Now, if Favre had done this.....

[Scott Campbell]

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk.

So you condone his Purple Heart analogy?

[Noodle]

Bunch of different thoughts going on here, but here goes:

1. I say Manning calling his teammates and asking them to come in is good leadership. In fact, that's what you want your leader to do. I don't blame vets for not wanting to show, but I also understand that's why you have coaches and others to get on you. Manning did it right. He didn't give a press conference telling those guys to come in. He called them. Plus point to Manning.

2. Favre's press hits on Walker were bad form. This has already been done to death, but Favre should have picked up a phone if he had something to say. I don't jump Favre for thinking what he thought, but Favre is very press savy and knew exactly what he was doing. Does anyone honestly think using the press is ever a good way to deal with a teammate (at least if you want that person to remain your teammate)? I don't, and I think Favre showed poor leadership on Walker.

3. Walker is not a bad guy, from what I could tell. He's also not a very smart guy, from what the Wonderlick tells us. He never said anything about a Purple Heart, but he did say: "Anybody can (say), OK, he had a great year, let's see if he can do it again.' That's like trying to tell a person to go to war in Iraq, but let me see if you can go to war again and come back and then we'll give you a Medal of Honor. You can't send a soldier out to a battlefield twice for him to be consistent." Stupid, yes. Evidence of being a jerk, no, not really. His teammates, here and in Denver, have never complained about his -- in fact, just about everything I've read says he's a solid guy with a good work ethic. But the quote was stupid.

[Charles Woodson]

Javon was a jerk, who had his dad do most of his talking for him. At the time, it was time for him to act like an adult, who was getting paid ALOT of money, to simply honor the contract that he signed.

He was a jerk? How?

You've never complained about your paycheck? Never?

You've never wasted even FIVE MINUTES of your company's time surfing the internet or taking a long lunch?

Javon was simply trying to make sure he was fairly compensated for his physical talents...in light of the fact the game of football is violent and an NFL career can end at any time.

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk. He was a very well spoken young man who was a positive role model in the community...not a two bit thug like any guy on the Bengals roster. You may disagree with his position in the contract situation...it hardly makes Javon a jerk.

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

[packinpatland]

Let's just call it a draw.



With Javon being the more guilty.

[Bretsky]

Javon was a jerk, who had his dad do most of his talking for him. At the time, it was time for him to act like an adult, who was getting paid ALOT of money, to simply honor the contract that he signed.

He was a jerk? How?

You've never complained about your paycheck? Never?

You've never wasted even FIVE MINUTES of your company's time surfing the internet or taking a long lunch?

Javon was simply trying to make sure he was fairly compensated for his physical talents...in light of the fact the game of football is violent and an NFL career can end at any time.

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk. He was a very well spoken young man who was a positive role model in the community...not a two bit thug like any guy on the Bengals roster. You may disagree with his position in the contract situation...it hardly makes Javon a jerk.

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

SNAPPER

[Charles Woodson]

Javon was a jerk, who had his dad do most of his talking for him. At the time, it was time for him to act like an adult, who was getting paid ALOT of money, to simply honor the contract that he signed.

He was a jerk? How?

You've never complained about your paycheck? Never?

You've never wasted even FIVE MINUTES of your company's time surfing the internet or taking a long lunch?

Javon was simply trying to make sure he was fairly compensated for his physical talents...in light of the fact the game of football is violent and an NFL career can end at any time.

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk. He was a very well spoken young man who was a positive role model in the community...not a two bit thug like any guy on the Bengals roster. You may disagree with his position in the contract situation...it hardly makes Javon a jerk.

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

SNAPPER

i agree

[The Leaper]

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk.

So you condone his Purple Heart analogy?

It was a stupid comment and analogy. I don't think he is a jerk because of it. If most of us were openly quoted in the media with some of our daily comments, we'd probably look even more dumb.

[The Leaper]

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

There is plenty of blame to go around. I agree with Noodle to an extent on Favre...although I disagree that this was some kind of "conceived" move on Favre's part where he "knew what he was doing". It wasn't like Favre called a press conference and had the notion this was what was going to get Walker back in camp.

Favre, like Walker, isn't exactly the brightest bulb when it comes to saying stuff. He is honest...but often that isn't the best approach in terms of making a public comment.

