Sad day in GB History

[footballfever]

It is a sad day in Green Bay. To deny that, is to deny/forget the last 16 years of Packer history. Those bashing Favre the last few weeks/months aren't looking at it from that perspective. Good luck to Brett Favre and thank you for being a Green Bay Packer all these years! He will be missed.

Don't be stupid, as probably the biggest anti favre/pro organization people out there I can tell you that it's not about favre the player its about favre the person. He's an awful person, and he has a lot of less than redeemable characteristics. I'm saddened at how this all went down, but I understand that Brett alone stands responsible for it so it's a relief. He tore down 16 years of reputable character in 2 months. I'm glad he's gone and I wish him luck and I thank him for his service here, but I won't miss him. I won't miss what he's done to us over the last couple months and it will probably take a few years to forgive him. TT built a strong team and coach mccarthy is a great coach and now they stand to lose the most in this situation because of narrow minded people like you, swooning over Brett like some awestruck teen at a Backstreet Boy concert. Get over it and let it go. Don't let this hate spill over into the season, the offseason has been hard enough.

[sheepshead]

It makes me sad too now that Brett is gone. But that's the only emotion involved. TT is doing his job. It has nothing to do with his emotions, ID or Ego. He believes Arod is the best quarterback today and going forward. We'll all be cursing TT when we watch ARod first few pics(he's gonna have 'em) and Brett turns in a great game on national TV against the Pats.. But he's made a football decision and I think the right one. I happen to be optimistic about ARod, his tools and especially whats between his ears.

[ND72]

Re: Sad day in GB History

Hi everyone I am a packer fan and have been since I can remember approximately since the early 1960s I remember seeing star play and retire, I remember Zeke Bratkowsi , I remember all the lean Yrs at qb, I have seen many good players and packer hall of fame player retire or even get traded but never have I seen the Green Bay Packers have to hire some one to teach them how to lie to there fans !
I have never seen GB treat a player let alone a player who is probably the greatest player the packers has ever had or will ever have go through all of this because of management meaning TTs handling of TTs EGO. I a not saying Brett was faultless but if TT had handled this right from the start Brett would have stayed retired or at least stayed with the pack but when TT hurt his feelings the fight was on ,
The Packers were always famous for their family attitude toward their players and their fans not anymore
I am a Packer fan and will be for the rest of my life I bleed green and gold but I am ashamed of how this was handled but it dos not change my feelings for the Packers I will support Arod with all I got but I will alway still be a Brett fan also.

Pretty much disagree with most of what you say about Packer Management, mostly because Brett Favre did this to himself. But that being said, it is a sad day to see him moved. But, we gotta move on. We are still a good football team. And whether you admit it or not, Ted Thompson built this team up. I have supported the Packers desicions since day 1 of this, but it is hard to see him go.

And by the way, I do hope you all saw or heard in the quick interview of Brett's at the airport when he said, "I had no intention of playing in Green Bay.".....

[ND72]

Re: Sad day in GB History

I have never seen GB treat a player let alone a player who is probably the greatest player the packers has ever had or will ever have go through all of this because of management meaning TTs handling of TTs EGO. I a not saying Brett was faultless but if TT had handled this right from the start Brett would have stayed retired or at least stayed with the pack but when TT hurt his feelings the fight was on ,

This is probably going nowhere cause I've never actually gotten an answer to this question, but here goes. Can one of you TT haters please explain why you think he has a big ego? He has anything but an ego.

Is it because he got rid of all the SB players? Newsflash, we won the SB 11 years ago. There's a reason those players are gone.

Because he doesn't draft the big name players? That's turned out pretty well.

Because Rodgers is our starting QB and TT picked him? Well, Rodgers has been riding the pine for 3 years, so it's not like TT has been going out of his way to get him playing time.

Because the organization said no to Favre? TT must hate Favre right? Then why did he welcome him back in March? Why, for the past several offseasons, has he been in contact with Brett and always told him to make more time in making a decision?

Because he didn't take into account Favre's personnel decisions? I don't give a fuck. Favre isn't the GM.

It absolutely baffles me when people say this about TT. They use it as some excuse in their backing of Favre in order to bring TT down a notch. The Packers' decision wasn't ego, or jealousy of Favre, or TT hating Favre. It was a business decision.

well said.

[The Shadow]

Re: Sad day in GB History

I have never seen GB treat a player let alone a player who is probably the greatest player the packers has ever had or will ever have go through all of this because of management meaning TTs handling of TTs EGO. I a not saying Brett was faultless but if TT had handled this right from the start Brett would have stayed retired or at least stayed with the pack but when TT hurt his feelings the fight was on ,

This is probably going nowhere cause I've never actually gotten an answer to this question, but here goes. Can one of you TT haters please explain why you think he has a big ego? He has anything but an ego.

