Difficult Parting Ways

[HarveyWallbangers]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-difficult-parting-of-Favre-and-the-Packers.html

Overall, I think pretty fair--although it seems to talk about the things that Ted did wrong more than what Brett might have done wrong (other than the tidbit he throws in here at the end of the following). Probably natural coming from a guy who was basically fired by Ted. I think Brandt does a good job though.

Mutual mistrust ensued again with Brett’s desire to play for the Vikings and, in the view of the Packers, having extensive communication about doing so. The Packers obviously were not going to let that happen and were exasperated when the NFL dismissed tampering charges despite what they felt was strong evidence against their rival. That episode further enhanced the existing rivalry that continues Sunday.

Once set free from the Jets last winter, Brett was finally was able achieve the result he and the Vikings had pursued for more than a year. Brett now is linked at the hip to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a member of Mike Sherman’s staff in Green Bay that treated Brett and his family the way felt they should be treated given his accomplishments with the team.

Let me say this: I agree with the decision by my former team to move to the future with Rodgers. It was not like the Packers were moving forward with a stopgap veteran quarterback. I also believe that whatever communication Brett had with the Vikings a year ago complicated matters for all sides and that Brett could have handled himself better at the end of the relationship as well.

The only major problem I had with the article was the line about the Packers detailing the sequence of events. They pretty much stayed away from public comments. They came out with that after going through a crapload of Favre propoganda--that seemed mostly to stem from the Favre camp.

I'm sure pro-Favre people will read this article and say Ted did him wrong, but I came away thinking that Favre's ego was as big of a problem.

[Waldo]

I think one point he is making in it, that he doesn't make as clear as the others.

The Packers knew that had a very, very, very good QB in Rodgers. (MM's coaches coached at the PB after '07, and they say that AR was every bit the passer, if not better, than the guys they worked with at the PB).

Fans had very little window into AR's play until a few games into last season. MM and TT had literally seen him perform in hundreds of practices and knew him quite well.

Based on my pathetic personal scouting from preseason tape, I would have started Rodgers in '07, a year sooner.

I think that is the one point that he runs around but never really hammers home. Brett's departure was not a product of his retirement, that offseason, and whatnot. The team decided prior to that that they were moving on to Aaron.

Most analysts at the time were flabbergasted that the Packers were picking Aaron over Brett, that in fact they felt that Aaron gave them the best chance to win.

The difficult part is how to get rid of Brett then. He surely could not coexist with Aaron as a backup.

I do understand Ted, and where this whole problem is created. He seems like a very honest man, but not an open honest man. Brett retiring was the only way this thing would be easy. Telling Brett that the team decided to move on, prior to him announcing his retirement decision, was not a conversation that I would want to have with him.

[RashanGary]

That was a pretty fantastic write up. I guess I would say WOW. The only thing I didn't like was the underlying sentiment that Brett deserved special treatment. I think that's just silly. Like, "he's a diva, but he deserves to be a diva" type thing. It's crazy how many people think this guy deserves special treatment.

I agree that the Packers errored by not talking to him about moving on when they moved on. He was used to a family type atmosphere where the Packers would just never move on and TT was all business, almost like he expected Favre to understand that. That made Favre feel slighted. I kind of blame Wolf and Sherman. Football is such a business, you can't let it get that warm and cozy because moving on is inevitable at some point.

It's really just one big case of human nature and values not mixing and blowing up. This article helps understand Favre more, but still doesn't make any of it right.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The article was actually kind of cathartic. (Apparently, my new favorite word, but I couldn't think of anything better.) Both are to blame. Personally, I've moved on. I think the play of Rodgers has allowed me to get over this sooner. I still like Brett. Welcome him back in due time. Right now, he's the enemy. Let's put a notch in the loss column for him.

[MadtownPacker]

Interesting article.

Now let's all trash Harv for making a thread about!!

[woodbuck27]

Yes I remain loyal as a respectful fan to all that is Brett Favre. I refuse to wollow in all the incriminations that I'm open to in that loyality. For that loyality I feel I'm one of the winners overall. I'm a Packer fan (have been for over 50 years now). I get a bonus. I have the luxury of still being thrilled by the fine skills and play that Favre demonstrates every game he remains behind center. Brett Favre is still at age 40 very special and a very competent NFL QB.

I just read the article and from it gleemed this:

'' Even upon his retirement, the Packers knew -- or should have known -- that Brett would not stay retired. They knew Brett and knew when the calendar moved closer to training camp, that he would want to play again. At the time of his retirement, as hard a conversation as it would have been, the Packers could have had an open and honest communication that they were moving on with Aaron, someone they had been grooming for three years, and any un-retirement would not be welcome. That conversation, however difficult, would have headed off the enmity to come.

Instead, there was growing distance between the parties, even with an awkward attempt to have Brett stay retired with a marketing deal with the team. Favre and the Packers retreated to their media sources to spin their stories. The Packers even uncharacteristically detailed the sequence of events that showed Brett’s vacillations, incensing Favre and his family. ''

As a Packer fan therein lies the rub. The catalyst of the problem that is so annoying to those of us that still enjoy Favre in the NFL. Favre retired! No way given the way he's demonstrated his skills and overall winning ways since his eviction from Green Bay.

I have zero issue with Aaron Rodgers as our QB. That is working out just fine. I'm annoid that again and more than hinted at in the above and in the article as a whole. Our esteemed GM Ted Thompson demonstrated his inability and insensitivity . . . the balls (excuse the bluntness) . . . to at least reward Brett Favre with the respect his career as a Green Bay Packer and especially his play in 2007 deserved.

