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Favre and the Packers: Too Close for Comfort

Andrew Brandt

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This August 11, 2008, 10:32 AM EST
21 Comments

I was hiking a mountain gorge in Oregon on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in mid-June.  The waterfalls were rushing, the streams were flowing and … the cell phone was buzzing up a storm! After ignoring the 601 area code calls as much as I could, I finally picked up.  On the other end was the preview of the midsummer classic that the sports world has been treated to between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.  It was Bus Cook, Brett’s representative, and he laid out in great detail what was happening with Brett and the Packers, with Brett’s soon-to-be-public desire to return and with the Packers’ soon-to-be-public desire that he stay retired.

Bus is a friend and longtime professional colleague, having negotiated several times on Brett’s behalf, including the 10-year contract we negotiated in 2001.  We hoped, at that time, that Brett would play three years, and he now enters year eight of that contract.

I listened to Bus and confirmed his understanding of the waiver and reinstatement rules.  I kept it to myself and continued, as best I could, my peaceful and long awaited hike.

It all felt too close for comfort, as I not only have a relationship with Brett and Bus through the years, but obviously others involved in the debate.

A few days prior to the call, I had lunch with a good friend from my nine years with the Packers’ front office.  We talked about many subjects, one of which was Brett, but did not dwell on the possibility of him returning.

And on the day prior to my Oregon hike, I was in California having lunch with Aaron Rodgers, a good friend and favorite of mine and others at the Packers, including general manager Ted Thompson.

I will keep the content of these conversations private out of respect for all of the parties involved in this summer drama.  Having had a front-row seat to this group over the past several years, it is sad to watch it unfold as it has, a 16 year relationship reduced to sniping, retreating to favored media contacts, ignored text messages and petty accusations.  No matter what the reasons, it is distressing for the relationship between a proud franchise and its most famous player to be termed a “divorce.”

In the end, neither side truly got what it wanted – Brett did not get to play for the Packers or Vikings and the Packers did not convince him to stay retired -- but that is the result of most negotiations (which this clearly became): no one wins, but there is resolution.

I am torn with a lot of emotions on this one.  I will have much more on this.  Not reveal any deep confidences, but say more.

Comments

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jeff
Aug 11, 2008
02:21 PM

I was wondering what the impact of this deal is on the Jets salary cap? I was surprised that they could fit Farve in without cutting more players.

Andrew Brandt
Aug 11, 2008
02:46 PM
Andrew Brandt

Jeff -- Terminating the contract of Chad Pennington cleared 4.8M but they still needed take some of Brett's 12M base salary and convert it to signing bonus to allow for proration over the remaining three years of his contract. Brett will obviously get his 12M and now a large chunk of it will come earlier.

BigJohn
Aug 11, 2008
03:14 PM

Andrew--looks like a very well done web site.

It would be interesting to hear your persective on what may be the most monumental issue of all time regarding the Green Bay Packers:
--Whether Ted Thompson firmly concluded that Brett Favre was not the QB that gave the Packers the best chance to win THIS YEAR.

Brian Keefer
Aug 11, 2008
03:20 PM

I must say that this article is really a breath of fresh air. The perspective you give just in talking about this from the viewpoint of someone on the "outside" of the issue, who knows all parties involved, is just plain interesting.

Thank you for your view and also for the excellent job you did when you were working for my favorite team. I believe the packers lost a very good man.

Jerry Gnoza
Aug 11, 2008
03:42 PM

I definitely knew the Packers were in good hands under your salary cap management, as I first saw you speak in a shareholders meeting in 2002, and it was clear you were very sharp and well-prepared for success in the cutthroat free-agency age of the NFL. Always with an eye toward the future. Indeed the Packers lost a great employee and I sure hope your successor Russ Ball does half the job you've done (I know you were only working with him a short time). Best of fortune in all your new endeavors!

X-Roswell
Aug 11, 2008
04:35 PM

I will be reading this site regularly. I am glad you will be commenting further on the Favre kerfuffle, since you have knowledge of the business side, whereas we goombahs out here in the internet are relatively clueless, outside looking in.

Cliff
Aug 11, 2008
09:35 PM

Andrew, congrats on the launch of NFP. Very well done and definitely needed by many of us, thanks!

Patrick Craig
Aug 12, 2008
04:06 AM

Andrew,being so close to the people involved is there anyway you can be unbiased regarding the Packers Vs Favre ?

As a long time fan I want to know if Ted's ego played any part in Brett's departure ?

Thanks for all your hard work in Green Bay.
Life Long Packer Fan

Steve
Aug 12, 2008
11:40 AM

While I respect your past experience, and anxiously anticipate your knowledge as far as being able to give us more insight into situations in football, the only thing I've learned from this column is that Aaron Rodgers eats his lunch in California.

We've all thought that this "divorce" is unfortunate, and we didn't like it being reduced to "sniping". Amidst the flood of blogs and sporting media outlets on the web, you got to give us a little something more. A scoop, an insinuation that we can figure out, a different perspective?

Being a past exec gives you a huge edge over all over sporting media on the web, so let's see it!

Tom M
Aug 12, 2008
03:09 PM

Andrew, why is nobody talking about the fact that this is Rogers final year under contract? If the Packers brought Favre back Rogers is gone for sure after this year and the Packers end up with out a QB capable of moving the team forward. In my mind the Packers did the right thing for the team.

Andrew Brandt
Aug 12, 2008
09:34 PM
Andrew Brandt

Tom--
Aaron has two years left on his present contract. We signed him to a five-year deal as a first-round draft pick in 2005. Thus, his present contract runs through 2009.
Andrew

BigJohn
Aug 12, 2008
11:01 PM

Andrew--

Would a five year K for a first round pick at the quarterback position be about the standard? It struck me as lengthier than most. Thanks for any info you can offer.

--John

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