Commish involved in Favre issue?

[Guiness]

It would be a smooth thing if teams could trade away retired players.

For some reason Wimpy's line (from Popeye) comes to mind
"I'll happily pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today"

[boiga]

This is just silly....what are the Packers supposed to do?

To my knowledge, Brett hasn't asked for reinstatement, why should the Packers to anything?

It would be a smooth thing if teams could trade away retired players.

They can. It would just be a conditional trade for Brett's rights should he come out of retirement. But this kind of trade wouldn't be a strong negotiating point because Brett could simply end trade talks by vowing to stay retired.

Honestly, the commish's involvement in this makes perfect sense to me because we have reached an impasse. The Packers are perfectly capable of sitting on their hands and swallowing Brett's salary for the year instead of going out and seeking trade options. But Brett can keep the controversy rolling until the sixth week of the season, allowing it to dominate the NFL news circuit and make everyone look bad.

So, for the sake of better PR, the commissioner convinces Ted that removing the distraction is better for all parties. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot less interest in Brett than he had hoped... so there might BE no quick resolution.

Unstoppable force vs immovable object, right? Weren't people clamoring for an impartial negotiator to all of this? And isn't that what Goodell gets paid for?

[Patler]

The Commissioner has no business brokering any kind of deal between teams, or putting pressure on any team to trade, release or otherwise change any relationship with a player under contract to the team.

There is no impasse. The next move is clearly up to Favre. There is absolutely no reason that the Packers should do anything at this point, unless and until Favre asks for re-instatement on the active list of players. If he is not willing to do that, why should the Packers do anything at all?

The commish told the Packers he will re-instate Favre? Wow, that must have been a shock to the Packers! OF COURSE he will re-instate him, just as he would any other retired player who decides to un-retire. There is absolutely no reason for him not to, and it should not take any time to do it.

I think the commissioner should absolutely stay out of this matter. What next? Grant and the Packers don't reach agreement, Grant requests his release, should the commissioner get involved? What about the next high-profile player who wants his unexpired contract renegotiated? Should the commissioner step in?

This will all play its natural course if the people just let it. Training camp will start, and Favre will or will not ask for re-instatement. If he doesn't, story over. If he does, the Packers will do something. They aren't about to go into the season with a disgruntled, whining, backup QB making $13 million. There is absolutely no reason for the commissioner to push one resloution over another. It's up to the Packers and Favre.

[Fritz]

I absolutely agree with Patler and strongly, strongly disagree with Bretsky. This isn't a commish with stones; this is a commish trying to do PR work at the expense of the Packers.

What kind of bargaining position has the commissioner's move put the Packers in? It has effectively taken away one of TT's strongest cards - that the Pack owns the rights and doesn't HAVE to do anything. Now teams know that TT is being "urged" (like Uncle Rico "urges" you) to settle this matter.

I think Goodell's involvement has hurt the Packers. It's created an unfair advantage for other teams in a way that falls outside the rules. Goodell didn't intervene when Stahan hemmed and hawed - hell, he's never intervened like this before. What crap!

On another note, if in deed Favre was also speaking with Brad Childish, doesn't that kinda make the tampering a slam dunk? I don't recall those two being big pals. And it ought to cost something more than what San Fran's vague contact with Briggs cost them.

[Rastak]

I absolutely agree with Patler and strongly, strongly disagree with Bretsky. This isn't a commish with stones; this is a commish trying to do PR work at the expense of the Packers.

What kind of bargaining position has the commissioner's move put the Packers in? It has effectively taken away one of TT's strongest cards - that the Pack owns the rights and doesn't HAVE to do anything. Now teams know that TT is being "urged" (like Uncle Rico "urges" you) to settle this matter.

I think Goodell's involvement has hurt the Packers. It's created an unfair advantage for other teams in a way that falls outside the rules. Goodell didn't intervene when Stahan hemmed and hawed - hell, he's never intervened like this before. What crap!

On another note, if in deed Favre was also speaking with Brad Childress, doesn't that kinda make the tampering a slam dunk? I don't recall those two being big pals. And it ought to cost something more than what San Fran's vague contact with Briggs cost them.

Fixed your shitty spelling Fritz!

Actually, it depends on who called who....and length of conversation.

Players can call whomever the hell they want. They could call every GM or coach in the league. The team being called can't discuss the guy playing for them. My take on the Childress thing is if Favre called Chilly and they talked for two hours I gotta side with the Packers in thinking there was something going on. 10 minute call, no evidence. If Chilly called Favre, slam dunk.


As far the Commish thing, Patler is right but I think they are trying to stave off a public relations fiasco if things get worse, Favre being the popular fellow he is around the NFL.

[3irty1]

I think this was putting more pressure on Favre than the Packers.

I agree. This puts more pressure on Favre to be agreeable and be happy with any trade TT can find with any partner. My guess is that Favre doesn't like his options and staying retired or a backup roll with GB starts looking pretty good.

[Fritz]

Here's another point: the end of the article says Goodell will reinstate Favre, whose decision is forthcoming. It implies that Favre has decided to and will apply, but it does say "decision" and not what that decision definitely is.

