Favre criticizes Packers' failed attempt at trading for Moss

[Patler]

I've never thought Favre was press wise; maybe he was sending a message and maybe he was not. Maybe he's just not smart and doesn't realize the impact a few of his words can have. Or maybe he wanted to send a message. Either way I agree with the message but not with how it was sent.

I also agree with wist; I found it hard to understand that TT would be serious about Moss, but he appeared to be. If he got outbid via a draft pick that does not surprise me one bit.

I do trust TT; but he's going to stubornly do things his way and that means the turtle crossing the road.

Or maybe Darren Sharper was at least a bit accurate a couple years ago when he said something to the effect that Favre was more about Favre than fans realized. I totally dismissed it at the time as coming from a disgruntled player who left the Packers. I'm not saying it is completely true now, but maybe there is a little something to it, as the impression of a former, longtime teammate.

[Rastak]

I've never thought Favre was press wise; maybe he was sending a message and maybe he was not. Maybe he's just not smart and doesn't realize the impact a few of his words can have. Or maybe he wanted to send a message. Either way I agree with the message but not with how it was sent.

I also agree with wist; I found it hard to understand that TT would be serious about Moss, but he appeared to be. If he got outbid via a draft pick that does not surprise me one bit.

I do trust TT; but he's going to stubornly do things his way and that means the turtle crossing the road.

Or maybe Darren Sharper was right a couple years ago when he said something to the effect that Favre was more about Favre than fans realized. I totally dismissed it at the time as coming from a disgruntled player who left the Packers. I'm not saying it is completely true now, but maybe there is a little something to it, as the impression of a former, longtime teammate.

Wow, I don't recall that.....when did he say that?

[Patler]

I've never thought Favre was press wise; maybe he was sending a message and maybe he was not. Maybe he's just not smart and doesn't realize the impact a few of his words can have. Or maybe he wanted to send a message. Either way I agree with the message but not with how it was sent.

I also agree with wist; I found it hard to understand that TT would be serious about Moss, but he appeared to be. If he got outbid via a draft pick that does not surprise me one bit.

I do trust TT; but he's going to stubornly do things his way and that means the turtle crossing the road.

Or maybe Darren Sharper was right a couple years ago when he said something to the effect that Favre was more about Favre than fans realized. I totally dismissed it at the time as coming from a disgruntled player who left the Packers. I'm not saying it is completely true now, but maybe there is a little something to it, as the impression of a former, longtime teammate.

Wow, I don't recall that.....when did he say that?

When Sharper first signed with the Vikings, and Favre came out with his criticism of Walker. It might have been in the Minneapolis paper. It was part of an article in which Sharper criticized Favre for butting into Walker's business, when Sharper said Favre would lose respect among players for doing it. With all that, it was the sentence in the article that hit me the strongest, because it referred to Favre's past image, not future results from Favre's then current comments.

[wist43]

I don't think Favre is all about himself... I think he wants to win.

If Favre didn't care about winning, he'd wouldn't say anything... he's primarily coming back to break records, but he's going to do that whether they win or not.

Brett's rancor is born out of TT's mind numbingly slow approach to building the team. It's one thing to build thru the draft, and it's quite another to so completely ignore team needs in the pursuit of the BPA, that the team ultimately is built to strength so slowly that good players are going out the back door and "winning now" never materializes.

[Patler]

I don't think Favre is all about himself... I think he wants to win.

If Favre didn't care about winning, he'd wouldn't say anything... he's primarily coming back to break records, but he's going to do that whether they win or not.

Brett's rancor is born out of TT's mind numbingly slow approach to building the team. It's one thing to build thru the draft, and it's quite another to so completely ignore team needs in the pursuit of the BPA, that the team ultimately is built to strength so slowly that good players are going out the back door and "winning now" never materializes.

I didn't suggest that Favre was all about himself, nor did Sharper's comment imply that. Why go from one extrem to another? Maybe, just maybe there is more self interest in the man than his image has been built up to suggest. His comments the last couple seasons seem to support that.

I think TT has not been "mind numbingly slow" in building the team To the contrary, he has changed the roster with alarming speed. By the start of the 2007 season there will be only a handfull of players left from the end of the 2004 season. That's hardly "mind numbingly slow".

To me, "mind numbingly slow" would have been trying to eek out another season or two from Rivera, Flanagan, Roman, Diggs, Hunt, Carroll, Henderson, maybe even Green, although the jury is still out on Green. To the contrary, TT came in, thought the status quo was getting no where, and pretty much threw the old roster out in two season.

"Mind numbingly slow"? More like overly aggressive rebuilding.

[Rastak]

the latest from PFT.com



PACKERS BLAME BUS FOR FAVRE FIASCO

A league source with knowledge of the Green Bay Packers front office tells us that the powers-that-be are not happy with agent Bus Cook, who by all appearances is attempting to force an irreparable rift between his client, Brett Favre, and the team.

