Favre Can Compete For Starting Job

[pbmax]

So says Florio's Source

FAVRE CAN COMPETE FOR STARTING JOB

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/...-starting-job/

[pbmax]

True or not, this seems to be in line with Thompson's interview with Silverstein. Basically, if he unretires and gets to camp, no telling what happens.

It would put the lie to the leaks on Friday, but then only Jay Glazer and Wilde would hold grudges.

[OKC PackerFan]

Yup, I saw that too. Favre will have to show up and compete. Now will he or won't he. Interesting to see how this plays out. It is a mess.

I must say I'm on the fence on this. I accepted his retirement and warmed up to Rodgers, after all, I am a Packer Fan first and for most. I also am a Favre fan, can't help it, I really enjoyed watching him play and agonized over his mistakes, it was both exciting with some hair pulling moments.

I felt he made a mistake when he retired, and blundered when he reneged on coming back in March (if true), what a waffling idiot. Competing for the starting job is about the only way to handle this IMHO. Put the best player on the field. Who ever looses will have to suck it up. I feel for Rodgers, but he'll have to earn it. Of course Favre could remain retired, best for every one at this point I guess.

[Merlin]

I agree that Favre needs to compete for the starting job to be fair to the Packers as a team. That being said, what I think doesn't matter, what Ted Thompson does is all that matters. Although I will give my opinion, again it really doesn't matter.

I look at it two ways:

1) Favre wanted to unretire sometime ago and Ted & Mike were ready to get that going but Brett backed out. Now Favre wants to play but hasn't followed the proper procedures to play. Rightfully so, the Packers have to question his intentions. I agree with that, does he really want to play and will he give it 100%? It he waffling? There are a lot of ways to read this stuff but Favre has yet to speak on the matter and that would clear up a lot of things. I think in this case, there is a lot of speculation without any clear answers. yes, Favre asked for his unconditional release, no, the intentions of that are not really clear because the answer came from his agent. Supposedly this was to free the Packers of having to deal with the whole issue which I don't buy. I think it was done to force the Packers into a decision that they clearly do not have to make until Favre is reinstated, if even then.

2) It is no secret that Thompson is not a great speaker and he says things that are just mind baffling. To tell arguably the greatest QB of all time that "we have moved on" and "may be a different role" is absurd. I don't expect Thompson to baby Favre but you just don't make comments like that if you are "trying to protect the Favre's legacy in Green Bay". He could have gotten the same point across using different language and down played the whole thing by stating first that the Packers will do what is best for the team and that it would be great to have Brett Favre rejoin the team. By saying that the things he has only adds fuel to the fire that he wanted Favre out and lends creditability to the Favre camp. Thompson put direct quotes out there that are fairly straight forward and not open to many interpretations whereas the Favre camp has been purely speculative and only put out bits and peices. I think Thompson has shown his complete hand whereas Favre has yet to show his at all.

In the NFL, teams change their entire strategy from one week to the next, sometimes with a new free agent pickup or a trade, and yes even at QB. So I don't buy the whole play book thing at all. I see Ted Thompson stuck between a rock and a hard place. This only if Favre asks for reinstatement. If Favre chooses to do so, Thompson has the worst case scenario on his hands. If he continues his stance to do what is in the best interests of the Packers, then starting Rodgers over Favre is not one of them. If Favre were to struggle, then yes, McCarthy should give Rodgers a shot, it's only fair. If Rodgers were the starter and were to struggle, I doubt they would pull the plug and put Favre in. They would be more tolerant with Rodgers and to some extent that is the right thing to do. Although not to the detriment of the entire season and possibly getting to the playoffs. Thompson also has a contract to deal with in Rodgers coming due. If he holds a clipboard again, chances are he won't be a Packer in 2009. That isn't necessarily a bad thing because we do have a couple of prospects in Brohm and Flynn. We didn't pick them up because we had overwhelming confidence in Rodgers, that is for sure. Thompson also has to worry about bruising Rodgers ego which we all know he has plenty of after his unfriendly remarks in SI. Lastly, Thompson has to think about his job. He drafted Rodgers #1 and should he go with Rodgers with Favre on the roster and he performs horribly, then what does that say about Thompson? I don't think at this point it matters, too many people are already high on the guy for that mistake to tarnish anything. But that will not play well with the fans, the ones who spend the money on the Packers and the bottom line is what really matters.

Bottom line:
If Favre is reinstated and he is not good enough to be the starter then releasing him or trading him should not be a concern to Ted Thompson or the Packers. My suspicion is that Favre is good enough to start on any NFL team and Ted Thompson knows this. I personally wouldn't want to be in his shoes and I personally don't want him being the only one making any decision like this. He has proven a time or two not to be smarter then everyone else, regardless of your like or dislike of him.

[sharpe1027]

2) It is no secret that Thompson is not a great speaker and he says things that are just mind baffling. To tell arguably the greatest QB of all time that "we have moved on" and "may be a different role" is absurd. I don't expect Thompson to baby Favre but you just don't make comments like that if you are "trying to protect the Favre's legacy in Green Bay". He could have gotten the same point across using different language and down played the whole thing by stating first that the Packers will do what is best for the team and that it would be great to have Brett Favre rejoin the team. By saying that the things he has only adds fuel to the fire that he wanted Favre out and lends creditability to the Favre camp. Thompson put direct quotes out there that are fairly straight forward and not open to many interpretations whereas the Favre camp has been purely speculative and only put out bits and peices. I think Thompson has shown his complete hand whereas Favre has yet to show his at all.

