The Soap Opera That Is Brett Favre ------The Real Story

[Merlin]

Most players don't bring up retirement until they are ready to retire. Not when they are just pondering about it.

I think you need to find the "quote" where Favre started all the retirement talk back in 2000-2001. Favre responded to a question during an interview when asked whether or not he has thought about retirement yet. The media took it and ran with it and has been constantly bombarding him with the question since. If the media wouldn't have spun the shit into a soap opera, I doubt anything Favre has done since would have mattered. When he came back in 2005, it was after an embarrassing playoff loss to the Vikings. It wouldn't have mattered what he would have said to the media, it was all about retirement. In 2006, same thing. This year was about the only year that was ever in question because of how he ended his last game. Other then that, the media, not Favre has been keeping the whole thing going.

As far as any respect for 3T in regards to the issue, he doesn't want Favre but can't get rid of him without pissing everyone off. From day one he has done his best to make Favre retire. Favre knows this as does any life form with a pulse. He took Aaron Rodgers not because he wasn't sure on Favre but because he has a "plan" and it doesn't include Favre. Problem is, Favre has screwed up his "plan" so now it's a chess game to see who blinks first.

If 3T believes "we don't talk about those things", then why did 3T feed the media any Favre retirement crap?

[Bretsky]

I just think [Favre] feels sometimes that the organization is moving forward without him and they forgot to tell him that.

IMO, the organization did not forget to tell Favre anything. Favre "forgot" to tell them that he would still be here in 2006, 2007, and possibly beyond.

If they had known that, I think there's no way they draft A-Rod in the 1st round in 2005. Teams do not draft quarterbacks in the first round so they can warm the bench for 2 years, let alone 3 or 4.

I'm a big fan of Brett Favre, but he ain't perfect, and I think SOV is right on this one. I don't sympathize with Favre's frustrations regarding personnel moves, because it is Favre's unwillingness to give the team anything more than a year-to-year commitment that has forced the team to prepare for life without him sooner rather than later.

And how was he suppose to know if he was going to be here for three full more years; his fault though. Wow

I don't think he could have known for certain that he would be around for 3 more years, but remember what he has been saying? He stated that the next season is definitely his last before each of the last 2 seasons, only to change his mind in the next offseason.

Having played that game twice now, how can he then blame the team for preparing for life without him by starting and sticking with a much-needed youth movement?

He didn't say next season is definitely his last in 05, at least that I can remember. I don't ever recall Favre stating next season is his last to be honest. Can you provide a link to this or does anybody else recall saying that ?

[the_idle_threat]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/packers/2006-05-06-favre-return_x.htm

Favre back, not sure if this is his last season

By Chris Jenkins, The Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre is back. And so, it seems, is the "Favre watch," as the question of Favre's future beyond 2006 remains open-ended.
Despite definitive comments earlier in the offseason that he wouldn't return to play for more than one year, Favre was evasive when asked on Saturday if this would be his last season with the Green Bay Packers.

"I know I said that," Favre said in his first public comments since telling the team he would return. "But I hope you guys will respect me. I'm going to play this year, give it my best and not talk about it."

In an interview with the Biloxi Sun-Herald that ran last month, before Favre told the team he was returning, Favre said that if he did come back, there was "no doubt" this would be his last year. But he declined to make the same strong statement on Saturday.

Favre said the constant speculation surrounding his football future — most of which has been spawned by his own public comments on the subject — has become a distraction for the team.

"It's been a distraction not only for me but for I think the guys I played with in the past, and I'm not going to talk about it this year," Favre said.

In a half-hour interview session, Favre admitted that he still questions whether his decision to return was the right one. But Favre said he also would be questioning himself if he instead had decided to retire.

Favre knows athletes nearing the end of their careers can risk their legacies by continuing to play after they should have retired. Others choose to quit when they could have played effectively for a few more years.

"Where do I fall in? I don't know, and don't care," he said. "The Packers still want me, I want to be back."

Favre threw a career-worst 29 interceptions last season as the Packers went 4-12, the team's first losing season with Favre as its quarterback. But Favre doesn't seem inclined to change the way he plays.

"I'm not going to sit there and throw three-yard checkdowns and let the clock run out," Favre said. "I'm going to take chances. And there's going to be people who agree with that and there's going to be people who don't agree with it. And I really don't care."

Favre said he would continue his "aggressive" style of play, even though he admits it's "not pretty" at times.

