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As we continue to ponder the most compelling personnel predicament that arguably any team has faced in NFL history (we challenge you to come up with a thornier problem that any team has faced), we had a thought.
What if the Packers release Favre with the understanding that he won’t sign with another team in the NFC North?
This would help the team save some face, preventing the potential fiasco of Favre showing up at Lambeau Field again this year playing for the Lions or Vikings or Bears (oh sh-t).
The only problem is that, per NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the rule prohibit such an agreement.
Of course, it doesn’t prevent a gentleman’s agreement to this effect. But, then again, such a deal would be completely unenforceable.
Another possibility would be for the Packers to give Favre permission to shop himself via trade to any team but the teams of the NFC North. This is something that has been done in the past with other players, by other franchises.
The problem with that approach is that things need to happen pretty quickly. And if Favre can’t find any takers after getting a green (and gold) light to look for a new squad, how could he go back to playing for the Packers?
PFT Planet has posed other possibilities, including welcoming Favre back and then benching him, and trading him straight up to the Fins for defensive end Jason Taylor.
Sorry, but neither will work. The fans would scream even more loudly if the Packers were to squat on Favre and his $12 million salary. And the moment that Aaron Rodgers one-hops a pass to Greg Jennings, there could be a European soccer-style outbreak of violence.
As to the Favre-for-Taylor pipe dream, keep in mind that Taylor isn’t interested in the Packers during the post-Favre era. J.T. lived through that mess for the past eight years in Miami, as the Dolphins tried helplessly and hopelessly to replace Dan Marino.
So there’s no middle ground on this one, no outside-the-box scheme that will solve the problem. The team’s choices are simple, and narrow: Welcome Brett back with open arms, or tell Brett to get bent.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I’m annoyed, but confident cooler heads will prevail, and Brett will stay out to pasture…Of course, this has probably already split the locker room, meaning no matter what, the packers are screwed this year…
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July 8th, 2008 at 10:17 am
The end of the Joe Montana era was a tough one.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I think the New York Jets make the most sense for everyone involved. Farve could finish his career on the biggest stage, the Jets could cut Chad Pennington, and Mangenious will have his gunslinger to go up against Brady and the Pats. The Jets will convince Farve they have done enough in upgrading their OL and Defense with their big name acquisitions. The Jets have little regard for money ( with the cap era all but gone), so I think this is the ‘best case scenario” (for the Packers, especially). The heady, gritty, but weak-armed Pennington could take a back-up role in Dallas or start in Chicago or perhaps Minnesota. The Jets will tell their two young Q.B.’s they can learn from a HOF’er; just be patient a year or so, just like Aaron Rodgers ( cough, cough)….
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:25 am
“And the moment that Aaron Rodgers one-hops a pass to Greg Jennings,
there could be a European soccer-style outbreak of violence.”
That pretty funny. Totally true too. Rodgers would have ZERO room for error. Forget an interception. 3 or 4 straight incompletions and he’d be back to clipboard duty or else the fans would be tearing down the stadium.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:26 am
If I were the Packers and I wasn’t interested in keeping the Favre era alive, then I would make it abundantly clear that he can come back, we’re going to keep him on the squad but it is in the best interest of the team that Brett serve in a mentoring role. In other words, if you force this down our throats you will regret it. I would never allow him to play for another team. & I’d make him pay for forcing us into this decision.
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Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Let Greenbay allow Favre to comeback and play behind Rogers. This will force him to either retire or play second fiddle.
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July 8th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Both sides just need to close the door and work out an agreement where the Pack & Brett agree than Favre just wants to play for another team closer to home. Houston would work well and the Pack looks good for letting Brett do what he wants.
Brett must be in his glory being prom queen of the NFL at the moment again. Rumor has it Madden has proposed having Favre ride the bus with him and playing on Sunday Night for the home team every week. He wants to change the name to Sunday Night Favreball.
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am
only option that will prevent a lynch mob is to allow him to return. They won’t have to retool the offense that much. Outside of rookies who they want to contribute, they won’t have to un-learn much and the offense they used for the last umpteen years can be resurrected. I don’t pity Ted Thompson here though…never much liked him either, but he is in a no-win situation, and it seems like it is trickling down to the head coach as well. Favre could make it easier for the team and the fans by actually COMMENTING so more sense could be made and the team, the fans and the NFL as a whole can move forward a mere month before preseason games start.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am
i really have never understood the utter fear of a guy wearing a different uniform. this has to be one of the most overblown exaggerated things in sports. seriously, big-damn-deal. what the hell is so utterly terribly horrible? i’ve never understood what the hell the big deal is if a guy finishes the last year or 2 on another team.
