The OTHER problem this creates is the more likely scenario that Rodgers walks after this year if he is not traded. I beleive his contract expires at the end of this season. If I were him, I'd pack my bags and walk after how horribly both the Packers and Favre have handled this situation.
"Marriage is like that show ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, but it’s not funny. All the problems are the same, but you know instead of all the funny, pithy dialogue, everybody is really pissed off and tense. Marriage is like a tense, unfunny version of 'Everybody Loves Raymond', only it doesn't last 22 minutes. It lasts forever."
As the most bizarre story we’ve ever seen continues to get more and more bizarre, now comes word that the Packers have hired former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer as a consultant, according to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com.
Originally posted by WpobThe OTHER problem this creates is the more likely scenario that Rodgers walks after this year if he is not traded. I beleive his contract expires at the end of this season. If I were him, I'd pack my bags and walk after how horribly both the Packers and Favre have handled this situation.
Rodgers has another year on his contract after this season. That's presumably why the Packers want to see him start this year, so that they can determine how to negotiate with him next year.
Originally posted by odessastepsfrom pro football talk:
As the most bizarre story we’ve ever seen continues to get more and more bizarre, now comes word that the Packers have hired former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer as a consultant, according to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com.
Because nobody knows how to make a situation better than someone from the Bush administration! Wait....
“How is it that I am a good actor? What I do is I... pretend to be the person I’m portraying. You’re confused. Case in point: in Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson comes to me and says ‘I would like you to be Gandalf the Wizard,’ and I said ‘You are aware that I am not really a wizard?’ and Peter Jackson said ‘I would like you to use your acting skills to portray a wizard for the duration of the show.’ So I said ‘Okay’ and then I said to myself ‘Mmm.. How do I do that?’ And this is what I did: I imagined that I was a wizard, and then I pretended, and acted, in that way on the stage. How did I know what to say? The words were written down for me in a script. How did I know where to stand? People told me where to stand." -- Sir Ian McKellen, Extras
The Green Bay Packers have called a 5 p.m. news conference that will be streamed live here at kare11.com.
Earlier, Brett Favre left Lambeau Field just a half-hour before practice Tuesday afternoon and after talking more with Packers coach Mike McCarthy and telling ESPN in an interview the "best thing ... is for us to part ways."
The disagreement on Favre's role could accelerate trade talks, perhaps with the Minnesota Vikings -- something Packers officials have suspected Favre wanted all along.
"We're at a stalemate," Favre told ESPN Tuesday morning. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."
Favre said he doesn't have a problem with competing with Rodgers for the starting job, and can "truly understand" why McCarthy would make Rodgers the starter. But Favre also said a competition "probably isn't going to work" and that "the problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it."
McCarthy had scheduled a news conference for 9:15 p.m. Monday to talk about his plans for Favre. But the news conference was postponed because McCarthy was still meeting with Favre, and hadn't been rescheduled as of noon Tuesday.
Both Favre and McCarthy finally drove out a back gate at Lambeau at 12:22 a.m. Tuesday. Favre waved to a small crowd of fans and media from his dark red SUV, and McCarthy followed immediately behind him in a black SUV.
Favre officially was reinstated and restored to the team's active roster Monday. Going into Monday night's meeting with Favre, McCarthy was focused on trying to figure out whether Favre really was 100 percent committed to playing again.
McCarthy said Favre's answers would go a long way toward formulating the team's approach to its quarterback position this season.
"There have been no promises," McCarthy said Sunday night, the most recent comment by a team official on Favre's situation. "Once again, there has been indecision throughout Brett's path back here to Green Bay. It's important for us to sit down and communicate. There are some things we need to go through."
At least one aspect of the Favre saga has been resolved: The Vikings won't be punished for alleged tampering with Favre.
Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled Monday that he found no violations of league policy in the Packers' tampering complaint against Minnesota Vikings. The Packers filed tampering charges last month, suspecting that interest from the Vikings was the main reason Favre had suddenly changed his mind about playing in 2008.
And Minnesota coach Brad Childress denied reports that the Vikings have talked to the Packers about a potential trade for Favre.
"We haven't had any contact" with the Packers, Childress said Monday.
Vikings coaches apparently did have contact with Favre in the offseason, but Goodell found that their conversations didn't violate league tampering rules. In a statement, Goodell said, "None of those conversations suggest that Favre was soliciting a job or that other teams were soliciting his services."
The Packers reluctantly embraced Favre's forced return to the football field Sunday, after failing to come to a financial agreement that would manage to make Favre happy while staying retired. And while Favre's role remains unclear, Rodgers said Sunday that he's ready for a potential competition.