"There's been a lot of guys out there who were prettier who are out of the league right now," Favre said. "And I don't regret the way I play or the way I approach it, and I don't feel like I should change. My will to win is probably why I'm still standing here. My desire and my commitment is why I'm here. Not my footwork, not my mechanics, not arm strength or decision making. It's my desire to win. I want to win more than anyone else. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, and sometimes it's not pretty."

Favre said many of last year's interceptions came when the Packers were trailing in games and, because of mounting injuries, Favre was playing with young players with whom he wasn't familiar.

"Maybe I should have made some different decisions at times, but we had to try to win the ballgame with whoever was in there," Favre said.

Interceptions aside, Favre's return is a boost for his teammates. Had he not come back, the team likely would have started last year's first-round draft pick, Aaron Rodgers, at quarterback.

"That made me happy," receiver Donald Driver said of Favre's decision. "I knew that now I didn't have to worry about coming into camp. And I haven't played with 'A-Rod' that long, but I knew that I can come into a camp and I don't have to worry about this and that, or (does) this guy know where I'm going to be at. Because Brett already knows what I'm going to pretty much do."

Disgruntled receiver Javon Walker was traded on draft day, meaning Driver will likely be Favre's top target again this season.

"I don't have to ever worry about anything, because I know when the time comes, I'm going to be that guy that's going to be getting the ball," Driver said. "I would have had worries if he wasn't here. You never know how the system works then."

Favre may have hastened Walker's departure last year by publicly criticizing Walker's threats to hold out for a new contract.

"We could sure use him," Favre said of Walker. "Any team could use him. But I don't regret the things I said. And I stand by that."

Favre reiterated several times on Saturday that he never considered asking to be traded to another team in the offseason.

"I know there was a lot of talk about being traded or wanting to play for another team," Favre said. "That never, I've told you guys that over and over again that I didn't want to play for another team, and that's the truth. And never once did I mention (a) trade. This is where I wanted to be the whole time."

But does he still want the ball with two minutes left and the game on the line? In an interview with ESPN early in the offseason, Favre questioned his own desire to play.

"I'm here," Favre said Saturday. "I didn't pull too many out last year, but I gave it my damnedest, and that's all I can do this year. But if I didn't want the ball, believe me, I wouldn't be here."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted 5/6/2006 3:03 PM ET

************

He said it for 2006, and then backed off. But management has to plan as if it will be the case, given the strong possibility that it could be true.

Still looking for the quote for 2005.

[Bretsky]

I should have been more clear; this is the part I dispute from your post

He stated that the next season is definitely his last before each of the last 2 seasons, only to change his mind in the next offseason.



I know what he said this year, but I was not aware he declared that the past two seasons

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't remember him saying that. It may have been passed around in the media, but I doubt he actually said that. I watch his press conferences every two weeks, and I think he's always been careful not to say a season would be his last.

[Bretsky]

I don't remember him saying that. It may have been passed around in the media, but I doubt he actually said that. I watch his press conferences every two weeks, and I think he's always been careful not to say a season would be his last.

I agree with the guy who also favored Robert Meachem

[the_idle_threat]

Looking back at articles in early 2005, I find that he basically says he will be back for 2005, and he waffles with the idea of it being his final season. I stand corrected that he stated outright that 2005 would be his last season, but there was a pretty strong implication. I should have written that he stated it in 2006 and strongly implied it in 2005. This implication for 2005 was bolstered by his comments later in the year that he didn't want to learn a new offensive system and that he would probably not be back if Sherman was fired.

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/packers/2005-06-05-favres-future_x.htm

Favre says he could play past 2005

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre said Sunday that next season may not be his last, and stepped up pressure on a holdout receiver to get back in the game.

After being serenaded by chants of "five more years" from a record crowd of 8,500 visitors to his charity softball game Sunday, Favre told reporters he hoped the family issues that made him contemplate retirement would be resolved.

"I hope off the field, within my family, that things go smoothly and I'm able to enjoy it a little bit more and my family is able to enjoy it. If that's the case, maybe I will be back," Favre said.

Favre spoke with local reporters for the first time since he announced in early March that he would be returning for a 15th NFL season.

He spoke at the sixth annual Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game, which was held to raise money for disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi.

Favre's wife Deanna, who recently underwent five months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for breast cancer, said her husband could play for "a couple of more" years.

Deanna Favre thanked coach Mike Sherman for keeping her husband off the field for mini training camps this spring.

"Just staying away and really focusing on family and working out has really helped," she said. "He's really excited about coming back. He's more excited this year than probably the last two or three."

