At the beginning of the 2007 season, the talk began again about Brett Favre retiring, as usually happened at the beginning of the last few seasons.
Favre decided not to retire, causing many writers to mock him, saying that he had a good run, but he should retire before he makes a fool of himself.
Favre proved them all wrong. He led a young and inexperienced Packers team to one game away from the Super Bowl. So great was Favre's cinderella story that even I, a Giants fan, would not be upset if he beat said Giants to get to another Super Bowl.
At the end of the 2007 season, Favre decided to take the pundits up on their advice. He tearfully announced his retirement and the Packers began grooming his replacement, Aaron Rodgers, to take over the starting QB job.
Favre showed a lot of class then. And he built up a lot of goodwill with me in those days. But that goodwill is almost all used up.
Favre has decided that he wants to play football again, And he wants to play someplace other than Green Bay because he asked the team to realease him (The Packers still hold the option on his contract).
The Packers refused. Two of the NFL teams in most need of a QB are Chicago and Minnesota, the Packers' divisional rivals. If Brett wants to play, he can play in Green Bay. If he wins the starting job, they'd be happy to have him.
This isn't good enough for Brett, so a pissing match began.
I have to say, Favre is coming of like an arrogant jerk in this thing. Just look at what he said in an interview with FOX about the situation.
On competing for the Packers job:
"Why? That's what I would ask them: Why?"
On possibly being Rodgers back up:
"We'll pay you $12 million, but you've got to hold the clipboard and ball cap? That's probably better for them as opposed to letting me go somewhere and me coming back. Then their legacy, the management, would, you know, could be in jeopardy."
See, Favre's typical aw-shucks demenor seems to have been replaced by outright egotism.
You'd think he'd at least try to show some loyalty to the Packers. Granted, he didn't start out as a Packer--he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, but he wouldn't be as famous as he is if it wasn't for the legacy of the Packers, the team they built around them and the promotion they gave him.
But Favre is coming off like a petulant child "I want to pway footbawl! I want to pway qwarterback! I don't want to compete! I want to be weleased!"
But the situation created by his retirement kind of forced the Packers hand. The organization has gone above and beyond what's expected in giving their vote of confidence to Rodgers, as well they should. What are they supposed to do? "We are 100% percent behind Aaron Rodg--what? Brett wants to come back? Sorry kid, Brett's back. Get lost. We are 100% behind Brett Favre..."
It's not fair to Rodgers to just be put aside now just because Big Baby Brett decided to flip flop on the retirement issue. Fair would be Brett becoming a back up or at least competing for the job. But the competetive drive in Farve is to big for that!
I would like to know where Brett thinks he's going if the Packers do realease him. Not many teams want to spend a lot of money or offer a long term contract to a 38-year old quarterback, even one of Favre's caliber. And the ones who are willing to take the risk and willing to make Favre the starter are ones with a shaky QB situation and, frankly, pretty much suck as a team. I'm sure that because he made the 2007 Packers perform above expectations, he can do it for any team.
But usually, these teams also have very weak offensive lines that Favre will have to play behind. Need I mention that Favre is on the cover of the latest Madden game and the Madden Curse that anyone on the cover gets injured during the season? Think about that Mr. Iron Man.
I understand that Brett's competitive nature is part of what made him great and you can't just turn it off. But you have to think about the repurcussions of your actions. He retired. He caused the Pack to elevate Rodgers to their starting QB and put their faith in him. And they certainly don't want Favre playing for a divisional rival. Favre is hoping for a trade. I'm hoping he stays retired.
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