Thompson, McCarthy to talk about Favre... TODAY

[pbmax]

Silverstein needs to learn to live blog his interviews faster. I am dying here.

[VegasPackFan]

I hope that TT and M3 lay all the cards on the table. There are probably alot of details and actions that have been going on all off season that we dont know anything about. We'll see after this, but I bet there will be a lot more people understanding why they have taken this stance after we hear from them.

[falco]

I hope that TT and M3 lay all the cards on the table. There are probably alot of details and actions that have been going on all off season that we dont know anything about. We'll see after this, but I bet there will be a lot more people understanding why they have taken this stance after we hear from them.

that may be likely - they wouldn't be sitting down for an interview like this unless they were planning on making their case

[Scott Campbell]

Should he play on the kickoff coverage unit too?

I wish I thought of that one.

[BobDobbs]

I'm really interested in seeing what they have to say in the larger interview, but if this is true it is a little insane. How on earth do you justify someone who took you to the championship game losing their job. At least on a performance basis, which is what starting jobs should be determined by.

How does Rodgers keep command of the locker room with Favre in it? I mean McCarthy shipped out Jim Bates, because he thought there would be too much conflict with a guy that wanted his job. Are they really going to have Brett Favre running the scout team offense to help prepare the first team defense for an upcoming opponent? Should he play on the kickoff coverage unit too?

This is not a solution it is a sh*tstorm.

Actually MM asked bates to stay on as defensive coordinater...nice try though.

No, I clearly remember McCarthy saying he wanted to talk about having him back. Then after they did talk a 'mutual agreement' was reached and McCarthy said he didn't want to work with him.

It doesn't matter, because the metaphor doesn't hold for position players. There is always day to day competition there. Maybe the best thing is for an open competition in camp. Showcase both players in preseason, then trade on of them.

[pbmax]

Bates gave an interview later that year saying it was his decision.

Silverstein needs to hurry.

I'm really interested in seeing what they have to say in the larger interview, but if this is true it is a little insane. How on earth do you justify someone who took you to the championship game losing their job. At least on a performance basis, which is what starting jobs should be determined by.

How does Rodgers keep command of the locker room with Favre in it? I mean McCarthy shipped out Jim Bates, because he thought there would be too much conflict with a guy that wanted his job. Are they really going to have Brett Favre running the scout team offense to help prepare the first team defense for an upcoming opponent? Should he play on the kickoff coverage unit too?

This is not a solution it is a sh*tstorm.

Actually MM asked bates to stay on as defensive coordinater...nice try though.

No, I clearly remember McCarthy saying he wanted to talk about having him back. Then after they did talk a 'mutual agreement' was reached and McCarthy said he didn't want to work with him.

It doesn't matter, because the metaphor doesn't hold for position players. There is always day to day competition there. Maybe the best thing is for an open competition in camp. Showcase both players in preseason, then trade on of them.

[BobDobbs]

Well its finally up now.

Favre return making things messy for Thompson
By Tom Silverstein
Saturday, Jul 12 2008, 02:36 PM

Green Bay -- Refusing to rule out the possibility of Brett Favre playing for the Green Bay Packers this season but at the same time reiterating that Aaron Rodgers is currently his starter, general manager Ted Thompson admitted during a half-hour interview Saturday that he was dealing with a messy situation.

Thompson, who agreed to conduct interviews with several local media outlets, did not publicly dissuade Favre from filing reinstatement papers and did not go as far as saying there was no way he would play for the Packers this season. But he said he could not answer whether there would be an opportunity for Favre to get his starting position back with the Packers if he chose to return.

"We have to go with what's real," Thompson said. "We don't know what the options are right now. We'll talk about it internally. It's all guess work.

"This is a very difficult spot we're in. It's a very volatile situation and we don't have all the answers yet."

Asked if there was a chance Favre could be on his roster this year, Thompson said, "Sure."

As a starter?

"I don't know how to answer that," he said. "We have moved forward. So we'll see where it goes."

Asked if he was concerned that Rodgers would wash his hands of the Packers after his contract is up were he stripped of his starting job at the start of training camp, Thompson said, "We'll deal with that when it comes up."

Then he said, "Aaron Rodgers is our starting quarterback."

Thompson declined to answer which quarterback gives the Packers the best chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Thompson admitted that anything could happen between now and the start of training camp and that though the team will discuss the possibility of Favre coming back, it will do nothing until Favre signs reinstatement papers. Though Favre has made it clear he wants to come back, he has not officially informed the Packers at anytime this off-season that he wants to play for the Packers again, Thompson said.

The Packers general manager said that in late March, he received word from offensive line coach James Campen, a close friend of Favre's, that the quarterback was having strong feelings about coming back from retirement. Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy discussed the possibility of Favre returning and both agreed it was not too late for him to come back.

They sent word to Favre that he was welcome back and that they would fly down to Mississippi to finalize plans for his return. But within days of telling Favre of their plans, Favre called back and said he and wife Deanna had decided to stick with their original decision on retirement.