"I know if they do open it up to competition, not a lot of people give me a chance, but I believe in myself and I'm going to be the best I can be," Rodgers said. ---------------------------------------------------------
Favre says of situation: 'This probably isn't going to work'
Updated: August 5, 2008, 4:39 PM ET Comment Email Print Brett Favre Leaves Packers Facility For The DayGreen Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre went into a meeting Tuesday morning acknowledging that he was at a "stalemate" with the team and believed the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways."
Favre left practice shortly before 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, telling ESPN's Wendi Nix that he was not going to practice. He said there would be another meeting with his family and Packers general manager Ted Thompson to discuss trade possibilities, in hope of resolving the situation. That meeting at Favre's house ended at 3:45 p.m. ET.
"We're at a stalemate," Favre said. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner [Roger Goodell] reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."
Favre said the team once again rejected his request to talk to teams about a trade within the NFC North -- preferably to the Minnesota Vikings or possibly the Chicago Bears.
But a source involved in the discussions told ESPN's Ed Werder that Favre is talking to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about a possible trade there.
Favre left without practicing on Tuesday, but sources told Nix that his wife, Deanna, and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, were encouraging him to practice.
Favre clarified reports that he and the Packers have backpedaled on the premise that there would be an open competition with Aaron Rodgers for the starting job.
"Mike told me, hey, we're a better team with you on it but wanted to know if I have a problem with an open competition," Favre said. "I don't have a problem with competing -- you know that, but Aaron should be the starter right now because he's been out here all this time. This is more than about an open competition and I can do that, absolutely, but this is going to be mass confusion and that's not good for this team.
"I'll practice my butt off, if it comes to that, and I think we all know what the end result will be, but this probably isn't going to work. And I truly understand that if I was in Mike's shoes, I'd see it basically the same way he sees it, I'm sure. And I think if he was in my shoes, he'd see it my way. I think we both agree on that.
"They want to know if I'm committed but I want to know if they're 100 percent committed. The problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it. Stuff has been said, stories planted, that just aren't true. Can I get over all that? I doubt it."
Favre, who officially returned from retirement Sunday, met with McCarthy for 5½ hours on Monday night without reaching a resolution. The meeting went long enough that McCarthy had to postpone a planned briefing with the media.
Favre announced his retirement on March 6, and the Packers moved ahead with Rodgers, Favre's former understudy, as the team's new starting quarterback. But Favre, still under contract with the Packers, then followed through on hints that he was interested in a return to the NFL.
The Packers have attempted to work out a trade outside the NFC North, with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported as likely suitors, but to no avail. And last week, team president Mark Murphy flew to Mississippi to discuss a marketing deal for Favre worth a reported $25 million. Favre has not accepted that deal, either.
Asked what stories have been "planted," Favre alluded to the reports that said he waffled on unretiring in late March or early April. He said that's "just not the way it went down, at all."
He also expressed anger with the stories that alleged he had a team-issued cell phone that showed the Vikings were tampering with him.
"Again, that was bull on both parts," he said.
"Then," Favre said, "they tried to buy me off to stay retired."
He added, "So they can say they welcome me back but, come on, the way they've treated me tells you the truth. They don't want me back, so let's move on. I don't know where it's headed. We'll see." ---------------------------------------------------------
Word was that yesterday, Tavarius Jackson had nine interceptions in camp, and that Aaron Rodgers didn't have that spectacular of a day. Word also is that Favre hit %70 of his throws. How the hell wouldn't this work for anyone. Oh well, we'll find out in a bit. Stay tuned, sports fans!!
Poor Mike McCarthy - one answer for a half hour grilling by the media. Obviously he wasn't allowed to say anything else, but it made him look a bit like Admiral Stockdale in that '92 Veep debate. Maybe the new press chief should conduct his own press conferences?
Per McCarthy, apparently Brett Favre is out of his mind. I mean, playing QB for the Packers is not his mindset at this time. The Packers don't want Favre back on the team, and they won't risk Brett coming back to haunt them in a Viking or Bear uniform. So now a trade to Tampa is the 'out', with absolutely no other way to work this out without even more "armageddon".
So now that there are no winners coming out of this regardless of how it finally shakes out, isn't Favre's move here to drop a hint to Gruden that he's not enthusiastic about the Bucs?
Originally posted by TheOldManSo now that there are no winners coming out of this regardless of how it finally shakes out, isn't Favre's move here to drop a hint to Gruden that he's not enthusiastic about the Bucs?
