Number 4 is a pain in the a$$.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:29 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if someone from ESPN kidnapped Ted Thompson's wife and/or kids to force a trade of Favre to Minesota. The Monday Night ratings would be worth the jail time.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:16 am

Inuyasha wrote:The guy is such a d*****bag. And how pathetic were those people outside the stadium welcoming him back with signs, etc....

Why is that pathetic? Because they are welcoming back a player they love?

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:38 am

I live in the middle of this nightmare (or close to it), and all the media around here can;t stop talking about it. You think you're sick of hearing about it, try living in WI right now. It's the lead story almost every night, and 75% of talk radio is stuck on this subject.

I just skimmed through the latest posts, and here are some quick items I can comment on:

- Rodgers' contract runs throught next year. After the 2009 season he is a free agent. I assume it's unrestricted.

- Farve could veto any trade prior to his being reinstated. I believe that now that he is part of the team, they can trade him wherever they want. theoretically. Obviously, any team trading for him wants his assurance that he would report and play.

- It's been well know here ever since Thompson drafted Rodgers that he wanted Favre out of the picture. It's been a slow burn for the past three years, and I think that has had a lot to do with Favre's yearly retirement drama. Put yourself in his shoes for a minute. You've given your all for you emplooyer for years. Now a new CEO comes in and starts giving you signs you are not reall wanted. Do you think you wouldn't be a little bit disgruntled by that? I'm not saying Favre is 100% innocent, but there are reasons for his actions other than "he's a drama queen", or "he just wants the attention".

This has been building for a while now. I believe Favre retired with the thought that he could always come back if he changed his mind. I think he really wanted to retire from the Packers (and Thompson) and not from the game.

I go back and forth, but right now I blame this more on Thompson, Murphy, and McCarthy (in that order) than Favre. McCarthy is the one stuck in the middle. His press conference yesterday was full of lame excuses for not letting Favre back. How many other guys are on teh roster that are not 100% committed? I'm sure there are a few who just want a paycheck or some fame, and are cruising through at less than full potential. Now the HC wants to play phychiatrist. I think they had this set up from the beginning. They said they would welcome him back, but I don't think they ever inteded to put him back on their practice field.

Favre should never have retired in the first place. Neither side has handled this well. As a result, just about everyone loses form here on out.

Thompson & co. have severly damaged their reputations with Packer fans. The way this has been handled will also likely scare off any future big name free agents from coming here.

Rodgers is the innocent victim who will be analyized in microscopic detail. The only way he get sout of this cleanly is to win the Super Bowl. I would not be surprised if Rodgers leaves after 2009 no matter how he does here.

Favre will go to Tampa and get them into the playoffs. No super bowl run, but no complete failure.

I will be rooting for both the Packers and Favre this year. I just want the drama to end so the media can concentrate on something else. What's sad is that here was a guy loved by the entire state and a good portion of the country. He was one of the last "for the love of the game" guys and stuck with a single team for what seemed would be his entire career. Now the fairytale image has been tarnished and yet another sports hero is exposed as nothing all that special other than his gift to play a game.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:43 am

matthewk wrote: I will be rooting for both the Packers and Favre this year. I just want the drama to end so the media can concentrate on something else.

At this rate you're going to run out of teams to root against.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:46 am

RobVarak wrote:At this rate you're going to run out of teams to root against.

No one can call be a bandwagon jumper if I'm already on all of them!

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:10 am

I can't even watch ESPNNews anymore. I turned it on last night and they had a red banner running across the screen screaming, "BREAKING NEWS!!!!!"

For a second I actually thought something serious happened somewhere in the world. I was thinking, "Oh no, now what?"

What did they show next? Brett Favre pulling away from Packer's camp in an SUV.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:26 am

So Tampa Bay will have 3 Pro Bowl quarterbacks, at least 2 of whom are prima donnas ?

They going to do a circus act or something ? 20 razzle-dazzles a game ?

