Bert's interview

[Tyrone Bigguns]

It's a stock answer for athletes in the past ten years or so: I just want to move on.

I do not wish to address my transgressions. That's all in the past

What I would like is for someone to ask an athlete about a game-winning play or a stellar season from yesteryear, and have the player say "I'd rather not talk about. I just want to move on."

No offense but isn't that EXACTLY what McCarthy said?

Hard time for everybody, don't want to talk about it.

Except there is a central conflict to Brett's story, that he didn't want to go through surgery because he didn't want to come back. But he asked for the release (twice if published reports are to be believed) prior to any surgery.

McCarthy has no such central conflict, although there is a debate about exactly what he told Brett on the phone calls about coming back in May/June.

The better comparison is Thompson, who probably stepped into a big pile of goo when he said if he comes back he will get the chance to compete and might have to backup. I side with Thompson in most of this case and I think he was kidding everyone here. I would bet there was a clear preference for a trade once Brett was willing to come to camp.

I would believe it for sure that he asked for his release twice. He didn't want to go to the AFC, he was traded there and played there because he had to. He was due 12 mil and they were up against the cap. If I were him, I'd want my options to be open....actually all players want that, it's just some have leverage and some do not. There is no way with a new staff they want a 39yo QB making 12 mil back. I know Tannenbaum says differently but do you believe everything a GM says? Probably not.

The big difference is who negotiated in good faith. The jets acquired him and said they wanted him back...now, you may be right, but...because Bert was Bert...you'll never know.

the jets gave him his release because he said he was retired. That is acting in good faith..and doing what is right. Now, if they believed Bert was a liar...like every sane pack fan knows he is, they woulda kept his rights. And, forced him to stay retired or forced him to look like a lying asshole for the second time.

[Rastak]

I agree, he won't say it....you ever listen to any athlete interview? He'll spin a few things without outright lying. It's because it's bad pub to say, "I do not want to play here and they are screwed cap wise if I delay my decision...so they will have to let me go".


I freely admit he wanted to play for the Vikings last year. No QB, good running game, familiar offense, coaches he knows, good defense. Perfect fit. TT wanted NO PART OF THAT. None.


edit: was talking to PB.

[ThunderDan]

It's a stock answer for athletes in the past ten years or so: I just want to move on.

I do not wish to address my transgressions. That's all in the past

What I would like is for someone to ask an athlete about a game-winning play or a stellar season from yesteryear, and have the player say "I'd rather not talk about. I just want to move on."

No offense but isn't that EXACTLY what McCarthy said?

Hard time for everybody, don't want to talk about it.

Except there is a central conflict to Brett's story, that he didn't want to go through surgery because he didn't want to come back. But he asked for the release (twice if published reports are to be believed) prior to any surgery.

McCarthy has no such central conflict, although there is a debate about exactly what he told Brett on the phone calls about coming back in May/June.

The better comparison is Thompson, who probably stepped into a big pile of goo when he said if he comes back he will get the chance to compete and might have to backup. I side with Thompson in most of this case and I think he was kidding everyone here. I would bet there was a clear preference for a trade once Brett was willing to come to camp.

I would believe it for sure that he asked for his release twice. He didn't want to go to the AFC, he was traded there and played there because he had to. He was due 12 mil and they were up against the cap. If I were him, I'd want my options to be open....actually all players want that, it's just some have leverage and some do not. There is no way with a new staff they want a 39yo QB making 12 mil back. I know Tannenbaum says differently but do you believe everything a GM says? Probably not.

He could have gone to Tampa.

[packerbacker1234]

It's a stock answer for athletes in the past ten years or so: I just want to move on.

I do not wish to address my transgressions. That's all in the past

What I would like is for someone to ask an athlete about a game-winning play or a stellar season from yesteryear, and have the player say "I'd rather not talk about. I just want to move on."

No offense but isn't that EXACTLY what McCarthy said?

Hard time for everybody, don't want to talk about it.

Except there is a central conflict to Brett's story, that he didn't want to go through surgery because he didn't want to come back. But he asked for the release (twice if published reports are to be believed) prior to any surgery.

McCarthy has no such central conflict, although there is a debate about exactly what he told Brett on the phone calls about coming back in May/June.

The better comparison is Thompson, who probably stepped into a big pile of goo when he said if he comes back he will get the chance to compete and might have to backup. I side with Thompson in most of this case and I think he was kidding everyone here. I would bet there was a clear preference for a trade once Brett was willing to come to camp.

