The official Brett Favre for QB in 2008 thread

[GoPackGo]

I challenge anyone to watch this video from 9 months ago, look in the mirror at yourself and say out loud...."Aaron Rodgers would be a better QB for the Packers this year, let Brett Favre go QB somewhere else"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_6LcGbHxR8

At the end of the day, TT and Coach won't be able to do that. I question anyone who could.

Despite the waffling, despite the hurt feelings, Brett will return and reclaim his position as the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers.

[arcilite]

Listen,


nobody here is questioning how good Favre is. We all know he is awesome.



But the man is still retired.



RE fucking tired.


And he is causing a shitload of unneccessary drama. He needs to man up and make up his fucking mind.

[Rastak]

From ESPN, an article that supports your opinion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3485214&sportCat=nfl

The World Series of Poker isn't being played in Las Vegas. It's being played in Green Bay, Wis., and Hattiesburg, Miss. And so far, a very amateurish Ted Thompson is trying to show strength in his hand.


Feel free to laugh the next time Green Bay Packers management, both past and present, starts talking about "preserving" Brett Favre's legacy and cherishing Favre's place in the team's "family." It means nothing.



The Packers are about the Packers, and that's fine, even expected, but at least say so from the beginning. Don't pretend you're genuinely concerned about Favre's standing in franchise lore when, in reality, you're more concerned about damage and image control.



Favre wants to unretire. And yeah, it's a bit of a diva-ish thing to do. Tears in March. Text messages in July.



But Favre has earned his share of diva currency, enough for one Get Out Of Retirement card. He's played hurt. He's played with his heart heavy with grief. And he's played for the moment, not the money. There are bits and pieces of his body all over Lambeau Field.



Thompson, the Packers' general manager, doesn't see it that way. His solution -- and remember, the Packers are the self-appointed guardians of Favre's football reputation -- is to announce that one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, the guy only seven months removed from the NFC Championship Game, can return but may be a second-stringer. Think about it: Favre wearing a baseball cap and holding a clipboard.



Some legacy.



Packers management wants it both ways. It says it wants to protect Favre from himself, but mostly it wants to protect Favre from becoming a free agent, signing with the Minnesota Vikings and possibly kicking the Packers' butts twice in the regular season. That's the reason behind not granting Favre his release -- nothing else.



Management says the "finality" of Favre's retirement prompted the Packers to "move forward with our football team.'' But how can you move forward if Favre is still on the depth chart? If you don't want him as your starter, which is beyond astounding, then why want him at all?



Thompson has mixed a football Molotov cocktail. A short pour of Favre. A long pour of Aaron Rodgers. Topped off by Packers teammates and fans torn by their allegiances. Now light and throw.



Favre could make it easy on Thompson by staying retired. Of course, that's what Thompson is counting on: The great Brett Favre would never come back here as a backup. He wants Favre to fold.



But I'd love to see Favre report to Packers training camp later this month. I'd love to see the beads of sweat form on Thompson's forehead as he realizes he miscalculated the situation. Again.



If Favre shows up, Thompson has created an instant quarterback controversy. And by doing so, he has created the beginnings of a divided locker room. You don't think there are going to be pro-Favre guys vs. pro-Rodgers guys on that roster? You don't think the Lambeau crowd will start chanting No. 4's name the first time Rodgers struggles (and he will -- zero starts, 35 completions and one touchdown throw in three seasons)? You don't think Rodgers, Thompson's very first pick as GM in 2005, will be looking over his shoulder pads every time he makes a mistake?



Favre isn't blameless in this mess. He miscalculated, too. And for that, some Packers followers now consider him a whiner, not worth the trouble. Let's hear what they say if Rodgers bombs.



Thompson doesn't really want Favre back, unless it's for ribbon-cutting ceremonies or 20-year anniversaries. He wants the Rodgers Era to begin as soon as possible, preferably with Favre watching from his living room in Mississippi.



But sometimes you make exceptions for the exceptional. Favre has his faults, beginning with his penchant for changing his mind, but he still gives the Packers the best chance to win. Somehow that's been lost in the chaos. If Thompson wants to honor Favre's legacy, then grant him his release. If he signs with the Vikings and beats you, then that's how it goes. After all, Thompson had first crack at him as the Packers' starter.



Or if Favre truly wants to make this an amicable farewell, then he should tell the Packers he won't sign with an NFC North team. The wink-wink understanding might not be officially allowed by the league, but who has to know, right? The more likely scenario: The Packers could manipulate the trade process by making the price reasonable for, say, AFC teams, but cost-prohibitive for teams such as the division rival Vikings, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, or even 2008 NFC opponents Tampa Bay (Sept. 28 road game) and Carolina (Nov. 30 game at Lambeau) -- both rumored landing spots for Favre.



The whole situation is messier than eating barbecue ribs with your knuckles. And it could only get worse.