(Apologies for the gratuitous use of the term RZDZ, but I just found my original copy of Bowl Bound and was leafing through some of the stuff in it....my original introduction to US sports gaming)

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:30 am

Until there is a final resolution, I found the perfect avatar

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:51 pm

matthewk wrote: I go back and forth, but right now I blame this more on Thompson, Murphy, and McCarthy (in that order) than Favre. McCarthy is the one stuck in the middle. His press conference yesterday was full of lame excuses for not letting Favre back. How many other guys are on teh roster that are not 100% committed? I'm sure there are a few who just want a paycheck or some fame, and are cruising through at less than full potential. Now the HC wants to play phychiatrist. I think they had this set up from the beginning. They said they would welcome him back, but I don't think they ever inteded to put him back on their practice field.

Favre should never have retired in the first place. Neither side has handled this well. As a result, just about everyone loses form here on out.

Thompson & co. have severly damaged their reputations with Packer fans. The way this has been handled will also likely scare off any future big name free agents from coming here.

I was feeling the same way until I read this.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - A timeline of communication between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre, regarding Favre's decision to retire in March and request to be released this week, based on an Associated Press interview with Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson on Saturday:

-Week of Jan. 22: After the Packers' overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game, McCarthy tells Favre they hope to take a similar approach to his retirement decision as in the past, allowing Favre plenty of time to make his decision. They agree to talk regularly.

-Feb. 22: Thompson calls Favre after getting word that Favre was upset Thompson hadn't called him in a while. According to Thompson, Favre said, "Well, I don't know where that's coming from. That doesn't come from me. I'm fine with it." Thompson said he reassures Favre: "You know that Mike and me, we still think you can play, you're still our guy."

-Feb. 29: The beginning of free agency, the Packers' original target date for Favre's decision. "He told me that day, he said, 'Hey, if I needed to make a decision today, I would retire,"' McCarthy said. "I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. It's not that important. Ted and I have talked about it over and over again as far as, you're the priority and we didn't need to stick to that date. So you need more time? Sure. How much time do you need? He said, 'I'll tell you what. (Wife) Deanna and I are going to sit down this weekend, why don't you call me Monday?"'

-March 3: McCarthy travels to Austin, Texas, for his daughter's high school basketball banquet. At this point, McCarthy isn't worried.

"We thought for sure he was going to come back," McCarthy said. "I thought he was working, just going through the process, and he needed more time."

But Favre surprises McCarthy by calling and saying he "can not commit 100 percent" to football and is going to retire. McCarthy says he offers Favre the chance to return with a guarantee that he wouldn't have to take as many repetitions in practice.

No deal. McCarthy travels back to Green Bay and the Packers announce Favre's retirement decision March 4.

-March 6: Favre's tearful press conference. McCarthy says he is surprised at how honest Favre is about the reasons behind his decision - particularly about not being able to commit 100 percent to football.

-Week of March 24: During the coaching staff's spring break, Packers offensive line coach James Campen, whose in-laws live in New Orleans, goes up to visit Favre in Mississippi on March 26. On the 27th, Campen tells McCarthy Favre is having second thoughts and McCarthy should call him.

He does, and learns that Favre indeed is having second thoughts. McCarthy and Thompson decide they will welcome him back. They secure a private jet from a Packers board member to visit Favre in person and seal the deal.

-March 29: Favre calls McCarthy to deliver a message: Thanks, but no thanks.

"He felt at this point we had reached a point of closure," McCarthy said. "Those were his words. And he was going to stick with his initial decision."

-McCarthy talks to Favre again the week of April 7 and April 14 and on April 24. On the 24th, McCarthy explains the team's decision to place Favre on the reserve/retired list.

-May 6: With the NFL draft out of the way, Thompson visits Favre in Mississippi and has lunch on his back porch. Thompson says they have a "good conversation," but don't spend too much time talking about the idea that he might be having second thoughts.

"We didn't talk specifically about it," Thompson says. "But he mentioned several things where there was always indecisiveness, or he was wondering if he made the right decision. I think that's normal."