I am and was relieved that Favre got away from Ted Thompson. It was obvious to me as ' just a Packer fan' that they were far apart in their personal goals. Just one example of this as a fact. Ted Thompson was a mere wanna be ' winner GM ' in the means and detail required to acquire such a talent as we deserved in Randy Moss. ( Request: Leave all prejuidices aside ...please. ) We are well aware how much Favre desired this fine WR on our side. That 'muck up' had to go a long ways to causing bad feelings. between Favre and Ted Thompson. I believe if we had Moss and Favre in 2008. We would have been far more likely to win another Super Bowl.

Was Favre's ego given a real kick? At first maybe it was but for some time that's not an issue for Brett Favre. I believe when it's all said and done as NFL fans, we'll realize that ' Yes ' It was time for Brett Favre to get out of Green Bay. His teams 15 wins in 23 games says Favre's doing ' just fine ' with Ted Thompson's decision to move to a new era.

We now cheer for Aaron Rodgers. Soon after the loss to the Giants Ted Thompson should have informed Brett Favre that Aaron Rodgers would be the Packers starting QB in 2008. Favre had two years remaining under contract. In fairness Ted Thompson should have bought Favre out of that contract and given him his outright release. Ted Thompson wanted far too much. To cover too many bases and too little credibility with not only (maybe) Favre but many Packer fans to go there.

[sharpe1027]

Personally, I think this is how it should have read:

Even upon his retirement, the Packers knew -- or should have known -- that Brett wanted to play for the Vikings. They knew based on his retire-unretire stunt, admissions to Campen, and close contacts with Childress and Bevell that he would want to play for the Vikings. Before going public with his unretirement, as hard a conversation as it would have been, Favre could have had an open and honest communication that he wanted to move on, something he had been chewing on for years. That conversation, however difficult, would have headed off the enmity to come.

[Partial]

Personally, I think this is how it should have read:

Even upon his retirement, the Packers knew -- or should have known -- that Brett wanted to play for the Vikings. They knew based on his retire-unretire stunt, admissions to Campen, and close contacts with Childress and Bevell that he would want to play for the Vikings. Before going public with his unretirement, as hard a conversation as it would have been, Favre could have had an open and honest communication that he wanted to move on, something he had been chewing on for years. That conversation, however difficult, would have headed off the enmity to come.

He wanted to leave a very young, very talented team that was took the world champion to overtime in their final game?

That makes ZERO sense. The Vikings business started up after the Pack moved on.

[woodbuck27]

Personally, I think this is how it should have read:

Even upon his retirement, the Packers knew -- or should have known -- that Brett wanted to play for the Vikings. They knew based on his retire-unretire stunt, admissions to Campen, and close contacts with Childress and Bevell that he would want to play for the Vikings. Before going public with his unretirement, as hard a conversation as it would have been, Favre could have had an open and honest communication that he wanted to move on, something he had been chewing on for years. That conversation, however difficult, would have headed off the enmity to come.

He wanted to leave a very young, very talented team that was took the world champion to overtime in their final game?

That makes ZERO sense. The Vikings business started up after the Pack moved on.

Partial. Yes 'of course' all the evidence supports your position.

[Smidgeon]

This is why it's a PR fight and why people can't agree. The situation can be perceived to be slanted one way or the other by people on both sides of the issue. If it was clearer, there'd be less infighting.

[MichiganPackerFan]

Favre had two years remaining under contract. In fairness Ted Thompson should have bought Favre out of that contract and given him his outright release. Ted Thompson wanted far too much. To cover too many bases and too little credibility with not only (maybe) Favre but many Packer fans to go there.

TT didn't want BF playing against him, so he traded him in that fashion. That's looking out for the Packers' best interest.

[Brandon494]

Favre had two years remaining under contract. In fairness Ted Thompson should have bought Favre out of that contract and given him his outright release. Ted Thompson wanted far too much. To cover too many bases and too little credibility with not only (maybe) Favre but many Packer fans to go there.

TT didn't want BF playing against him, so he traded him in that fashion. That's looking out for the Packers' best interest.

+1

Why would TT trade him to the Vikings when he knew they were a QB away from being a SB contender?

[Smidgeon]

Favre had two years remaining under contract. In fairness Ted Thompson should have bought Favre out of that contract and given him his outright release. Ted Thompson wanted far too much. To cover too many bases and too little credibility with not only (maybe) Favre but many Packer fans to go there.

TT didn't want BF playing against him, so he traded him in that fashion. That's looking out for the Packers' best interest.

+1

Why would TT trade him to the Vikings when he knew they were a QB away from being a SB contender?

I don't remember who made this point and I fully admit it wasn't my idea, but how much do you think the Vikings would have been willing to give up in a trade for Favre? I think it certainly would have been more than what the Jets gave up. Taking away high draft picks can hamstring a franchise. We'll see that theory proven front and center with Chicago in the next couple years.

[Rastak]

Moot point. Never in a million years would TT have traded him to the Vikings. That would have been worse than cutting him and having him sign there for the general Packer fan I bet.....and he never probably even remotely considered cutting him.

[Smidgeon]

Moot point. Never in a million years would TT have traded him to the Vikings. That would have been worse than cutting him and having him sign there for the general Packer fan I bet.....and he never probably even remotely considered cutting him.

Well, I was suggesting a why. That doesn't mean I think he should have. I'm just offering suggestions. I agree that he wouldn't have done it, but it doesn't mean no why existed.