The Packers blame Cook for sharing with Favre details of the failed efforts to work out a trade for receiver Randy Moss, and for leaking the news that Cook requested on Favre's behalf a trade out of town.

As to the first point, how would Favre know about the ins and outs of the Moss trade efforts if someone involved in the process wasn't telling Brett about it? Cook has long been connected to the representation of Randy Moss on a semi-formal basis, since Cook is a West Virginia native and Randy's West Virginia-based agents, Tim DiPiero and the decertified (and incarcerated) Dante DiTrapano, had no experience in the business before being hired by Moss.

Per the source, the Packers sniffed out during trade talks that Moss preferred the Patriots over the Packers, and that the Packers' interest (driven by Favre) was being used as leverage against the Patriots. As we've previously mentioned (at least twice), DiPiero made it clear on the official Randy Moss web site that the Pats were the first choice.

And why wouldn't they be? Moss is trying to rehabilitate his image in an effort to get in position for a huge payday in 2008. No one was going to give him the $21 million he was due to earn in Oakland over the next two years, including the Raiders. With the free-agent market paying out $20 million or more in guaranteed money to so-so veterans and washed-up stars, Moss knows that one big season in which he plays deep into January (and perhaps February) will vault him to the top of the free-agent market at the receiver position next March, putting him in line for one more big contract before he calls it quits.

But, somehow, Favre was fed the idea that Moss was serious about playing for the Packers. The potential culprits? Moss himself, or Cook. Or both.

Our take? Brett got snowed by his agent on this one, and the agent has been running for cover by blaming the team. The Packers have opted (by all appearances) to take the high road, and as a result the attack on them by Favre (as instigated by Cook) has not been, and will not be, rebutted publicly.

Remember those reports that Moss ended up in New England because the Packers would only give up a fifth-round pick for him, and not because Moss refused to re-do his deal in Green Bay? Though we initially suspected that the team was putting out this information in order to defuse the notion that the Pack got mooned by Moss, we now believe, based on all of the available facts and circumstances, that this was an effort by Cook to put out the word that the Packers could have had Moss if they wanted him -- primarily to reinforce to Favre through a seemingly objective source that the Packers weren't doing what they could to improve the team for their veteran quarterback's swan song.

In fact, an industry source tells us that the Raiders would have taken a fifth-round pick from the Packers in lieu of a fourth-rounder from the Patriots, because Oakland did not want to send him to another AFC team. So the deal was stalled by Moss, who chose a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in New England over a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in Green Bay.

Moving forward, the question is whether Favre's nose is back in joint, and if so whether Cook will continue to try to get him riled up. One league insider believes that Cook is merely trying to get Brett out of Green Bay because Cook thinks it's time for Brett to bolt.

But Cook's financial interests would suggest otherwise. With Favre due to make $11 million in salary from the Packers this year, we can't imagine another team paying that kind of money for one season of football.

Maybe we're wrong. Maybe there's a team out there that would be happy to make the investment in order to be in the thick of Favre's final assault on the record books. Some Dolphins fans already are becoming infatuated with the notion of Favre breaking Dan Marino's records in the same uniform in which Marino set those marks. And such a move would go a long way toward placating folks in South Florida who are still miffed that the team chose Ted Ginn over Brady Quinn in round one.

There are other intriguing possibilities (Atlanta, Dallas), and the speculation will continue until Favre declares that he intends to stay put with the Packers. With every passing hour of silence from Favre, the notion that he wants to finish up his career elsewhere gets stronger and stronger.

And the likelihood of Brett wearing green and gold come September gets smaller and smaller.

[pbmax]

With Moss? You haven't even established that he wanted to come here AFTER New England made him an offer.

So you are saying we would now have to bid against his preferred destination?

And I don't think Moss puts us in the playoffs. If 9-7 gets us a wild-card we lose in the first round.

Why would someone trust Favre's motives and distrust T2's motives?

Does anyone think its realistic that the Pack are going to "win now" even with Moss?

I felt that the Packers had a good chance of making the playoffs with Moss.

I trust TT's motives.

He's going to do this his way, which happens to be pretty dam slow.
He's not going to take many risks via trades
He's going to cradle those draft picks like they are his firstborn
He's going to play by his rules and sometimes he'll get trumped by another team in his effort.

I'm truly surprised TT was even making a play for Moss; I never expected him to make it happen

[pbmax]

Doesn't every GM want to win "his way"? Isn't "his way" a blueprint like every other team has (except for the Redskins)?

Why do we need to mindread suspicious motives into every decision?

He doesn't sign free agents at a clip you approve of, therefore he is stubborn?

What if your advocacy of Free Agency signings make the team a perennial 9-7 once and done playoff team? Is that better than winning big longer term?

As for motives??? I don't trust TT.

It's not that I don't think that TT wants to win... but, I think winning "his way" is more important to him that is winning itself.

[pbmax]

Get off the draft pick! Even Favre said that wasn't the issue!

It was MONEY!

