Sunday begins a new chapter in drama between QB and former team. Andrew Brandt
The saga continues Sunday at Lambeau Field. The storylines are drawn for this drama that’s been building for 16 months: The signature player for one team for a decade and a half returns in the uniform of its rival. Made for television, guaranteed to garner the strongest rating of the 2009 NFL season. High drama indeed.
Having spent nine years in Green Bay, I’ve commented often about both sides of the decision by the Packers to move on without quarterback Brett Favre. I’ll leave out the truly confidential parts of the story, but here’s a look behind the green and gold on some matters.
“We’ve moved on”
As we know, when Brett decided to un-retire last year to reclaim his throne in Green Bay, coach Mike McCarthy informed him, “We’ve moved on,” signaling the end of an era. All events from that point forward were the result of those three words.
In early 2008, there was radio silence between Favre and the Packers. In previous years, McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson had stopped by the Favre compound in Mississippi for a visit when they were at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Faced with indifference from his coach and general manager in the months following the 2008 NFC championship game, Brett took the hint. And coincidentally, on the same day Randy Moss re-signed with the Patriots after the Packers had attempted to sign him two years in a row (after much urging from their quarterback), Brett decided to retire.
Even though he cried at his press conference -- and Packer Nation cried with him -- announcing that he had “nothing left to give,” those of us who knew Brett understood this was not a decision he wanted to make (he cried following other seasons, but he wasn’t going anywhere). He was retiring from the Packers because the Packers were indifferent to his decision about playing, something he dearly wanted to continue.
The man behind the curtain
When I started with the Packers in February 1999, Ron Wolf greeted me and placed me in an office with a white-haired personnel director named Ted Thompson. I got to know Ted a bit that year. We shared an office and then worked closely for three years when he returned as general manager of the Packers. There were a few times when I was able to get Ted to open up and actually talk about things other than football players. I was pleasantly surprised to learn there was more to the person than anyone knew.
Ted is a fundamentally good person with exceptional loyalty to a few close friends. He cares about his staff and players and about the history and tradition of the Packers. He is obsessed with the task of looking under every rock to find the best football players for the team.
Like many people, though, Ted is uncomfortable being open with people when the situation may require it. Difficult conversations are just that -- difficult -- yet necessary to clear up ambiguities. Dealing with conflict is part of leadership and management of elite athletes with fragile egos and insecurities. Avoidance is a dangerous option when handling the raw emotion of player-management relations.
I never had a difficult conversation with Ted until our last one, when it became clear we were not going to be able to continue working together. Even in that conversation, Ted acted as if he had a plane to catch. It hurt, but I agreed with him: Although I felt, and still feel, that the Packers are a national treasure, life is short. After a nine-year run through three head coaches, three general managers and countless players, it was time to move on.
It was also time for Brett to go soon after. Ted and Brett never had a cross word with each other; they just had little to no words at all. Brett was used to a certain warm response from the general manager’s office -- through the years of Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman -- and he and his family recoiled at the quiet chill from Thompson’s leadership. Rather than talking about it, both sides just stayed silent rather than face the inevitable conversation.
The successor
A major reason, of course, why the Packers moved on from Brett was Aaron Rodgers. Aaron was special from the day he arrived, exuding high intelligence, natural leadership skills and a wry sense of self and humor. We were friends despite our alma mater rivalry (Cal vs. Stanford).
Brett, as I have often said, has the Wally Pipp syndrome, knowing how he got his job -- replacing the starting quarterback and never giving it back. I saw it first as an agent for Matt Hasselbeck and then with Aaron. I understood Brett’s insecurity about a new potential team leader. Aaron was someone he could not embrace, but I was glad to finally see Brett warm to him in 2007.
On the field, Rodgers displayed in practice and preparation the skills he’s now showing as a starter. And in the 2006 and 2007 offseasons, with Brett at home making his decisions and sitting out the majority of the offseason, Aaron was preparing as if he was the starting quarterback. Ted and Mike certainly liked what they saw. Aaron was going to be fine.
The bitter end
Even upon his retirement, the Packers knew -- or should have known -- that Brett would not stay retired. They knew Brett and knew when the calendar moved closer to training camp, that he would want to play again. At the time of his retirement, as hard a conversation as it would have been, the Packers could have had an open and honest communication that they were moving on with Aaron, someone they had been grooming for three years, and any un-retirement would not be welcome. That conversation, however difficult, would have headed off the enmity to come.
Instead, there was growing distance between the parties, even with an awkward attempt to have Brett stay retired with a marketing deal with the team. Favre and the Packers retreated to their media sources to spin their stories. The Packers even uncharacteristically detailed the sequence of events that showed Brett’s vacillations, incensing Favre and his family.
Mutual mistrust ensued again with Brett’s desire to play for the Vikings and, in the view of the Packers, having extensive communication about doing so. The Packers obviously were not going to let that happen and were exasperated when the NFL dismissed tampering charges despite what they felt was strong evidence against their rival. That episode further enhanced the existing rivalry that continues Sunday.
