony at Lambeau Field during the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Vikings on "Monday Night Football."

But sources said it's virtually impossible that the Packers would ever let Favre go to such a rival. The team would rather keep Favre on its roster as a backup to Aaron Rodgers — an incredibly awkward situation in its own right — than let him play for the Vikings.

Other teams that could be interested in Favre are the Miami Dolphins, the Carolina Panthers, the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons, Favre's first team when he entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 1991.

If any team already has contacted Favre or Cook about the possibility of him playing for them, that team would have engaged in tampering, a violation of NFL rules.

According to one NFL source, Cook had contacted the Vikings about Favre playing for them, given his close relationship with Bevell — a former University of Wisconsin star — and the offense being similar to the one the Packers ran under former coach Mike Sherman.

In April, the Los Angeles Times reported — and the State Journal confirmed — that Cook had been quietly talking to teams to gauge interest should Favre return. Since Cook and Favre opted to send the letter about being released, it's possible those conversations could have reached more serious levels than allowed by NFL rules.

Cook's letter to the Packers on Friday asked the Packers to release his client "with no strings attached," and stated that Favre does not want to be traded because he wants the freedom to choose the team for which he wants to play.

Regardless, sources said, the next step for the Packers would be to start talking to possible trading partners to gauge Favre's trade value, because they would want to get a deal done before players report to training camp July 27.

The 38-year-old Favre had a renaissance season in 2007, completing a career-best 66.5 percent of his regular-season passes for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a 95.7 passer rating (his best since 1995) while leading the team with the youngest opening-day roster in the NFL to the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field, where the Packers lost in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl XLII-champion New York Giants.

[twoseven]

Favre has been wishy washy for a few years now, every time he was given the time he needed to make up his mind. He earned that right, and each time he made a decision and stayed with it. I don't remember one single time that he changed his mind after the fact. Now he finally retires, gives his speech and is done, but not really. Ready to unretire in March, TT and MM are on board to WELCOME HIM BACK and charter the plane, and Brett changes his mind again. TT and MM do a U-turn AGAIN, make necessary moves to get Arod ready and draft two QBs. Brett changes his mind for the third time since the NFCC. TT and MM should undo their last 3 months of work? Hey, my opinion here, but give me a fucking break. I am a Packer fan. I didn't grow up watching the Green Bay Favres in the 70s and 80s and I won't be watching the Favres during the next 30-40 years if I live that long, I'll be watching the Packers. I could never thank Brett enough for what he has done in his time here, but he is making this about him now and it has already put the team in a shitty situation that is sure to leave many fans pissed off one way or another. I won't go into what it might do to team chemistry and how it might affect the futures of ARod, TT, etc. I'm sorry, but for all of #4s accomplishments he has not earned the right to put himself before the good of the team and the organization this time, not considering how he has handled things since our season ended. He was given plenty of opportunity to return, he said NO, I'm done, don't have it anymore, this time it's for good..and apparently he did this not once, but twice. Do TT and MM run the team or not? I am not ok with the fate of Arod and TT hangin in the balance because Brett just can't make up his mind, again. Unfortuately I think it's too late for that. TT and ARod were already going to be under the micorscope ths season, Favre has effectivley amplified he magnification by about 1000 with his latest personal battle concerning what he wants to do with his future. I'm tired of the entire soap opera that has become Brett Favre, and I spent the last 15+ years loving him like everyone else. However, that love does not trump my love for the team. My loyalty lies with the organization, not Brett. I hope GB will do what is best for the team, cause that's who I was cheering for long before Brett became a Packer and I'll still be dying for the team every Sunday for 40 more seasons (just like the last 30+) when Favre is long gone. I'm sure plenty will not agree with me, I don't expect them to, just my opinon on things.

[FavreChild]

The only thing the Packers did wrong - in my view - is that they did a poor job of planning for this scenario. As reports now indicate that Brett was considering coming back in late March, they knew there was certainly at least a possibility this would happen. They should have been better prepared to handle it, at least from a communication perspective. Right now, this controversy is not what's best for the team or the fans.

This is a really, really unfortunate situation. I guess it's human nature to want to blame someone, but I don't really think it's that simple.

[mraynrand]

The only thing the Packers did wrong - in my view - is that they did a poor job of planning for this scenario. As reports now indicate that Brett was considering coming back in late March, they knew there was certainly at least a possibility this would happen. They should have been better prepared to handle it, at least from a communication perspective. Right now, this controversy is not what's best for the team or the fans.

This is a really, really unfortunate situation. I guess it's human nature to want to blame someone, but I don't really think it's that simple.

Packer and NFL SOURCES say it's Favre's fault.

[Spaulding]

Dead on TwoSeven. Going to be a kick in the nuts watching Brett play for another team but TT has to put the Packers first. If the best thing (regardless of Brett's MVP like play last year) is to move forward without him then I trust in TT. His job depends on putting the best TEAM forward. I have to believe that he and MM see something in the play of Rodgers within the offensive scheme and the team chemistry that has been building that leads them to believe they have an equal chance without Favre. On the surface it seems like a no-brainer to bring back Brett and go for another shot at the Superbowl but for what goes on under the covers within the organization it might not be that simple or what looks like the right choice (bring Brett back) is actually not the correct one.