I would believe it for sure that he asked for his release twice. He didn't want to go to the AFC, he was traded there and played there because he had to. He was due 12 mil and they were up against the cap. If I were him, I'd want my options to be open....actually all players want that, it's just some have leverage and some do not. There is no way with a new staff they want a 39yo QB making 12 mil back. I know Tannenbaum says differently but do you believe everything a GM says? Probably not.

He could have gone to Tampa.

With a average at best D, no run game, no WR's, and a bad OL?

Yeah, thats where Brett Wanted to go. If any team was ever "one player short" it was the vikings. Went to the playoffs last year and couldn't go anywhere because they missed that key component: A good QB.

I also don't go as far as to call Favre a outright liar. I mean, I am positive he lied. But if he has lied, then I am also positive that TT and MM have also lied, and so has Childress and the GM of the Jets. Eric Mangini most likely has lied about everything too. My point here is, everyone feels Favre has lied about everything because they are choosing to believe another who has given you absolutely no reason to actually believe them, except that you desperately want to believe them so instead of being mad at the packers and the front office, or the front office of the jets, or being pissed at Childress, we can enforce all of our anger squarely on #4.

Meanwhile, #4 runs around, putting up still memorable games (like last week, and when he was the reason the jets beat the titans last year and went 8-3 talking super bowl) produces most likely yet another winning season, and keeps getting himself into "better" situations. Unlike with the packers, the jets had no true star at the time for QB (or someone ready to take over), and now neither do the vikings. Jets had a losing season the year before, #4 shows up, 9-7. Vikings were a playoff team last year at 9-7, so you would figure at least playoffs at 11-5 this year.

He has made the team better. Last year he finally had that one injury he should not of played through. I wont hate him for it. I wont hate him because he did most likely lie, but I am also positive everyone else involved lied too.

Everyone lies.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

It's a stock answer for athletes in the past ten years or so: I just want to move on.

I do not wish to address my transgressions. That's all in the past

What I would like is for someone to ask an athlete about a game-winning play or a stellar season from yesteryear, and have the player say "I'd rather not talk about. I just want to move on."

No offense but isn't that EXACTLY what McCarthy said?

Hard time for everybody, don't want to talk about it.

Except there is a central conflict to Brett's story, that he didn't want to go through surgery because he didn't want to come back. But he asked for the release (twice if published reports are to be believed) prior to any surgery.

McCarthy has no such central conflict, although there is a debate about exactly what he told Brett on the phone calls about coming back in May/June.

The better comparison is Thompson, who probably stepped into a big pile of goo when he said if he comes back he will get the chance to compete and might have to backup. I side with Thompson in most of this case and I think he was kidding everyone here. I would bet there was a clear preference for a trade once Brett was willing to come to camp.

I would believe it for sure that he asked for his release twice. He didn't want to go to the AFC, he was traded there and played there because he had to. He was due 12 mil and they were up against the cap. If I were him, I'd want my options to be open....actually all players want that, it's just some have leverage and some do not. There is no way with a new staff they want a 39yo QB making 12 mil back. I know Tannenbaum says differently but do you believe everything a GM says? Probably not.

He could have gone to Tampa.

With a average at best D, no run game, no WR's, and a bad OL?

Yeah, thats where Brett Wanted to go. If any team was ever "one player short" it was the vikings. Went to the playoffs last year and couldn't go anywhere because they missed that key component: A good QB.

I also don't go as far as to call Favre a outright liar. I mean, I am positive he lied. But if he has lied, then I am also positive that TT and MM have also lied, and so has Childress and the GM of the Jets. Eric Mangini most likely has lied about everything too. My point here is, everyone feels Favre has lied about everything because they are choosing to believe another who has given you absolutely no reason to actually believe them, except that you desperately want to believe them so instead of being mad at the packers and the front office, or the front office of the jets, or being pissed at Childress, we can enforce all of our anger squarely on #4.

Meanwhile, #4 runs around, putting up still memorable games (like last week, and when he was the reason the jets beat the titans last year and went 8-3 talking super bowl) produces most likely yet another winning season, and keeps getting himself into "better" situations. Unlike with the packers, the jets had no true star at the time for QB (or someone ready to take over), and now neither do the vikings. Jets had a losing season the year before, #4 shows up, 9-7. Vikings were a playoff team last year at 9-7, so you would figure at least playoffs at 11-5 this year.

He has made the team better. Last year he finally had that one injury he should not of played through. I wont hate him for it. I wont hate him because he did most likely lie, but I am also positive everyone else involved lied too.

Everyone lies.

It would be nice if you didnt try and rewrite history.

The 07 Bucs...the team that Bert woulda has to look at to evaluate went 9-7, won the south, and had a coach he was very familiar with.

