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Favre criticizes Packers' failed attempt at trading for Moss
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 12, 2007
In quarterback Brett Favre's mind, the Green Bay Packers could have obtained wide receiver Randy Moss.
"I know what we could have signed him for," Favre told Memphis television station WMC-TV at his annual charity golf tournament Saturday in Tunica, Miss. "We could have gotten him for less money than New England did. He wanted to play in Green Bay for the amount of money we could have paid him. It (was) well worth the risk."
Moss, who was once represented by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, and still has ties to him, was on the trading block before the NFL draft. The Packers and Patriots were the two teams seeking a deal with the Oakland Raiders for Moss' services.
On the night before the draft, the Packers thought they had a deal with the Raiders for a fifth-round pick, but New England stepped in and began making a strong pitch for Moss. Quarterback Tom Brady reportedly spent hours on the phone recruiting Moss, who eventually agreed to a one-year contract with the Patriots.
New England topped Green Bay's offer with a fourth-round pick. The Packers, sources said, weren't given the chance to increase their offer to the Raiders or Moss, although it's questionable whether general manager Ted Thompson would have done either. They were also offering a two-year contract, which wasn't ideal to Moss.
Favre talked with Moss several times leading up to the draft, but he apparently wasn't as convincing as Brady. Still, Favre thinks the Packers could have gotten Moss.
"The last thing I want to do is start anything," Favre said Saturday. "But I think he would have been a great addition. You throw Randy Moss, you throw Donald Driver and you throw Greg Jennings on the field at the same time, and go three-wide receiver set, I think it's pretty intimidating. And we lost out on that, and it's a shame because I know we could have had him."
Favre hasn't spoken to the media since undergoing left ankle surgery after the season, so it was unclear until Saturday how he viewed the Moss dealings and the draft class Thompson added. Coach Mike McCarthy expects Favre to attend a mandatory three-day minicamp beginning Friday, although the quarterback is not expected to take part in practice.
It's not known whether he will address the media during the camp.
In the interview at his golf tournament, Favre said his ankle was doing well.
"I had surgery in February; I could have played the following week - against doctors orders, but I could have played," Favre said. "Rehab's going fine, but everything's up to par right now. I think people who know me, know I will be ready.
"Am I ready at this moment? Probably not quite, but I will get myself ready and I think as they found out in the past, I will do everything I can do to help this team win."
Favre admitted he's not fired up about coming to minicamp, but he said the Packers can expect him to be the same guy he's always been.
"Do I feel like going to training camp and minicamp?" Favre said. "Most of the time no. But I still love to play and I think there are a lot of guys who have retired or have been let go that still love to play but don't feel they can, and I still feel I can play at a high level.
"I love to compete and I love to win and I would hate to give it up and say, 'I could be doing that.' So that's why I'm back."
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