Favre situation - very divisive

This may be the most obvious post title I have come up with yet. Not creative at all, but direct. This whole Favre thing has become amazingly divisive. Fans who were collectively excited getting to the NFC Championship, collectively sad to see Favre retire, collectively excited to see the new era ushered in with Rodgers - are the same fans who are now collectively divided (if you will…though I don’t think linguistically that a people can be collectively divided).

I have good friends who bitterly oppose one another on the Favre situation. There are strong arguments out there on both sides of this situation and I think that is partially why this is so divisive. I think there are many of us huge Favre supporters who are struggling with the fact that Favre hasn’t handled this situation well either. We don’t like the wavering, we don’t like the fact that it took him a fairly significant amount of time to even make the first retirement decision back in March, we don’t like the fact that he hasn’t just come out to say directly what’s going on and now we really don’t like the fact that he’s seeking an unconditional release to play with any team (and we really really really don’t like rumors that Bus Cook has put feelers out to the Vikings).

We’ve already touched on the ways in which we’re disappointed with the organization’s handling of this, particularly Ted Thompson. And, further support for these arguments comes from Al Jones and Scott Favre, both of whom are unafraid to pin a majority of the blame for all of this on Ted Thompson. Read up on previous posts here and here for these arguments.

Still, I can’t help but think of an analogy here: I find myself feeling like I imagine I would feel if I learned that a good golfing buddy/Pabst-swilling friend whom I’ve known for a few years is secretly into re-enacting (Civil War, Medieval knight fighting, etc). I would still like him and likely still want to golf and drink Pabst with him, but I’d have a hard time admitting to myself that he could possibly like re-enacting - it would be inconsistent with my perception of him. I couldn’t totally ditch him as a friend because he’s fun, a good golfer and hilarious after a few Pabst, but I would feel at least a slight disconnect. Likewise, in the Favre situation, I find myself struggling to admit that he is at fault for this too and that he hasn’t handled this well and that he seems to be somewhat unaware of the disharmony he’s causing in what had quickly become a cohesive unit that rallied around the new QB.

Even though I still want Favre on the field and think he gives us the best chance to win now, I can’t help but feel this slight disconnect for the first time in 17 years.

Johnny Jolly in hot water…felony drug charge

Where did the expression “in hot water” come from and why? Most of us shower daily using hot water, take hot tubs…should the expression be “in scalding water”?

Thanks to Aaron over at Cheeseheadtv.com as well as jsonline this morning for informing us that DT Johnny Jolly was arrested last week on felony drug possession charges. He apparently had in his possession 200 grams of codeine. Not sure where this is all headed, but it is, at the least, concerning. (Bail was set at only $10,000 so I sense this may not be that big of a deal, but who knows).

I think both myself and the Packers had fairly significant plans for Jolly this year. I think he is really good and I think it’s no coincidence that our D-line play was less effective overall after is injury last year. For 2008, I had him starting next to Pickett with Jenkins and Kampman flanking. However, I go back and forth with whether or not Jenkins ought to start at defensive tackle. So, if there is a problem with Jolly being able to play at all, I would argue that it makes the need to pursue Jason Taylor even greater. As I’ve written previously, I think the Packers should seriously consider trading Favre (if they won’t let him return as the starter like I still believe they should) to Miami for Taylor. It makes sense and there have been some rumors suggesting Favre wouldn’t be opposed to playing down there (which almost makes me think he may be wanting to play for a couple more years - not just one).

Again, think about Kampman and Taylor rushing the edges - even if they don’t have a great season statistically/sack-wise, imagine the real and significant psychological effect it could have on the opposing QBs (and O-lines and RBs attempting to protect the QBs). Besides, I think obtaining a star like Taylor would significantly assist the Packers PR department re the handling of the Favre situation - and help many fans at least feel like we got something for the loss of Favre.

Did Ted Thompson just open door to Favre’s return?

Read this excerpt from an ESPN article updated late 7/12 here, re the Favre situation:

Speaking later to ESPN.com’s John Clayton, Thompson said he is prepared to accept Favre’s return and not necessarily as a backup.

And McCarthy added Favre wouldn’t coach. So, if this doesn’t mean he’d have a chance to start at QB, does TT have thoughts of converting Favre to safety? LB? TE? What the ;aklsdfj;alsdjfoiqwhto does this mean? Is TT opening the door to Favre’s return?

