I hope my column on Friday explaining some of the issues behind the divorce between the Packers and Brett Favre gave insight to readers. After reading the comments, I’m reminded of the intelligence, knowledge and passion of our readers. Through his desire to return to play -- which should have been no surprise to anyone, especially the Packers -- Brett put the team in a difficult position that was exacerbated by his popularity and previous treatment in Green Bay. The Packers handled it in a way that was best for them, leading to a messy divorce. The latest chapter of the story ensued Sunday, with Brett doing an admirable job of maintaining control of his emotions and his game in leading the Vikings to a win.
APBrett Favre led the Vikings to a win in his return to Lambeau Field.
During the Fox telecast, Troy Aikman said with some certainty that perhaps Brett never really wanted to play for the Packers again after his brief retirement last year. That meshes with some of the issues discussed here Friday, knowing the parties involved. Hearing it from Troy gives it added credence. I will explain.
Brett and the TV guys
There’s a reason so many of the national television broadcasters speak in reverential terms about Favre beyond his accomplishments on the field. They’ve come to know him so well from the generous amounts of time they have with him, for reasons that may not appear so obvious.
In my time with the Packers, when we arrived in a city as the visiting team on the afternoon before the game, our public relations staff would immediately meet the crew working the game for Fox, CBS, ESPN, ABC or NBC. Their producers typically gave our staff their list of three or four players they wanted to interview in preparation for the broadcast. The other names on the list would change week to week, but it always included Brett, no matter what our record, where our game was, etc. And Brett was usually the last one to be interviewed by the broadcast team.
While most of the requested players went for their 10-15-minute interviews and were off to do other things, Brett would stay and talk to the analysts sometimes for an hour, or two or three or four, even to the point where the broadcasters would kick him out so they could go get some dinner.
There were a couple of reasons Brett hung around so long. First and foremost, Brett had nowhere to go but back to his hotel room. It’s not like he could walk around the streets of a city and grab dinner somewhere. It’s not like he could hang out in the lobby and chat up memorabilia-toting fans. And after his longtime roommate, Frank Winters, retired, Brett just stayed in a single room (under an alias, of course, and there were some good ones).
The other reason Brett hung out in the broadcast meetings so long is that he just loved talking football with those guys. He especially reveled in sitting back and telling stories with people like John Madden, Matt Millen, Phil Simms and Troy Aikman. Some of the meetings with Madden are legendary for their candor and bawdy humor.
APFavre enjoys a great relationship with the network analysts.
I remember seeing Brett walk out of a meeting three hours after he went in, and he was laughing to himself. I asked what it was about and he said he was just laughing with Madden and telling him about his Uncle Rube (I’ll spare you the details). Sure enough, in the latter stages of the broadcast the next night, there’s Madden talking about how Brett gets some of his toughness from his Uncle Rube.
So if Aikman said something enlightening about Favre, which he did, it came from Favre on Saturday night in the Vikings hotel, with Brett ensconced in a production meeting as always, talking football with the broadcast team.
Didn’t want to be a Packer
Aikman’s comment jibes with the feelings about the discussions with the Vikings that riled Packers management so much. As detailed here Friday, Brett never warmed to the management style of GM Ted Thompson. Beyond the stilted communication, Brett felt he received lip service from Ted about the team making runs at veteran players but didn’t actually pursue them, as that was certainly not his preferred style for building a team.
Brett had no business making personnel decisions for the team but felt his suggestions had merit. He would bend my ear for hours about getting Randy Moss or other veteran players who became available. Whenever Brett would make these comments, I would tell him to trust the young guys we had such as Greg Jennings. Brett replied that he didn’t have time to wait; I would tell him he didn’t have to wait.
After so many tirades about how we weren’t going after this guy or that guy in free agency or trade, I would say to Brett, “What part of Ted Thompson’s philosophy do you not understand?” He would just shrug and walk away.
Brett wanted a ready-made veteran team for the longest time. That’s what the Jets sold him last year, and that’s what the Vikings were selling this (and last?) year. Now he’s where he has wanted to be for 16 months and, at the moment, thriving.
Follow me on Twitter: adbrandt
Andrew - this article sounds a whole lot like a writer with a secret that he can't divulge but someone else let's the cat out of the bag.... Bradshaw was another media member whose known to have many of these lengthy "meetings" with Favre and he also commented last night that perhaps Brett didn't really want to play for the Packers anymore.
