Peter King's Latest

[MickeyDavis]

Whether you like King or not he does have access to Favre and I think he offers some pretty good insight.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

[TheGhostDog]

It all boils down to...

"2. I think I know Favre is not going to stop demanding his release, at least not now. Thompson asked Favre for a list of teams he'd accept a trade to on Saturday -- for at least the second time -- and Favre would not give him one. That's because the minute Favre gives Thompson a list, the Packers will get a deal done with one of the teams on the list."

Favre is on a personal vendetta against TT. If he was only concerened about wanting to play he'd have submitted a list of acceptable teams already so that he wouldn't be missing irreplaceable practice time with a new team/system. Instead he is making a trade impossible, turning the screws on TT and verbally attacking him in every interview. If Favre does have a list in mind it's probably one team long, the Vikings.

[eagle13]

It all boils down to...

"2. I think I know Favre is not going to stop demanding his release, at least not now. Thompson asked Favre for a list of teams he'd accept a trade to on Saturday -- for at least the second time -- and Favre would not give him one. That's because the minute Favre gives Thompson a list, the Packers will get a deal done with one of the teams on the list."

Favre is on a personal vendetta against TT. If he was only concerened about wanting to play he'd have submitted a list of acceptable teams already so that he wouldn't be missing irreplaceable practice time with a new team/system. Instead he is making a trade impossible, turning the screws on TT and verbally attacking him in every interview. If Favre does have a list in mind it's probably one team long, the Vikings.

It does seem that way. Dang it.

[paulpressey25]

That was a great article. I disagree now with the tampering part that King brushes off. After listening to Czaban and Homer today it sure seems like the Vikings cooked this up with Brett and that's where he wanted to go. But for this, he may have stayed retired.

This quote was the problematic one: "....My problem was, was I committed to do the offseason program, was I going to be up to the task of doing everything that comes with it -- studying, working out, preparing?...."

The question is which Brett is the one that shows up at whatever camp he goes to. I don't think Brett is at an age where he can turn it on and off like this. He needs the off-season to really focus on everything. But maybe not.

[randy84]

The only problem is then everyone that Favre talked with i.e. Childress, Reid, Holmgrem etc... can be accused of tampering. The league isn't going to go after all of these teams.

I find it funny that when the rumor that Favre used a Packer issued cell phone to talk with Childress came out, the Packers didn't come out right away and say that they don't issue cell phones to players.

Sounds like a rumor that the Packers P.R. department may have put out there to see if they could get the Vikings on a tampering charge.

[Wade-A-Holic]

I wish there was some way Thompson could just let Favre rot.

[ReasonablySober]

The only problem is then everyone that Favre talked with i.e. Childress, Reid, Holmgrem etc... can be accused of tampering. The league isn't going to go after all of these teams.

I find it funny that when the rumor that Favre used a Packer issued cell phone to talk with Childress came out, the Packers didn't come out right away and say that they don't issue cell phones to players.

Sounds like a rumor that the Packers P.R. department may have put out there to see if they could get the Vikings on a tampering charge.

It's more due to the issue that giving a player a cell phone is a matter of the cap, and it went unreported.

[El Duderino]

It all boils down to...


If Favre does have a list in mind it's probably one team long, the Vikings.

I believe in Rodgers if he can stay healthy, so i'm fine with the Packers giving him the job and i've tired of Brett's drama every offseason.

With that said, i think some fans have gone overboard with their zeal to rip on Favre for every and anything in this whole situation. If the Packers made a decision to move on with Aaron, that's their call to do, pro football is a business. Teams need to think of themselves first above all else.

Brett though also has the right to keep playing and to think of himself first if the Packers don't want him around at all. It's obvious Ted wants above all else for Brett to stay retired, but that isn't his call. So if i'm Brett and the Packers tell me to basically please stay away from training camp and oh by the way, we think you should stay retired, i tell them i'll decide that, not you. I can see his side in this if the Packers are operating in a fashion where more than anything they are trying to do what they can to keep Brett from playing anywhere this year. I'd be very irritated and would lash back if the Packers didnt change their stance.

If though it ends up being positively proven though that Favre won't work at all with the Packers to get him traded to a team he can be ok with outside of the NFC North and Ted isn't asking for an unrealistic return to thus keep Brett in limbo so he won't play elsewhere, then it's 100 percent on Favre if he doesn't play football anywhere this year.

[TheGhostDog]

Brett though also has the right to keep playing and to think of himself first if the Packers don't want him around at all. It's obvious Ted wants above all else for Brett to stay retired, but that isn't his call. So if i'm Brett and the Packers tell me to basically please stay away from training camp and oh by the way, we think you should stay retired, i tell them i'll decide that, not you. I can see his side in this if the Packers are operating in a fashion where more than anything they are trying to do what they can to keep Brett from playing anywhere this year. I'd be very irritated and would lash back if the Packers didnt change their stance.