Thompson should not have IGNORED Walker. Walker painted himself into a corner. I don't think Walker truly was considering sitting out a portion of the season. He had been viewed up to that point as a strong worker and dependable player. He was making a point in the only way a player really can...sitting out in the offseason. Dozens of guys do this every year...you'd think it was something out of a Star Trek episode the way some Packer fans talk about it. I also do not agree about the "contract" thing. This is NOT like a regular business contract. NFL teams can opt out of the deal at any time with no future obligation to finish the terms of the deal, so I fail to see how this is similar to a typical "legal" contract that everyone loves to point to.

Thompson easily could have used the situation to his advantage and tried to get Walker to sign a new deal friendly to both sides. Instead, he chose to draw a line in the sand. A guy as talented as Walker who was not a character issue off the field is someone you should look to keep in town. I don't think Thompson did nearly enough to make this happen.

Walker said some very dumb stuff...but I do not disagree with his general opinion that he was worth more than his current deal and that he was risking a rather hefty sum of coin playing on the undervalued deal. He didn't have any real leverage...which is why the move didn't amount to anything, and why Thompson should have used the move to HIS advantage.

[cpk1994]

but people do feel that if Brett had kept his yap shut, that Javon still may have been a Packer. Brett has a right to an opinion, but he should have made those comments to Javon's face like a man instead of hiding behind the press.

How do you hide behind the press?????????
What 'people'????????

Javon was a jerk, who had his dad do most of his talking for him. At the time, it was time for him to act like an adult, who was getting paid ALOT of money, to simply honor the contract that he signed.

What people? Obviously you haven't read this forum alot and that is just one example. And yes, he did hide behind the media by taking his shots at Javon from there. I mean it takes a real tough guy to take shots at another when you are standing in front of a group of media while the other is miles away. Thats what I am getting at.

[cpk1994]

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

There is plenty of blame to go around. I agree with Noodle to an extent on Favre...although I disagree that this was some kind of "conceived" move on Favre's part where he "knew what he was doing". It wasn't like Favre called a press conference and had the notion this was what was going to get Walker back in camp.

Favre, like Walker, isn't exactly the brightest bulb when it comes to saying stuff. He is honest...but often that isn't the best approach in terms of making a public comment.

Thompson should not have IGNORED Walker. Walker painted himself into a corner. I don't think Walker truly was considering sitting out a portion of the season. He had been viewed up to that point as a strong worker and dependable player. He was making a point in the only way a player really can...sitting out in the offseason. Dozens of guys do this every year...you'd think it was something out of a Star Trek episode the way some Packer fans talk about it. I also do not agree about the "contract" thing. This is NOT like a regular business contract. NFL teams can opt out of the deal at any time with no future obligation to finish the terms of the deal, so I fail to see how this is similar to a typical "legal" contract that everyone loves to point to.

Thompson easily could have used the situation to his advantage and tried to get Walker to sign a new deal friendly to both sides. Instead, he chose to draw a line in the sand. A guy as talented as Walker who was not a character issue off the field is someone you should look to keep in town. I don't think Thompson did nearly enough to make this happen.

Walker said some very dumb stuff...but I do not disagree with his general opinion that he was worth more than his current deal and that he was risking a rather hefty sum of coin playing on the undervalued deal. He didn't have any real leverage...which is why the move didn't amount to anything, and why Thompson should have used the move to HIS advantage.

But you are ignoring the fact that Javon had a major knee injury. At that point, no person in their right mind would pay Javon a hefty fee when they already had him under contract. I don't fault Thompson for this. You just don't give someone a hefty raise with 2 or more years left on it and you sure as hell don't give someone a huge raise afater they blow out their knee if you still have them under contract.

[Scott Campbell]

I hardly see how anyone can view Javon as a jerk.

So you condone his Purple Heart analogy?

It was a stupid comment and analogy. I don't think he is a jerk because of it. If most of us were openly quoted in the media with some of our daily comments, we'd probably look even more dumb.

I don't remember any kind of retraction or apology. I think a non-jerk would have apologized for the comment.

[packinpatland]

but people do feel that if Brett had kept his yap shut, that Javon still may have been a Packer. Brett has a right to an opinion, but he should have made those comments to Javon's face like a man instead of hiding behind the press.

How do you hide behind the press?????????
What 'people'????????

Javon was a jerk, who had his dad do most of his talking for him. At the time, it was time for him to act like an adult, who was getting paid ALOT of money, to simply honor the contract that he signed.