Andrew,
I enjoy your insight and I thought Aikman's comments about Favre's desire to play elsewhere were not surprising. The angst that the fans had was that Favre never came out and said it. I don't think anyone would have begrudged Favre for wanting to leave after 2005 or 2006, when it appeared there would be some rebuilding in Green Bay. After 2007 why would he have wanted to leave? Good team and a great offense with lots of young stars on the rise? Had Favre not retired at that time maybe Ted would have signed some veterans for a superbowl push. Once Favre announced his retirement it changed their plans. I've been a Packer fan all my life and a Favre fan since he came to Green Bay. I agreed with the decision to "move on" with Rodgers--he's got a good future in front of him. My frustration is that no one was willing to say the truth. If Favre wanted out, he should have said so. People might not have liked it, but this "divorce" has tarnished both Favre and the Packers, and given the respect he has amongst the Packer fans, I think we would have respected him more had he just said he wanted to go elsewhere. I wish him well, but will root for the Packers.
That's part of what makes Favre so special. Competitive fire coupled with abundant candor.
Aikman's comment cleared up a lot of concerns I had regarding no. 4 and the Packer Brass. This makes TOTAL sense. No. 4 wanted to run the team and he somehow started to believe that he was the Packers! If he felt he was that good on his own, he should have won us more than 1 SB in 17 years!!!
The fact of the matter is that no. 4 lost more "important" games for us than he won. Like it or not, he will do the same with the Queens this year. Even if they get to the NFC Championship game, he will find a way to throw game ending picks. This IS his legacy. Yes the media loves him to no end and whatever no. 4 says, his media disciples are there drooling all over themselves yearning for his next word.
Notwithstanding the outcome of this season, the Packer Brass made the correct decision to part ways with the waffle. No other organization would have tolerated this for this long. Holding a team hostage because the QB thinks that he's above the team goes to the true character of the player.
One needs to live in reality and no. 4 owes the Packers and its fans everything he has at the moment. Without the Packers, no. 4 would be nothing and one day he'll realize this. Unfortunately, it will be to late to recover from his tarnished legacy.
No. 4's jersey should not be retired. Plain and simple. Let the Queens or the Jets do it. No. 4 made his choice (and yes the Packers gave him ample opportunity to change his mind), sadly he decided he was more important than everybody else.
I predict that this man will have a lot of problems when he finally "decides" to retire. No more attention, no more media attention..... you just wait and see!
Aikman's comment cleared up a lot of concerns I had regarding no. 4 and the Packer Brass. This makes TOTAL sense. No. 4 wanted to run the team and he somehow started to believe that he was the Packers! If he felt he was that good on his own, he should have won us more than 1 SB in 17 years!!!
The fact of the matter is that no. 4 lost more "important" games for us than he won. Like it or not, he will do the same with the Queens this year. Even if they get to the NFC Championship game, he will find a way to throw game ending picks. This IS his legacy. Yes the media loves him to no end and whatever no. 4 says, his media disciples are there drooling all over themselves yearning for his next word.
Notwithstanding the outcome of this season, the Packer Brass made the correct decision to part ways with the waffle. No other organization would have tolerated this for this long. Holding a team hostage because the QB thinks that he's above the team goes to the true character of the player.
One needs to live in reality and no. 4 owes the Packers and its fans everything he has at the moment. Without the Packers, no. 4 would be nothing and one day he'll realize this. Unfortunately, it will be to late to recover from his tarnished legacy.
No. 4's jersey should not be retired. Plain and simple. Let the Queens or the Jets do it. No. 4 made his choice (and yes the Packers gave him ample opportunity to change his mind), sadly he decided he was more important than everybody else.
I predict that this man will have a lot of problems when he finally "decides" to retire. No more attention, no more media attention..... you just wait and see!
Great info, Andrew.
There is no doubt in my mind that Brett is playing a more disciplined game this year, in part, because of the huge chip he has on his shoulder against G.B. If he were still with the Packers, I can't envision him sticking to the game plan and being conservative like he is with the Vikings this year. No way.
I wonder what role, if any, team president John Jones played in the Randy Moss pursuit. John Jones was brought in to replace Harlan as Team President and then he was whisked briskly and quietly away from the team, citing health issues. But there were other rumblings at the time, and some say he left for reasons beyond just his health. All of this took place at the same time as the Moss talks
I always wondered of he or Ex Com officials had a hand in saying "No" to Moss, while Thompson took the heat in public.