Once set free from the Jets last winter, Brett was finally was able achieve the result he and the Vikings had pursued for more than a year. Brett now is linked at the hip to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a member of Mike Sherman’s staff in Green Bay that treated Brett and his family the way felt they should be treated given his accomplishments with the team.
Handling the decision
Let me say this: I agree with the decision by my former team to move to the future with Rodgers. It was not like the Packers were moving forward with a stopgap veteran quarterback. I also believe that whatever communication Brett had with the Vikings a year ago complicated matters for all sides and that Brett could have handled himself better at the end of the relationship as well.
The Packers didn’t “owe” Brett Favre anything. He had retired, was paid over $100 million by the team, and he would be a living legend free to return any time with great fanfare. At the end of the story, though, Brett deserved more from the Packers as a person, not as a player. Brett had played through personal tragedy; he had raised the profile, the profit and the asset value of the franchise; he had made the Packers a national, and international, attraction.
How could they have treated Brett better at the end? Simple, open and honest communication, and perhaps a touch of bedside manner and humanity to go along with it. As easy as it sounds, it was very hard to do but needed to be done. That may have gone a long way to making sure the parting of the most famous player on one of the most storied franchises in sports was amicable.
The next chapter – but certainly not the final one -- comes Sunday.
Follow me on Twitter: adbrandt
Andrew, the miscommunication had two sources.
Why did Brett have to retire in the first place? Why not have a press conference in which he said "I still want to play. It looks like the Packers are moving on with Aaron this year, and I understand this is a business. I want to be traded to a team where I can start."
He could even have done that later in the saga -- instead of the behind the scenes maneuvering and media manipulation he actually did.
Sure, Thompson might have been more forthcoming. But so might Brett.
I have to wonder about people who post on both sides of this topic. There is one question you have to ask yourself. What would you do if you were Brett Favre in this situation? You cannot possibly fathom what went through his mind. You are not the superstar athlete. You weren't the one who gave 16 consecutive years of your career to one team, one city and one Packer nation. I am willing to bet that most people, if put in Brett Favre's shoes would have acted in a very similar manner. How tough do you think it is to play QB in the NFL? Much less not missing a game for 16 seasons and playing at such a high level. Don't you think you would have deserved a little better treatment from the organization you helped raise off of the doormat?
I'm just playing devils advocate here because I agree with most of you that there was blame to go around on both sides, but I think Brett deserved a little more respect from Packer management.
" In the 2006 and 2007 offseasons, with Brett at home making his decisions and sitting out the majority of the offseason, Aaron was preparing as if he was the starting quarterback. "
This about sums it up. Thank goodness the diva is gone and A-Rod is leading the team now.
And, yes Tiffysmom, I DO remember the '96 Super bowl - Reggie White, Dorsey Levens, Edgar Bennett, Antonio Freeman - a great TEAM won that game.
Mr. Brandt is in error. I did not cry when Brett Favre retired. Use of the term "PackerNation" without the expressed, written consent of PackeNation is prohibited.
Seriously, I appreciate Mr. Brandt's insight into this whole drama. I do believe that the Packers communciated to Favre that it was over.....I mean, they mailed him his locker for crying out loud...but that Favre's ego was so great he continued to believe that he'd be welcomed back if he returned.
I think the lesson to be learned from this is that no player should ever be permitted to become bigger than the team in his own mind or in the minds of his fans. I look at all polarization of Packer fans today on Favre....over a year later.....and wonder how much of this could have been avoided by simply not giving him such special treatment over the years.
I'm not a Packer or Vikings fan so I don't have a dog in this hunt, but my view as an NFL fan is this: Every offseason for the past 3 yrs or so before the retirement, we had to endure Brett's decision as to whether or not he wanted to play another year. ESPN would virtually camp out in the guy's yard to hear the words from the great man himself....Favre started to like that attention and wanted Packer management to kiss his ass before committing for another year....
Well, the team brass got TIRED of his act and when Rodgers was ready, they said to themselves "we're not kissing his ass" this year and if he retires, great... So Favre retires and the Pack sighed relief and thought they had rid themselves of a problem only to have it resurface when he wanted to un-retire... I blame Favre alone....if you had retirement thoughts every year, just keep them to yourself...don't say you'll make a decision in the spring, don't say anything... then either show up for training camp or retire.... and once you retired, YOU made that choice...so you should've LIVED with it...
I really appreciate Mr Brandt's unbiased look at the Favre/Packer divorce. It does provide some additional insight.
I believe I am a true Packer fan in the sense Brett mentioned in recent interviews. Brett was the face of Packer Nation for most of his 16 years in Green Bay. He would have been the Packers starting QB in 2008 if he had not retired. Green Bay was one or two plays away from the Super Bowl in 2007. Why retire and a few weeks later start waffeling. He had the support of 99.9% of Packer fans. I can't believe any athlete could have been more popular with fans in any sport.
