From an NFL and Favre fan

[Sparkey]

Re: From an NFL and Favre fan

Did you watch TT's press conference?

The notion that FAvre would be in a football camp and not be a consideration to be a starter is mental.

Did you watch Favre's interview?

TT and MM made it clear to Favre that returning to Green Bay was not an option.

When it comes to honesty with the press, I'll believe Favre way before I'll believe Thompson. Thompson merely is trying to contain all of this by suffocating Favre's options to the point that he remains in retirement. He wants no part of having Favre as a backup to Rodgers...that kind of pressure could destroy Rodgers and would create a ridiculous media circus.

Honesty? Like when Favre texted his grunt man at ESPN that his wanting to return was "all rumor" Didn't know honesty was a one way street in Kiln, MS

[Patler]

I think the running game resurgence in the 2nd half really helped Favre maintain his stamina. If he would've had to keep tossing 45 passes a game like he did in the first half of the year, he would've been toast by week 15.

I think that is true, because there was a more noticeable decline in his play the second half of both 2006 and 2005. Of course by the second half of 2005 he didn't even know the names of the players he was throwing to!

[Merlin]

The second half of 2007, any QB would have been spent. I mean seriously, the guy literally carried the team. His numbers were phenomenal. One thing McCarthy told Favre and it is a well known quote, Favre would not have to carry the offense. Yet for the past two seasons he has been called upon to do just that, for many games in a row. I agree that with the resurgence of the running game, Favre did not have to carry the team. But that wasn't every game of the second half of the season. When that running game isn't there, he should be expected to take on more load. We can't expect him or any QB to play a majority of the season with the offense on his shoulders and expect to win every time.

I know that Peyton Manning didn't look good for most of the season and he was taxed with carrying the offense. Now that could show you that Manning is nothing without his pro-bowlers or if you are a Manning fan that even he can't win them all himself. Favre basically had Driver to start the season. Some young players stepped up and things worked out. But it has been that way for Favre pretty much his whole career. Manning on the other hand has had a good offense behind him almost his entire career. That being said, I would rather have Favre over Manning if you were to compare the last years performances of the two.

[Patler]

I know that Peyton Manning didn't look good for most of the season and he was taxed with carrying the offense. Now that could show you that Manning is nothing without his pro-bowlers or if you are a Manning fan that even he can't win them all himself. Favre basically had Driver to start the season. Some young players stepped up and things worked out. But it has been that way for Favre pretty much his whole career. Manning on the other hand has had a good offense behind him almost his entire career. That being said, I would rather have Favre over Manning if you were to compare the last years performances of the two.

I think complaints about Favre's supporting cast on offense are mostly misplaced. He has had a decent line most of the time since the Super Bowl years, except for 2005 and probably most of 2006. In 16 years there are bound to be some ups and downs. He certainly couldn't complain about the Clifton, Wahle, Flanagan, Rivera, Tauscher years or many of the players a few years before that.

Favre may not have had a HOF receiver, but he has had a succession of decent receivers from Sharpe through Jennings. Injuries have dropped a lot of them out of the picture, but they were good while they played.

He has been supported by a decent running game through out the middle of his career, with Levens and Green. During his packer years, Green was as good of a running back as there was in the NFL.

There have been some bad years, and some weak starters here and there, but overall I think his supporting cast on offense has been at least decent, and very good in some areas for some years.

[The Leaper]

Re: From an NFL and Favre fan

IF the PAckers traded Favre to a crappy team, that team could end up releasing Favre. Exactly what the Packers wish to avoid.

Well, Green Bay may offer up a 7th round pick to another team just to take Favre and not release him...if they are that scared of him hitting the open market.

But again...if they are THAT SCARED of him, why the hell not play the guy?

[cpk1994]

Re: From an NFL and Favre fan

IF the PAckers traded Favre to a crappy team, that team could end up releasing Favre. Exactly what the Packers wish to avoid.

Well, Green Bay may offer up a 7th round pick to another team just to take Favre and not release him...if they are that scared of him hitting the open market.

But again...if they are THAT SCARED of him, why the hell not play the guy?

Why would they be scared of hi hitting the open market, WHEN THEY CONTROL IF HE GETS THERE OR NOT. Just moronic.

[SMACKTALKIE]

I know that Peyton Manning didn't look good for most of the season and he was taxed with carrying the offense. Now that could show you that Manning is nothing without his pro-bowlers or if you are a Manning fan that even he can't win them all himself. Favre basically had Driver to start the season. Some young players stepped up and things worked out. But it has been that way for Favre pretty much his whole career. Manning on the other hand has had a good offense behind him almost his entire career. That being said, I would rather have Favre over Manning if you were to compare the last years performances of the two.