Brand'ts background as a lawyer, negotiator, agent, consultant and advisor on both sides of the table gives us fans an interesting view into what went on behind closed doors
Thanks NFP for a great site and unique perspective
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
All this crying by Packer fans! Favre saved a lost franchise,Reggie White would never have come to Green Bay if Favre hadn't been there. Green Bay lead the NFL in wins the 16 yrs Favre was their QB! Sour grapes by ignorant fans. TT wanted to have his own players and has shown he has no eye for talent. TTs stipulations on the trade to the Jets showed how small of a person he is,now his worst niremare has come true. I will play the tape of yesterdays game as long as I live with great enjoyment!
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
I wonder when the Packer faithful will realize what a tremendous mistake Ted Thompson and Mike Macarthy made in 2007, when they started their campayne, to drive Breet Favre away from the Packers. Everyone realizes how management can put pressure on a person to leave.How do you stay, when you know they want to get rid of you ? Ted had to get his draft choice on the field, before his initial contract ran out, and as long as Brett was still there, Aaron Rodgers is a fine quarterback, and I'm sure he will develope in the future, but you don't drive a Hall of Fame player away from your team, just to satisfy the GM's ego.
This article is a lttle curious. Brandt's previous article indicates that he worked closely with Ted Thompson. Although he glosses over it, he clearly indicates that Mr. Thompson is personally a little weird. Brandt then implies that he and Farve were close, but his tone is quite dismissive "What part of Ted Thompson's philosophy don't you understand?" Its safe to say that Brandt is a management type guy. Brandt's revelation that Farve liked to "hang out" with the broadcasters later in his career is not so surprising. For one thing all of those guys were "grown ups" like Farve rather than his mostly 20 something teammates. Many of them were also ex players or coaches who had experienced the game at a very high level, so they and Farve could easily relate to each other. Brandt, however, does not claim to have been included in any of the discussions he alludes to and its unlikely that he has any special insight to whatever Farve may have said that led to Aikman's comment. Perhaps Farve disparaged the present coaching staff. Perhaps Farve expressed the view, widley held in the NFL, that zone blocking is just short of cheating. Perhaps Farve's observation was that Aaron Rodgers looked pretty poor in his first few seasons and preseasons and to be pushing him up as competition based on"OTAs" was pretty insulting. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy took their jobs, confident, despite their fairly light resumes, that they could extend the successful operation of the Green Bay Packers into the indefinite future. At this point that success is highly dubious. Maybe, that's why Troy Aikman believes that Farve felt it was time to leave.
no adult male should be using the word "Diva"
with the philosophy of this GM to go cheap on the o-line and the bumbling of the below average position coach parading as the Packers Head Coach, what QB in their right mind will want to stay with the Packers? I'm willing to bet Rodgers regrets extending his contract.
We were never going to win another championship with Brett Favre as our quarterback. Having said that there is no excuse for the poor coaching of the Packers. There are no half-time adjustments and there is no team discipline, i.e. penalties. Dom Capers and his 3-4 is a joke that any good QB tears apart. He is a has-been. Bring in Bill Cowher and let him give tis team some identity. We are a cold weather team that cannot run the ball. We can't win if we cannot run the ball. That's why we get upset at Lambeau in every big game lately. We can't make third and ones and fourth and ones.
It is horribly obviously that the reason Brett did not want to come back to GB (as you state) is not because he wanted to run/manage the team, it is because he was there for 16 years and knew what the team.he needed/lacked in order to compete and get better.
What is the point of staying there, in a 38 year old body, if you don't have anyone protecting you? Frankly, it is just common sense and makes perfect sense as you watch poor Aaron getting sacked around like a ragdoll. He is 24 but he won't be for very long. Brett would not have lasted and everyone should know that.
Brett knew this. And frankly, so should you. The Vikings beat the Packers last night and in October. Brett did not beat Aaron.
This is the truth. No need to speak with Aikman or Bradshaw to verify.
Andrew, thank you for your candor. Can surely make some educated guesses, now, about how things played out. Wow. Well, save the details for a book in a couple. cheers
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
Troy's speculation is interesting, but its too bad some morons now want to make it out like "brett wanted to run the show."
That is a lie and only a twisted mind can construe aikman's remarks this way.
Probably the best (and simplest) answer is this - BRETT IS NOT A TT BALL-LICKER!
Andrew,
Thanks for the great post. Can you please elaborate on the discrepancy in the amount of time Brett spent with the national media vs the local media. It seemed like the local papers never received an interview from him.