Thompson went through a time line of events from the end of the NFC Championship Game to last Tuesday when Favre called to ask for his release. He said he visited Favre at his home in Mississippi and in April and Favre did not ask him whether he could return to play for the Packers.

The latest development caught Thompson and McCarthy by surprise and both men were struggling with how to handle a muddled situation.

"There are people out there who I know are anxious and mad and nervous and all those things," Thompson said. "I want people to know that we know that. We're going through the same things. It's gut-wrenching when you think about it. We're struggling to do the right thing. We don't have all the answers.

"It doesn't bother me when people think we picked the wrong guy or we made a personnel decision that wasn't right. But when it gets to something as core value as this, it concerns me that there would be people who would think less of us. That's important to me. It always has been.

"People think I'm stoic and don't care what anybody thinks. Sure I do. If it's something like a draft pick, I'm fine with that. I want people to know that I know fans care so much and we care too. We care about the legacy of the Packers and the legacy of Brett Favre."

"We don't have all the answers."

[bobblehead]

I'm really interested in seeing what they have to say in the larger interview, but if this is true it is a little insane. How on earth do you justify someone who took you to the championship game losing their job. At least on a performance basis, which is what starting jobs should be determined by.

How does Rodgers keep command of the locker room with Favre in it? I mean McCarthy shipped out Jim Bates, because he thought there would be too much conflict with a guy that wanted his job. Are they really going to have Brett Favre running the scout team offense to help prepare the first team defense for an upcoming opponent? Should he play on the kickoff coverage unit too?

This is not a solution it is a sh*tstorm.

Actually MM asked bates to stay on as defensive coordinater...nice try though.

No, I clearly remember McCarthy saying he wanted to talk about having him back. Then after they did talk a 'mutual agreement' was reached and McCarthy said he didn't want to work with him.

It doesn't matter, because the metaphor doesn't hold for position players. There is always day to day competition there. Maybe the best thing is for an open competition in camp. Showcase both players in preseason, then trade on of them.

thats funny cuz I clearly remember MM offering him the defensive coordinator position and bates was upset about not being named the head coach and declined. He later signed on with denver as "assistand head coach"

[falco]

bobblehead - I remember the same thing

Kudos to TT - he handled things extremely well today I think

[falco]

bobblehead - I remember the same thing

Kudos to TT - he handled things extremely well today I think

I made this comment based on all the latest posted entries on JSO, some posted 2 minutes ago - i encourage everyone to take a look

[falco]

thompson was wise to uncharacteristically tell all in this situation - by being brutally honest about everything he stands the best chance to keep the court of public opinion in his favor

[Scott Campbell]

thompson was wise to uncharacteristically tell all in this situation - by being brutally honest about everything he stands the best chance to keep the court of public opinion in his favor

Good call falco.

[twoseven]

thompson was wise to uncharacteristically tell all in this situation - by being brutally honest about everything he stands the best chance to keep the court of public opinion in his favor

Exactamundo. All week long the non-GB fans and media types have been shelling the Pack and TT for either not giving Favre the keys to the GB castle OR granting him his release because he's Brett Favre, treating the situation in GB as simple and cut and dry to handle. Funny how every offseason it seemed those same media types were shelling Favre for playing his decision games, now they're in his corner it seems after he, in my opinion, has taken it way too far with the drama. Two sides to this story, maybe now Brett's won't be the only one gracing ESPN 24/7. Wait..what's that..do we have another statement from Scott Favre... has Bonita got a response to TT's interview...does Brett's neighbor have something to say??

[falco]

thompson was wise to uncharacteristically tell all in this situation - by being brutally honest about everything he stands the best chance to keep the court of public opinion in his favor

Exactamundo. All week long the non-GB fans and media types have been shelling the Pack and TT for either not giving Favre the keys to the GB castle OR granting him his release because he's Brett Favre, treating the situation in GB as simple and cut and dry to handle. Funny how every offseason it seemed those same media types were shelling Favre for playing his decision games, now they're in his corner it seems after he, in my opinion, has taken it way too far with the drama. Two sides to this story, maybe now Brett's won't be the only one gracing ESPN 24/7. Wait..what's that..do we have another statement from Scott Favre... has Bonita got a response to TT's interview...does Brett's neighbor have something to say??

my personal preference would be another scathing al jones editorial

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm not sure that Thompson really did himself any favors, and I don't sense he is being honest. Or at least not forthcoming.

I read this interview as Thompson making a transition towards accepting Favre back on the team.

Yet, if that is really TT's inclination, then what's the problem with being more direct?

I guess Thompson is buying some time to find a trade partner. And leaving open the option of putting Favre on the roster as an unpleasant last resort. (Releasing Favre is not even an option.) If so, Thompson has falsely raised hopes of the "Favre till Death" crowd, and just deepened the soap opera.

Full disclosure: I might do exactly what TT did today if I were in his shoes. There is no good option.