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Packers president Mark Murphy, a fairly new hire who surely has wondered at times over the past week just what in the hell he has gotten himself into, said on Friday that he has “full confidence” in the manner in which coach Mike McCarthy and G.M. Ted Thompson are handling the Brett Favre fiasco.
“I’ve worked closely with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy on this, and they have my full support,” Murphy said.
It’s not a surprise. Surely, Thompson and McCarthy were smart enough to keep Murphy in the loop as decisions were made. And even if Murphy had misgivings about whether Thompson and McCarthy have ignored the short-term chance to win a Super Bowl by choosing Aaron Rodgers over Favre, would Murphy really say so?
Meanwhile, Favre worked out on Friday with a Mississippi high school team, and he spoke with the media only on the condition that no questions would be asked about the standoff with the Packers.
Maybe Brett has realized how stoopid he sounded when addressing the situation with Greta Van Susteren earlier this week on Fox News.
For some more about where this stands and where it all might lead, here’s a PFTV segment.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
What else is Murphy gonna say ? He has to live with Thompson as his GM for the next X amount of years.
One thing I find interesting that no one else has seemed to address is that last year, Favre, in large part by virtue of his runner-up MVP season and leading the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game, was instrumental in getting both GM Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy long-term contract extensions worth multi, multi millions of dollars … EACH.
If TT decides to dump Fvare last year, instead of this year, and the Packers struggle as most teams do with a first year starting quarterbacks and finish, say, 4-12 or 5-11, there’s the very real possibility that both are fired, and never get another GM and Head Coaching job again. I find it incredibly ironic, that now that the long-term extensions for TT and MM are in place, that NOW Thompson decides to crap all over his franchise quarterback.
Irregardless of how anyone feels about this entire Brett Favre saga, the #1 job for any GM is to win NOW. Tomorrow is promised to no one, and anyone that thinks Aaron Rodgers gives the Packers a better chance to win in 2008 than Brett Favre, needs to have their head examined.
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Rating: 2.85 / 5 with 17 rating(s)
July 18th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Okay, Florio, you have opened your mouth and uttered BS at least twice here and I feel compelled to jump in here.
First: OF COURSE Brett is being silent regarding the whole cluster whatchamacallit at this time. THIS WEEKEND is supposed to be all about three men…two he went to the SBs with, one of which is his best friend…who are being inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame tonight. The intention is clearly to get the spotlight as much as possible at this point refocused. BagoDonuts and the Gravedigger deserve that. Al Treml certainly deserves it. (I am curious how it will play out–HAS played out? Are they DONE?) at the banquet with Brett and family Favre and Thompson/McCarthy/Murphy and their families all present in one room. Might want to place Gilbert Brown’s still imposing frame between everyone.
Oh, the second thing I need to call you on. Did you LISTEN or READ THE TRANSCRIPTS of Brett’s interview? He clearly stated that his beed with the personnel decisions made by TT was not that his advice was not followed: It was that TT said or seemed to say he would do one thing to Brett’s face, then turned around and did something else, or that TT said one thing to HIM and another to the PUBLIC. Brett’s dad was a coach. All TT would’ve had to do was remind Brett that he (TT) was being paid the big $ to make the decisions. But at least to Brett, it appears that TT pretended to give Brett’s requests more credence than he did.
Sorry this was so long.
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Rating: 3.3 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 12:27 am
First:Nice Tie.
Second: Let your hair grow its to “high” and tight.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 12:32 am
um, with all due respect packfan, favre wasn’t the one responsible for thompson and mccarthy’s extensions; the success of the team as a whole was the reason. favre certainly contributed greatly to the win column but if it was favre and favre alone, well, mike sherman would have enjoyed a healthy long extension himself instead of being exiled to college ball.
the fact of the matter is that there is nothing in this whole mess that supports the blame that favre wants to cast upon the current regime. in fact, it’s very likely that without thompson’s keen insights and roster manuevering and mccarthy’s coaching skills that favre would have ran into retirement the minute the final snap played out in december.