It's an interesting point, because you start to wonder whether the Packers got into a rut where they were satisfied with being "oh so close" to a Superbowl contender year after year. When you have a star QB who will keep you in games until the bitter end, what is the motivation to actually improve your team, or actualize a good plan to suceed. I often thought the Broncos developed a similar dependence on Elway. For the first 12 years of his career, the "plan" was to keep the game close and let Elway try to win in the 4th Quarter. Only that isn't a realistic plan. Maybe Brett had the feeling that the same thing was happening in Title Town.
The last two years certainly have been a character-revealing episode. I think some of what frustrates Packers fans is that Favre seems to want to have it both ways. He wants the front office to put together a SuperBowl-caliber team for him, but he doesn't want to have to show up to OTAs or training camp to put in the work needed to get a team to the Superbowl. He wants high-talent players around him, but only if they are his certain hand-picked guys.
(He won't accept the notion that younger or less-than marquee name players are worthy of playing with him. Even though he was once one himself.) He wants the adoration of Green Bay fans, but he doesn't actually want to play for their team any more. He wants out but he won't admit it. He wants the glory, but not the blame. He wants to present the image of being the best teammate, but doesn't even see fit to dress in the same room or park in the same parking log with his teammates.
The Packers made the right call on Favre given the situation both parties created through poor communication and ego - infused decisions.
Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre, but you know what? He's a hell of a lot better in his second year as a starter compared to where Favre was at the same point. If you look at Jay Cutler in Chicago, that's close to where Favre was in his second and third seasons starting for the Packers.
All that said about Favre, TT has failed to build a team anywhere close to where Minnesota has, both in terms of depth and skill guys. It's not even close.
Green Bay is a very attractive destination for potential coaches - you've got a solid young QB, talented receivers, and some solid defensive starters, including some all-pro type players. You need a better offensive line, and better running backs, and it's a better team.
If the Packers don't make the playoffs, it will be interesting to see what happens. I don't believe Thompson has the full support of the executive committee, and another disappointing year with so many proven coaches available could prove to be the end for either TT, MM, or both.
People can say all they want about Brett saving the Packers but the Packers also made Brett- Mike Holmgren made Brett- he was patient with him, nurtured him, saw him through alot of growing pains-- It was very much a two way street. And would Reggie have come without Brett being there- one can only guess and will never know for sure. Sounds like Brett did not want to come back with the Packers after the 2007 season and was it cause he did not feel wanted or was it cause they would not bow to his demands of what players should be here and who should be coach. I would also think management got tired of the will he retire or will he not for so many years- I sure did!
True, Moss departed, but the Vikings went on a course of adding top dollar players.
The Jared Allen trade is getting them DEF MVP material.
The anchors of their defensive interior are well paid to give them the top rushing D.
Some key additions at corner and wideout to give the team speed and depth.
Drafting Petersen and Harvin, each as the most explosive offensive skill players of their respective class.
The thing that really helped signal this entire trend? The trendbreaker signing of Steve Hutchinson, an offensive lineman who plays with all out intensity and he loves playing the game. He's the offensive line equivalent of Jared Allen, someone who does his job as good as anyone, he is a presence on game day. It reset the compensation for the entire market, it was Wylf's signal shot across the bow. Compare that OL addition to Green Bay's slow decomposition at the same key roster spots.
The Seahawks OL without Hutch is a shadow of its former self. The Chiefs D without Allen lost its fire(not that its present D linemen are bad, it's just that Allen is so exceptional).
The stratagem factor with Harvin is unmmatched at this time. He can line up in wildcat, he can be a halfback, he can be a wideout, he can give you wideout speed from the backfield against a linebacker or be an extra runner against nickle(or even against base) fronts. Harvin's special teams impact puts them to the plus side almost every week now. Teams can't even keep up with Harvin in trying to plan everything against Petersen and Favre.
Credit the Vikes on these plans, I thought they were too ambitious, but that is what drives players like Favre. It's why he is a Viking.
Favre has a lot of weapons at his disposal now, and Chilly is beginning to assert control of specialty plays and situations. They have a defense that is an equallizer and their veteran passer is playing in fine form. The special teams impact plays give them an edge in each phase of the game, this isn't counting the defense in weather games on the road or their signature dome field dominance.