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Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Not many teams are going to win a Super Bowl with a 1st year QB. #4 was menataly and physically spent after last season. Coach MM has said he thought #4 would want want to come back. The Pack will work it out to bring him back. You must have 2 good QB’s. Rogers health has been a little suspect. If Rogers goes down does anyone really think the Packers will go to a rookie at QB? The sidelines will be the same as last year. 4 starting and Rogers holding the clipboard.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:37 am
This is more or less in line with welcoming Favre back with open arms, but I still don’t see the problem with letting him come to camp claiming an open QB competition (I’m picturing a phrase like “Aaron has shown he has starter ability, Brett obviously does and Brian is in that mix too”) that Favre will inevitably win.
What is the worst that happens? You piss off Rodgers to the point that he demands to leave? Great, bye, is anyone REALLY sold on Rodgers? I think I’d be more than willing to have Favre back for a year, some sort of compensation for Rodgers, and begin grooming Brohm, who very well could have been a 1st rounder in the 2007 draft.
I really just don’t see the downside to this plan, Rodgers might not even cause a stink. I don’t think this will kill the locker room either, its not like they are welcoming back some has been, Favre obviously had a great 2007.
Am I missing something here? Why not go with this plan?
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Yeah, but what if your ex-girlfriend was better in bed and got you into the big parties every year with her connections.
Come on - Mark Murphy, new Packers president said on Feb. 28 at the Milwaukee Press Club when we all assumed Favre was coming back:
” I believe that Brett will be back. He gives us the best chance of winning the SuperBowl this season.”
What has changed. The fact that TT and MM want to make their own mark on the team ala Wolf and Holmgren is understandable and you may lose Rodgers when his contract is up - Favre is better and they signed Brohm who could be the next star.
This all assumes that Rodgers will be the Young to Favre’s Montana. Big stretch. Montana’s numbers were slipping and his contract was up and Young was proven in the “other” pro league.
Rodgers has been hurt in every limited appearance and only has looked really good in the one Dallas game.
I am a diehard Packer fan and a Favre lover and I am really sick of hearing this after three seasons. It sucks forus to have this happen. The one thing in all of this is that Brett talked with Mac and sent a text to TT. He has not contacted the media except to say that it is all rumor so it is the media and those close to Favre and the Packers that are blowing this up.
Brett owes us all an apology - then he is welcome back. There is no way in hell he will ever play for a competing NFC North team. Can you imagine him suiting up for the Vikings in the season opener in Lambeau that was supposed to be his retirement ceremony and leading the Vikes to a last second victory against the Pack and Brohm when Rodgers goes down in the third quarter. INSANE.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:41 am
How about March 29, 1984 … when Robert Irsay moved the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis in the middle of the night, without warning or legal approval. I’m sure Johnny Unitas would have thought that was pretty thorny.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
It’s always been my opinion that there are maybe 10 guys in the world who can effectivly play QB in the NFL. Favre is, was, and can still be one of them. I strongly disagree with the way he holds this organization hostage every year, but if he decides to come back, lets stop the rumors right now… the Packers have NO CHOICE but to take him back. How else would they avoid the PR nightmare that would ensue? Why would any other team want this guy for one year with the exception of maybe a few franchises that are developing number 1 guys. You CAN NOT build a team around him. He’s a Packer, not because I can’t picture him in another jersey, just because thats the way it is.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
You don’t trade Favre for Taylor - you trade Rogers for Taylor and Chad Henne, with the expectation that Favre will be the QB for this year and next year.
GB would then have three QBs competing for Favre’s spot (Brohm, Flynn, and Henne), Rogers would have his starting job, and the Packers would be set to make a good run at the SB.
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Rating: 2.85 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Here is the solution. Give Brett to Washington. Favre knows this system. It’s the same one he used under Walrus, he could step in lead us to the post season, and walk out in two - three years once Brennan (whom Zorn loves) is ready. And we can trade Campbell to Chicago for Marcus Harrison and Mark Anderson. We get depth at d-line, Chicago gets a QB who can play their system.
//drools
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Rating: 2.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Oh how terrible. A Hall of Fame caliber QB wants to play for your team. It might shake the confidence of some guy who’s never started a game. Boo hoo.