i’ve been a packers fan for 38 years (my whole life) and i’m amazed at the amount of success this team seems poised to experience in the next few years. yet, for some reason other fans seem to want to chop down the tree that’s rebuilding the forest. why? thompson has not made one single move that has proven to be a mistake, and that’s a fact. if there was one it would be randy moss but moss had a much, much greater chance to win the super bowl with tom brady than with favre and he still didn’t do it. so that argument doesn’t hold water.
thompson was criticized for not re-signing ahman green, he played 6 games last year and ryan grant stormed onto the scene; mike wahl and marco rivera, in hindsight way overpriced, both of them; marriucci? mccarthy has obviously proved his merit as a head coach. the weakest receiving corps heading into last year? it’s now the deepest. favre didn’t draft jennings or jones, thompson did. favre didn’t sign charles woodson, thompson did. mason crosby, and yes aaron rodgers, who’s looked every bit a starter in this league. ask the scouts for other teams. ask the niners who they would rather have. the list goes on.
Rnay, the number job of the gm isn’t to win “NOW”, it’s to win now without paying with the future. thompson has built the youngest team in the nfl and had them in the nfc championship last year, not favre. favre had plenty of chances in previous years and last i checked he hasn’t been close for 12 years. the only times he was, he threw numerous picks in regulation and ot (philly and nyg) that kept them out of the championship game. those games are on favre and there’s no debating that.
for those fans who insist that thompson is turning a blind eye on who gives them the better chance to win, there is no evidence that favre is the answer this year. in fact, he looked rather average in the packers’ biggest games last year and when the weather turned (dallas, chicago x2, giants), he looked downright miserable. no one can say that favre clearly gives them a better chance than rodgers. i love favre and am stunned i’ve had the chance to root for him for so many years on my team. but he’s gotten old and will look older this year.
thompson’s credibility stands up to this mess by everything he’s done up to this point. if favre was right, how come more players aren’t speaking up for him? because deep down, they know rodgers is the best option and it’s favre’s time to step aside. they knew it last year and let out a big “whew” when favre had his 1 year resurgence. favre was great and is 1 of my all-time favorite packers but it’s over.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:03 am
First of all, let me say that I love Favre and can’t wait to see him enter the Hall of Fame as a Packer. But what gets lost in all of this drivel is the fact that Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy created the talent around Lord Favre to get the team to 13-3. The 4-12 season a few years ago had a lot to do with Favre’s INT’s and Sherman not being able to corral his erratic play. There is no way he would have been an MVP candidate last year without the talent TT created around him. So many of you have such short term memories and forget the fact that Favre MAKES MISTAKES. Ecspecially when he gets rattled in big time situations. Also, who knew of Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ryan Grant, and many more before TT added them to our roster. TT and MM deserve much more credit than they get for making the Packers into a contender. And yes, we will still be a contender THIS year and beyond. Love Favre, but love the Packers more. Finally, how long as a general manager was TT suppose to sit around each offseason waiting on Favre’s move? Every year during TT’s tenure his hands have been tied going into both free agency and the draft. Jordan moved on, Montana moved on…get a grip and support the team or go be a Viking fan. They need more fair weather fans like you.
Gbpack50
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:12 am
“[Favre} was instrumental in getting both GM Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy long-term contract extensions worth multi, multi millions of dollars … EACH.”
Because why? Because Favre played well? Isn’t that his job?!?
Maybe - just maybe - TT and MM got their contract extensions because the powers-that-be realized that the two men were good at what *they* were hired to do.
This notion that because a QB does what he’s supposed to do (win games) and then feels - or even his fans feel - that the GM and Head Coach owe him is absolutely beyond me.
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Rating: 4.45 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Whatever Thompson has done regarding this situation, he is only hired help and is following orders. Packers just a month ago were complaining about their financial state. They want Favre’s $12 million off their obligations. This team has signed about no free agents of any note the last couple of years. Not only NOT Randy Moss. They also refused to pay Javon Walker when it appeared he was very underpaid. Then Favre helps them and Walker gets seriously hurt. Packers conviently forget that too. This team was garbage before Favre got there. He set all kinds of NFL records.
I hope he never plays there again and more important I hope Packers get what they deserve with their inexperienced QB and a team where the the players still there will second guess this move.