I just recently found this website thanks to a link in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and I thank you for your insights. No matter how much one BS's with the TV and other media people, no matter the "aw shucks" image one portrays to the world, it's always all about him. Sure the split could have been handled better. I am disappointed that the GM has not used his excellent cap management (I commend you Mr. Brandt if you played a role in that) to help the team. Knowing that Thompson's philosophy has almost always been to build through the draft and from within, one can still fault the general manager for not getting a higher quality offensive line or a key free agent pick or two to solidify the team, but one player isn't above the team. Think of Sean Jones, Eugene Robinson and even Andre Rison that Super Bowl year. All the rear end kissing of Favre that has been done over the last third of his career by the Packers (until just after his first retirement in 2008) and by the media who fawns all over him have obliterated the fact that despite his records, his MVPs and his individual greatness, he brought the team to one Super Bowl victory (with Reggie White and LeRoy Butler leading the no. 1 defense in the league) and made many critical errors in huge games, including the playoff game in Philly, the first ever playoff losses at Lambeau (Atlanta and then Minnesota), the ugly playoff debacle in St. Louis, and the gift interception for which he never acknowledged responsibilty in the 2008 NFC Championship game against the Giants. Bart Starr never would have tried to blame the receiver for an interception. Then again, Bart Starr didn't throw key interceptions. I am also disappointed in Mr. Brandt's lack of candor in that he implies he clearly knows more details about what happened between Favre and the administration of the team but doesn't want to say it. I didn't realize that Favre was so insecure that he needed to be called all the time to be asked how he was doing in the off season. What happened to "I just want to go to Mississippi and cut the grass". There is just so much hypocracy one can take in Favre's waffling. I commend Thompson for at least not saying anything publicly. Anything he would say would be a lose lose for him as Thompson isn't one to constantly ingratiate himself to the media the way say a Jerry Angelo of the Bears does. I have a Favre autographed football, and a home, away and throwback jersey, but in the end it just saddens me to have them. Brett Favre cares about Brett Favre. But he is not larger than the team, and the team will be around much longer than he will be.
Great article and a different perspective that I never really considered. The two games are over and hopefully so is this story at least as far as the Packers are concerned. As for Brett, yeah he has to be loving it but he does seem a little more subdued in his manner and his comments. He seemed to have the exact understanding of why he was boo'd by the fans yesterday. This is in stark contrast to his comment when he came to the Vikings in the summer of "True Packer fans will understand". I guess meeting it face to face will do that. Also he can afford to be humble as he was the victor.
As for the Packers, The Vikings provide a mirror of their deficiencies: O-line, special teams, running game. Also while the Packer rush did better in the second half at pressure, they were still not getting to Brett. They still can't stop Petersen when they really need to late in the game.
No excuses for the Packers, they get Tampa who they should beat, but then its Dallas who will test the Packers in the same way that the Vikings did.
The Packers and the Bears seem pretty equal and that is not good news for either of them. The VIkings could have this division sewed up before they play the Bears
Well, cry me a river... Favre got tired of playing with the rookies and NFL-Europe level talent TT kept bringing in.
How long will it take for the rest of Packer Nation to feel the same way? (Hint: after yesterday's embarassment, I would say 'sooner rather than later'.)
"Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now."
Yeah, imagine if the Packers could have only held on to Andrew Brandt and kept him away from the untold riches and success he is having at some obscure website. There's a reason guys like Brandt and Jeremy Green are now providing 'insider' commentary. Whatever floats your boat.
But as far as this Mactator poster...juuust a bit disingenuous maybe? The rest of the fans in this league put up with the incessant praise for this long, and all of a sudden he's the problem? I understand watching your all-time hero smoke your team at home probably messed with your mind, but let's try being honest with ourselves here. He owes the Packers for everything? That's probably the most asinine comment I've heard about this situation. Anyone with a pulse knows this went both ways, and acting like he's a cancer after all this time you spent worshipping...yes, you worshipped him, you know it...it's not healthy for you.
Yeah, Favre wanted Moss and other veterans. You're surprised? He wanted to win, not sit around and wait to see which Ted Thompson projects panned out. He saw the O line that TT was building and he made a beeline for a better team. MUCH better. Accept it for what it is. Most of all, get some perspective. To spend 16 years thinking he loved you as much as you loved him....now that was the real problem.
And Queens? What is it with you 5th graders? Do you see people running around saying FudgePackers all the time?
Wow! Cant believe the comments from spoiled Packer fans. This guy played QB for you for 16 years while my Vikings went through I cannot even remember how many. Then, when he does not want to go to all of the offseason "voluntary"' OTA crap, people are complaining.