When Brett started talking to the press (Van Strusten inteview) and pointing everythnig at the Packer organization he dented his Packer fan base. We had never seen Brett whine before. I believe most "true fans" watched his tearful retirement news conference. Most of us probably had a tear ourselves. Then it became clear that he wanted to go to Minnesota and regardless of the NFL's finding, I believe the tampering charges were true. It feels like he wanted to stick it to TT with no regard for the fan base.
Move forward to his first game against the Packers. He could have had some class for the fans who supported him through thick and thin when the Vikings scored. Instead he is out there celebrating like its his first TD ever. I believe GB and former Favre fans would have had a lot more respet for him if he had went to the sidelines. He stuck it to every Packer, and former Favre fan. The Viking rivalry is the most heated for Packer fans. To me it was classeless and felt like he was sticking it to every Packer fan who supported him for 16 years, all so Brett can get back at TT.
Brett said true fans would understand his decsion to sign with the Vikings. I believe I am a true fan but no longer a Favre fan. Brett Favre should take 90% of the blame for the divorce. He is the one who retired.
This is one of the fairest and best analyses I have seen of what happened. The acrimony could have been prevented if a) Favre was not a diva expecting the Packers to baby and beg him b) Thompson was a human being with honest communication skills instead of a robot.
Tremendous story flaw: warmth from Mike Sherman's office? Favre stated, after McCarthy was hired, that he had never been invited into Sherman's office upstairs, and that there was a concomitant chill of relations between the two. So, to characterize Favre's relationship with Mike Sherman as warm and fuzzy is apparently off the mark. Then again, considering the writer here was fired by Thompson, I cannot say I'm surprised at the fairly obvious error.
Over $100 million. What can you owe a person after giving him that? I work as hard as Brett and probably won't make 1 percent of that in my lifetime. And what I do matters even more.
Oh, there's the problem.
it was a very interesting article, Andrew, but I think you go too easy on Favre. Please recall, he was the first one to start spinning to the media through his lackeys at ESPN and puff pieces such as Greta Van Sustern's show on Fox. Remember how he tossed his supposed friend James Campen under the bus after Campen visited him? Made sure ESPN reported that Campen supposedly told him to report to camp so as to put all of the pressure on the Packers' mgmt? I bet that went over very well with Campen's employer, the Packers. But Favre didn't care if his leaks and spinning hurt a friend, he just cared about himself. I agree the Packers could have, and should have, handled this a lot better in terms of the personalities involved and the PR, but I don't think they ever expected the onslaught of leaks and spin from the Favre camp, and they were knocked off guard by it. I lost a ton of respect for Favre over this whole thing, and I think it revealed how self-obsessed and self-consumed he is, unfortunately.
Tremendous story flaw: warmth from Mike Sherman's office? Favre stated, after McCarthy was hired, that he had never been invited into Sherman's office upstairs, and that there was a concomitant chill of relations between the two. So, to characterize Favre's relationship with Mike Sherman as warm and fuzzy is apparently off the mark. Then again, considering the writer here was fired by Thompson, I cannot say I'm surprised at the fairly obvious error.
One of the better written stories from a former Packer staff member.
I don't agree with all of it however I do agree with anything that shows how disrespectful the Packers have been to a player who was there long before them & has done more for them than anyone on the staff...period.
How many people have worked for employer, given their all through all types of personal dynamics & then received a very unclassy response from the management or perhaps been let go?
For a competitor, they would want to move on to have success & show they are worth it.
This is the Brett Favre fans have cheered on for years...always playing till the end & giving his all. Should we expect any less now? No.
IF the Packers management would have been smart....(they are terrible...it's just the way it is). The communication would have been a difference maker.
I disagree that Rodgers is "the guy". Perhaps right now however... he just doesn't have "it".
Ot doesn't matter how they "should" have addressed it now...however there are many ways better than the way they did.
Communication is a paramount skill set (the soft skills) needed by management. If they dont have it... they don;t deserve the position.
Ted Thompson does not have it. Let him scout or something however after seeing his choices & the production from a team he is building... they shouldn't let him have the keys.
McCarthy is not able to coach players to their best ability. If he is... this is a double knock on Thompson as they have done done so great.
The best case senario is IF the Vikings go all the way... & Brett Retires on top.
The, the Packer nation can go on suffering from the tema they have till they get rid of the current management &...start rebuilding all over.
Tiffysmom,
Are you too young to remember 2005?
4-12 with 29 interceptions from your hero. Who's fault was that?
Last year's 6-10 campaign had little, if anything to do with QB play. It was a defensive collapse. If Favre had been at the helm, last year may have been enough for him to hang'em up for good. In fact, it probably would have forced Favre to try and do too much and throw a ton of INT's and everybody would have been begging him to hang'em up.
Be happy, this way you still get to watch "The Old Gunslinger" and the Packers have a better QB than that. What could be better?