In the end, Thompson and the Packers are the ones jumping off the cliff without the bungee cord securely attached. They're betting everything on Rodgers' potential and Favre's sense of pride.



I'll bet on Favre. Lesser cards, better player.





Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com.

[Lurker64]

If Brett Favre elects to unretire, I trust the judgement of Mike McCarthy in terms of what to do with him. There's no point crusading for him to start or not right now.

If Brett Favre stays retires, Rodgers is our starting QB.
If Brett Favre unretires, the coaches will figure out what to do.

What I think about this is largely immaterial.

[MJZiggy]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

[GoPackGo]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

I can watch that season killing play and know that it never would have happened if Brett wouldn't have led the Pack to the NFC championship game. Its a moot point. Nice try though

[Partial]

Re: The official Brett Favre for QB in 2008 thread

I challenge anyone to watch this video from 9 months ago, look in the mirror at yourself and say out loud...."Aaron Rodgers would be a better QB for the Packers this year, let Brett Favre go QB somewhere else"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_6LcGbHxR8

At the end of the day, TT and Coach won't be able to do that. I question anyone who could.

Despite the waffling, despite the hurt feelings, Brett will return and reclaim his position as the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers.

I really, really, really hope you're correct.

[woodbuck27]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

Who called that play MJ? Can you tell us that?

[Partial]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

I can watch that season killing play and know that it never would have happened if Brett wouldn't have led the Pack to the NFC championship game. Its a moot point. Nice try though

Agreed.

[MJZiggy]

I wasn't trying to do anything. I'm just saying if you wanna glorify the good, you have to look at the bad too or your vision gets fuzzy.

[digitaldean]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

I can watch that season killing play and know that it never would have happened if Brett wouldn't have led the Pack to the NFC championship game. Its a moot point. Nice try though

Let's face facts here instead of sniveling about this. Favre had a great season and saved the team's butt with great plays of his own. By the same token, it is a TEAM game, isn't it? Remember all the seasons when the Packers had no real talent on offense other than him? Yup, those were the years the Packers didn't make the playoffs.

But the Packers in 2007 and 2008 have a darn good defense and a whole bunch of weapons at WR plus a stud RB. (also don't have a darn K who doesn't blame the holder all the time, but I digress).

The TEAM got to the championship game and yes, Favre was the larger ingredient in that equation. But Favre never would have gotten to the NFC title game either if he didn't have a supporting cast around him.

Will Rodgers lead them to the NFC title game or beyond this year? Who knows. Maybe Rodgers will, maybe he'll be hurt. But he at least will be 100% committed to playing regardless of the weather. He made sure he attended the OTA's, the offseason weight program. And he damn sure doesn't need his own locker room. Right now, Brett's actions are more of "I only care about myself, not how it may divide the team or the fans."

If Favre wouldn't have waffled back and forth the Packers would've planned for him to come back and run the team. But when he aborted his unretirement and was using words like adding "closure" to this (McCarthy quoting Favre), that pretty much tells me he's done. Even when he asked on June 20th that McCarthy to "give me my helmet or give me my release" Favre STILL couldn't tell McCarthy that he was 100% committed to playing. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT???? TT and M3 to kneel on broken glass waiting for the chance to kiss #4's backside?

Thompson already stated that Favre would be part of the team if he asks for reinstatement. IMO, I don't think Favre would be the backup if he came back to the Packers. But the going back on his word, the using of his mom, brother and the bo-hunk reporter in Biloxi to say what he doesn't have the guts to say would eat at most anybody that has any integrity.

Favre could end this debacle right now, sack it up like a man and have a press conf. outlining why he did what he did. But his silence is deafening.

[GoPackGo]

There's no point crusading for him to start or not right now.

If Brett Favre stays retires, Rodgers is our starting QB.
If Brett Favre unretires, the coaches will figure out what to do.

What I think about this is largely immaterial.

I agree. There is no point to crusade for him now. I'm just going on the forum's record with my opinion, and seeing how many others here feel the same way I do.

[Bossman641]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

Who called that play MJ? Can you tell us that?

Who cares who called it? Who executed it? Who called the plays on the 28TD's Brett threw? MM. Should he get the credt for those as well.

My god, some of you people are unbelievable.

[The Shadow]

Sorry, but if you're gonna show one, you have to show the other one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tSdtkMiAKak&feature=related

Who called that play MJ? Can you tell us that?

Who cares who called it? Who executed it? Who called the plays on the 28TD's Brett threw? MM. Should he get the credt for those as well.

My god, some of you people are unbelievable.

There is often just no end to the jock-sniffing around here.

[GoPackGo]

Dean-
your right on all points. The one thing you left out though, is that Favre has that little extra magic in his game that gets the Packers wins instead of losses in overtime. We(fans) know he has it. We need him to use it to help the Packers win as long as he's able.