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Rating: 2.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Brett Favre’s ability to make a decision is a bigger joke than the WNBA…..Thompson may as well get rid of him………….p.s. no inside scoop from Mcginn is surprising
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Florio, you and your site have become so one sided it’s ridiculous. It’s hate Brett all the time here. It’s nice to see you remind us that this is not a “real” news site. You post all of your spews, which is fine, but then you only report negative opinions of other coaches and former players (Dungy and Brown). I have seen, on ESPN, LT and Shawn Merriman speaking favoribly about Brett returning to GB. They (as current players) believe that he has earned the right to return. As PackFaninPackLand stated above, he was THE RUNNER-UP FOR MVP TO TOM FREAKIN’ BRADY last year for crying out loud.
TT, MM and the media have done a wonderful job turning Brett from a hero to a villian in less than a month. Last year he was universally loved, now half of Wisconsin does not want him! HUH? What is wrong with everyone? The Packers “leaking” so much information is what started this crap. Sure, Brett’s brother and mother didn’t help the situation, but I’m sure they don’t like seeing him get bashed. The tide had turned against him before he even said a word publicly, how is this his fault? He’s a guy that can still play, so let him play.
All Packers fans who don’t want Brett back have short memories and need to go get bent.
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Rating: 1.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I don’t know which is more frightening…
(1) Brett Favre going on some televised, lunatic, unending rant — shame on Fox for that (dis)infomercial, disguised as a news report.
(2) Brett’s following (tens upon tens of people): blind to his faults; supportive of his cock-eyed personal agenda.
(3) the fact that Brett owns a chainsaw.
16 seasons + 275 starts + countless hits = TOTAL DEMENTIA !!
What a fruitcake !
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Does Bricotto ? ever change his shirt?
Acrimony! WOW! Thannks Tiki!
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July 19th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Good post packfaninpackland….by the way, irregardless is not a word.
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July 19th, 2008 at 7:36 am
I agree that Favre & James “Short Bus” Cook engineered on helluva PR mess for themselves. I’m glad that Favre’s gone silent for now. The ball is in his court as to whether or now he wants to play. It’s also in the Packers’ court…do they want to trade Favre if he returns, and to which team? Over the next week or so, we should see how this mess is resolved.
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July 19th, 2008 at 7:54 am
The Favre Lovers have got to stop drinking the Kool Aide and look at it from the top. TT made personnel decisions that you may or may not agree with but in the end, that is what he is paid to do and Favre is paid to play QB and there is no crossover there so why even bring those situations (Randy Moss, Mooch) up. If makes Favre appear like he is a diva or sorts.
Favre is getting some terrible PR advice on how to handle this and has thrown away a ton of good will that he should have saved for future leverage.
But this is going to turn out to be the best of all worlds for the GB Packers. TT is heavily criticized for going into the 08 season with an untested starter (Rodgers) and two rookie QB’s as back ups. Conventional wisdom is that the Packers should sign a veteran QB in case Rodgers goes down. Why not let Favre sit in Mississippi for the first six games to see how the Rodgers era begins. If he plays well, no problem. If he stinks up the joint or is hurt, get on the bat-phone to Mississippi and the prodigal son can return.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 8:03 am
The Packers do not need to worry about the $12M on Favre’s contract. Why? Because they make more than that each year in royalties from merchandise, such as Favre jersey sales.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again - this was a plan hatched by Bus and Brett to get Brett out of Green Bay. He retired to make the Packers look like the bad guy, except it’s blowing up in his face.
He’s the best I’ve ever seen play, but his image is shot. His Q rating is in the toilet. He has cost himself millions of dollars with this ploy.
And Bus Cook is probably the biggest problem and facilitator of all of this.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
TT and MM have been planning and building the team for the post-Brett Favre era since they arrived. Their job is year ’round. They relied on Brett’s communication to them and they responded, responsibly. Brett had a chance in March to reverse course, then changed his mind again. Even now, he does not appear to be 100% committed to playing football — or else he would have filed for reinstatement.
Brett is not the GM or the personnel director of the team. Had the Packers signed Randy Moss, they would have set development of their excellent excellent young wide receiver corps back by several years. We might never have seen the emergence of Gregg Jennings.