Is it because he got rid of all the SB players? Newsflash, we won the SB 11 years ago. There's a reason those players are gone.

Because he doesn't draft the big name players? That's turned out pretty well.

Because Rodgers is our starting QB and TT picked him? Well, Rodgers has been riding the pine for 3 years, so it's not like TT has been going out of his way to get him playing time.

Because the organization said no to Favre? TT must hate Favre right? Then why did he welcome him back in March? Why, for the past several offseasons, has he been in contact with Brett and always told him to make more time in making a decision?

Because he didn't take into account Favre's personnel decisions? I don't give a fuck. Favre isn't the GM.

It absolutely baffles me when people say this about TT. They use it as some excuse in their backing of Favre in order to bring TT down a notch. The Packers' decision wasn't ego, or jealousy of Favre, or TT hating Favre. It was a business decision.

well said.

Ditto.

[LL2]

Re: Sad day in GB History

Hi everyone I am a packer fan and have been since I can remember approximately since the early 1960s I remember seeing star play and retire, I remember Zeke Bratkowsi , I remember all the lean Yrs at qb, I have seen many good players and packer hall of fame player retire or even get traded but never have I seen the Green Bay Packers have to hire some one to teach them how to lie to there fans !
I have never seen GB treat a player let alone a player who is probably the greatest player the packers has ever had or will ever have go through all of this because of management meaning TTs handling of TTs EGO. I a not saying Brett was faultless but if TT had handled this right from the start Brett would have stayed retired or at least stayed with the pack but when TT hurt his feelings the fight was on ,
The Packers were always famous for their family attitude toward their players and their fans not anymore
I am a Packer fan and will be for the rest of my life I bleed green and gold but I am ashamed of how this was handled but it dos not change my feelings for the Packers I will support Arod with all I got but I will alway still be a Brett fan also.

Pretty much disagree with most of what you say about Packer Management, mostly because Brett Favre did this to himself. But that being said, it is a sad day to see him moved. But, we gotta move on. We are still a good football team. And whether you admit it or not, Ted Thompson built this team up. I have supported the Packers desicions since day 1 of this, but it is hard to see him go.

And by the way, I do hope you all saw or heard in the quick interview of Brett's at the airport when he said, "I had no intention of playing in Green Bay.".....

What a prick! I did not see that quote. I still love the guy and wish hime well...but I'm a Packer fan first...I wonder if Favre will retire a Packer or attend a retire his number ceremony? Probably not as long as TT or M3 are there.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Re: Sad day in GB History

And by the way, I do hope you all saw or heard in the quick interview of Brett's at the airport when he said, "I had no intention of playing in Green Bay.".....

Was this quote on Brett's way INTO Green Bay or on his way OUT. Either way it kind of shows the game he was playing. I always suspected his trip into Green Bay was a sham, a way to call the Packers' bluff. Unfortunately for Favre, MM stared him down and turned the tables.

[ND72]

Re: Sad day in GB History

And by the way, I do hope you all saw or heard in the quick interview of Brett's at the airport when he said, "I had no intention of playing in Green Bay.".....

Was this quote on Brett's way INTO Green Bay or on his way OUT. Either way it kind of shows the game he was playing. I always suspected his trip into Green Bay was a sham, a way to call the Packers' bluff. Unfortunately for Favre, MM stared him down and turned the tables.

OUT

[swede]

This is a great day. The situation is resolved.

The sad day for Green Bay fans was when Brett retired.

Don't get me wrong, I think we will sorely miss "Greybeard" and he'll do wonders in NY. But his emotions really screwed with the team's preparations.

I will hate seeing him in a different uni. I am glad the team can now focus on the season with everything settled.

Just heard the news, and I agree with Tar.

In the past, Brett has messed with the team to try to get them to pick up Moss or hire Mooch as coach, using "retirement" as his club. This season he played the same game using himself as the player he wanted the team to pick up.

This could have been done so much more professionally if Brett had gone to TT and MM in private and said he wanted to play again--if you don't want me then find me a team who does want me.

I wish Brett the best of luck and am thankful for the memories. But anyone who says this situation was the Packers' fault is living in utter denial of the facts.

[texaspackerbacker]

I, too, disagree with the original poster and agree with Tarlam--to some extent. I'd stop short of saying "great day", and just say fairly good day--business as usual--an acceptable compromise.

Ironically, this whole mess sort of stems from the fact that Aaron Rodgers fell so far in the draft. Thompson snapped him up as a spur-of-the-moment bargain; Favre took it the wrong way; Thompson decided to move up the time table for moving on rather than letting the Rodgers pick go to waste; Favre got pissy about the whole thing; The Packers stood firm; And here we are.