I did not hear any of his teammates complaining because if they did then all they would have to do is play as long as he did, for as well as he did, and then they can have the same privileges. Please.
After being fortunate enough to have this guy for 16 years you deserves some of his waffling. The fact of the matter is Thompson did not want to get him some talent.
I would have to believe that Favre knows a little about football and he was right in getting Moss. What a mistake by Thompson. New England is thanking him right now because Moss was going to play for GB as I am sure he wanted to come back and make my dumb arse Vikings pay for trading him to purgatory.
Also before you less knowledgeable Packer fans open up your pie holes about Thompson building a team, let me lay something out for you now that the Vikings have thoroughly beat you twice now.
Why did Thompson draft Raji and trade up for Matthews when your offensive line was screaming for attention?
Imagine if you will if he would have spent your picks this past draft like this ...
1st round pick 9 - Michael Oher OT
2nd round pick 9 - Phil Loadholt or Max Unger OT
3rd round pick 9 - Glen Coffee RB
3rd round pick 19 - Rashad Johnson S
4th round pick 9 - Sammie Lee Hill DT
5th round pick 9 - Nate Davis QB
How hard is it to be a GM when you cannot even see the huge holes on your line. When you are starting guys like Josh Sitton and Allen Barbre and TJ Lang well then you see the results. All these guys are from smaller conference schools. He could have added not one but two big conference stud offensive linemen.
What a bonehead.
I think that Rodgers is one of the top 5 QBs in the league right now and the way this season is going he will not make it. He is getting killed. Imagine if he had some time to throw?
All Farve wanted was for them to get some talent around him for another few years. Once they brought in Rodgers well the writing was on the wall.
And for those that want to blame all of the playoff losses on Favre, I do not remember him playing defense for the Packers and giving up a 4th & 25 to the Eagles. Even when he threw the pick he was not playing defense that game. If you want to put it all on him then go ahead but then you are saying that your defense gets a pass. You say he did not build GB and it is not all about him but you want to put the playoff losses all on him.
Some Packer fans are unbelievable!
I had suspected for a while that Favre may have been angling to get out of GB, and I don't think that Aikman would have made the comment and risked being ostracized by the Favre camp (see, e.g., the entire Wisconsin media) unless (a) there was something to it AND (b) Favre either knew or should have known that Aikman would use it on the air. The only piece that seems to be needed to complete the puzzle, though, is whether Favre asked for a trade or his release before he retired the first time. If his enmity for Thompson and his disrespect for McCarthy were that strong, you'd have to think there was a conversation along those lines - most likely with Bus Cook.
Get real, while this is obviously a nightmare the Packers and their websites would love to blame on Favre, we clearly remember them telling everyone "The Train has already left the station" when they refused to even let Favre compete for his job and locked him out of their locker room on "family night". While I'm sure the brainwashed Packer masses will slurp up this revisionist propoganda, the facts clearly tell a different tale.
Another great article, Andrew.
Life-long Packer fan here, since 1965! I like Favre, too. Don't really like that he's playing for the Vikings, but such is life.
When you put yourself in Favre's shoes, can you really blame him for playing with the Vikings? Under Holmgren, the Packers built a great, competitive team, and it wasn't only Favre who made it great. Then, Holmgren leaves. And that is where the Packers started the slow, downhill slide. Sherman inherited the talent that Holmgren and Wolf and Harlan built up, but that talent slowly dwindled. Then Thompson comes along with McCarthy, and the Packers of today is what we have. Through it all, Favre has stuck with the team. But I do not blame him one bit if he sees that he won't get a chance at another Super Bowl with the Packers, so he goes to where his best chance is.
While Favre was with the Packers, I remember that no matter how bad the team was, the pundits out there always said the same thing: "As long as Favre is on the team, they have a chance...".
I hope he has a nice year. But, I despise the Vikings enough that I hope they do not make the Super Bowl.
Born and raised in WI, I'm a lifelong Packer fan, and I can't stand losing to the Vikings no matter who their QB is. Do I wish Brett was still our QB - sure, but can't do much about that now.
Anyway, how much longer will the Pack have the "youngest" team in the league. I think they've had that distinction the last 3 years. If the Pack don't make the playoffs and win at least the first game, which is looking like a stretch at this point, I think TT and MM have to go. I don't know if I can take another year of "These are mistakes that can be corrected." Fix them already and starting winning!