One criticism that Rodgers gets is that the team failed to make the playoffs in 2008, dropping to a 6-10 record. I'd like to point out that of the 6 teams that made the NFC playoffs in 2007, only one team, the Giants, managed to make the playoffs in 2008. The Packers were one of FIVE NFC teams that followed their 2007 playoff year with a 2008 non-playoff year. The Packers missed the playoffs in 2005 and 2006 also, before their big year in 2007. That seems to be a trend for most teams in the league--mediocre years followed by a breakout, then a slide back to the middle. Rodgers was the Packers' best offensive player last year, as he is this year also. Can't blame the decline solely on him.
Point two. Rodgers may hold the ball too long, but recall Favre in his second and third season when he was chucking the ball downfield at any hint of pressure. Remember how the crowd would give Favre a standing ovation whenever he threw one out of bounds? What's your choice? A sack or a pick? Give Rodgers a few more games.
Last ;point on Rodgers. How can anyone say Rodgers isn't as passionate about the Packers as Favre? The comment made in an earlier post praised Favre for running downfield to celebrate with receivers in the end zone. Did you see the first Viking game and Rodgers racing down to meet Finley in the end zone after the 62-yard TD? Even the veterans like Driver and Woodson acknowledge that Rodgers has become the unquestioned leader of the team.
Just as Thompson moved on from Favre, he was correct in not paying the outlandish money that the Carolina Panthers paid for Mike Wahle and the Cowboys paid for Marco Rivera. Marco hung in there, but was never the same player with his knees. Wahle had a good season, then his game declined significantly. The Steve Hutchinson deal set the bar awfully high for guards at that time. Resigning Wahle may have been defensible; Rivera shouldn't have received that kind of money.
Finally, I'm comfortable with the transition to Rodgers. Most teams with QB legends have had inadequate backups and are glad to linger with the fading superstar. The Packers were fortunate to get Rodgers and wise enough to see his talents. Rodgers will be the man for 10 more years. In a quarterback league, I feel fortunate that the Packers will spend a quarter century with the position manned by only two extremely capable individuals.
This is great. It reads like soap opera. Brett, insecure about his legendary status in Green Bay, playing the management and fans to show him a little love and draw him against his will out of retirement one more time; management unable to show the tough love when needed; jealousies over the new gunslinger in town. It just shows that no matter how big the star, these people have all the same insecurities and flaws the rest of us have to struggle with.
All Brett wanted was an opportunity to compete in preseason for regular season playing time. The Packers could then decide who to play, as they do each year with each position following preseason.
I thought that was what Thompson was all about --- fielding the best team!
Instead he doug his heals in and wouldn't give a very good player the chance to compete.
Brett did not expect to be handed the starting job, just a chance to compete.
Thompson refused.
He is now with the Viking not because of revenge, but because they use the same system as the Packers, have his old QB coach as offensive coordinator and were a very solid team, but needed a quality QB.
What other team could match that combination of reasons to play for them??
Both sides are to blame for the sad way things turned out. But here's a couple things to think about (some of which others have already noted):
- Bart Starr, a living legend, was never pushed out or told we've moved on - he was allowed to play after his skills had deteriorated - it was the start of the Packers demise
- We suffered almost 25 years of mediocrity (at best) before Favre came on the scene (along with others, kudos to Wolf)
- There's no documentation Randy Moss didn't want to play for GB, and if he had GB would've won the Super Bowl in 2008 as that last interception wouldn't have happened - GB goes 13-3 with no dominant, primary receiver - Favre tried to get the ball to his "go to" receiver (Driver - who I love) and Driver got outmuscled for the position/ball. That same year Tom Brady wins the league MVP with 3 receivers who were all as good as or better than Driver, and whenever Brady needed a first down, he could just throw a lob pass to Moss. Ron Wolf would've done whatever he could have to get Moss on the team, similar to how he and Holmgren landed Reggie White. In comparison - think of the Giants - an average (at best) QB wins the Super Bowl, but one of the main reasons was Eli Manning had Plexico Burress (another big, go to receiver) eating up Al Harris the whole game. And by the way, our starting RB was a Giants' castoff. That 13-3 (or 14-4 if you will) season was way overachieving, and the main reason was Favre having an MVP year (he deserved it for what he had to work with, compared to Brady).
- Folks say last year the QB wasn't the problem - well Rodgers performed well, the problem with the Pack last year was leadership - for all of Favre's prima donna antics/treatment, the bottom line was that in close games, the fate of the Pack was on Favre's shoulders - everyone knew that with Favre you could never be counted out. He accepted and carried all the pressure, got much of the credit for wins and the blame for losses (like the NFC championship game). He did the same for the Jets until his arm was injured (and their team self-destructed), and now he's doing the same for the Vikings.
- TT has not shown that he is even an average GM. Losing record. Head coach who can't instill team discipline (penalties continue to be a problem). Terrible O line. Consistently cuts "outsiders" who outperform his draft picks. Youngest team in the league. Hasn't yet cut Justin Harrell - worst pick since Tony Mandarich (or maybe Rich Campbell). A defensive secondary that is fading quickly (Al Harris is already over the hill, Charles Woodson is playing awesome but can probably play at this level another year or two).