Maybe a better result would have been if Favre had not made the irrational decision to retire; Maybe, however, Rodgers will do better in '08 than Favre would have anyway. The ONLY reason in the net effect that today is BETTER than if Favre had just left well enough alone and stayed retired is that the Packers now have a draft pick they wouldn't have had otherwise.

[LL2]

I think the Q and A by John Clayton below. M3 is my man. He did what was best for the team, and yes he's a no-nonsense guy. TT and M3 built the team to a 13-3 team last year...and they can do it again this year.

Q. Who is the biggest winner in this trade?

A: I'd put my money on Packers coach Mike McCarthy. He felt Favre's attitude would have caused damage in his locker room and he stayed true to his word that he was committed to Aaron Rodgers. McCarthy won a few fans here -- obviously none in Favre's camp -- after his lengthy news conference Tuesday. He's a no-nonsense guy but he's loyal to the players. Against tremendous pressure, McCarthy felt Favre wasn't committed to the Packers and wore Favre down in more than 10 hours of talks. Now, the pressure is on McCarthy to win with Rodgers.

[texaspackerbacker]

Exactly. There's a little thing called the record this season that will determine whether McCarthy/Thompson are winners or not.

I, too, however, am confident they will be and Rodgers will do just fine.

[sharpe1027]

Re: Sad day in GB History

I have never seen GB treat a player let alone a player who is probably the greatest player the packers has ever had or will ever have go through all of this because of management meaning TTs handling of TTs EGO. I a not saying Brett was faultless but if TT had handled this right from the start Brett would have stayed retired or at least stayed with the pack but when TT hurt his feelings the fight was on ,

This is probably going nowhere cause I've never actually gotten an answer to this question, but here goes. Can one of you TT haters please explain why you think he has a big ego? He has anything but an ego.

Is it because he got rid of all the SB players? Newsflash, we won the SB 11 years ago. There's a reason those players are gone.

Because he doesn't draft the big name players? That's turned out pretty well.

Because Rodgers is our starting QB and TT picked him? Well, Rodgers has been riding the pine for 3 years, so it's not like TT has been going out of his way to get him playing time.

Because the organization said no to Favre? TT must hate Favre right? Then why did he welcome him back in March? Why, for the past several offseasons, has he been in contact with Brett and always told him to make more time in making a decision?

Because he didn't take into account Favre's personnel decisions? I don't give a fuck. Favre isn't the GM.

It absolutely baffles me when people say this about TT. They use it as some excuse in their backing of Favre in order to bring TT down a notch. The Packers' decision wasn't ego, or jealousy of Favre, or TT hating Favre. It was a business decision.

One more point, TT put Favre on the active roster the second he got reinstated. It was MM who decided he wasn't going to be handed the starting job outright (that's the coaches job, not the GM's job). It was Favre who decided he didn't want to compete for the job.

[packinpatland]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3523173&sportCat=nfl

From green and gold to green and white. From, "Go, Pack, Go" to "J-E-T-S." From the NFL's smallest market to the league's largest.


Brett Favre's life did a 180 late Wednesday night, and it happened because Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson didn't trust Favre, and Favre didn't trust Thompson.

Drag a razor across this controversy's beard and that's what you'll find under the stubble -- distrust, too much scar tissue and the simple yet mind-boggling fact that Packers management thinks Favre isn't good enough to win. If it thought otherwise, Favre wouldn't be the quarterback of the New York Jets today.

Anyway, so much for the Packers wanting to protect Favre's "legacy." Remember that bit of PR fiction? The benevolent, caring Packers would be there to safeguard all things Brett -- that's what they said. But the protection broke down when Favre decided to unretire and return to Green Bay.

Favre is a Jet because Thompson didn't want him to be a Packer. Or a Minnesota Viking. And who can forget that heartfelt "crossing the Rubicon" statement by Packers team president Mark Murphy when Favre was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Any icier and you could have played hockey on it.

Brett Favre as he left Green Bay...ultimately for the last time as a Packer.
For all those Favre critics who insist he's a drama queen, remember that he could have stayed in Green Bay, practiced, competed in an open competition with Aaron Rodgers and dared Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy to keep him on the bench. But he didn't. He left after several days because he has more respect for the Packers than the Packers have for him.

Packers management thought Favre wouldn't push for reinstatement and report to camp, but he did. It thought he would take its $25 million of get-lost money, but he didn't. It thought it could break his will by refusing to release him or trade him to the Vikings, but it couldn't.

And nice job on accusing the Vikings of tampering (the Vikes were cleared of any wrongdoing). Plus, wasn't it interesting that someone leaked a story that Favre allegedly called the Vikings on a Packers-issued cell phone (also untrue).

If this were a divorce, then Favre would be the one getting the alimony. The Packers were so eager to ditch the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and victories by a QB that they reduced the bidding war to two teams (the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers). And they settled for a conditional fourth-round pick, which will bump up to a third-rounder if Favre takes 50 percent of the snaps (duh), and a second-rounder if he takes 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets reach the playoffs.

