“I was told that playing in Green Bay was not an option, regardless of what you hear from up there.” Then I was told that “We can’t imagine you playing or can’t envision you playing with another team as well.” What does that tell me? Tells me “We don’t want you playing period”.”
Favre’s an honest guy, I’ve always believed him to be a straight shooter and I don’t believe him to be doing anything different here. (True, if you let Brett ramble on long enough he will kindof talk himself in a circle but hey, I put that on Greta for not really conducting an ‘interview’ here and just letting Favre talk.)
A lot of what’s happened makes a lot more sense to me now. Favre is 38 years old and has been thinking about retirement for a few years. Favre and Ted Thompson have been rumored to have friction between them for years, so much so that it’s pretty hard not to take that into consideration. According to Favre the Packers pressed him for an answer regarding his retirement in March, before the draft and before the start of the free agency period. Apparently Coach McCarthy called Favre every week to get his answer. So Favre gave them the answer he had for them at that time, which was that, no, he was not prepared to return for another season. Based on this Thompson had his green light to go ahead with his plans for the Favreless Green Bay Packers.
Alright, so here’s what I wanna know. WHY did the Packers just HAVE to know whether or not this would be the year that Favre retires for good? The team just came off an amazing season led by the guy who they write football legends about and you’re telling me Aaron freaking Rodgers’ freshness seal was about to expire?! They couldn’t go one more year with the man who has built and served an NFL legacy rivaled by NO OTHER?!
Yo, this is Brett “The Gunslinger” Favre we’re talking about – I really don’t need to bust out stats or records. Rodgers has potential yes, he has had a few scant opportunities to perform and made some nice plays but he also got hurt. Twice. I gotta say, as a Packer fan that sticks out in my mind because how do you give me the Ironman and then swap him for some dainty dude with an ass rubbin’ beard who may or may not be prone to cracking his hooves as he tries to scramble?
And how do I feel as a Packer fan, not a Brett Favre fan? (because I am both). Well, as a Packer fan I am of course saddened by the controversy to begin with, but no Packer fan didn’t foresee some kind of upset when the day arrived that #4 would no longer be the focal point of the team. But I am glad that he addressed the points which make us Cheeseheads nervous, nervous that our undying love in Brett Favre is maybe unrequited?
“I can’t imagine being with anyone else, or haven’t envisioned being with someone else. That has always been my focus. As I said then, I will say now, really as I’ve said my whole career, playing in Green Bay is … there is nothing like it. There is nothing like that. It’s one of those things, it was destiny. A kid from south Mississippi, a lot like Bart Starr. Who would have ever thought that I would go to Green Bay and have the career I had?”
Aww, Brett, you do love us after all.
July 15, 2008 at 11:00 am
K, didn’t they need to know what he was doing before the draft and the start of free agency so they could make player acquisitions that would complement either a Favre-led or a Favre-less offense? Personally, I don’t think that’s all that unreasonable, but then again, I don’t follow football that closely.
July 15, 2008 at 11:57 am
Cool Post! It seems that everyone has an opinion about Brett Favre. I mean there are Brett Favre blogs everywhere. I found a couple of really funny posts though if you are interested on the Pitch website. Here are the links….letter 1. and letter 2.
July 15, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Amazon, you are right, that’s totally not unreasonable. But what Brett is saying is that a) he wasn’t ready to make a final decision, b) he was pressured to give an answer (March press conference) before the draft but c) he purposely left that answer open-ended. He also admits he spoke too soon and had second thoughts.
What we have here is a front office that was basing their team direction on a players decision, and a player who wasn’t ready to say yes or no. This happens quite often and it usually ends amicably because both parties have a mutual respect for each other. But GB seems to be out to get Brett. Like the man said, give me my helmet, release me, or trade me. But don’t make me a backup to some rookie. That’s just insulting and strategically stupid.
July 15, 2008 at 12:42 pm
@amazonredheadedubervixen: in terms of deciding how to proceed re: draft picks and offensive strategy, yes, the Pack needed to know whether or not they would have Favre on the roster. but I don’t see why THIS had to be the year. why was he being forced to give a decision in March 08 as opposed to March 07 or March 09? Aaron Rodgers wasn’t going anywhere, if anything dude had the oppy to learn from Favre for another season. that’s what i don’t get, the timing of it – until i think about things like money and the bug Thompson’s had up his ass forever to get Favre out of the way. and really, by trying to pin everything on Favre’s annual ‘will-he-or-won’t-he?’ Thompson had pretty much the perfect alibi for himself.
July 15, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Right, kandinsky.
Many folks who don’t play sports cannot understand Brett’s indecision. But of course he didn’t know if he wanted to play or not… homeboy was tired!
July 15, 2008 at 1:58 pm
@CeeJeeMcBeeGee: exactly. he’s been doing this (his job) a loooooong time and for management to come to him and say, “lookit, tell us NOW, rightnowthisminuteyoubettertellustellusquicknownow” is ridiculous. THEN for them to try and pull a fast one and say, “oh, but you said you were done, sorry too bad so sad.” is fucking stupid. but THEN for them to later deny him the right to play for another team?? after he said he would step out of the way and let youngblood have his start? COMPLETE BULLSHIT.