If Brett wants to play football; if he is 100% committed, he should show up for camp and win the starting job. Competition is the way jobs are won in camp. If Rodgers wants the starting job, he should wrestle it away from the champ.
And if the Vikings did tamper, they should suffer loss of draft picks and be fined to the full extent permitted!
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Rating: 4.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 8:46 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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July 19th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I really don’t see what Favre has done wrong.
Dude wants to keep playing, that’s his prerogative. If the Pack doesn’t want him, they should release him.
He’s definitely earned it over the years.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
“Lord Farve” should realize that in the NFL you are just a piece of meat no matter how HOF worthy you may be. When the team thinks you’re done; YOU’RE DONE!.
Thirty-eight years old and one too many INTs means you ain’t cookin’ in our oven any more. The time is now to conjure up a new recipe.
Move on “your lordness!”
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Well if Murphy supports this cluster fu…dge, then he will be fired along with the other two clowns for turning a Super Bowl contender into a basement dweller in near record time.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 10:50 am
One thing I definitely feel happened is that Brett is getting some very bad advice from Bus Cook. And to me it appears that the negative things he felt about TT and the organization but was pretty much comfortable living with…he has had his family around him fanning the flames. (Scott and Bonita) I 100% believe that if Brett listened to his heart, he WOULD come to training camp for the Packers and wrest that starting job from Double A-Rod. He knows he could. What people are not “getting” is that the hesitation in his voice when he sounds like he is not 100% committed to playing this year is (as he SAID) he cannot envision himself playing for another team. I think he STILL would return to the Packers were it not for his posse. I can also certainly see why he would be interested in playing for the Vikings. He has several friends there, including Longwell (who I think went hunting with him). It is CLOSE to GB and he would be able to see his buddies on the squad at least 2x year. They are a QB away from being contenders and to a man who feels at this point like he is unwanted and unappreciated (and is being encouraged in this by those around him), playing somewhere he can make an impact and feel needed and appreciated would be very attractive. I am a Packer fan first and foremost but I do not like the business practices shown by TT. Never have. And I think they will eventually be the team’s downfall. E.g. the Patriots have built up their franchise and become winners but how many of us admire their coach Bill BellACheat? In my heart of hearts, I want Brett to decide against those whispering in his ears, to file for reinstatement, show up at Packer TC, play his a$$ off to the point Double A-Rod knows he’s been schooled. Then to go on and play said a$$ off and shut all his fair weather fans and haters UP. I know he could still do this. How many of us work or have worked for bosses we despise? He does not have to have much contact with TT and NONE with the higher ups, after all, and I think MM WOULD LOVE to have him back even now. Double A-Rod has said, at least publicly, that if Brett came came he would be okey doke with it. And you know what? I still think it will happen. But not THIS week, because it is supposed to be about the Packer HOF guys. Again, sorry this is long.
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July 19th, 2008 at 11:17 am
For some reason, I am not seeing a link to a video, You Tube clip or whatever.
…here’s a PFTV segment. ?
I hope this Favre thing doesn’t turn into a pissing contest. I’m not a Packers fan, but I admire Brett Favre. He’s not the first guy to change his mind about retirement…take Michael Strahan for instance.
Give the guy a chance to compete for the starting job since he is under contract. I think Favre should show up for camp and force their hand. The results will take care of themselves.
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July 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I keep hearing that Favre deserves the right to come back. How many times can he say he wants to come back and then change his mind !?! TT and MM did want Bertt back. They booked a jet to go to Mississippi to work out the details with Lord Favre. He then decided to stay retired. He has no one to blame but himself. The Packers would have gladly taken him back if he would only have made a commitment. How he can blame TT and MM is beyond me. Bertt should be nuzzling thier crotches!! TT put a team around him and MM got him to play more like a QB than a bakery!
Has anyone seen the footage a Favre practicing with the high school kids in Mississippi? He can practice with them but not his real teammates in Green Bay?!? What a buffoon!!! It reminds me of Terrell Owens giving interviews and doing crunches in his driveway!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 19th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Farvegate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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July 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Brett Favre saved the franchise. If he is let go by the Packers someone from Toronto will buy the team instead of the Bills.
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