Instead of Favre -- who earlier last season helped lead the Packers to the NFC Championship Game and finished second in the league's MVP voting -- Thompson would rather have three quarterbacks on his roster with a combined zero NFL starts. He'd rather have Rodgers than the most durable quarterback in the history of the game.


The Brett Favre saga in Green Bay might be nearing a conclusion after the unretired quarterback said he and the team might be better off without each other. A look at how the story has unfolded:


Aug. 6: Traded to New York Jets for conditional draft pick.

Aug. 5: Left practice facility in the afternoon ... did not practice with the team ... met with Packers officials to discuss trade options ... tells ESPN's Chris Mortensen "the best thing for this team is for us to part ways" ... considers talking to the Buccaneers about a possible trade.

Aug. 4: Favre reports to training camp and is added to active roster after passing physical

Aug. 3: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates Favre

July 31: Favre offered $25 million to not report to camp

July 30: Meets with Packers president Mark Murphy in Mississippi

July 29: Faxes reinstatement request to NFL

July 25: Favre tells Packers he plans to report to training camp

July 19: Returns to Lambeau Field to attend Packers Hall of Fame ceremony

July 16: Packers file tampering charges with NFL against Vikings

July 11: Packers receive letter from Favre formally requesting release

July 8: Favre asks for release with understanding he won't be starter

July 6: Sends text message to Packers GM Ted Thompson

July 2: Favre says reports of return were "all rumor"

June 20: Favre tells coach Mike McCarthy he may want to play again

April 9: Says he might consider comeback if opportunity was presented

April 4: Agent reportedly contacts teams to gauge trade interest

April 3: Denies rumors of a comeback

March 6: Favre conducts retirement news conference

Jan. 20: Packers lose NFC Championship Game to the Giants in OT
-- Compiled by ESPN Research Why? It isn't just because Favre wanted to unretire. It can't be. It has to be something as fundamental as Thompson (and maybe McCarthy, too) having lost faith in Favre's ability to win games. If so, Thompson miscalculated yet again.

Thompson's future now depends on Rodgers. If Rodgers gets hurt, the Packers are done. If Rodgers can't handle the pressure, the Packers are done. And Thompson with them.

Of the two finalists for Favre, the Jets actually made the most sense. The Buccaneers already have Jeff Garcia, who made the Pro Bowl last season. Meanwhile, the Jets are underwhelmed by Chad Pennington, who is minutes away from getting released because of his $6 million salary, and Kellen Clemens.

The Jets spent $140 million during the offseason on players. They upgraded their offensive line by signing guard Alan Faneca, who will fit in nicely on the left side with tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. They upgraded their defensive line (nose tackle Kris Jenkins). They have Thomas Jones at running back (1,119 yards last season). They have Laveranues Coles at wide receiver.

Yes, they're in the same division as the New England Patriots. But they're also in the same division as the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills. They play Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis and San Francisco. A nine-win season, maybe a game better, isn't inconceivable. At least, not any more inconceivable than Favre in New York.

It will be strange to see Favre in a Jets helmet. It would have been strange to see him in any helmet that didn't have the game's best logo -- that classic G -- on the side.

On the Jets' Web site, you can already purchase a Favre replica jersey for $80. There's also a tortured headline that reads, "DO QB-LIEVE IT? BRETT FAVRE IS A JET."

No, I don't believe it. Not because he's a Jet, but because Thompson just traded the best quarterback on his roster.

"It is with sadness that we make this announcement, but also with the desire that will allow us to move the team and organization forward in the most positive way," Murphy and Thompson said in a joint statement.

Sadness? Thompson never wanted Favre back to begin with. Plus, the Packers got a draft pick out of it, they saved $25 million in bribe money, and they're still selling Favre jerseys for $179.95. So enough already with the fake sadness thing.

But if I'm a Packers fan, I fly my team flag at half-mast today. Or better yet, raise a Jets flag.

They're only $20 at Jets Shop.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I agree with Clayton, except his last line is hype ("Now, the pressure is on McCarthy to win with Rodgers.").

There is always "pressure" to win in the NFL. If the Packers had allowed Favre to return and start, there would have been pressure on M3 to win with Favre.

As far as my own opinion goes, there's no extraordinary pressure on M3 to win with Rodgers. I simply enjoy M3 (and TT) go about his business. He's honest, no nonsense, speaks his mind and sticks to his guns. He plays the brand of football I enjoy watching (zone blocking, controlled passing, bump and run). And now he's incorporating blitzing LB's into his system (at least that's the rumor).

So it's going to be a fantastic season watching football. Of course it's going to be better watching if the Pack plays well and advances deep into the playoffs. But then it would have been better watching last year if the Pack had gone to the Super Bowl.