Andrew - go back and review Favre's stats after Holmgrem left GB. Favre's numbers took a pretty good drop and the TD/INT ratio was not good at all. This co-incided with the Packers defense slowly slipping as well Let's be honest, I really questioned Brett's committment to footballl in GB in those final years when every year the retirement waffling became a joke onto itself. Hell, he's even the butt of his own Sears commericals.
To me, it appears Favre is playing with a renewed spirit in MN (as much as I hate to admit it). He's got talent galore surrounding him. My opinion is football got stale for Brett in GB. When he didn't feel like management was moving with the same pace he wanted to, I don't think he was fully committed mentally to the GB Packers because he didn't feel they were committed to him. He may have said he had nothing left to give, but he probably also meant TT was not giving him everything he wanted either, which is some veteran stars around him to help shoulder the burden. In another sense, BF seems to being enjoying the chemistry with Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice and AP.
You Packer fans are so pathetic! Why can't you just admit that Ted Thompson made a huge mistake and is now driving this team straight into the ground??? You will believe anything these management people say that is negative about Favre just so you can continue to be the proud "cheeseheads". You just can't stand the fact that Favre & the Vikings swept the Pack this year. Here are the facts....Favre took the SAME TEAM to a 13-3 record that Rodgers could only lead to a 9-7 reacord..or was it 8-8. That team wasn't especially great, but that's how good Favre is. He can take a mediocre team and win games with them and Rodgers just isn't smart enough yet to know how to do that. The Jets were headed to the playoffs before Favre got hurt.....the same team that went 4-12 the previous year. Maybe he didn't want to play for the Packers anymore, and who could blame him???? Maybe he got tired of having to carry so much of the team on his back. The right thing tio do would have been to do whatever their franchise quarterback needed to help him win games. After everything he did for that city and that franchise it makes me sick to hear you ungrateful brats boo him and try to find anything you can to put him down. The problem with the Packers is clearly in the front office, and the sooner you cheese eating freaks figure that out, the better.
Great insight. As a Packer fan first and Favre fan second, and having a better understanding of the whole thing, there are only two things I really take issue with:
1) Favre's treatment of Rodgers when Rodgers was drafted. Regardless of Favre's opinion of drafting Rodgers in the first round, it was unprofessional to pretty much give the guy the cold shoulder.
2) The crying, the acting, the waffling.
Who's Wes?
At any rate, thanks for the article Andrew. It's definitely something to think over. Insightful as usual.
To me, the interesting thing about all this is not the negotiations between Favre and the Packers, but rather the unique relationship between Farve and the fans of Green Bay. I can't think of any other situation where a player has been so inextricably linked to a team and a fan base. Maybe Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers, but that player and that divorce were so different that the comparison falls apart.
What has disappointed me most with how Favre has handled this saga is that he hasn't made it clear that he sees or understands the separation between those fans and team management. He has also chosen to go to a team that he *knew* would hurt those fans as much as any in the league (with the possible exception of the Bears). The Jets were one thing, but the Vikings? From a fan's perspective, that's almost personal.
I get that the player/fan relationship is an unbalanced one. As much as we like to believe that they love the city for which they play as much as we love the team, it just doesn't work that way. They`re pros, with a very short window to earn a lifetimes salary. As a Ravens fan, I nervously watched the Ray Lewis free agency saga unfold. While I knew he would have played elsewhere had the offer been right, it would have been painful to see the man (who more than anyone defined the public face of the Ravens in both history and attitude) suit up in anything but black and purple. Had he gone to Dallas or the Jets, I would have been pissed, but would at least understand. Had he gone to the Steelers, I would have burned my R.Lewis jersey.
Favre has never touched on that in a genuine way. He's never said something like, "Look, I love the city of Green Bay and it's people. I will always appreciate what they have done for me, and look back on my years there as some of the greatest in my life. But I want to keep playing, and Minnesota has given me the opportunity to play in another great city for a great organization. As much as it will pain me to enter Lambeau as a visitor, I will go in with my head held high as a proud member of the Minnesota Vikings." Instead, he has danced around the issue and taken shots at management. He's never shown that he understands things from a fan's perspective. If I lived in Green Bay, I'd boo him too.
All this may become more palatable for Packer fans if Favre starts to break down in the later part of the season. Jets fans were pretty happy at week 8. In fact, they were pretty happy up to week 13. By then, the wear and tear were starting to take hold, and he didn't look like the savior anymore. Time will tell if he can keep it together for the long haul....