- Bob Harlan sold out the Pack when he hired Mark Murphy - a guy who appears to have no backbone and is a flunky for TT.
Abrandt this was one of the best pieces that I read about the Farve situation. I couldn'd agree with you more. I have no respect for the packer organiztion on handling the Farve thing. I would of respected Ted T. if he would of came out and said we are giving Brett his release and can play for any team he wants. For it is time for the packers to move forward for the future. And that would of showed his confidence he had in Aaron Rodgers and the team, that they were not afraid to play against anyone including the Vikings with Brett as their qb.
Thanks for an inside view. Interesting that comments you are getting are almost 100% against Brett Favre when your story is very balanced and you were there! I happen to agree with you, that letting him go--locking him out--deserved a nicer touch than the way it happened.
Brett has said many times he wished he had done some things differently but now he has moved on. Packer fans don't want to let him move on and seem to get great pleasure twisting every story to demonize Favre. That's way overdone.
Green Bay reported a 35% decline in tourism in 2008-2009 football year, and the meadowlands had the same kind of increase. For as much negative is said about Brett, people sure want to see him and spend money on his NFL gear.
Brett had carried the team on his back for many years and had not received any coaching to help him improve. He said he was emotionally exhausted. There was strain from the day Thompson drafted Rodgers. Brett was also older--he needed time to emotionally and physically recoup before being able to say he could committ 100%.
Brett is far simpler than people ascribe him to be. He does not have deep machivallian desires. He wanted to be wanted (Favre-1997). Green Bay's tampering charges were a bit ridiculous when they did not want Favre back. It was odd they did not feel he was good enough for them, but too good to play against. I don't think you can find in the history og football a QB whose team finished 14-3 who was not expected back and encouraged to come back to play the next year.
It's a sad ending to what was once a beautiful relationship. I hope fans acknowledge Favre when he is first on the field Nov. 1, but once the game starts --Go Pack!
As a fan I didn't believe Farve was really ready to retire. If I knew that from miles away his management staff certainly didn't believe it either. He is emotional and was spent from the season when he was forced to state what he felt at that time. Ted Thompson wanted to move on and he wanted those words from Farve and he knew how to manipulate the retirement words out of Brett. The Packers went out and hired a political spin artist to help them with their story. If Ted Thompson wants the responsibility of his position, he needs to come up with the gonads to deal with difficult conversations. Being the person letting Brett go was never going to be easy, but being the person to let Joe Montana go wasn't easy either. The 49's handled the transition from Montana to Young more professionally and that saga passed quicker. If Thompson can't learn to handle conflict conversations he either needs to go or the Packers need to hire (or assign) someone to help him with those duties.
Another Excellent + article from Andrew Brandt. Thank you. Please keep them coming.
It is such a joy, an insiders feel, to read your comments.
I think Favre is playing better this year than the previous few because he was chastised by this whole ordeal. Like a child or a teenager that does not get his way and learns a lesson and cleans up his act. Discipline from a parent (Packers brass) has created a better behaved child. This has corralled Favre's wildness and made him a less mistake-prone quarterback.
TiffysMom: Being old doesn't make you special or smart. (apparently)
Reggie White had more to do with the 96 Superbowl than Brent "drunken hillbilly" Farve.
Pay attention.
Thank goodness for some insight from a person who was actually close (much closer) to the events than us fans. After seeing all the vitriole spewed forth on the various WI blogs, this is a refreshing perspective. As always, the blame needs to shared. Its rare that one side is overwhelmingly at fault. Vin man hits the nail on the head, if we dumped Rodgers and kept Brett only to see him "retire" in a year or two, we'd be up the creek for another two decades. Should be a good game .....
Great reading after air farve tossed up the big interception in the championship game you know some players coaches fans and maybe even a GM were getting a little tired of the game management skills. Look at the bear game in Chicago that year. . For as great as he is and like alot of Packer fans I loved the guy but got so sick of his attitude of greatness . It is in the beginning and always will be the Green Bay Packers and not The Green Bay Farves. Mcarthy and Thompson were looking out for The good of the franchise to quit the coddling and move on. Thompson reminded me of the cold as ice villian type but I think he is misunderstood and has the greatest but toughest job in football. I think he knows a bit more about the game than all his critics.I would rather take my chances with him and Rodgers than deal with the Farve soap opera anyday. In this day of loss jobs and uncertainty who needs it.
Aikman stated during the broadcast that he didn't think people were focusing enough on the idea that Brett had decided he wouldn't come back to the Pack. Seemingly that means Brett was so upset with Ted/Murphy/McCarthy (one, all or combo) that is was either management changes their ways, they get fired or he leaves. Previous commenters made good points about trying to get into Favre's mindset regarding Ted's odd drafts, non-retention of veterans, lack of free agent moves-- in short, no sense of urgency to win with a good team that may have only needed a few additional pieces to win a Superbowl. Plus the article made it pretty clear Ted is a lousy communicator and a pretty cold person (nobody sits with/near him during the games).