-June 7: During a staff retreat in Kohler, Wis., Campen says he's worried about Favre. McCarthy tells Campen to go to Mississippi - not as an official team intermediary, but as Favre's friend.

-June 16-20: Acting on Campen's advice, McCarthy calls Favre. They play phone tag for a few days but eventually connect. "You and Ted need to have a plan if I do come back," Favre says, according to McCarthy. "Either give me my helmet or give me my release."

At that point, McCarthy asks Favre if he was 100 percent committed to a return. "He said, 'No, no, I'm not saying I'm there yet."'

-June 20-early July: Favre and Campen talk regularly, and Favre's agent, Bus Cook, begins passing messages to the team through Campen. "James was put in a tough spot, and I think he's totally been wrongly illustrated in this," McCarthy said.

-July 4: Favre sends a text message to Thompson, who responds by saying he is traveling and asks if they can talk Monday. Cook begins texting Thompson, and a conference call is arranged.

-July 8: A conference call is scheduled involving Favre, Cook, Thompson, McCarthy and Russ Ball, the team's VP of football administration/player finance, to discuss Favre's request for a release. McCarthy asks Favre if he is 100 percent committed to football - and for the first time throughout the entire offseason, Favre says yes.

"We're trying to be as respectful to him and his legacy as possible, but that's an important piece of the puzzle," McCarthy said. "As an organization, Ted and I, that's the first time any communication to us was, he was committed to play."

The Packers then receive a letter from Cook requesting his release.

"That brings us to where we are, which is a very difficult situation," Thompson said.

-July 27: Packer players report to camp, without Favre, as the quarterback agrees to let Thompson try to work out a trade solution in hopes of keeping Favre from coming to Green Bay. However, only two teams reportedly made an inquiry for the future Hall of Famer — the Jets and Buccaneers, neither teams on Favre's short list of alternative targets.

-July 29: Favre finally faxes his official request for reinstatement to the league. With NFL commissioner Roger Goodell now heavily involved in negotiations between Favre and the Packers, Goodell allows the organization and its former player more time to resolve the situation before ruling on Favre's reinstatement.

-July 30: Reports leak that Packers president Mark Murphy flies to Mississippi to extend a lucrative olive branch: $20 million over 10 years for Favre to stay retired and remain with the Packer organization in a marketing capacity. With Favre considering the offer, Goodell again publicly says he will wait to levy a decision.

I don't blame Thompson anymore. I blame Favre. WTF kind of game was he trying to play with the front office? They sucked his ass all summer,flying back and forth to Mississippi and he makes no commitment. f*** him. I always believed he was a team player. Remember his comments to Javon Walker when he was holding out? Pot calling the kettle black. As a lifelong Packer fan I am sad to see his career with The Pack end so badly,but he brought this on himself.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:51 pm

I'm not a Favre fan, hell I am a Bears fan, but c'mon. That whole article reads of PR spin. All the quotes are from the Packers coach and GM. They position them in that story as exact quotes. What did they tape record every meeting, are their memories that good they remember conversation from 6 months ago.

There are covering their ass and they better do a better job then this BS cover story. Cause when they trade him and if they end up sucking they are the ones who are going to take the hit.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:55 pm

I read that same timeline in the JournalSentinel here a few weeks back. The thing is, it's Thompson's timeline. Brett has been vague on details, but he has mentioned a few times that what's been put out in the public has not all been truthful.

MY guess is that the truth lies somewhere in between what Favre and Thompson are saying.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:51 pm

matthewk wrote:I read that same timeline in the JournalSentinel here a few weeks back. The thing is, it's Thompson's timeline. Brett has been vague on details, but he has mentioned a few times that what's been put out in the public has not all been truthful.

MY guess is that the truth lies somewhere in between what Favre and Thompson are saying.