I think complaints about Favre's supporting cast on offense are mostly misplaced. He has had a decent line most of the time since the Super Bowl years, except for 2005 and probably most of 2006. In 16 years there are bound to be some ups and downs. He certainly couldn't complain about the Clifton, Wahle, Flanagan, Rivera, Tauscher years or many of the players a few years before that.

Favre may not have had a HOF receiver, but he has had a succession of decent receivers from Sharpe through Jennings. Injuries have dropped a lot of them out of the picture, but they were good while they played.

He has been supported by a decent running game through out the middle of his career, with Levens and Green. During his packer years, Green was as good of a running back as there was in the NFL.

There have been some bad years, and some weak starters here and there, but overall I think his supporting cast on offense has been at least decent, and very good in some areas for some years.

He also had some good TEs and FBs in there. West Coast x factors that Favre used well.

[The Leaper]

There have been some bad years, and some weak starters here and there, but overall I think his supporting cast on offense has been at least decent, and very good in some areas for some years.

I would agree with you completely Patler in terms of the NFL in general.

In terms of OL and RB, Favre has done pretty well. Receivers...he hasn't been blessed there IMO, but he's had enough to get by. Sharpe was the only HOF caliber talent Favre has had to work with, and that was a brief stint. The only other consistent long term receiver Favre has worked with is Driver. Some other good ones have come and gone...usually pretty quickly though. Favre has consistently had to get used to new receivers...he's never had a relationship like a Montana-Rice or Manning-Harrison.

If you are simply comparing Favre to Manning, there really isn't a comparison. Manning has had far more talent around him on offense on a consistent basis than Favre ever had. He's always had a HOF caliber WR, and now he's had Wayne for a good portion of years as well. He's typically always had a tremendous OL and running game as well.

[Patler]

[quote="The Leaper"]

Sharpe was the only HOF caliber talent Favre has had to work with, and that was a brief stint. The only other consistent long term receiver Favre has worked with is Driver. Some other good ones have come and gone...usually pretty quickly though. Favre has consistently had to get used to new receivers...he's never had a relationship like a Montana-Rice or Manning-Harrison.

If you are simply comparing Favre to Manning, there really isn't a comparison. Manning has had far more talent around him on offense on a consistent basis than Favre ever had. He's always had a HOF caliber WR, and now he's had Wayne for a good portion of years as well. He's typically always had a tremendous OL and running game as well.

I am not comparing the supporting cast to that in Indianapolis or anywhere else specifically, just the general comments that Favre has had to carry the offense alone for most of his career. I don't think that is really true.

Not every quarterback is blessed with having a Hall of Fame receiver. However, if some of the Packer receivers had remained healthy, who knows what their careers might have been? Clearly having Sharpe continue to play for another 10 years would have been tremendous. Absent the injury, he could have played into the Sherman years. The statistics he and Favre might have generated would have been mind-boggling. Having Brooks stay around, or Walker not become an idiot would have been interesting, too. For the receivers, it has been more unfortunate circumstances than a lack of enough quality.

[GrnBay007]

Re: From an NFL and Favre fan

This has nothing to do with my being a Viking fan.

Brett has meant so much to this league, in too many ways to mention. He is coming off a season that left him the runner up MVP. He carried the Packers last year, IMO. While he screwed up with his retirement, he needs to be in the NFL next year. The NFL NEEDS HIM! I want to see him play, he deserves to play, any fan of the NFL should want him out there. And it will be a travesty if he is not allowed to. The Packers need to allow him to be starter if they believe he is their best QB (he has to be) or they need to move him no matter how. He should not be held hostage to backup or retirement. There are too few players and characters like him to let this happen. I know this may not be the best interest of the Packers on one hand and is not a precedent to set for other players. But this is not your everyday player or situation and in some ways the Packers could look worse if they "force" Brett out of the game.

All just my opinion.

This was a very nice post mngolf. I think, like yourself, there are countless fans out there (of other NFL teams) that like Brett Favre for the kind of player he is and what he has meant to the game. I'm sure many of you have Viking and/or Bear fan friends that have told you while they hated that Favre gave the Packers an edge, they still loved to watch him play.

It will be a shame if he can't play this year after stating he made a mistake in retiring. Like you said, there are far too few players out there like him to let this happen. The NFL is turning into a gang bangers paradise is seems. Favre is as "down home" and as original as they come. If he wants to play and is committed there is no way he should not be out on that field this year. Players like Favre come around maybe once in our lifetime. We've been lucky to have had the chance to cheer him on as a Packer.