Again, given the good work that TT's done the last few years I'm in the camp that he's doing what's best for the team. His job and likely car windows, knee caps, etc. are staked on that now.

I still dream of this all working out and #4 playing for the Pack so I can watch him play one more time at Laumbeau in Green and Gold but I'll be all too happy when this annual drama is ended.

It's like my wife's favorite soap, "Days of our Packers"

[Bretsky]

I don't consider myself to be a TT jock sniffer or a Favre Jock Sniffer

What?

stop being a humble Holly and give some strong views It's too easy to wash the scenaro away and not give views

BTW, I sure am glad I bought the 2004 NFL Pro Bowl Favre Jersey recently as opposed to a Packer Favre jersey; I'll be sure to wear that to the posters game if I make it. Maybe I'll bring some cheap turtle T Shirts for others as well

[mraynrand]

Dead on TwoSeven. Going to be a kick in the nuts watching Brett play for another team but TT has to put the Packers first.

If TT were putting the Packers first, there's no WAY IN HELL he'd risk a superbowl run on an untested starter when he has a QB on his roster who played at an MVP level last year. IT MAKES NO SENSE. Thompson is having a tantrum because Favre isn't fitting his jello mold.

[RashanGary]

The only thing the Packers did wrong - in my view - is that they did a poor job of planning for this scenario. As reports now indicate that Brett was considering coming back in late March, they knew there was certainly at least a possibility this would happen. They should have been better prepared to handle it, at least from a communication perspective. Right now, this controversy is not what's best for the team or the fans.

This is a really, really unfortunate situation. I guess it's human nature to want to blame someone, but I don't really think it's that simple.

I'm just curious, how could this have been better. I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't know what could have been done (communication wise) to make this better. There are about 33% of the fans that are going to rally around Brett no matter what. It seems to me that the organization did a great job with Harlan and Murphy greasing the wheels a couple days ago to prepare fans for what might come and then they released a pretty good statement saying how they were going to handle it. It's not a good situaiton, but I'm not sure it was preventable with the way Brett handled it.

[RashanGary]

Dead on TwoSeven. Going to be a kick in the nuts watching Brett play for another team but TT has to put the Packers first.

If TT were putting the Packers first, there's no WAY IN HELL he'd risk a superbowl run on an untested starter when he has a QB on his roster who played at an MVP level last year. IT MAKES NO SENSE. Thompson is having a tantrum because Favre isn't fitting his jello mold.

There was no way he'd risk it on a group of misfits at RB, Safety, WR or OL either but he did. TT is a risk taker, a bold GM. He's not affraid to fail, only focused on succeeding. Fear (esspecially of failure) is a crippling emotion.

[Bretsky]

Dead on TwoSeven. Going to be a kick in the nuts watching Brett play for another team but TT has to put the Packers first.

If TT were putting the Packers first, there's no WAY IN HELL he'd risk a superbowl run on an untested starter when he has a QB on his roster who played at an MVP level last year. IT MAKES NO SENSE. Thompson is having a tantrum because Favre isn't fitting his jello mold.

There was no way he'd risk it on a group of misfits at RB, Safety, WR or OL either but he did. TT is a risk taker, a bold GM. He's not affraid to fail, only focused on succeeding. Not affraid to fail sounds stupid to many, but it's admired by me as I believe it often leads to great things. Fear (esspecially of failure) is a crippling emotion.

I agree that it takes stones for TT to tell Favre he has no need for him. While I'd bring Favre back in a platoon type situation and give AROD time as well, I must admit I have a little more respect for TT for holding to his mojo.

[mraynrand]

There was no way he'd risk it on a group of misfits at RB, Safety, WR or OL either but he did. TT is a risk taker, a bold GM. He's not affraid to fail, only focused on succeeding. Fear (esspecially of failure) is a crippling emotion.

And Favre bailed his ass out with perfect play. The O line sucked, the running backs sucked, and Favre kept the offense working for over half the year. "Thanks Brett, for bailing my ass out. Now get the fuck out. I don't like guys who change their mind, even if they DO play at MVP level." Love, Ted

[falco]

Dead on TwoSeven. Going to be a kick in the nuts watching Brett play for another team but TT has to put the Packers first.

If TT were putting the Packers first, there's no WAY IN HELL he'd risk a superbowl run on an untested starter when he has a QB on his roster who played at an MVP level last year. IT MAKES NO SENSE. Thompson is having a tantrum because Favre isn't fitting his jello mold.

There was no way he'd risk it on a group of misfits at RB, Safety, WR or OL either but he did. TT is a risk taker, a bold GM. He's not affraid to fail, only focused on succeeding. Not affraid to fail sounds stupid to many, but it's admired by me as I believe it often leads to great things. Fear (esspecially of failure) is a crippling emotion.

I agree that it takes stones for TT to tell Favre he has no need for him. While I'd bring Favre back in a platoon type situation and give AROD time as well, I must admit I have a little more respect for TT for holding to his mojo.

it's been said that Wolf hung his hat on Favre being the QB of the future - TT is doing the same on Rodgers.

[mraynrand]

While I'd bring Favre back in a platoon type situation and give AROD time as well, I must admit I have a little more respect for TT for holding to his mojo.

Why the hell would you platoon them?