I am sure your right. I just want to enjoy the start of another Packer season without hearing about this crap anymore. I hope he's traded by the end of the day. Time to move on. This is just f***in up a very good team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:54 pm

Danimal wrote:I'm not a Favre fan, hell I am a Bears fan, but c'mon. That whole article reads of PR spin. All the quotes are from the Packers coach and GM. They position them in that story as exact quotes. What did they tape record every meeting, are their memories that good they remember conversation from 6 months ago.

There are covering their ass and they better do a better job then this BS cover story. Cause when they trade him and if they end up sucking they are the ones who are going to take the hit.

Sucking?? I guess a Bears fan would know and understand that concept well.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:43 pm

JackDog wrote:
Danimal wrote:I'm not a Favre fan, hell I am a Bears fan, but c'mon. That whole article reads of PR spin. All the quotes are from the Packers coach and GM. They position them in that story as exact quotes. What did they tape record every meeting, are their memories that good they remember conversation from 6 months ago.

There are covering their ass and they better do a better job then this BS cover story. Cause when they trade him and if they end up sucking they are the ones who are going to take the hit.
Sucking?? I guess a Bears fan would know and understand that concept well.

I said IF they end up sucking.

As for the rest not worth getting into it, you guys lose your fair share of games, and I'm sure the Bears are going to lose many this year. Neither team will make the playoffs.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:07 pm

Danimal wrote:
JackDog wrote:
Danimal wrote:I'm not a Favre fan, hell I am a Bears fan, but c'mon. That whole article reads of PR spin. All the quotes are from the Packers coach and GM. They position them in that story as exact quotes. What did they tape record every meeting, are their memories that good they remember conversation from 6 months ago.

There are covering their ass and they better do a better job then this BS cover story. Cause when they trade him and if they end up sucking they are the ones who are going to take the hit.
Sucking?? I guess a Bears fan would know and understand that concept well.
I said IF they end up sucking.

As for the rest not worth getting into it, you guys lose your fair share of games, and I'm sure the Bears are going to lose many this year. Neither team will make the playoffs.

I'll bet ya 50 bucks the Packers do.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:12 pm

Tell you what if the Packers make the playoffs I'll donate $50 to the Wounded Warriors project, if they don't I'll donate $25 and you need to change your avatar to a Bear logo until the Superbowl is over.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:46 pm

matthewk wrote:
Inuyasha wrote:The guy is such a d*****bag. And how pathetic were those people outside the stadium welcoming him back with signs, etc....
Why is that pathetic? Because they are welcoming back a player they love?

Because it's the middle of the summer, isn't there anything better for these people to do?

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:01 pm

Danimal wrote:Tell you what if the Packers make the playoffs I'll donate $50 to the Wounded Warriors project, if they don't I'll donate $25 and you need to change your avatar to a Bear logo until the Superbowl is over.

Done! Great bet my friend. Thanks!!

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:06 pm

Vikings are going to roll over everyone in the NFC North.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:15 pm

Inuyasha wrote:Vikings are going to roll over everyone in the NFC North.

They need a QB. Jackson is horrid.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:16 pm

JackDog wrote:
Inuyasha wrote:Vikings are going to roll over everyone in the NFC North.

They need a QB. Jackson is horrid.

I was just about to say not without a qb.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:55 pm

They can run all over everyone, they don't need a superstar QB. Just one that will lessen mistakes.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:57 pm

Inuyasha wrote:They can run all over everyone, they don't need a superstar QB. Just one that will lessen mistakes.

I agree. They just need a guy who can manage the game. I just dont see him up to the task in the same way I dont see Grosmann up to it in Chicago.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:32 pm

Inuyasha wrote:They can run all over everyone, they don't need a superstar QB. Just one that will lessen mistakes.

They don't have that either.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:15 pm

What are the chances the Packers hold on to Favre until final cuts, not letting him in camp and then they cut him.

So by time he works out a deal, gets into someone team and up to speed on the system half the season is over?

Could they be dickish enough to do that? Seems to me they are saying we don't want you, but we don't want anyone els to have you.