For a team with an average D at best...seems you are selling them a bit short when they only gave up 30 plus points once...and held teams to 10 or less points 7 times and 14 or less 10 times.

No WRs? About the same as vikings right now. In 08 Antonio Byrant had a better year than any Vikes receiver. bryant, galloway, clayton, etc.

for a team you run down..back 2 back 9-7 seasons seems to contradict your point. Seems like they were a QB away.

Hmm, Vikes were 8-8 in 07 and hadn't made the playoffs in 3 years.

[packerbacker1234]

It's a stock answer for athletes in the past ten years or so: I just want to move on.

I do not wish to address my transgressions. That's all in the past

What I would like is for someone to ask an athlete about a game-winning play or a stellar season from yesteryear, and have the player say "I'd rather not talk about. I just want to move on."

No offense but isn't that EXACTLY what McCarthy said?

Hard time for everybody, don't want to talk about it.

Except there is a central conflict to Brett's story, that he didn't want to go through surgery because he didn't want to come back. But he asked for the release (twice if published reports are to be believed) prior to any surgery.

McCarthy has no such central conflict, although there is a debate about exactly what he told Brett on the phone calls about coming back in May/June.

The better comparison is Thompson, who probably stepped into a big pile of goo when he said if he comes back he will get the chance to compete and might have to backup. I side with Thompson in most of this case and I think he was kidding everyone here. I would bet there was a clear preference for a trade once Brett was willing to come to camp.

I would believe it for sure that he asked for his release twice. He didn't want to go to the AFC, he was traded there and played there because he had to. He was due 12 mil and they were up against the cap. If I were him, I'd want my options to be open....actually all players want that, it's just some have leverage and some do not. There is no way with a new staff they want a 39yo QB making 12 mil back. I know Tannenbaum says differently but do you believe everything a GM says? Probably not.

He could have gone to Tampa.

With a average at best D, no run game, no WR's, and a bad OL?

Yeah, thats where Brett Wanted to go. If any team was ever "one player short" it was the vikings. Went to the playoffs last year and couldn't go anywhere because they missed that key component: A good QB.

I also don't go as far as to call Favre a outright liar. I mean, I am positive he lied. But if he has lied, then I am also positive that TT and MM have also lied, and so has Childress and the GM of the Jets. Eric Mangini most likely has lied about everything too. My point here is, everyone feels Favre has lied about everything because they are choosing to believe another who has given you absolutely no reason to actually believe them, except that you desperately want to believe them so instead of being mad at the packers and the front office, or the front office of the jets, or being pissed at Childress, we can enforce all of our anger squarely on #4.

Meanwhile, #4 runs around, putting up still memorable games (like last week, and when he was the reason the jets beat the titans last year and went 8-3 talking super bowl) produces most likely yet another winning season, and keeps getting himself into "better" situations. Unlike with the packers, the jets had no true star at the time for QB (or someone ready to take over), and now neither do the vikings. Jets had a losing season the year before, #4 shows up, 9-7. Vikings were a playoff team last year at 9-7, so you would figure at least playoffs at 11-5 this year.

He has made the team better. Last year he finally had that one injury he should not of played through. I wont hate him for it. I wont hate him because he did most likely lie, but I am also positive everyone else involved lied too.

Everyone lies.

It would be nice if you didnt try and rewrite history.

The 07 Bucs...the team that Bert woulda has to look at to evaluate went 9-7, won the south, and had a coach he was very familiar with.

For a team with an average D at best...seems you are selling them a bit short when they only gave up 30 plus points once...and held teams to 10 or less points 7 times and 14 or less 10 times.

No WRs? About the same as vikings right now. In 08 Antonio Byrant had a better year than any Vikes receiver. bryant, galloway, clayton, etc.

for a team you run down..back 2 back 9-7 seasons seems to contradict your point. Seems like they were a QB away.

Hmm, Vikes were 8-8 in 07 and hadn't made the playoffs in 3 years.

Well I naturally don't know my bucs history as well as the history of teams in the north. =)

But the vikings also had a familar offense and coach, the best RB in hte league, a good OL, and a solid defense. I mean, I guess the bucs may have had that too, but wasn't Gruden canned after that season? Or was that after last? I can't recall.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

He was canned last year...after another 9-7 season.

I'm not saying you are wrong about the vikes, but let's not pretend that he couldn't have gone to another NFC team...one that ran a west coast offense, had coach he liked and was familiar with, etc.

Chucky thought they were getting him....remember the Xmas quote.

[superfan]

Minneapolis Star Tribune had an article on Gruden in today's paper:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/63001097.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs

Fired as Bucs coach after last season, Gruden thought his team was going to acquire Favre before the quarterback was traded to the New York Jets in August 2008.