Andrew, if it is that simple, will you confirm it?
Of course an answer to that would open up a couple more cans of worms, but at least the baseline of the story would move forward.
Hurts so good, doesn't Packer fans? You guys need lives for starters... I can't believe all the effort you put forth discussing a professional athlete and his former management. Get a life.
Where are all of you who were predicting the Packer win today? Oh yeah, the bar... I forget who I'm talking to.
Great article. I still say that when Brett threw that int. in the NFC Championship game in OT TT and MM made up their mind right then he is not coming back. I am a Packer Fan since "61" and I am still a Packer Fan today but the guy can still play as good or better than any of them.
The reality of the Barnum and Bailey circus over the past few months with the Packers and Mr. Farve is we can't change what happened. We can control what happens going forward and with the results of Sundays game there's no doubt we need some help as a team. I could list our team needs but I'm sure we're all aware of what they are. Sunday at the game I saw some classy sportsmanship and I also saw some that was truely classless. As the score climbed and the Packers struggled to win the game I simply looked up to the Southwest corner of the stadium and counted the Championship titles that the Packers hold. Then I counted the number of championship titles that the Vikings hold. "0". This brought a little grin to my face and I thought, how are the Vikings going to handle the off season with the flip flop circus decision of Mr. Farve saying should I or shouldn't I. Thankfully we don't have to go through that anymore.
I find the personal, emotional stake fans have in football stars incredibly funny. A million couch potato slugs across America wanted to be Brett Favre's buddy, loved him to death, and now those same couch slugs hate him...because he changed his mind about employment. Yea, I sure care about that. There's something really immoral, really just public-disgrace-awful about changing your mind. Why, it's nigh on WAFFLING!! He's a WHINNING DIVA! WHAAAAAAAHH--SOMEONE PUT SAND IN MY PANTIES!!
Let me guess--you're the same Mary-Janes who hate Tom Brady with a passion. You know, because he's so rotten, immoral, evil, uhh, ummm, well, he had a kid and didn't get married to the mom so he HAS to be a human turd! Ya, that's it! It's certainly not pathetic jealousy and emotional displacement, right?
I've never met Brett Favre, or TT, or Tom Brady, Peyton Manning etc. I'll analyze their performance on Sunday until the cows come home, but I think I'll leave the hero-worship/hating to 12 year olds (and 43 year old couch turds with the emotional stakes of a 12 yo).
I get a kick out of you TT bashers. Have you ever run any type of business let alone run a professional football team? Have you ever coached anything but your kids 6th grade team? All your thoughts and ideas for what should have been done or hasn't been done is downright goofy. Granted, he has to pick up a few experienced free agents to solidify the youngest team in the nfl is warranted. Can't continue to be the youngest 4 years in row without rammifications. However, for somebody to say that he didn't handle the Farve thing correctly has NEVER had to deal with employees who are insecure, waffling and undecided. Folks, this is a multi, multi million dollar business ... you aren't selling ice cream cones on the corner. You don't mortgage your future for the next 10 years by going all in for 1 or maybe 2 years. We did that before and we were a loser for 25 years! Add a few pieces through a good draft next year plus ADD 2-3 decent free agents and we're good to go for years to come. Get a grip!!
Doesn't this all boil down to Favres inability to commit to another year, complete with another training camp? He put himself ahead of the organization by waffling on his return for the last few years. His desire to play elsewhere is understandable but a move to an NFC North foe is a slap in the face to all Packer fans and ex-teamates. Even though I know that he will retire a Packer and they will retire his number I hope none of it happens. Let him retire a Viking.
Watching the game yesterday, I found myself dreaming about the glory years. Torkelson, McCoy, Marcol, Odom...
Time to bring back Tom Braatz.
In all these Favre / Packer divorce stories, why does no one mention all the special treatment Brett the player got that NONE of the other players got. Can't tell me that it
didn't create some bad feeling in the locker room. I'm a talking about Brett having his own dressing (locker) room, not having to talk to media more than once per week, no roommate on the road, no OTA's (except for 1 year under McCarthy). Mike Sherman created a monster (read diva) in my opinion. Brett as a person may be very nice, but Brett the player was very selfish (the way I see it).
Letting farve go was the wrong decision. it wasnt farve vs rodgers, they would have had both qbs. isnt it always the point to get as many good players on your team as you can? farve would have started the season. when he ripped his bicep and became ineffective mid season.... enter aaron rodgers. this would have givin rodgers a clean way into the qb positon and he wouldnt have had to put up with all the drama from the fans and media that he does now. if farve wanted to earn his job back the following year - competition. if not, let him go. dont banish him to siberia and hope he dies there. he deserves at least to play for any team he chooses that fits his skills and wants him. even if it is the vikings. none of this would have been easy but at least the packer fan base would still be intact.
