Favre waiting on reinstatement

[twoseven]

So they can't ask him to come back and then check up on him once a week, but at the same time they didn't do enough to try to get him back? C'mon now, you can't have it both ways.

I'm just saying that a weekly status report a few weeks removed from the season...considering the circumstances (aging player, capable replacement ready to go)...makes it seem like the Packers were really looking for a quick answer. In that sense, I can understand how Favre would've felt pressured to make a decision.

I agree with this. However, let's look at what Favre had going for him. He already had a history of waiting to decide, 2005 was well after the draft, he could have done the exact same thing. He was coming off a great year, almost made the SB, runner up MVP, looked as good as ever, odds on favorite to be back in NFCC, he had the franchise wrapped around his pinky. Other than being really pissed off, what could TT and MM actually do if Brett kept them waiting until April or May for a decision, hell, June for that matter? He was under contract, what would they do, name AR starter with Brett still undecided? 99.9% would still be firmly behind Brett if that were to happen and TT and MM would be facing the heat, and AR wouldn't have leg to stand on as heir apparent. Weekly calls would have drove me nuts too, but Brett had all the power and held all the cards, he could have made everyone wait. He had a shitty 2005 and we all waited until almost May (I think). With what he did last year I expect that kind of cred would have many waiting until June if need be for him to figure it out. I feel he had that ace up his sleeve..until he gave it all away and said 'I retire.' Big mistake. Even bigger mistake with how he and 'his camp' have handled things since then.

[Spaulding]

It seems like the gentlemens way of saying if you come back they'll give you a fair competition, knowing that he would beat out Rodgers, which Rodgers can't bitch about as he lost out in a fair competition.

I wonder if you're on to something. Regardless of the current miscommunication and posturing, what if the initial message was intended to Favre that if were to come come back that although they couldn't guarantee him a starting spot and officially list him as the backup QB, that in reality they were trying to imply that they fully intended to give him a chance to battle for the starting spot?

TT's job is put the best team on the field and if Favre gives him that chance I would expect and believe that he and M3 go with Favre. If this is true it would make sense that the posturing is all to save face in backtracking and benching Rodgers and/or burning bridges with him for down the road.

All speculation but given how much confusion between the two parties has occurred, what if?

[texaspackerbacker]

Ideally you would think any potential suitor would like Favre as early as possible. But there's no reason why he can't be trade bait into and during the season for a team that finds themselves in a deseprate situation should their QB not play well or injuries happen. I guess I don't see why a training camp date should be some kind of firm deadline. Would a team like Tampa, if they are interested in Favre, actually waver on the idea of a trade if they can't get him in time for their camp?

Its about learning the offense(WCO version) that his potential new team has and getting cohesion with his potential new teammates. Do you think Favre could really come in during the regular season on less than a weeks notice and just guide the team with no problems?

If Vinny Testaverde can go from his couch one week to leading the Panthers to victory the next week, why can't Favre. I didn't say it was ideal (as the first sentence stated), just that it shouldn't be ruled out.

It ain't often I agree with twoseven, but this is true. Long before this unretirement stuff came up--or at least before it became public, I figured that if Rodgers got hurt, they could just call Favre and he could come in and start. QBs do that all the time, many of them not even veterans.

I don't see this delay of reinstatement as blocking a trade--the trade could always be conditional. What it does do is make for less incentive for the Packers to trade him. BTW, I thought he never filed retirement papers, so why does he now need reinstatement papers?

This delay, IMO, is a very good thing. As somebody says, it plays right into Thompson's hand--and surely Favre must know this--by allowing the Packers NOT to do anything except let him sit.

Maybe, just maybe, this all is Favre's clumsy way of letting everybody know he is available if needed later--because of injury or whatever, that he does NOT care to play for somebody else--he certainly seemed to say THAT in the interview. If he (or the damned media) had just shut up and not rocked the boat, he would be sitting there, ready to come to the rescue if Rodgers goes down, but content to stay retired if all goes well. I think that's exactly what would have happened if the media assholes hadn't stirred up trouble, and if this is handled just right by Packer brass, maybe it could still turn out that way.

How's that for a rose-colored Kool Aid scenario?

[Patler]

So they can't ask him to come back and then check up on him once a week, but at the same time they didn't do enough to try to get him back? C'mon now, you can't have it both ways.

I'm just saying that a weekly status report a few weeks removed from the season...considering the circumstances (aging player, capable replacement ready to go)...makes it seem like the Packers were really looking for a quick answer. In that sense, I can understand how Favre would've felt pressured to make a decision.