ESPN and others are saying Favre's willing to go to the Bucs and a deal could be worked out in the next day or so which I figure spells the end for Jeff Garcia out Tampa way.
I dunno, if I'm a Vikings fan I wouldn't be too upset at the idea of getting Garcia for (comparatively) buttons rather than give up a 1st/2nd rounder and $12m for Brett.
Originally posted by JimBob SkeeterWord was that yesterday, Tavarius Jackson had nine interceptions in camp, and that Aaron Rodgers didn't have that spectacular of a day. Word also is that Favre hit %70 of his throws. How the hell wouldn't this work for anyone.
Word from who? Not saying you're wrong or anything (I clearly wasn't there) but by all accounts I've read (myespn.go.com), Favre left without practising. Word smells fishy I say.
Originally posted by dMrWord from who? Not saying you're wrong or anything (I clearly wasn't there) but by all accounts I've read (myespn.go.com), Favre left without practising. Word smells fishy I say.
That's what the local sports guys (PA & Dubay) said yesterday morning. Listen to them evry morning at work. But now that you say it, he did leave without practicing, didn't he. Dubay is off this week and it was one of the fill in guys that said it.
Originally posted by dMrWord from who? Not saying you're wrong or anything (I clearly wasn't there) but by all accounts I've read (myespn.go.com), Favre left without practising. Word smells fishy I say.
That's what the local sports guys (PA & Dubay) said yesterday morning. Listen to them evry morning at work. But now that you say it, he did leave without practicing, didn't he. Dubay is off this week and it was one of the fill in guys that said it.
He did not practice and Coach McCarthy could not have been clearer in his press conference that Brett will not be a part of the Packers this year.
I realize he is a HOF player, but he is clearly making an ass of himself and tarnishing what is otherwise a pretty good image. He is coming across as a total me-first kind of guy (as a lot of star players tend to do). He said he wanted to play in Green Bay, then said he did not all the while pushing the team to make him a Viking. If he thinks the Packers are going to deal him within the division, he's crazy. He needs to accept a trade to the Bucs or the Jets or go back to Mississippi and tend to the farm and hit golf balls.
Originally posted by DrOphe is clearly making an ass of himself and tarnishing what is otherwise a pretty good image. He is coming across as a total me-first kind of guy (as a lot of star players tend to do). He said he wanted to play in Green Bay, then said he did not all the while pushing the team to make him a Viking.
I disagree and I think a lot of this is a product of the limited opportunities available for guys to actually play. In the real world, one might let Rodgers and Favre work side-by-side, but in the NFL only one guy can play, so there's no chance of that happening.
I'm not sure what Brett is supposed to do differently. If he'd said in March he was coming back, there would be ZERO "Aaron Rodgers is our QB"-discussion, and everyone knows that. I don't think it is that selfish for Brett to say "we all know I'm better so I should play". If anything, it is just as selfish of the coaches and management of the Packers to make 52 players compete with their second-best option at QB, isn't it?
Further, since there are only 32 playing spots and since Brett is 38 years old, I don't think it reflect poorly on him that he's asking to be sent somewhere he can actually play if it won't be Green Bay.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Originally posted by JayJayDean I'm not sure what Brett is supposed to do differently.
If he'd said in March he was coming back, there would be ZERO "Aaron Rodgers is our QB"-discussion, and everyone knows that. I don't think it is that selfish for Brett to say "we all know I'm better so I should play".
But he didn't say he was returning--he said he was retiring. Brett has done nothing but leaked information and lied throughout this process. This is not about Brett being better than Rodgers (which we all know he is). This is about keeping your word and not upending all the work the organization and players have done.
How many times would you let a partner dump you or drag you through an emotional roller coaster before you decided to move on? I see this as no different.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanIf anything, it is just as selfish of the coaches and management of the Packers to make 52 players compete with their second-best option at QB, isn't it?
I disagree. They are not making the team play with an inferior quarterback. Brett said he was retiring. The organization has dealt with his "will he play or won't he play" drama for several off seasons. He said he was retiring, the organization (finally) took him at his word and moved on by concentrating their efforts on their young QB.
It's unfair of him to think that the organization should scrap every plan they have made over the past 4 months or so because he has the fleeting (his mind changes daily it would seem) urge to play again. They took him at his word and moved on and now he is saying "sike!" and he wants them to undo everything they have done. I don't agree with doing that.
Originally posted by DrOpHow many times would you let a partner dump you or drag you through an emotional roller coaster before you decided to move on? I see this as no different.
