No easy way out for Favre, Packers

by ETVal on Jul 13, 2008 7:00 AM EDT in News

I haven't said anything to this point about the Brett Favre situation. But, it's a Sunday and there isn't much else going on, so I'll throw it out there for discussion.

Favre has, of course, reneged on his retirement and asked for his release from the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers, who must feel like marionettes at the end of Favre's puppeteer string, are at this point telling him they won't grant that wish. The Packers, basically, are implying that Favre can return to the team -- as Aaron Rodgers' backup -- if he insists on un-retiring.

Here's GM Ted Thompson.

“We’ve communicated that to Brett, that we have since moved forward. At the same time, we’ve never said that there couldn’t be some role that he might play here. But I would understand his point that he would want to play.”

What a nightmare for Green Bay! There is no scenario I can see under which everyone comes out of this clean.

If they don't release him, Favre has two choices.

Stay retired, in which case everyone will know he is doing so unhappily and his shadow will hang over the entire organization all season.
Return as Rodgers' backup, and cause an immediate controversy as Packer fans wait to see how long the team will hold before Favre is back in the saddle.

If the Packers do release him, that would be a disaster of its own. The legandary Favre wanting to play, and the legendary Packers telling him to go do it elsewhere.

What would happen if he gets released, then shows up playing for the division rival Bears or Vikings -- two teams who should break speed records knocking down Favre's door if he is a free agent?

Either way, this is ugly for the Packers.

But, it sure is fun to sit back and watch it all play out.

Your thoughts?

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

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I wouldn't call it fun

24/7 Favre coverage on ESPN is getting very old. Anyway, telling Favre that he can be a backup is essentially telling him to stay retired because he’ll never take that role. This is a nightmare for the Pack, but I say force his hand into retirement. Things will be much worse if he’s playing for the Bears, so take the PR hit now and continue to move on without him.

by potroast on Jul 13, 2008 7:28 AM EDT 0 recs

Moving on

The Packers do have the right to do that. Favre has been holding them hostage w/this retirement game for years. They want to move on, and I say good for them.

by ETVal on Jul 13, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

Ted Thompson and the Packers providing a smokescreen to the rest of the NFL?

There is no question that GM Ted Thompson of the Packers is trying to put up a smokescreen to deceive the rest of the GMs in the NFL. However, his lack of savvy is quite obvious. The Packers do not have enough money to sign Brett Favre under their cap. And every GM in the NFL knows that. The Packers have no choice but to trade him to another team and salvage some kind of draft choice (a 2nd or 3rd rounder +) from another team who has salary cap room.
They have no other choice should Brett be serious about playing this year (which he apparently is). So its goodbye to Brett’s alliance with the Packers. He will probably sign with the Redskins who do have cap space; Daniel Snyder would throw his mother overboard to sign Brett Favre for his team.

by royhobbs7 on Jul 13, 2008 8:48 AM EDT 0 recs

I used to like Favre a lot

but this whole charade of “will he, won’t he” over the past 3 years has really diminished my view of him. Now that he officially retired (and cried about it) and wants to come back just a few months later, I officially dislike Brett Favre. I almost hope it turns out he’s been using steroids like his “I want to retire oh wait no I don’t” partner in crime, Roger Clemens, just to spite him for jerking the Packers and poor Aaron Rodgers around all this time (well, Rodgers isn’t poor, but you get my drift.)

by cjmulrain on Jul 13, 2008 6:54 PM EDT 0 recs

look...

a man has the right to change his mind, and the packers are being assholes by not letting him start AND refusing to release him. in my head, the decision’s clear-cut, favre helps the packers win NOW, aaron rodgers is a prospect who may or may not be able to bring the packers to the postseason and to a championship. i would trade aaron rodgers to a team that need a good QB right now, maybe as another backup in SF, starter in Tampa or Miami, even the Jets! any team would trade a second-round pick to pick up aaron rodgers, and if favre has another year or two in him i think its stupid not to let him back. yeah, in theory, to give aaron rodgers the illusion of being the starter than pulling it away sucks, but favre has sacrificed everything for green bay (the oakland game after his dad died….) and deserves to start. telling him to be a backup to aaron rodgers is not only insulting, its a ticking time bomb to when the locker room splits on the issue and aaron rodgers cant handle the pressure. the packers have to make a bold definitive move here and the move should be to let favre start and trade rodgers.

by mahmoodzaky on Jul 13, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

farve has a right to change his mind

but he also should be man enough to live with his original decision and its ramifications. sounds to me like he’s being a big spoiled asshole and i hope GB continues to refuse to release him and he just stays pissed off and retired. screw farve, im sick of him and his crap. start rodgers and tell favre to pound sand.

by kendynamo on Jul 14, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

here's the thing

Imagine if Tiki did this last year? He went through his whole mid-season drama, retired, and then decided he wanted to return after all. I don’t think there’s anyone who would have argued that the Giants would have been a better team with Tiki on the field going into last season, but it all worked out for the best in the end. How do we actually know that Aaron Rodgers won’t be better than Favre would be this upcoming season? For the 2 years prior to last year, Favre actually wasn’t that good, throwing a few more interceptions than TD’s over that period. What if he reverts to that form this year? Was Roger Clemens worth it for the Yankees last year? Eventually age catches up to everyone, and there’s no way to know how good Aaron Rodgers could be if he’s sitting on their bench.

by cjmulrain on Jul 14, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

“I don’t think there’s anyone who would have argued that the Giants WOULD have been a better team with Tiki on the field going into last season, but it all worked out for the best in the end.”

Sorry, that should have been WOULDN’T

by cjmulrain on Jul 14, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually, cj, I thought they'd be better.

My reasoning was erreoneous. I thought Jacobs alone and the lack of Tiki’s negative presence in the locker room would prove to be better than Tiki as the wheelhorse. As it turned out the combo of RBs and, I strongly believe, the lack of Tiki’s negative presence in the locker room proved to make the end result of my thinking correct. Unlike a lot of BBVers (probaly most), I didn’t sweat the loss of Tiki for even a split second. Call it luck, or whatever

by george cronin on Jul 14, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's too late for that, I think,

but, yeah they should trade him. I don’t want to see him in Washington. His skills have declined, but he’s still Bret Favre

by george cronin on Jul 14, 2008 6:27 AM EDT 0 recs

on Favre's return

Is there any way we can talk Strahan out of retirement so he can sack Favre’s gray-haired ass? Ahhh, poetic justice.

by giantbeliever on Jul 14, 2008 11:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Favre/Thompson/Molitor/Bando

Ted Thompson is such an amateur. He and Sal Bando should spend some quality time together. Bando was the one one sent Milwaukee Brewer legend Paul Molitor away prematurely. Molitor went on to Toronto where he helped win a World Series. Also, Molitor became the first 40-year-old to have a 200-hit season (225). A rare feat in baseball. Sal Bando was the one that sent Molitor away saying he was washed up. Hhhhmmmmm…..

Ted Thompson needs to eat some humble pie and take Brett Favre back as a starter. Brett Favre is singlehandedly the reason for the Packers fconsistent success over the past 17 years. Thompson needs to go. Last time I checked, the Packers were a publicly owned organization. It is time stock holders stand up to this putz….asshole. TED, GO ASK SAL BANDO FOR HIS OPINION ON WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THOMPSON NEEDS TO GO!!!!! GOODBYE TED!!!! WELCOME BACK THREE TIME MVP, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION BRETT FAVRE!!!!! LONG LIVE FAVRE!!!!

by BARADIC STATIC on Jul 21, 2008 11:20 PM EDT 0 recs