I agree with this. However, let's look at what Favre had going for him. He already had a history of waiting to decide, 2005 was well after the draft, he could have done the exact same thing. He was coming off a great year, almost made the SB, runner up MVP, looked as good as ever, odds on favorite to be back in NFCC, he had the franchise wrapped around his pinky. Other than being really pissed off, what could TT and MM actually do if Brett kept them waiting until April or May for a decision, hell, June for that matter? He was under contract, what would they do, name AR starter with Brett still undecided? 99.9% would still be firmly behind Brett if that were to happen and TT and MM would be facing the heat, and AR wouldn't have leg to stand on as heir apparent. Weekly calls would have drove me nuts too, but Brett had all the power and held all the cards, he could have made everyone wait. He had a shitty 2005 and we all waited until almost May (I think). With what he did last year I expect that kind of cred would have many waiting until June if need be for him to figure it out. I feel he had that ace up his sleeve..until he gave it all away and said 'I retire.' Big mistake. Even bigger mistake with how he and 'his camp' have handled things since then.

Favre let them know about his decision the end of the week before his retirement conference, so the end of the last week of Feb, or so. If I remember correctly, both Favre and MM said he was left alone until Feb. Weekly check ups from MM thereafter amounted to three or four telephone calls from MM before Favre made a decision. Doesn't sound too overbearing to me.

[The Leaper]

My question is what does it matter if they called weekly?

It doesn't necessarily matter...it just makes it seem to me that the Packers were awful antsy about getting Favre's decision WHEN THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE. That is what bothers me.

If the Packers would've been stuck scrambling for a starting QB if Favre retired, I could see the need for a quick decision...I could understand calling him every week.

However, the Packers HAD a capable replacement. It wasn't going to be any skin off their nose whatever Favre's decision was. It wasn't like the Packers were unaware that this was going to be a tough decision on Favre this year, and that he might struggle with it.

I don't blame them for asking...they have that right. I'm just wondering why they seemed so damned antsy when there was really no good reason to be that way. Calling Favre once a week in February tells me the Packers were antsy.

[cpk1994]

BTW, I thought he never filed retirement papers, so why does he now need reinstatement papers?

The retirement papers are for benefit & severance purposes only. The Packers put him on the retired list, therefore he must apply for reinstatement to be on the active roster again.

[The Leaper]

If I remember correctly, both Favre and MM said he was left alone until Feb.

Wow! They left him alone for ELEVEN DAYS! Outstanding.

The NFFC game was on Jan 20th I believe...so that is 11 days until February.

Then to start calling the guy once a week after that...when you damn well know he just got finished with a season where he would need some time to decompress???

It smacks of the antsy. I'm not saying the Packers don't have the right...just that it seems very odd they were so antsy when they already had their pieces in a row at the QB position.

Answer me that...WHY THE FUCKING RUSH????

[sharpe1027]

If I remember correctly, both Favre and MM said he was left alone until Feb.

Wow! They left him alone for ELEVEN DAYS! Outstanding.

The NFFC game was on Jan 20th I believe...so that is 11 days until February.

Then to start calling the guy once a week after that...when you damn well know he just got finished with a season where he would need some time to decompress???

It smacks of the antsy. I'm not saying the Packers don't have the right...just that it seems very odd they were so antsy when they already had their pieces in a row at the QB position.

Answer me that...WHY THE FUCKING RUSH????

I don't see it as a rush. Given Favre's history the past couple years, I can understand calling once a week to touch base. Calling once a week to see where he stood, and they probably talked about other things...big deal.

Personally, I think Favre has misconstrued a lot of things said and done by the Packers.

[Bossman641]

If I remember correctly, both Favre and MM said he was left alone until Feb.

Wow! They left him alone for ELEVEN DAYS! Outstanding.

The NFFC game was on Jan 20th I believe...so that is 11 days until February.

Then to start calling the guy once a week after that...when you damn well know he just got finished with a season where he would need some time to decompress???

It smacks of the antsy. I'm not saying the Packers don't have the right...just that it seems very odd they were so antsy when they already had their pieces in a row at the QB position.

Answer me that...WHY THE FUCKING RUSH????

This doesn't seem to mesh very well with your "Favre was rushed, leave him alone" theory.

— Feb. 22: Thompson calls Favre after getting word that Favre was upset Thompson hadn’t called him in a while. According to Thompson, Favre said, “Well, I don’t know where that’s coming from. That doesn’t come from me. I’m fine with it.” Thompson said he reassures Favre: “You know that Mike and me, we still think you can play, you’re still our guy.”

or this

— Feb. 29: The beginning of free agency, the Packers’ original target date for Favre’s decision. “He told me that day, he said, ‘Hey, if I needed to make a decision today, I would retire,”’ McCarthy said. “I said, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. It’s not that important. Ted and I have talked about it over and over again as far as, you’re the priority and we didn’t need to stick to that date. So you need more time? Sure. How much time do you need? He said, ‘I’ll tell you what. (Wife) Deanna and I are going to sit down this weekend, why don’t you call me Monday?”’

