Wow

[texaspackerbacker]

Perhaps I am missing something, but isn't Campen simply reinforcing the line of thought that they aren't going to let him go free? That if push comes to shove, the Packers would rather take him back than release him?

It seems like this is consistent with Thompson's remarks after the fact.

You're not missing anything. A bunch of others are reading stuff in that isn't there.

This whole Campen thing is a big nothing. As somebody said, Campen was just the messenger reinforcing what McCarthy and told Favre and Thompson said publicly.

Favre didn't "throw him under the bus" just by relating this little insignificant event either.

This was an attempt to gently let Favre know the way things were--and the way things should be, that Aaron Rodgers is the best hope to lead the Packers to the Super Bowl, that the commitment had been made, etc. Also, Campen pointed out the other half of the message--that rather than release him, and probably rather than trade him, the Packers would just keep him on some inactive status, or at most as a backup. Because he is under contract, and because the team can do that, the team holds all the cards here--assuming they are willing to shell out $12 million for nothing.

[Deputy Nutz]

Well, then Brett must certainly know that he's not blackballed. He's choosing to leave the Packers because it's too uncomfortable for him not becasue the Packers are forcing him to out of the league as some said last night.

Man, this is too bad.

Don't say "blackballed", Harlan gets offended for some reason.

[texaspackerbacker]

Blackballing, by definition, implies a conspiracy. There is no conspiracy here. There is merely the Packers exercising their right under a valid contract to retain a player under any status they choose--as long as they are willing to pay according to the terms of that contract.