I said this in another thread, but I think what Ted has done is smart. He runs the risk of burning bridges with Rodgers and having Favre change his mind once again. Instead, he's left the door open for Favre to return and start while supporting Rodgers, smart.

It is also very likely that this position was decided on several of the people in the Packer's organization and Ted while is deliverying the message he is not necessarily coming up with all their positions.

[Merlin]

By saying he will do what is best for the Packers (only), he avoids any conflict with anyone. That was the smartest thing to do. Instead, it appears he is worried about Rodgers' ego and to some extent, his own. Rodgers is an adult and if he can't handle Thompson saying he will do what is best for the Packers then do you really want him as your QB?

[Lurker64]

Whether or not Favre should start if he decides to return is something that needs to be decided in training camp, and not on internet message boards. Suffice to say that right now, going into camp Aaron Rodgers is the #1 whether or not Favre returns. If Favre blows the doors off in camp, he starts. If Favre stinks on ice in camp, he doesn't.

There's sufficient uncertainty about Favre at this point that he doesn't deserve the starting job back just by showing up, IMO.

[sharpe1027]

By saying he will do what is best for the Packers (only), he avoids any conflict with anyone. That was the smartest thing to do. Instead, it appears he is worried about Rodgers' ego and to some extent, his own. Rodgers is an adult and if he can't handle Thompson saying he will do what is best for the Packers then do you really want him as your QB?

You are splitting hairs and not very well at that. He has said Rodgers is the starting QB because Favre is not even on the active roster. If he comes back, what he has said implies that they will do "what is best for the Packers."

If Favre can't handle TT saying he will do what is best for the Packers even if it means he might not start, do you really want him as your QB?

[Merlin]

I don't disagree with that at all. I think he should compete in camp. That being said, you have to believe that he would win that competition. Rodgers hasn't been involved in any competition for his role with the Packers since he was drafted. I would think that if Favre returns, that for the first time in his career, Rodgers would have to prove he can do something better then someone else. that may work to his advantage or it may destroy him. Either way it's all speculative until Favre is officially on the roster AND shows up for camp.

[Merlin]

By saying he will do what is best for the Packers (only), he avoids any conflict with anyone. That was the smartest thing to do. Instead, it appears he is worried about Rodgers' ego and to some extent, his own. Rodgers is an adult and if he can't handle Thompson saying he will do what is best for the Packers then do you really want him as your QB?

You are splitting hairs and not very well at that. He has said Rodgers is the starting QB because Favre is not even on the active roster. If he comes back, what he has said implies that they will do "what is best for the Packers."

If Favre can't handle TT saying he will do what is best for the Packers even if it means he might not start, do you really want him as your QB?

Hard to split hairs when the quote is out there. We don't know if Favre can't handle it or not, no statement is out from Favre. I think Thompson made a mistake in using the verbiage that he did. He made the situation worse, not better. You simply don't make remarks like that in a situation this fragile. We need Favre to come out with a statement to clear up his side. Thompson's is already out there (for now).

[sharpe1027]

I don't disagree with that at all. I think he should compete in camp. That being said, you have to believe that he would win that competition. Rodgers hasn't been involved in any competition for his role with the Packers since he was drafted. I would think that if Favre returns, that for the first time in his career, Rodgers would have to prove he can do something better then someone else. that may work to his advantage or it may destroy him. Either way it's all speculative until Favre is officially on the roster AND shows up for camp.

That is why I think what TT did was smart. Favre would win if he shows up committed to playing. Otherwise, they go with Rodgers.

[Harlan Huckleby]

He's not going to compete for a job. McCarthy already has 16 years of scouting tape on him.


If Favre is brought to camp, it is either because McCarthy wants to start him, or TT couldn't make a trade.

[sharpe1027]

Hard to split hairs when the quote is out there. We don't know if Favre can't handle it or not, no statement is out from Favre. I think Thompson made a mistake in using the verbiage that he did. He made the situation worse, not better. You simply don't make remarks like that in a situation this fragile. We need Favre to come out with a statement to clear up his side. Thompson's is already out there (for now).

What quote? The one where he said that Rodgers was he starting QB because he was on the active roster? Or the one where he talked about Favre being welcome back, but that there were no guarantees? Be sure you aren't confusing writers stories with quotes.

[sharpe1027]

He's not going to compete for a job. McCarthy already has 16 years of scouting tape on him.

If Favre is brought to camp, it is either because McCarthy wants to start him, or TT couldn't make a trade.

Same thing, either way they are sending a message to Rodgers that they support him and at the same time allowing Favre to come in and start if he shows up to play.

[Lurker64]

He's not going to compete for a job. McCarthy already has 16 years of scouting tape on him.


If Favre is brought to camp, it is either because McCarthy wants to start him, or TT couldn't make a trade.

If Favre, without significant offseason preparation can be as good as some of the Favres on that 16 years of tape, he's absolutely the starter. If he's not, he shouldn't start. I've heard that a lot of Brett's success over the last couple years has been due to his considerable offseason preparation, and he's been doing a lot less this offseason. Will that hurt his performance? I don't know, we can figure that out in camp.