What people? Obviously you haven't read this forum alot and that is just one example. And yes, he did hide behind the media by taking his shots at Javon from there. I mean it takes a real tough guy to take shots at another when you are standing in front of a group of media while the other is miles away. Thats what I am getting at.

When you used the word 'people', I thought you meant people that matter in the scheme of things. We at PR have our opinions, all worthy ones, but I don't think the Packer organization really takes these into consideration.

And for the record, I do read this forum alot, and altho, may not be 'football' savy as some, I hardly feel your comment, What people? Obviously you haven't read this forum alot and that is just one example, is justified. Or very nice for that matter.

[Bretsky]

So who gets the blame. Someone has to be the bad guy, do you blame favre for ""calling him out"" as people say, TT for not giving him a better deal or at least promising him something, or Walker?

There is plenty of blame to go around. I agree with Noodle to an extent on Favre...although I disagree that this was some kind of "conceived" move on Favre's part where he "knew what he was doing". It wasn't like Favre called a press conference and had the notion this was what was going to get Walker back in camp.

Favre, like Walker, isn't exactly the brightest bulb when it comes to saying stuff. He is honest...but often that isn't the best approach in terms of making a public comment.

Thompson should not have IGNORED Walker. Walker painted himself into a corner. I don't think Walker truly was considering sitting out a portion of the season. He had been viewed up to that point as a strong worker and dependable player. He was making a point in the only way a player really can...sitting out in the offseason. Dozens of guys do this every year...you'd think it was something out of a Star Trek episode the way some Packer fans talk about it. I also do not agree about the "contract" thing. This is NOT like a regular business contract. NFL teams can opt out of the deal at any time with no future obligation to finish the terms of the deal, so I fail to see how this is similar to a typical "legal" contract that everyone loves to point to.

Thompson easily could have used the situation to his advantage and tried to get Walker to sign a new deal friendly to both sides. Instead, he chose to draw a line in the sand. A guy as talented as Walker who was not a character issue off the field is someone you should look to keep in town. I don't think Thompson did nearly enough to make this happen.

Walker said some very dumb stuff...but I do not disagree with his general opinion that he was worth more than his current deal and that he was risking a rather hefty sum of coin playing on the undervalued deal. He didn't have any real leverage...which is why the move didn't amount to anything, and why Thompson should have used the move to HIS advantage.

But you are ignoring the fact that Javon had a major knee injury. At that point, no person in their right mind would pay Javon a hefty fee when they already had him under contract. I don't fault Thompson for this. You just don't give someone a hefty raise with 2 or more years left on it and you sure as hell don't give someone a huge raise afater they blow out their knee if you still have them under contract.

More communication and some ego massaging; that is what TT could have done to make this situation better. Face to Face if need be.

[The Leaper]

But you are ignoring the fact that Javon had a major knee injury. At that point, no person in their right mind would pay Javon a hefty fee when they already had him under contract. I don't fault Thompson for this. You just don't give someone a hefty raise with 2 or more years left on it and you sure as hell don't give someone a huge raise afater they blow out their knee if you still have them under contract.

You are completely incorrect.

Walker did not have a major knee injury when he held out at first with 2 years still remaining on his contract. He was holding out PRECISELY because of the chance of injury, which could potentially hinder his chances at being able to cash in on the elite talent he showed over a 24 game period in 2003 and 2004.

Thompson chose to ignore him...which pissed Walker off and guaranteed that he would not remain in town once he did get injured.

[Chester Marcol]

There is plenty of blame to go around. I agree with Noodle to an extent on Favre...although I disagree that this was some kind of "conceived" move on Favre's part where he "knew what he was doing". It wasn't like Favre called a press conference and had the notion this was what was going to get Walker back in camp.

Favre, like Walker, isn't exactly the brightest bulb when it comes to saying stuff. He is honest...but often that isn't the best approach in terms of making a public comment.

Exactly. I think the media knows enough to show up any time there is a Brett Favre event because they know he's an emotional speaker and they know they can bait him into saying what he does. I don't think Favre would ever, or has ever shown this, GO to the media. The media has always found him. As far as smarts, I don't think Favre would be the first man to let emotion get the better of judgement.

I think especially now that Favre is in the final leg of his career, it's equal doses of desperation for one last shot and his wearing his emotions on his sleeve. You have to take the flees with the dog. We praise him for being a fiery competitor than bash him for being passionate about wanting to win.