In this article, I do appreciate at least reading that TT appears to be aware that this situation is sensitive, but I wonder how he could have thought that his terse text message response wouldn’t have been problematic.

Ugly, ugly, ugly, all around.

Favre to Miami for Jason Taylor?

Read this from sportsillustrated.com. Speculation that one scenario might have Favre going to Miami for Jason Taylor. Now, while I have lobbied for Favre’s return based mostly on the fact that he’s our best QB, if this scenario played out, I wouldn’t be as devastated by all of this. Taylor would be a high quality pick-up and Favre would apparently get his wish to play more. I do agree with Brother Steve that if it turns out to be true that Favre waffled a few times prior to deciding on retirement, it does make the Packers stance more acceptable (and TT less culpable). I just hope for more info soon and a statement from Favre so that we can get a sense for where this may go.

Favre asks for release - crap…

Read here from Chris Mortensen at ESPN. This is not what I was hoping would happen. This is monumental news. Now the Packers have to do something.

What I thought a few weeks ago to be unlikely is playing out right in front of us: Brett Favre may play for another team. It makes me feel sick frankly.

As we’ve maintained here at Packergeeks, we’re not pleased with how Favre has handled this whole thing. He should have stated clearly that he wanted to play again in some kind of press conference. (Though I do wonder if he chose not to do this when he got the impression that perhaps the team didn’t want him back). He has now cast himself in a somewhat selfish light as he goes on to pursue life with another team.

Ted Thompson again, is also at fault for this. His lack of communication at the least I’m sure has made the entire retirement process more difficult for Favre. Sure, Favre’s his own man and can make his own decisions, but when you get the strong feeling that the GM of your team doesn’t want you there, it has to have somewhat of an effect on you. I think we’ll find out as this plays out that somewhere along the way, Favre and TT had a big falling out - where TT may have even said directly to Favre that he wants to move on without him - that he wants him to retire.

One of the things that continues to surprise me re this situation is TT’s lack of effort to encourage Favre to return because TT has proven to have a good take on talent. Favre is a great player and still is the best QB on this team. It is just extra surprising to me that a GM who handles other matters seemingly so well, has been so rigid, removed and absent the last few weeks during such a critical time for the team.

Brother Steve is on the phone right now saying that he’s pissed that Favre would ask for a straight release without allowing the Packers to at least try to get something for him. He’s also pissed at TT thinking this all may be an ego move on TT’s part because Rodgers is his man. Steve notes that if the Packers were to win a Super Bowl with Favre, everyone would talk about Favre. But if they win with Rodgers, everyone will talk about TT.

This is just so ugly. Now what? The Vikings? The Bears?

I need several beers…

Tough spot for Ted Thompson, but that’s his job

One thing I have come across in comments by Packergeeks readers and elsewhere is the fact that this Favre situation puts Ted Thompson in an awkward position. This is true, it does. Listen, I know many Packer fans are just really nice people who would rather not have conflict. And I know many of us would much prefer that somehow Favre’s legacy would just remain intact, sealed and preserved (like cheese curds from Renards). But I don’t have much sympathy for TT having to make difficult decisions here. TT is the GM of the Packers and it is his job to make tough decisions. He doesn’t involve himself in deciding how many coolers of Gatorade should be brought to the game, or which towel brand would be best for use on the sidelines. His job is to manage the personnel of the team and part of this job is making difficult decisions. Just like many of our workplaces, our CEOs don’t waste much time on deciding which brand of pen to use in the office or what kind of birthday cake staff should buy for Brenda (ughh, workplace birthdays…). They get paid a lot in part because they are the ones who have to make difficult, consequential decisions.

Now, I just hope TT gets on this asap. If the Packers continue to officially have “no reaction” for much longer, this wouldn’t be much different than a group of 100 people at a company party trying to ignore a giant, giant elephant pooping in the middle of the room.