I hope so. For me, I'm just sick of announcers come to "peak" every time he completes a pass (I'm looking at you, Jaworski and Gruden). Every time I watch him play, I have to mute it so I don't get told every 15 freaking seconds how much he loves the game, or plays pretty well for a 40 year old. If it were a drinking game, I'd be dead of alcohol poisoning by the end of the first quarter.
So, Brett wanted to make the team better by adding veterans. It doesn't mean that he believed he should run the team. Look, the sky is full of clouds, it must mean the end of the world is at hand. Stop leaping to conclusions. You don't know the man. Favre has said he lobbied for Moss. Maybe he didn't think Thompson was building to win in 06 & 07 - it certainly seems that he hasn't built a team to win now, either. It seems the Packer fans, as well as the Wisconsin press want to vilify their former hero in any way possible. And he he has beaten you - twice. Hurts, doesn't it. Remember. You dumped him, and then you went after him in a very personal way. YOU - DUMPED - HIM. Oh yea, those clouds - there will always be a huge one over the town of Green Bay whenever his name is mentioned, thanks to Ted Thompson and the fans who booed him. The shine is off - you're not special anymore.
Andrew,
Thank you for the story...
I would just like to say, as a lifelong (and Die Hard) Packers Fan, that I am sick and tired of everyone getting on Favre's case about his inability to make a decision about whether or not he would retire. An 'older' player should be given a little more time to decide if he will take the next and final step in his career. Especially when that player is of Hall of Fame caliber. It was moments after the NFC Championship game where the Giants beat the Packers, when the media asked the all too familiar question, "Will Favre retire now?" If the media would not have hyped this up EVERY offseason, I don't think fans would have given it nearly as much thought every year as we had.
On the situation with Ted Thompson, I am extremely disappointed at the way Ted forced a decision out of Favre earlier than he had ever made a decision about retirement before. THAT is what pushed Favre out of Green Bay. He was beaten and battered from the long season he had just gone through, was one or maybe two plays away from making it back to the Super Bowl and, I mean the guy is old for the position he plays and hasn't missed a game since they invented the cellphone. That is why Favre had such a heartfelt press conference when he 'retired'. Ted Thompson had been looking to push Favre out of Green Bay since he got here, and for that reason, I can say I have lost a lot of respect for the Packers front office. The same front office that brought us Ron Wolf, Thompson's predecessor, that almost single-handedly put Green Bay back on the professional sports map.
Thank you Ted Thompson! We're glad you didn't want him anymore.
Viking Fans
I am Happy to see the Packers care so much more about Philosopy than results. I guess Packer Fans are back to the pre Favre era. 8-8 Here we come !! But we did it the RIGHT Way!
Let the Countdown to TT Firing begin !!
Brett loves attention and milks it for all its worth? Shocking revelation.
Don't miss our next story, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady love to practice.
The Viking will retire No. 4 after,s no.4 win 2 SB as a viking. he will go in the hall as a viking, and all of his records will belong to the vikings. You TT lovers drink to much whine.
Again with the Favre goes into the Hall as a Viking.
If your going to comment on something make sure you know the facts.
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/SelectionProcessFAQ.aspx
Is a New Hall of Fame Member Enshrined as a Member of a Team?
Obviously, teams take great pride in the accomplishments of individuals who have been a part of their organization. Often individual teams and even the Hall of Fame will list enshrinees according to the team or teams on which they spent a significant period of time. An enshrinee, however, is not asked to “declare,” nor does the Hall of Fame “choose” a team under which a new member is enshrined. When elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an individual is recognized for his accomplishments as a player, coach, or contributor.
"
mactator--- you are an embarrassment to people who actually know the game of football
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Nov 02, 2009
01:15 PM
Wes, great to hear Favre spent so much time in interviews he needed to be kicked out. Perhaps if he invested the same amount of time in OTA's, the offseason and flim study he could be an even GREATER QB then what history will already paint him as. Personally, I'm trying to imagine how good Favre could have been during the latter half of his career with the Packers and his one-year stint with the Jets if he actually played within an offense like he is this year. Imagine that, disciplined football.
Brett's latest attention grabbing bit: Unsolicited, telling Peter King in an interview that he 'didn't know if he could go against the Packers cause' he had such a bad groin injury.' Not content just to let his play speak for itself he needs to worry about contributing to the legend and bulid upon his own legacy. it's little moments like this that, outside of the polarized individuals on both sides of this drama, lead the casual fan to roll their eyes at what they perceive as a diva and attention whore.