The three-time NFL MVP quarterback also stepped up the pressure on Pro Bowl receiver Javon Walker, who has skipped both minicamps in spring and summer. Walker is demanding a new contract to replace one that has two years left on it.

Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks also has been a no-show because he has yet to sign a contract after being designated as the team's transition player.

"I hate to see that the game is going this way," Favre said. "I've heard a lot of comments saying, 'Well, Brett has his money and all this stuff.' Never once did I mention holdout."

"I believe, as the leader of this team, in some ways I have to be vocal," he said. "I've always been a quiet guy when it comes to things like that. But, I'm at the latter part of my career, and I want to win."

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9021862

Favre not sure he has time, energy to learn new offense

Nov. 3, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- NFL star Brett Favre says he would be reluctant to return to Green Bay next season if Mike Sherman isn't still coaching the Packers.

The Packers (1-6) are off to their worst start since 1991, which has led to speculation about Sherman's future.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Favre said Sherman's status would play an important role in his annual decision to keep on playing or to call it a career.

"I don't think there's one specific thing that would make me say yeah or no. It's just a culmination of a lot of different things, that being one of them," Favre said. "Maybe you're on the verge of saying yeah, and then you say, 'You know what, do I really want to sit in meetings and have to learn something all over again?'

"That could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

General manager Ted Thompson, who has refused to comment on Sherman's future, was out of his office and didn't immediately return a call from the AP.

Sherman, who signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract extension on Aug. 23 that would take him through 2007, declined comment on Favre's remarks.

Favre, who turned 36 last month, previously has said he wouldn't want to finish his career in another uniform because he's too set in his ways to learn a new offense.

Favre, who was traded to the Packers in 1992 after a year in Atlanta, has spent his entire time in Green Bay, leading it to Super Bowl victory in 1996. He is the league's only three-time MVP.

"I think that I've been maybe the only player that's ever played 14 years in the same offense," he said. "This offense has evolved; it's something a little bit different, but I've been here through the evolution. No one else has. The downside of that is, it would be so hard for me to learn something new in a year. It would just be so difficult. I mean, it could be done. Anything can be done.

"It's no different than my first time in Tokyo, you're driving on the wrong side of the road and it was hell. And I didn't drive; I just rode."

Favre said he won't know about next season until the offseason, but the weekly grind of preparing for games wears on him more with each passing year.

"It could come down to some of the littlest things, what I'm willing to put myself through. I mean, if it was coming down to just games, I don't think nothing could pull me away from the games. I love to play. I love to play," Favre said.

"But you know, I know, it's not baseball, it's not basketball. You only play three hours a week. You spend all this time -- people think at home that I just show up on Sundays and we play. I'm here taking a damn nap here at lunch, spend all day and watch film at night. For three hours. And if it doesn't go your way, it's so disappointing all the time you've put into it."

Favre pondered retirement last winter while his wife, Deanna, was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the latest in a long list of tragedies to strike the Favre family.

When Deanna recovered, she encouraged her husband to keep playing so they could enjoy the twilight of his career after two years of heartache.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[the_idle_threat]

I don't remember him saying that. It may have been passed around in the media, but I doubt he actually said that. I watch his press conferences every two weeks, and I think he's always been careful not to say a season would be his last.

Favre acknowledges that he said it (for 2006) in the article I posted. It doesn't get more plain than that.

Also see: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=412605

Favre waits, watches Packers before deciding future

By LORI NICKEL and TOM SILVERSTEIN

lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 31, 2006

Brett Favre needs more time to decide whether to return for a 16th season or retire and Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson isn't going to pressure him.

Favre was due a $3 million roster bonus today and the Packers were hoping he would make a decision on his status by now. But Favre isn't 100% sure yet.

In perhaps his most forceful comments about his expectations for the Packers this off-season, Favre told reporters Thursday at a charity event in Mississippi that if he didn't like the direction the team is headed, he will not return. He also said he probably would not have an answer by today, disputing reports that the Packers were insisting on an answer by today.

"That is not true," Favre said. "If I don't tell them by Saturday, what will they do, cut me? We have talked the last month and there are some things that I have to sort out. If they don't come together, I guess I won't play. I don't know if my decision will be made by Saturday."

Friday afternoon, Thompson said he was OK with that.

"I think, quite frankly, everybody would like to know what the answer is and I think Brett would especially like to know," Thompson said. "It's just not there yet. We understand that. It's obviously a very high profile decision because of the quality of the player. We want him to play. But it's up to Brett and (his wife) Deanna to decide, to make that decision. Any communication we've had is just to try to do whatever we can to help him along in that decision-making process."