Favre situation could hurt Packer locker room

Readers Joshywoshy and Arealpackerfan both make a similar, solid point when evaluating this whole Favre situation. They both mention that the locker room will suffer and that essentially, this whole matter could end up being quite divisive among teammates, fans and even staff (I think it’s safe to say it already has been divisive). This is becoming a major concern. One of the things that has happened this off-season is that the Packers and fans have rallied around Rodgers as our hope for the future. Not only has Rodgers done well so far stepping into this role, but the team, fans and staff have all developed sincere excitement that Rodgers is the new man. To have Favre drop this on us now, puts that positive momentum on hold at least for now. It immediately brings with it a budding QB controversy and destabilizes what had become a stable, positive environment under Rodgers.

So, I can understand the many arguments that I’ve heard from our readers and on radio noting that it’s at least unfortunate for Rodgers and team chemistry that this is happening right now. And, I can also understand why readers are frustrated by Favre’s timing and his indirect communication on this matter. In fact, I think Favre apparently leaking comeback rumors out there to see how his return might be received is not too different from back in junior high when you’d tell your friend to tell his cousin to tell the best friend of a hot chick that you like her. Just come out with it.

At the same time, if TT truly did tell Favre “I’m on vacation..” and then didn’t respond to him otherwise, I think that’s really bad form. TT doesn’t need to have a prepared response and all that - right now he just needs to listen to the Hall of Fame QB who has been the face of the organization for 17 years. I’ll admit, this would be a bit different for me right now if Favre had 12 TDs and 19 INTs last year and the Packers finished 9-7, just shy of the playoffs. I’d be squarely in the camp of wanting to move on with Rodgers. But the Packers finished 14-4, went way further than ANYONE predicted and most “experts” credited Favre with leading them to this accomplishment. To me, his clear demonstration last year of the fact that he can still play very well is the reason TT needs to deal with this and deal with this right now. I don’t know if it means Favre should be welcomed back open arms - but TT should AT LEAST TALK TO THE GUY to see what the hell is going on! Sorry Ted, I know it’s hard work, especially when you’re good at what you do (for the most part), but being the GM of the Packers IS a damn vacation!! It’s the best job one could have!  So do your job TT and handle this matter before it gets further out of control.

Bus Cook/Favre to request activation from retired list

Various local Milwaukee news stations, Peter King and Fox radio in Madison, WI are all reporting that we can expect to hear more re an official request from Bus Cook to activate Favre from the retired list at some point in the next 10 days. This continues to head in an ugly direction.

Ted Thompson to Favre: “I’m on vacation…”

Lance Allen of WTMJ Channel 4 (Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate) just reported that he learned from a source that Favre sent a text message to Thompson on Saturday requesting to talk to him and TT responded with “I’m on vacation…”, and that he’ll call him later. While I can understand any man’s desire to keep his vacation time sacred, TT isn’t any man and this isn’t just any issue. Again, I recognize that this is a difficult matter for him to have to deal with and I don’t necessarily envy the position he and McCarthy are in right now. But at the same time, he is the GM of one of the most important teams in sports. If I were the Packers GM (remember, that is the ultimate goal of Packergeeks), I’d call Favre immediately to try to get this thing sorted out.

STEVE ADDS: If this report is true (and I heard it elsewhere today, too) it’s appalling.  I think both Favre and Thompson have handled this poorly and lack of communication is largely responsible for an entirely avoidable problem.  But for Thompson to respond this way goes beyond stupid.  It lacks class.  He just made his job much, much more difficult.

More Favre, Ted Thompson analysis from ESPN

Read here for an article by Gene Wojciechowski from ESPN.com. He makes a similar case to the one I made a few posts ago (in fact, does Gene W read packergeeks???) - indicating TT has not wanted Favre back. I think this is well written and he makes a sensible argument (of course I think that…dumb sentence, please disregard). The only area of disagreement I have with him is when he implies that there will be a huge drop-off in play from Favre to Rodgers. As I’ve said before, I think Rodgers is going to be an effective NFL QB in a different way from Favre. But right now, I’d still rather have Favre as the QB for this team as I believe he gives us the best chance to win it all. And as Gene W argues, it is TT’s job to make sure the Packers, from a personnel standpoint, are fielding the best team. Though again, I suspect that part of what may be happening here is that TT genuinely believes Rodgers, right now, is better than Favre for this team. While I would disagree with this, a small part of me does recognize that TT has shown himself to be a solid evaluator of talent, so who knows, I suppose it’s possible TT ends up being right - and that Rodgers comes in and dominates.