To be fair, though, up until this year all that happened every year was that Brett seemingly took a long time to decide to keep playing. It just seems like at some point common sense would prevail and the team would do it's best to put the best team out there. The Packers are apparently not subscribing to that line of thinking.
Besides, all the damn Packers need to do is put Brett out there, let the Madden Curse do its thing, then they've got Brett on crutches on the sidelines with Rodgers playing QB, right? RIght?
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
My personal belief, based on nothing more than a gut feeling and reading between the lines of the incomplete information available through the media, is that Favre felt 'bullied' by Thompson into either retiring or committing to 2-3 years neither of which was what he wanted to do. Nor did he wish to make the decision as soon after the season as he did.
Meanwhile, Ted Thompson is the kind of business-side guy who doesn't roll with the punches well and needs to have a plan in place to follow all the time. Favre doesn't fit that, and Aaron Rodgers was a huge investment slipping away, so he forced Favre's hand.
Favre could have done a better job with all of this.
The Packers could have done a better job with all of this.
I will enjoy rooting for the Pack this year, and I will enjoy rooting for Brett Favre wherever he lands (to be honest I'd prefer Tampa Bay, although that means Jeff Garcia gets shafted again, which would be a shame).
To me it's all just a sad reminder that this is all business and there is no room left for the word "loyalty" in professional sports.
Originally posted by dMrWord from who? Not saying you're wrong or anything (I clearly wasn't there) but by all accounts I've read (myespn.go.com), Favre left without practising. Word smells fishy I say.
That's what the local sports guys (PA & Dubay) said yesterday morning. Listen to them evry morning at work. But now that you say it, he did leave without practicing, didn't he. Dubay is off this week and it was one of the fill in guys that said it.
Ah, weird. Maybe he meant "Favre's a guy who can still complete 70% of his throws" or something. I would've thought keeping interceptions down to single figures in a day would constitute improvement for Tavaris though
Sadly neither the Packers or Favre come out of this looking great. I get that the Packers can't hang around every year waiting for a decision, and I get that on the other hand Brett wants time to make that decision but the way they've let it all play out in the media has been decidedly shoddy. And from people who should be far better versed in PR as well.
Aaron comes out of it looking every inch the pro though if you ask me. Hopefully he backs it up with a good season (but one that in no way, shape or form involves him beating the Iggles).
On the one hand, Aaron Rodgers has never beat out Favre for the starting gig in any season that they've had Aaron Rodgers. Ergo, barring some back room shenanigans betwixt the Packers and Favre, Favre has been a superior quarterback, and should be given the opportunity to play.
On the other, Favre did retire, and while it was silly of Green Bay to out and out refuse his return rather than handle it the way it's being handled now (sure, come practice and compete for your job against Rodgers), if he wasn't certain he would play again or not, he shouldn't have announced his return.
My answer is this; GB should not even consider dealing Brett Favre (heh, why anybody would want the quarterback who has the record for most career interceptions I'll never know ). Brett wants to play so bad, and play quarterback at that, fine. Let him try to get the spot in earnest competition. The only guaranteed starting position: part of the Wedge on Special Teams. If he has the heart to play that, then he has the heart to earn retarded money after showing his ass.
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
Oh my god, the teams I love in the NFL are the Bucs, Jets, and Ravens.
PLEASE TRADE HIM TO THE VIKINGS.
I am so sick of Brett Favre, now more than ever. I never liked him, but he is just pissing me off at this point. I just can't see this guy in a Bucs or Jets uniform. Maybe a Jets uniform since they're green too, but the Bucs? Ugh.
Also, I wonder if there's anything else happening in the sports world. ESPN sure isn't helping me figure that out right now.
I hear more and more people speculate that the incessant coverage (be it the Four Letter or all the sports media in general) of this story has helped turn people against Favre.
(I say that, in full disclosure, as someone who never liked him in the first place.) (disgruntled Lions fan)
Originally posted by Jay GlazerThe Brett Favre era in Green Bay is now officially over. But Favre's legendary career is not.
The month-long saga has finally come to an end, with the Packers agreeing to trade their future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to the New York Jets, FOXSports.com has learned.
The exact compensation was not immediately known, but it is believed to be a single draft pick that increases in value depending upon how the Jets perform during the 2008 season.
So Favre gets to stay green and Chad Pennington gets to look for a new home. Full story here (msn.foxsports.com)
"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." - Isaiah 58:7 (New Living Translation)
What was up the Jets horrendous play calling? You would Testaverde would know to audible when a run is called on 3rd and 3 and ALL the white jerseys are lined up on line.