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(May 14, 2007) -- In the dispute that is Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, league observers believe both sides can rightfully claim their points.
Favre's: During the past three off-seasons, Favre has watched six key offensive players, including three starting offensive linemen, defect from Green Bay.
Brett Favre is seeing few familiar faces in the huddle these days, and he's not happy about it.
Two offseasons ago, Green Bay opted not to re-sign guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. Last offseason, Green Bay lost center Mike Flanagan and wide receiver Javon Walker. Then this offseason, the Packers watched tight end David Martin and running back Ahman Green leave.
Meanwhile, in the past three years, the only first-round draft choice the Packers have invested in an offensive player was a backup for Favre, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
On these points, Favre has every right to be agitated. Green Bay has not gotten him the offensive help it could.
But Green Bay could make its arguments as well. Namely this: Favre has not helped the situation with his offseason absence from Green Bay.
While other franchise quarterbacks spend their offseasons at their team's training complexes, working to get down timing with wide receivers and tight ends, Favre has remained in Mississippi. The Packers don't remember seeing Favre at their training complex this offseason.
If this were happening in a place such as New York, where tight end Jeremy Shockey garners headlines for staying away from offseason drills, then Favre would be roundly criticized.
Favre has earned the right to spend his offseasons in the way he wants. But by staying away from Green Bay, some feel he forfeits the right to complain about the young talent surrounding him when he's not working with it.
Now the situation can be mildly corrected. Last offseason, when the Packers failed to land free-agent linebacker LaVar Arrington, the team turned its energies to cornerback Charles Woodson, and signed him. Now, with the Packers missing out on wide receiver Randy Moss, they can go and sign free-agent wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who has had some conversations with Green Bay.
Johnson would not be the cure-all. But he would help take away some of the disappointment hanging over Favre and his franchise.
Favre's: During the past three off-seasons, Favre has watched six key offensive players, including three starting offensive linemen, defect from Green Bay.
Brett Favre is seeing few familiar faces in the huddle these days, and he's not happy about it.
Two offseasons ago, Green Bay opted not to re-sign guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. Last offseason, Green Bay lost center Mike Flanagan and wide receiver Javon Walker. Then this offseason, the Packers watched tight end David Martin and running back Ahman Green leave.
Meanwhile, in the past three years, the only first-round draft choice the Packers have invested in an offensive player was a backup for Favre, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
On these points, Favre has every right to be agitated. Green Bay has not gotten him the offensive help it could.
But Green Bay could make its arguments as well. Namely this: Favre has not helped the situation with his offseason absence from Green Bay.
While other franchise quarterbacks spend their offseasons at their team's training complexes, working to get down timing with wide receivers and tight ends, Favre has remained in Mississippi. The Packers don't remember seeing Favre at their training complex this offseason.
If this were happening in a place such as New York, where tight end Jeremy Shockey garners headlines for staying away from offseason drills, then Favre would be roundly criticized.
Favre has earned the right to spend his offseasons in the way he wants. But by staying away from Green Bay, some feel he forfeits the right to complain about the young talent surrounding him when he's not working with it.
Now the situation can be mildly corrected. Last offseason, when the Packers failed to land free-agent linebacker LaVar Arrington, the team turned its energies to cornerback Charles Woodson, and signed him. Now, with the Packers missing out on wide receiver Randy Moss, they can go and sign free-agent wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who has had some conversations with Green Bay.
Johnson would not be the cure-all. But he would help take away some of the disappointment hanging over Favre and his franchise.
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