Moss was holding you, Favre and the Packers up, using you as a stalking horse and you refuse to see. Instead we become incapacitated by self-recriminations?

If Randy really wanted to come here, why weren't the Packers given a chance to match the offer?

Because they wouldn't guarantee the money.

I also agree with wist; I found it hard to understand that TT would be serious about Moss, but he appeared to be. If he got outbid via a draft pick that does not surprise me one bit.

[pbmax]

Favre has also said he doesn't want to come back just to break records on a losing team.

So Brett's not interested in rebuilding because he doesn't want to play while losing.

Is that in the best interest of the team or Favre?

I don't think Favre is all about himself... I think he wants to win.

If Favre didn't care about winning, he'd wouldn't say anything... he's primarily coming back to break records, but he's going to do that whether they win or not.

Brett's rancor is born out of TT's mind numbingly slow approach to building the team. It's one thing to build thru the draft, and it's quite another to so completely ignore team needs in the pursuit of the BPA, that the team ultimately is built to strength so slowly that good players are going out the back door and "winning now" never materializes.

[pbmax]

I won't pretend this isn't material in the self-interest of the Packers, but this comment should get its own thread:

Per the source, the Packers sniffed out during trade talks that Moss preferred the Patriots over the Packers, and that the Packers' interest (driven by Favre) was being used as leverage against the Patriots. As we've previously mentioned (at least twice), DiPiero made it clear on the official Randy Moss web site that the Pats were the first choice.

Packers were being used and so was Favre.

Randy is thanking everyone for his new contract.

the latest from PFT.com



PACKERS BLAME BUS FOR FAVRE FIASCO

A league source with knowledge of the Green Bay Packers front office tells us that the powers-that-be are not happy with agent Bus Cook, who by all appearances is attempting to force an irreparable rift between his client, Brett Favre, and the team....

Per the source, the Packers sniffed out during trade talks that Moss preferred the Patriots over the Packers, and that the Packers' interest (driven by Favre) was being used as leverage against the Patriots. As we've previously mentioned (at least twice), DiPiero made it clear on the official Randy Moss web site that the Pats were the first choice....

And the likelihood of Brett wearing green and gold come September gets smaller and smaller.

[pbmax]

Can we now call a moratorium on the T2 is too in love with his draft picks for the good of the team now?

In fact, an industry source tells us that the Raiders would have taken a fifth-round pick from the Packers in lieu of a fourth-rounder from the Patriots, because Oakland did not want to send him to another AFC team. So the deal was stalled by Moss, who chose a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in New England over a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in Green Bay.

the latest from PFT.com



PACKERS BLAME BUS FOR FAVRE FIASCO

A league source with knowledge of the Green Bay Packers front office tells us that the powers-that-be are not happy with agent Bus Cook, who by all appearances is attempting to force an irreparable rift between his client, Brett Favre, and the team....

In fact, an industry source tells us that the Raiders would have taken a fifth-round pick from the Packers in lieu of a fourth-rounder from the Patriots, because Oakland did not want to send him to another AFC team. So the deal was stalled by Moss, who chose a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in New England over a $3 million salary with no guaranteed money in Green Bay....

[mraynrand]

Did it ever occur to anyone that there may have ben higher ups, such as people on the Packer board who did not want Moss in Green Bay. I would imagine, even with the sort of 'hands off' appearance that word can get to Thompson.

Granted, this is all speculation, but it seems to me TT perhaps made an 'attempt' to sign Moss, to placate Favre somewhat, full well knowing he was going elsewhere.

I don't imagine that I'm the only guy who didn't want Moss in GB, under any circumstances. But it appears there are plenty of people who wanted him in GB, even if it meant rubbing his ass in their faces.

[pbmax]

Everyone better buckle up. Because conventional wisdom will now undergo a seismic shift from "Thompson cares too much about the draft picks" and "he doesn't sign enough Free Agents" to the new complaint:

"He's too cheap to win."

Imagine that, Thompson offered exactly what would have gotten the deal done. He wasn't outbid, he didn't overpay.

But Saint Randy, the guy who recently has been unable to complete a season healthy, wanted the Packers to guarantee the contract.

I never had too much of a problem with Moss professionally, except the charges of quitting on the team. But now I like him quite a bit less.

Its like an ugly girl(or guy) causing a fight between good friends. Is it worth the price?

the latest from PFT.com

PACKERS BLAME BUS FOR FAVRE FIASCO...

...In fact, an industry source tells us that the Raiders would have taken a fifth-round pick from the Packers in lieu of a fourth-rounder from the Patriots, because Oakland did not want to send him to another AFC team...

[MadtownPacker]

I'd like to know what TT told Favre before he said he would play in 07.

Did he make him promises like say he would get moss? Or maybe just that he would make some big moves on offense?

Cuz if he did.... then I dont hold Favre's anger against him. We will never find out but the way this is playing out is telling me that someone got lied to. Who did the lying is the question.