The Packers have never said the Saturday deadline was non-negotiable, especially since the roster bonus isn't paid until September and Favre doesn't receive it at all if he retires. So the Packers can let the deadline pass and not be on the hook for the money if he retires. The next logical move by the Packers would be to push the deadline back again, as they have already done twice in the past month.

"There's never really been a deadline," Thompson said. "I think we've all communicated that the sooner, the better. We've sort of had some target dates (with the roster bonus), but there's never been a deadline for this. I don't know how there could be one. The man will decide when he decides, I think."

Meanwhile, Favre is watching to see what develops with the Packers before he settles on a decision.

"I still feel like I can play at a high level and obviously the Packers do, too, or they wouldn't be concerned about my decision," Favre said. "But there are some things I have to sort out. There are some things I'm looking for in the team and what they're trying to do. I guess if those don't come together, I guess I won't play. It's just kind of wait and see.

"Ted Thompson, the GM, and Mike McCarthy, the head coach, are good friends of mine. I've dealt with them before. I've been on good terms with them. It's not like I'm delaying this on purpose. There are some reasons. We still have 160 days before the start of the season so I don't know if the decision will be made by Saturday."

McCarthy, the Packers' first-year coach, said he, Favre and Thompson had had "constant, open, particularly positive" conversations in the off-season. McCarthy said Favre never expressed the reservations or concerns that he alluded to Thursday, which were reported by the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald.

"Brett and I have talked about a number of issues, things that are going on up here in Green Bay, as far as the off-season program and player acquisitions and all those types of things," McCarthy said. "I have never had a conversation with him in the context that was expressed in the article. So I will judge based on our conversations."

From those, McCarthy thinks that Favre still wants to play. McCarthy also made it clear Favre is wanted, but added that he didn't think the team was under a microscope to make the right moves to persuade Favre to return.

"I’ve stated from the point I was hired here that I want Brett Favre back as the quarterback of our football team," McCarthy said. "He’s fully aware of everything that goes on in the Green Bay Packers organization, how it works, what makes it tick, and he’s been a big part of it since 1992. So I don't feel a need to go out and solicit Brett Favre to come back to Green Bay. He's a big part of what's gone on here in the past; (I) would like him to take a step forward in the future."

Favre made his comments Thursday in Bay St. Louis, Miss., near his childhood hometown of Kiln, where he and Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair distributed grants to Gulf Coast football programs that were hit by Hurricane Katrina. Grants between $1,500 and $5,000 from the two players' foundations will be matched by the NFL Youth Football Fund.

That Favre has the itch to play again is a striking about-face from two months ago. Stinging from a 4-12 season in which he threw a career-high 29 interceptions and the offense was torn apart by injuries, the 36-year-old told ESPN at the end of January that he questioned his desire to play and maybe even his confidence at crunch time. Family was also an issue, with a daughter who will be in her last year of high school and relatives rebuilding from Katrina. Retirement seemed all but certain.

Now, Favre is patiently studying the Packers, who have endured tremendous turnover, from the coaching staff to the roster. Many analysts assert that Green Bay has done little to improve its team on offense in free agency. Favre said he was monitoring what Thompson was doing to improve the team and wanted to continue to see how things unfolded going into the season.

"There are a lot of reasons why I haven't made a decision yet," Favre said. "I know I still love the game."

Said Thompson: "I think Brett's just going through a decision-making process and all along I felt like he'll come up with a decision when he comes up with it. To gnash your teeth over it really doesn't do any good so we just try to go about our business."

If today comes and goes with no announcement from Favre, attention will turn to the draft April 29 and 30. The Packers have remained mostly idle in the free-agent quarterback market but with Craig Nall gone, they’ll almost have to take a college quarterback that weekend if Favre calls it quits.

But Thompson would not declare any such draft-day deadline for Favre.

"I'd rather not get into deadlines or anything like that," Thompson said. "I think all of us would like to know as soon as possible and I think Brett would, too."

Favre told the Sun Herald that if he does play in 2006, it will be his last season, news that would send NFL television programmers and ticket scalpers into motion almost immediately.

"I don’t know if I will play this year or not," Favre said. "Even Deanna is ready for my decision. If I do play this year, it will be my last. There’s no doubt about that."

[Bretsky]

Looking back at articles in early 2005, I find that he basically says he will be back for 2005, and he waffles with the idea of it being his final season. I stand corrected that he stated outright that 2005 would be his last season, but there was a pretty strong implication. I should have written that he stated it in 2006 and strongly implied it in 2005. This implication for 2005 was bolstered by his comments later in the year that he didn't want to learn a new offensive system and that he would probably not be back if Sherman was fired.