Why hasn't Favre applied yet? Does he think by not doing so he lowers the Packers' ability to get more? A definitely reinstated Favre would seem to be worth more than a maybe Favre.

The more I think about this, the more I think Favre is lashing out at the pack as much as he is simply burning to play again.

[Fritz]

I absolutely agree with Patler and strongly, strongly disagree with Bretsky. This isn't a commish with stones; this is a commish trying to do PR work at the expense of the Packers.

What kind of bargaining position has the commissioner's move put the Packers in? It has effectively taken away one of TT's strongest cards - that the Pack owns the rights and doesn't HAVE to do anything. Now teams know that TT is being "urged" (like Uncle Rico "urges" you) to settle this matter.

I think Goodell's involvement has hurt the Packers. It's created an unfair advantage for other teams in a way that falls outside the rules. Goodell didn't intervene when Stahan hemmed and hawed - hell, he's never intervened like this before. What crap!

On another note, if in deed Favre was also speaking with Brad Childress, doesn't that kinda make the tampering a slam dunk? I don't recall those two being big pals. And it ought to cost something more than what San Fran's vague contact with Briggs cost them.

Fixed your shitty spelling Fritz!

Actually, it depends on who called who....and length of conversation.

Players can call whomever the hell they want. They could call every GM or coach in the league. The team being called can't discuss the guy playing for them. My take on the Childress thing is if Favre called Chilly and they talked for two hours I gotta side with the Packers in thinking there was something going on. 10 minute call, no evidence. If Chilly called Favre, slam dunk.


As far the Commish thing, Patler is right but I think they are trying to stave off a public relations fiasco if things get worse, Favre being the popular fellow he is around the NFL.

Don't know, Ras...from what i here about your man "Chilly" my spelling wasn't off.

Your points about who called who are worth considering. Still, if they have no prior relationship, and the league is making these calls based on circumstantial evidence, as some posters here are saying, it doesn't look good.

By the way, does anyone know if Favre has some kind of no-trade or limited trade clause?

[cpk1994]

Goodell is certainly overstepping his bounds here. He has no right to suggest or order a team to make certain roster moves.

If anyone should be called, it should be Favre. He's the one who needs to turn in paperwork before anything else happens.

He isn't though. He is just saying to hurry up the process.

TEchnically he is when he goes to TT. TT shouldn't have to do anything until Brett files his paperwork, IF HE EVEN WANTS TO PLAY. TT should tell the commish buzz off until Favre decides to get reinstated.

[Fritz]

I absoultely agree. I'd tell the commish that I'll think about doing something when the player indicates he's going to play - by sending in the reinstatement papers.

Ultimately, I'd tell the commish that he's overstepped his bounds on this one, and he needs to butt out.

[Patler]

If the commissioner felt he had to do something to limit a PR nightmare, he should have called Favre and his agent and told them to either request reinstatement or shut-up. If they kept up with their complaints, he should have issued a statement saying that Brett Favre will remain on the retired list until such time as he requests reinstatement. He is and will be considered by the league and all teams to be retired.

In short, he should have stood behind the team and the contract. He should have stood up to Brett Favre. That would have taken stones, but he is taking the easy way out by not confronting Favre and instead giving in to him.

Murphy and Thompson should tell him to keep his nose out of the dealings between a player and the team.

[Fritz]

Exactly.

Besides, does anyone think Goodell would have gone to these lengths if the player had been less popular or talented? He's trying to address this as a public relations matter, when it is not his job to interfere in what is a plyer-team stalemate.

if he wants to work on publicity, there are plenty of NFL players carrying drugs (even a Packer, supposedly - Jolly), shooting off guns, and hanging out at strip clubs at 3:00 a.m. to keep him busy.

[boiga]

Why hasn't Favre applied yet? Does he think by not doing so he lowers the Packers' ability to get more? A definitely reinstated Favre would seem to be worth more than a maybe Favre.

You guys are missing out on one aspect of this situation.

Favre WILL NOT ask for reinstatement until he knows that there is a trade set in stone that he considers favorable. If he does, then the packers own him. He will be obligated to show up at training camp and can be substantially fined by the packers for not showing, showing up but not doing what he is told, or any other reason the Packers want to invent.

Also, if Favre asks for reinstatement and is on the packers' roster for 1 game day, he will receive 12 million dollars guaranteed. The only out that the packers have in that situation is to trade him immediately or release him (to go play for the vikings.) Brett has until week 6 to decide whether to be that big of a douche... but what's to stop him? His legacy's in the crapper already, right?

That possibility would, of course, be a fiasco for the PR of the Packers, the NFL, and the entire sport. So if Goodell steps in to try to convince both sides to avoid that worst case scenario, more power to him.

[Fritz]

Boiga - I agree with everything you wrote - until the last paragraph. I just don't think it's Goodells' job to meddle in a team's affairs with its players if there has been no violation of any league rules.

[Pugger]

I'll echo others here and say Goodell should be speaking to Brett and NOT TT. Until Mr. Undecided files those reinstatement papers TT doesn't have to do squat. And if Brett doesn't file, he can just sit and ride his tractor in MS for all I care. This entire fiasco is getting tiresome...