Fascinating story. Big story, big egos, big money. from my perepective as an outsider with a very close proximity I view it as the regular show businnes "monkey wrenching". Who has won? its obvious now. I am glad that I found you on internet Andy! Excelent writing! Perhaps you remember our conversations about Brett. Didn,t I predict the future?
Maybe we should get in touch again? my friend.
zakmusik.zak@gmail.com
Great piece! Mr. Brandt, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Bob Harlan had still been there? I think w/ the exec committee and lots going on behind the scenes-there is lots we have not heard about?
Diffucult to part with the city that loved you, lives for football and bleeds packer green with Brett Favre forever in your heart YES, but you have to look at the downside that Favre figured it was over and they kind of gave him the boot for Rodgers. This season it certainly stings but in the long run the Pack have to be satisfied with their decisions as well as Favre.
With the whole world recognizing that Ted Thompson is basically a cold fish, why did the Executive Committee think Ted would be a good fit in Green Bay, the NFL's smallest town and market?
No matter how great a football mind a person has, ultimately they have to deal with people. What disturbs me is that the Packers are for the 4th year in a row "the youngest team in the NFL." This connotes a lack of player development to me. Building through the draft is fine, but sometime you have to develop a veteran nucleus. In Ron Wolf's book, The Packer Way, Ron observed that he was driving Mike Holmgren nuts by bringining in so many new players, seeking to improve the team. This finally subsided and the team grew and matured. The Packers have not (YET??) grown and matured under Thompson. Finally Wolf was not afraid to cut his mistakes loose. Ask Ron today about Terrell Buckley and he will candidly admit he made a mistake and the second example is the one year tenure of Ray Rhodes. Ted Thompson seems unable to admit he made a mistake (Justin Harrell) and move on. The ability to admit you made a mistake is a quality most people acquire as they mature. Some people never acquire it and it looks like this is Ted Thompson to a "T".
IMO, there's a simple solution to this whole situation. Why didn't Ted let Brett know he was welcomed back as the starter for the '08 season, but he was going to extend Aaron's contract for 5 years? Brett would then have to compete with Aaron for the starting position the following year, if he wanted to continue playing for the Packers. That would have kept Rodgers in the fold and it would have allowed the runner-up MVP of the '07 season to continue playing with the team he helped bring back to greatness.
This has divided the Packer fanbase and has embarrassed not only Brett, but the entire Packer organization. Hiring Ari Fleisher only made the Packers look like they were hiding something (which I believe they were) and lacked the class that this organization was known for.
IMO, Ted should be fired at the end of this season for many reasons, this is just one of them. Primarily, his record of less than .500 after five years! This is an undisciplined team, where are the "Packer People" we were told he drafted? Where is the depth we've been sold? Where or where is the talent on the OL or DL? We haven't had a running game since he came. We haven't had a pass rush since he came. It's time for change in GB.
Excellent article, Andrew! And as a Packer shareholder who has attended most of the annual meetings since 1998, I have missed hearing you speak at the event since you left the Packers.
I also would like to pay tribute to my fellow bloggers for the way they have conducted themselves on this site. Lots of interesting viewpoints - I don't agree with all of them, but that's fine. There's way too much trash in the other sites that I have visited, which takes all the fun out of it.
Go Packers!
Rumor around Green Bay was supposedly overheard by a local TV sports announcer. Ted was talkling with a friend on the practice field. Thefriend mentioned Brett, and Thompson replied, "yeah,he's Wolf's boy, I've been trying to get rid of him for years; I want my own boy." Of course,that boy was Rodgers. Ted is not well liked around GB. The first two years Brett was hounded by the media constantly asking, are you going to retire. In an interview later he stated he never mentioned theword retirement but the media put it in the public's eye. Yes, Brett has made mistakes, but I'll never forget what he has done for this area after 29 years of not having a decent tema.
The Packers have proven to be masters at Public Relations, You can't find fault with wanting to see what Aaron Rodgers can do, Clearly he is in the top 10 talent wise of NFL starting quarterbacks today, But Favre is in the top 10 talent wise in the HISTORY of the NFL. Yes his ego is large, his skills are going to decline and he can be a pain, but he has earned the right after rescuing that franchise from 3-13 every year to become one of the winningest football teams over the last 16 years. The Pack needed to move on with Rodgers or risk losing him for nothing, so they tell one of the most prolific quarterbacks of all time that he is NOT welcome to play there any longer and then trade him out of the NFC, and the fans get mad at Favre? That is public relations at its finest!.
The only reason they were even close to the superbowl in 07 was that Favre played lights out that entire year. They were significantly less talented then other teams, had no running game, consistantly had to go to 4 and 5 wide with quick throws to beat the blitz. He ran out of gas and there was no one else on that team that could step up and help, ie an NFL caliber running back. Stop being angry Wisconsin, Favre wasn't a free agent that signed with the rivals, he was told he couldn't come back anymore because it was in the best interest of the Packers.