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/packers/2005-06-05-favres-future_x.htm

Favre says he could play past 2005

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre said Sunday that next season may not be his last, and stepped up pressure on a holdout receiver to get back in the game.

After being serenaded by chants of "five more years" from a record crowd of 8,500 visitors to his charity softball game Sunday, Favre told reporters he hoped the family issues that made him contemplate retirement would be resolved.

"I hope off the field, within my family, that things go smoothly and I'm able to enjoy it a little bit more and my family is able to enjoy it. If that's the case, maybe I will be back," Favre said.

Favre spoke with local reporters for the first time since he announced in early March that he would be returning for a 15th NFL season.

He spoke at the sixth annual Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game, which was held to raise money for disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi.

Favre's wife Deanna, who recently underwent five months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for breast cancer, said her husband could play for "a couple of more" years.

Deanna Favre thanked coach Mike Sherman for keeping her husband off the field for mini training camps this spring.

"Just staying away and really focusing on family and working out has really helped," she said. "He's really excited about coming back. He's more excited this year than probably the last two or three."

The three-time NFL MVP quarterback also stepped up the pressure on Pro Bowl receiver Javon Walker, who has skipped both minicamps in spring and summer. Walker is demanding a new contract to replace one that has two years left on it.

Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks also has been a no-show because he has yet to sign a contract after being designated as the team's transition player.

"I hate to see that the game is going this way," Favre said. "I've heard a lot of comments saying, 'Well, Brett has his money and all this stuff.' Never once did I mention holdout."

"I believe, as the leader of this team, in some ways I have to be vocal," he said. "I've always been a quiet guy when it comes to things like that. But, I'm at the latter part of my career, and I want to win."

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9021862

Favre not sure he has time, energy to learn new offense

Nov. 3, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- NFL star Brett Favre says he would be reluctant to return to Green Bay next season if Mike Sherman isn't still coaching the Packers.

The Packers (1-6) are off to their worst start since 1991, which has led to speculation about Sherman's future.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Favre said Sherman's status would play an important role in his annual decision to keep on playing or to call it a career.

"I don't think there's one specific thing that would make me say yeah or no. It's just a culmination of a lot of different things, that being one of them," Favre said. "Maybe you're on the verge of saying yeah, and then you say, 'You know what, do I really want to sit in meetings and have to learn something all over again?'

"That could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

General manager Ted Thompson, who has refused to comment on Sherman's future, was out of his office and didn't immediately return a call from the AP.

Sherman, who signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract extension on Aug. 23 that would take him through 2007, declined comment on Favre's remarks.

Favre, who turned 36 last month, previously has said he wouldn't want to finish his career in another uniform because he's too set in his ways to learn a new offense.

Favre, who was traded to the Packers in 1992 after a year in Atlanta, has spent his entire time in Green Bay, leading it to Super Bowl victory in 1996. He is the league's only three-time MVP.

"I think that I've been maybe the only player that's ever played 14 years in the same offense," he said. "This offense has evolved; it's something a little bit different, but I've been here through the evolution. No one else has. The downside of that is, it would be so hard for me to learn something new in a year. It would just be so difficult. I mean, it could be done. Anything can be done.

"It's no different than my first time in Tokyo, you're driving on the wrong side of the road and it was hell. And I didn't drive; I just rode."

Favre said he won't know about next season until the offseason, but the weekly grind of preparing for games wears on him more with each passing year.

"It could come down to some of the littlest things, what I'm willing to put myself through. I mean, if it was coming down to just games, I don't think nothing could pull me away from the games. I love to play. I love to play," Favre said.

"But you know, I know, it's not baseball, it's not basketball. You only play three hours a week. You spend all this time -- people think at home that I just show up on Sundays and we play. I'm here taking a damn nap here at lunch, spend all day and watch film at night. For three hours. And if it doesn't go your way, it's so disappointing all the time you've put into it."

Favre pondered retirement last winter while his wife, Deanna, was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the latest in a long list of tragedies to strike the Favre family.

When Deanna recovered, she encouraged her husband to keep playing so they could enjoy the twilight of his career after two years of heartache.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Crap, I'm becoming more like Patler ....aka....nitpicking at fine facts

He seems to waver year after year; none of us are too fond of it.