July 15, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Kadinsky–This whole thing just seems like a lose/lose situation for the Packs. I just hope he doesnt pull a Jerry Rice and spend one dismal season at another team [like, gulp, The Dolphins]. Go out like Seinfeld, Brett. Don’t go out like Frasier.
July 15, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Ceej–I just saw the comment you made on the Site That Shall Not Be Named in the incest post. Ahem. Nice. :)
July 15, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Um, can we get to the real football news today? My future-lover Peyton had knee surgery and may miss the first game of the regular season, which just happens to be in Chicago. And now my plan is foiled – FOILED! How is he going to fall in love with me if he’s not in the game? I was going to run onto the field holding a boom box over my head playing Kenny-whats-his-name and then when Peyton perks his ears, I tell him that reps from Head-On-apply-directly-to-the-forehead are in my car and want to discuss endoresment/spokesman deals. Peyton will of course be extremely interested and we’ll drive off into the sunset.
sniff.
July 15, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Never, thanks! That quote jumped out at me, and I couldn’t resist commenting.
And yes, this is lose/lose for GB and her fans. I’d rather Brett go out like a lion, but as you can see, he thinks Joe Montana did a great job his last season. But I suppose Brett has a different perspective on what is a “good” performance for a QB than I.
Brett, ESPN, Inside the NFL, or any decent sports show would LOVE to have you on board. If they’ll hire Dennis Miller, they’ll certainly hire you!
July 15, 2008 at 3:01 pm
es-ki-mo–he still has a CHANCE at playing. 6 weeks, so, first game is September 7. He could pull it out. Besides–psht. Its the Bears. The Colts game MVP will be Grossman.
And speaking of pull it out–you best be stepping back with that Peyton talk. We all know that he loves me and wants to marry me. And then we’ll live in a house made of candy and watch old Superbowls and Caddyshack in between love making sessions. Dur.
July 15, 2008 at 3:26 pm
@es-ki-mo: i think you still have a chance, all you have to do is disguise yourself like a PGA Tournament (plaster yourself from head to toe with words like ‘Nokia’, ‘Kapalau’, ‘Accenture’ ‘American Express’) and there is no way Pay Me Peyton can resist. bonus: you can get Herr Chesney (props to Cameron) to play the theme song for your upcoming reality show!
@CeeJeeMcBeeGee: oh hell – Trent Dilfer, Keyshawn Johnson, Deion Sanders, there are MANY former players-turned-commentators who i’d love to see replaced by Favre. matter of fact, can we start with Cris Collingsworth? i fucking hate listening to that guy speak.
July 15, 2008 at 3:30 pm
@kadinsky: YES! And our reality show will be called Heavy Peytting and will be available on Pay-Per-View. Or Pey-Per-View.
July 15, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Kandinsky: Chris. Collingsworth. Ugh! His voice sounds like rats chewing steel wool.
July 15, 2008 at 3:45 pm
@CeeJeeMcBeeGee, Kandinsky: I’ll take Collingsworth over “I need an oxygen mask to finish my sentences” Chris Berman any day.
July 15, 2008 at 3:50 pm
@es-ki-mo: “YES! And our reality show will be called Heavy Peytting and will be available on Pay-Per-View. Or Pey-Per-View.”
ok, i srsly just lol’d.
and i’ll see you Boomer and raise you Boomer’s Hair. that shit could team up with Trump’s tribble and tackle the pigeon problem in central park.
July 15, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I already know what Im going to say if I meet Collinsworth. “You played football? What team? Gosh, I cant remember you at all.”
Then I’ll use him to get marino’s number. Rawr.
July 15, 2008 at 3:55 pm
@kadinsky: I can see it now: BoomerTrump hairstyling products – for the man who wants to be noticed. And laughed at.
July 15, 2008 at 5:34 pm
It’s too much to hope for Brett to replace Joe Buck, right? Yeah, I figured.
July 15, 2008 at 5:59 pm
@HotNuttyBrownie: ahaha! excellent choice, he’s #2 on the list of reasons why the letters are worn off the mute button.
July 15, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Hey Kadinsky- I KNEW you’d have a post today and when I checked after work, you (as usual) did not disappoint. I, like you, am so torn about Brett. I wanna believe him, but here’s my question, if he’s still not sure in March, why didn’t he say,”hey, I’m still not sure if I wanna come back,” just like the last freakin’ 3 years?! Why’d he say he wanted to retire, then say that no one was pressuring into retiring, now he’s saying he WAS pressured. Sorry, I’m not buying his story and even though I love him, I think we have to move on. It sucks his time here has to end like this. I’ll end on the quote Mr. FHO said, “You can’t build a championship team when the quarterback decides on June 20 that he wants to play.”
July 15, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Just noticed an accidental change in my username so I wanted to clarify: Fairhaired Optimist (FHO) = Skezix22 It’s a long story but just wanted you to know.
July 15, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Off the side of the freakin’ mountain with Joe Buck!