Andrew,
I appreciate your insight and willingness to share your views on this, but I think you have left out one very important part of this scenario.
The issues between Brett and Ted started with Ted's lack of addressing immediate free agency option to make a run at the super bowl. This is consistent with Ted's minimal participation in free agency, and also the reason the Packers are currently average or slightly above average across the board, save for the quarterback position. And also why they severely lack depth across their roster.
This issue is the root cause of Brett's indecision to come back, and nobody seems to want to see this. Had Ted adapted and made some moves, Brett would still be in Green Bay. I understand that Brett didn't run the team, but he called Ted on his methods, and responded accordingly. A prepared Aaron Rodgers was not the reason the Packers moved on. Aaron was a handy talented backup plan when Ted decided that it was easier to rid himself of the conflict, as opposed to taking into a public arena, which happened anyway. If you can't see this, maybe it's time to think a little more about Arie Fleischers role damage control role in all of this.
Could they both have handled this situation differently and better, absolutely. But Brett is being made out to be the villain in all of this, and I refuse to stand idly by and watch Ted destroy this team and let Brett take the fall. And now Brett is getting his payback, and this is EXACTLY what he intended to do, whether he will ever publicly admit it or not.
For all of this, the pressure is now on Ted Thompson and the draft only mentality that got him in to this situation is still haunting him, as well as Aaron Rodgers, who is the REAL victim in all of this. He is getting pounded on a weekly basis at the hands of a beat up and shallow offensive line, another position that has not been addressed at all until the Brett/Ted controversy helped bring all of this to light.
So sorry Ted, but Brett has beaten your team twice, and now has beaten you. You walked him out to protect yourself, and now you are exposed even more because you walked him out. I challenge you to remain silent in free agency, Ted, mostly because it means Green Bay will be one step closer to your train leaving the station, and can then get back to being competitive.
Brett keeps talking about Ted wanting to sign Free Agents, but wouldn't it be feasible that FAs were reluctant to come since Brett was so wishy-washy every off-season? Now that the Packers have a young QB and a nice core of players, I would think a couple more quality (stressing the word quality from Ted's standpoint) FAs would want to join this team. Much like Reggie's reasoning, signing with the Packers when Brett was a promising young QB in the early 90s.
Ever since the summer of 2007 I am no longer sure if I can trust the Packers or Brett to simply be honest with us (fans/owners). Ted cleary needs to improve people skills. Recently Murphy said in the newspaper he is proud of how they handled the situation................he is just tone deaf!!! I often feel Harlan and Wolf may have made the same decision but since they have people skills and would have understood the impact of the decision, would have handled it differently and better...... then again could it have been handled worse. I would trust Brett before Ted because Brett often rambles when he talks, whereas Ted simply says nothing. Both sides made mistakes.
The Packers are still my team and always will be, and Aaron Rodgers is doing well, but from watching Brett play this season it is easy to see he still loves it, and can play at a very high level if given the talent around him. (which is no surprise to me)...............which Ted refuses to provide, even now.
Thomspon doesn't have the stones to go out and make a big move. He clearly had the right to tell Brett we are moving in a different direction after the 4-12 or 8-8 season but he didn't...no stones. Thompson doesn't have the stones to go make a big in free agency either. I'm glad Brett had the stones to ask Ted to go get some players but it got him nowhere.
Brett had no future in Thompson's 8 year rebuilding plan.
I notice that Brett no longer wears his beat-up baseball hat for interviews. He's a team man now, wearing the Vikings hat. When he was with GB he never wore a Packer hat. It wasn't important enough for him then, I guess.
To Frett its is all about winning. He wanted to go out winning on a great team....ala Vikings. He coveted Peterson like any player would, and he bailed on the Pack. This guy doesnt have loyalty. He considers himself bigger than the game. Frett would be selling burgers without Reggie White and bringing all the free agents to GB. While Im at it Ron Wolfe - Grossman, Renoylds ....greatest personell guy?....not. Brett doesnt have any loyalty its about public perception, the media, and HIM period. I hope they NEVER retire his number, he in NO way reminds me of Bart or Willie or Ray. I would like Ray to come back and whip his #%**&#
Buck Frett!
How long will the Redskins sit...
Running back coming off broken...
WR is vastly underpaid and has...
Taking a look at which position...
Steelers QB said he has heard...
Oct 31, 2009
10:37 AM
Very well written and insightful article, Andrew. But you fail to mention that both Thompson and McCarthy traveled to Mississippi in the spring of 2008 to confrim again with Brett Favre that he was going to remain retired. This was done on the eve of the '08 Draft, in which the Packers chose not one but two QBs. Brett assured them that his decison was final, and that he was content and happy in retirement. Of course, we would all learn in just a couple of months that this wasn't the case at all.
Could Ted Thompson have handeled this situation in a more forthright and open manner? Certainly. But I doubt very much that the results would have been any different.