Sorry, Mike, this is not even close to the toughest personnel decision ever. Not even in the top 100. Welcome back a future Hall of Famer who just played one of his best seasons vs roll with a Tedford guy who probably can’t play. What’s difficult about that?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I’m a huge BF fan (obviously), but he seems to be handling this very poorly and selfishly. He’s allowing his surrogates - his mom, his brother, Bus Cook and Al Jones - to rip TT in the media, which is harmful to the team.
TT and MM have given Brett the chance to go out (either now or later) as a Super Bowl contender…so he should get off their cases. And MM has admitted that he tried to convince Favre to come back in March…so Brett has no reason to feel spurned.
So declare yourself now, Brett, and show up for camp if you want to play. We may or may not take you back. But stop playing games and hurting the team.
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:13 am
“It’s always been my opinion that there are maybe 10 guys in the world who can effectivly play QB in the NFL. Favre is, was, and can still be one of them.”
Well said, kellyb9. This is exactly correct.
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I know a lot of Packer fans are worried about Favre ending up in Minnesota. On the surface it seems like a logical move — an owner willing to spend and take risks to build a winning team and the Vikings are one of the few playoff-caliber teams that could use an upgrade at QB.
But I’m not convinced this would be a good move for the Viking for a couple of reasons:
1. While some Viking fans respect Favre despite playing for the Packers, many loathe him for the idolatry and lack of criticism he received the second half of his career when we saw how many game-changing mistakes he made without taking or receiving much blame.
If he played for the Vikings and made the same mistakes that cost them a chance of winning, he would be more hated in Minnesota as the Viking QB than he ever was as the Packers QB. Not to mention Favre’s psyche of be hated by him own team’s fan base. For an owner trying to gain support for a new stadium, if this move backfired for Zygi Wilf, it could have negative impact on the stadium issue.
2. Brad Childress’ coaching tenure in Minnesota hinges on the controversial selection of Tavaris Jackson as the QB to develop and build the team around. After passing on opportunities to bring in veteran starters in order to groom Tavaris for two years — sticking with him as he made mistakes to learn from last year — this is suppose to be Jackson’s “prove it” year, much like this is suppose to be Aaron Rogers “prove it” year in Green Bay. Benching Jackson in favor of Favre before the season starts would be Zygi Wilf’s way of showing he doesn’t have the same faith Childress’ decisions and philosophy of building a team. And when the owner loses (or is perceived to have lost) faith in his coach, it often seeps down to the players who just started warming up to Childress midway last season after struggling to buy into his coaching style for his first season-and-a-half.
Basically, the move would be brilliant if it worked out and the Vikings won with Favre while the Packers lost with Rogers. But if the Vikings lost with Favre, the impact would be much worse than losing with Jackson.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’m surprised that no one else has realized that there is another option: Let him return and then place him on IR. Even if Rogers is sending bounce passes, he wouldn’t be eligible to return under any circumstances.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Why is the reinstatement letter coming “in the next 10 days?” Why wait? If he’s coming, send that baby out yesterday…
The reason you can’t stand to see players you’ve rooted for wearing another jersey is the same principle as seeing your ex-girlfriend with another guy…they wanted someone else more than they wanted you. It’s especially tricky because Favre has been so intertwined within the legend of the Packers that the thought of him playing for someone else is distasteful.
After his last pass last year, I said “You live by the Favre, you die by the Favre.” Time for some other team’s fans to take it in the nuts after he throws a costly interception…
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Can anyone imagine how dangerous the Vikings would be with Brett Farve at QB?
Wow… that team would be unstoppable.
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
VikingsFan23 you are clearly an Idiot. Why would the fins give up both Taylor and Henne for Rogers who hasn`t done anything yet?
I`m not a Fins or Packers fan but I know football and if Parcells wouldn`t give up Taylor for a 4th round pick he ain`t gonna pull the triger on this deal.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:59 am
If all of this is true (that is contrary to what he has been saying) which is he wants to return, I will lose ALL respect I had for this guy. No sympathy whatsoever. All his words about “The Team” “OUR accomplishments, blah blah blah would just prove what a hoax this guy is.
I hope the brass will not let him come back (and I am a Packer fan to my death). If he should force himself back for his own greed, I hope they boo him to no end. Forget retiring his number for that matter. Time to get rid of these primadana’s. He could have been remembered as somewhat of a legend, now he’ll be remembered as and idiot.
Again, I hope he is not or has no intention of returning.
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