"I talked to Brett on the telephone, and I think if you talk to Brett yourself, both of us thought he was coming to Tampa," Gruden, now working for ESPN, said Wednesday during a conference call to preview Monday's game. "I went to bed at about 20 minutes after 12, 12:30 thinking we had Brett Favre. I was sure we had Brett Favre. When I woke up the next day, Santa Claus didn't arrive. It was a sad day for me."

"I think both of us thought -- Brett and I -- that we were going to get the deal done. But there was another partner that developed later that evening somewhere across the next seven or eight hours."

The Bucs fired Gruden and Allen after the team lost its final four games and missed the playoffs. So would Gruden still be in Tampa if the trade had worked?

"Brett Favre's a winner," Gruden said. "He's one of the great quarterbacks of all time. He would have made a difference, I can promise you that."

The article also mentions familiarity with Gruden and the West Coast offense as key reasons for a Tampa/Favre match.

[MOBB DEEP]

Lord Favre...

[Bossman641]

Lord Favre...

Interesting point. Tough to argue with that.

[Rastak]

Rewrite history...LOL, wow is that weak.


The team fires it's superbowl winning coach, hires a dude with zero background then cuts half it's defense. People saw a mile away they were gonna go down hard. My coworker is a Bucs fan and he admitted this summer it was gonna be a long year.

Rewrite history.....that's some pretty funny stuff.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Rewrite history...LOL, wow is that weak.


The team fires it's superbowl winning coach, hires a dude with zero background then cuts half it's defense. People saw a mile away they were gonna go down hard. My coworker is a Bucs fan and he admitted this summer it was gonna be a long year.

Rewrite history.....that's some pretty funny stuff.

Except we aren't talking this year....what is weak is your ability to stay on topic. Nobody was talking about rewriting in that context.

Rewriting: yeah, the jet's scenario is just the way he paints it. You have now officially crossed over to the tin foil hat club.

[MJZiggy]

Rewrite history...LOL, wow is that weak.


The team fires it's superbowl winning coach, hires a dude with zero background then cuts half it's defense. People saw a mile away they were gonna go down hard. My coworker is a Bucs fan and he admitted this summer it was gonna be a long year.

Rewrite history.....that's some pretty funny stuff.

I always saw that SB team as Dungy's. Gruden just rode what was already there and has been going downhill since.

[Fritz]

We ought to at least be able to agree on this:

1. Favre told Peter King during an interview that a part of his motivation to come back was revenge.

2. On the conference call this week - the very first part - he tells Green Bay reporters that revenge never was a factor for him.

Those - both of those - are on record.

Beyond that, I am intrigued by Silverstein's observation on that hilarious two-doofy-guys-in-a-messy-room video on the JSO site that Favre seemed more nervous than usual during that call.

Since we're putting all this under a microscope, and studying every last detail to try to determine how this might turn out, I wonder if Favre will stay in game-manager mode (the Vikes' best scenario) or if he will see some coverages he thinks he can exploit and change calls at the line and end up passing a lot more than what the game plan calls for.

[Rastak]

Rewrite history...LOL, wow is that weak.


The team fires it's superbowl winning coach, hires a dude with zero background then cuts half it's defense. People saw a mile away they were gonna go down hard. My coworker is a Bucs fan and he admitted this summer it was gonna be a long year.

Rewrite history.....that's some pretty funny stuff.

Except we aren't talking this year....what is weak is your ability to stay on topic. Nobody was talking about rewriting in that context.

Rewriting: yeah, the jet's scenario is just the way he paints it. You have now officially crossed over to the tin foil hat club.

Ok, we are indeed talking about different things. I am specifically talking about the Jets and this spring.

LAST year I'm sure he would have wanted to play for his buddies Bevel and Chilly first and foremost but Tampa would have been a good second choice. In addition, if coming off a 13-3 year where he felt he played some of his best football and was essentially told "the train has left the station without you", then obviously "I'll show you" would enter his mind. The best way to do that would be playing for Minnesota or even Tampa. It's simple human nature and many players do it.....even guys that are drafted later than they thought. "The Jaguars said they'd take me 10th and they didn't...now I go 15th. We play this year, I have that date on my calender...I'll show them what they passed up"

Happens all the time, it's not a big event. As for why it all went down the the retirement thing, I'm not saying Green Bay was even wrong in what they did. They felt it was time to move on this provided the perfect vehicle to do so.

Had he just showed up to OTA's, could they have dumped him? I don't think so. Then Teddy would have been dragged out of the building by a mob...(Not MOBB).