[the_idle_threat]

The bottom line is that Favre has played the "will I stay or will I go" routine for a number of years now, and as a result, he can't blame the team for preparing for the future rather than building around him. I think he has done it to himself.

I like that the team is already a year into a much-needed youth movement, and I think Favre might be surprised that young guys will step up and might even play as well as Randy Moss or some other declining vet would have done.

[the_idle_threat]

Crap, I'm becoming more like Patler ....aka....nitpicking at fine facts

He seems to waver year after year; none of us are too fond of it.

I overstated my point a little bit and you rightly called me out on it. I'm glad you did, because a controversial point like mine needs to be stated very carefully.

I went from memory at first and then found that the sources didn't quite back it up. Happens to us all.

But I think the overall point is still quite valid. Just my opinion, of course.

[MJZiggy]

The bottom line is that Favre has played the "will I stay or will I go" routine for a number of years now, and as a result, he can't blame the team for preparing for the future rather than building around him. I think he has done it to himself.

I like that the team is already a year into a much-needed youth movement, and I think Favre might be surprised that young guys will step up and might even play as well as Randy Moss or some other declining vet would have done.

It doesn't matter. Dude is 37 years old. They have to plan for the future no matter what he says.

[son of a vic]

Most players don't bring up retirement until they are ready to retire. Not when they are just pondering about it.

I think you need to find the "quote" where Favre started all the retirement talk back in 2000-2001. Favre responded to a question during an interview when asked whether or not he has thought about retirement yet. The media took it and ran with it and has been constantly bombarding him with the question since. If the media wouldn't have spun the shit into a soap opera, I doubt anything Favre has done since would have mattered. When he came back in 2005, it was after an embarrassing playoff loss to the Vikings. It wouldn't have mattered what he would have said to the media, it was all about retirement. In 2006, same thing. This year was about the only year that was ever in question because of how he ended his last game. Other then that, the media, not Favre has been keeping the whole thing going.

As far as any respect for 3T in regards to the issue, he doesn't want Favre but can't get rid of him without pissing everyone off. From day one he has done his best to make Favre retire. Favre knows this as does any life form with a pulse. He took Aaron Rodgers not because he wasn't sure on Favre but because he has a "plan" and it doesn't include Favre. Problem is, Favre has screwed up his "plan" so now it's a chess game to see who blinks first.

If 3T believes "we don't talk about those things", then why did 3T feed the media any Favre retirement crap?

If Favre would have just kept playing football, and not ping pong with the retirement chit chat, Rodgers isn't a Packer. And Ted would have drafted accordingly. Why is it so hard for some of you do admit Favre has dug his own grave with his grit eatin' pie hole.

[cpk1994]

Most players don't bring up retirement until they are ready to retire. Not when they are just pondering about it.

I think you need to find the "quote" where Favre started all the retirement talk back in 2000-2001. Favre responded to a question during an interview when asked whether or not he has thought about retirement yet. The media took it and ran with it and has been constantly bombarding him with the question since. If the media wouldn't have spun the shit into a soap opera, I doubt anything Favre has done since would have mattered. When he came back in 2005, it was after an embarrassing playoff loss to the Vikings. It wouldn't have mattered what he would have said to the media, it was all about retirement. In 2006, same thing. This year was about the only year that was ever in question because of how he ended his last game. Other then that, the media, not Favre has been keeping the whole thing going.

As far as any respect for 3T in regards to the issue, he doesn't want Favre but can't get rid of him without pissing everyone off. From day one he has done his best to make Favre retire. Favre knows this as does any life form with a pulse. He took Aaron Rodgers not because he wasn't sure on Favre but because he has a "plan" and it doesn't include Favre. Problem is, Favre has screwed up his "plan" so now it's a chess game to see who blinks first.

If 3T believes "we don't talk about those things", then why did 3T feed the media any Favre retirement crap?

If Favre would have just kept playing football, and not ping pong with the retirement chit chat, Rodgers isn't a Packer. And Ted would have drafted accordingly. Why is it so hard for some of you do admit Favre has dug his own grave with his grit eatin' pie hole.

Its hard to admit for those people because in their eyes, Favre can do no wrong. At the same time, rationalizing it by saying that TT doesn't want Favre(which is a moronic statement in and of itself) it also feeds their hatred of TT. Favre started this whole mess by answering the first retirement question. If he had simply answered, "I am still playing football and when I decide to retire, I will let you know. Thats the last question I will take on that subject.", he would have stopped the media dead in its tracks.

[MJZiggy]

Granted, by then it was too little too late, but that's exactly what he did last year.