He felt rushed, yet he called TT and was mad because they hadn't contacted him recently enough? They were pushing him out the door, yet they told him to take more time when he said he was gonna retire?

Here's what this situation is: Brett fucking up. He had the time, he held the cards. Every single FACT mentioned shows that TT and MM supported him, whether that was giving him more time or welcoming him back when he wanted to return in late March. BRETT FUCKED IT UP! Now he is angry, and trying to spin it all to make it look like he was the victim and was shoved out the door. Fortunately, most of us are smarter than that.

He's either indecisive, or EXTREMELY NEEDY. Or possibly both.

[sharpe1027]

BRETT FUCKED IT UP! Now he is angry, and trying to spin it all to make it look like he was the victim and was shoved out the door. Fortunately, most of us are smarter than that.

He's either indecisive, or EXTREMELY NEEDY. Or possibly both.

Sadly, I find this the most plausible explanation.

[Patler]

If I remember correctly, both Favre and MM said he was left alone until Feb.

Wow! They left him alone for ELEVEN DAYS! Outstanding.

The NFFC game was on Jan 20th I believe...so that is 11 days until February.

Then to start calling the guy once a week after that...when you damn well know he just got finished with a season where he would need some time to decompress???

It smacks of the antsy. I'm not saying the Packers don't have the right...just that it seems very odd they were so antsy when they already had their pieces in a row at the QB position.

Answer me that...WHY THE FUCKING RUSH????

Who knows when the first call in Feb. was? It might have been the second week, or later. My point was (which you avoided by quoting only the single sentence) was that "weekly calls" amounted to four flipping calls at most, maybe only 3. WOW, THE PRESSURE MUST HAVE BEEN UNBEARABLE FOR HIM.

The other point that has been missed is that the calls were from McCarthy, not Thompson. If Thompson had been calling him weekly his point might be somewhat more valid (but not much).

[The Shadow]

BRETT FUCKED IT UP! Now he is angry, and trying to spin it all to make it look like he was the victim and was shoved out the door. Fortunately, most of us are smarter than that.

He's either indecisive, or EXTREMELY NEEDY. Or possibly both.

Sadly, I find this the most plausible explanation.

The evidence supports this take.

[woodbuck27]

Lord Favre is delaying filing to block the team from ending the situation with a trade.

I don't think Favre really wants to play for anyone else. He isn't interested in learning a new system or working with a bunch of new players. I've maintained that all along.

He wants to play for Green Bay but he knows he can't. I think he's beginning to see that isn't going to happen, and so he is highly likely to remain in retirement.

He obviously to me wants to play in the NFL in 2008 The leaper, but it's just getting worse for that opportunity with this latest tidbit. He's all over the map.

What's it all about with him and his dumb agent. Favre needs to reinstate ASAP, and allow the cards to fall as they may. If he's committed to play somewhere and I believe he is, on his terms 'of course'. He's making a complete mess of it. His wife should take over as his agent as she's certainly govern his and her best interests. This really is a matter of extreme interest to Brett Favre and Deanna Favre. There's too much at stake now.

This is a nightmare. It's just plain sickening. I'm disappointed in how he's handled his off season. I don't blame ' Bus ' Cook, I blame 'the man' who employs him for his best interests.

[Patler]

He obviously to me wants to play in the NFL in 2008 The leaper, but it's just getting worse for that opportunity with this latest tidbit. He's all over the map.

What's it all about with him and his dumb agent. Favre needs to reinstate ASAP, and allow the cards to fall as they may. If he's committed to play somewhere and I believe he is, on his terms 'of course'. He's making a complete mess of it. His wife should take over as his agent as she's certainly govern his and her best interests. This really is a matter of extreme interest to Brett Favre and Deanna Favre. There's too much at stake now.

This is a nightmare. It's just plain sickening. I'm disappointed in how he's handled his off season. I don't blame ' Bus ' Cook, I blame 'the man' who employs him for his best interests.

That is the perplexing aspect of this whole mess. He was held on such a high pedestal by Packer fans not just for his play on the field, but for many other reasons. He was in a position only a few greats in any sport ever reach with their fans. He has damaged that in just a few weeks. He has allowed those around him to damage it even more and has done nothing to stop it or correct it. In fact, it seems to continue spiraling down.

[vince]

Brett must have signed a new spokesman contract with the Waffle House.

This is unbelievable.

What are the odds that he ends up changing his mind again?

Is he banking on Rodgers going down? Jeff Gillooly a new friend?

Giving up?

What is he thinking?