Everything you say is correct, but I think you are describing the situation as it was one or two weeks ago. The crisis has progressed since and is threatening to come to a nasty head. Both sides know it's knives out now (although I still maintain it's Favre who is unilaterally engaging in the public character assassination here - can you quote anything negative MM or TT have said about Favre lately?). Both sides "say" they want to get this resolved as soon as possible. The mature, objective way forward at this point is for both sides to agree to a list of teams they'd accept a trade to. According to King, the only football writer with good access to Favre personally at the moment, Favre is stonewalling on the list.

If though it ends up being positively proven though that Favre won't work at all with the Packers to get him traded to a team he can be ok with outside of the NFC North and Ted isn't asking for an unrealistic return to thus keep Brett in limbo so he won't play elsewhere, then it's 100 percent on Favre if he doesn't play football anywhere this year.

Positive proof, one way or the other, is for courtrooms, not sports news. All we can go on is what is reported by the press, hope they can back up what they write, and interpret all that we know. If King is reporting accurately, I think he's answered your concerns and laid the current stalemate squarely on Favre's doorstep. King says that Favre has been asked, and so far hasn't provided a list of teams he'd accept. King also says...
"I think I know Thompson is not asking for a first-round pick in trade for Favre unless he has one of the best years of his life, and unless his new team advances far into the playoffs... I do know the deal would be structured like a guaranteed fourth-round pick that could rise to a three or a two or a one (unlikely) depending on Favre's performance... I think I know the biggest myth out there is Thompson is driving such a hard bargain because he hopes no team will trade for Favre, and that Favre would slink back to Mississippi and stay retired. Maybe that was the case a month ago, but it isn't now."

[El Duderino]

Positive proof, one way or the other, is for courtrooms, not sports news. All we can go on is what is reported by the press, hope they can back up what they write, and interpret all that we know. If King is reporting accurately, I think he's answered your concerns and laid the current stalemate squarely on Favre's doorstep. King says that Favre has been asked, and so far hasn't provided a list of teams he'd accept. King also says...
"I think I know Thompson is not asking for a first-round pick in trade for Favre unless he has one of the best years of his life, and unless his new team advances far into the playoffs... I do know the deal would be structured like a guaranteed fourth-round pick that could rise to a three or a two or a one (unlikely) depending on Favre's performance... I think I know the biggest myth out there is Thompson is driving such a hard bargain because he hopes no team will trade for Favre, and that Favre would slink back to Mississippi and stay retired. Maybe that was the case a month ago, but it isn't now."

I was watching ESPN yesterday and they were talking about the Packers asking for a first round pick and maybe more. That's why i said positively proven or at least more reliable than what i've seen so far.

Media reports on this Favre issue have been all over the map since this whole thing started, each guy reporting something taking the word of whatever "source" told them so and so is true. Hell, for a week we had the media saying Brett was talking to the Vikes on a Packers cell phone and that was bogus.

Maybe Ted isn't asking for an unrealistic amount, that very well could be true. All i know is with so many conflicting reports since this started from various people claiming to have great sources or knowing the real truth, i don't buy any of it as being gospel. Nobody on this board really knows what teams Ted has talked to nor what he asked for in return, all that people here are doing is guessing based on media reports that have said different things since this all started.

[Flames24Rulz]

It all boils down to...

"2. I think I know Favre is not going to stop demanding his release, at least not now. Thompson asked Favre for a list of teams he'd accept a trade to on Saturday -- for at least the second time -- and Favre would not give him one. That's because the minute Favre gives Thompson a list, the Packers will get a deal done with one of the teams on the list."

Favre is on a personal vendetta against TT. If he was only concerened about wanting to play he'd have submitted a list of acceptable teams already so that he wouldn't be missing irreplaceable practice time with a new team/system. Instead he is making a trade impossible, turning the screws on TT and verbally attacking him in every interview. If Favre does have a list in mind it's probably one team long, the Vikings.

Or perhaps he's just trying to force TT"s hand in giving him back the starting job.

I think all along Favre wanted to come back to Green Bay and I still think it's the only place where he wants to play.

[TheGhostDog]

Or perhaps he's just trying to force TT"s hand in giving him back the starting job.

I think all along Favre wanted to come back to Green Bay and I still think it's the only place where he wants to play.

You may be right about Favre still being willing to play in Green Bay, provided he is either named the starter or guaranteed by someone other than TT that he will be given a fair chance to win the position back in training camp. However, I don't think TT is the sole decider on who starts; McCarthy has a very large say in the matter. TT can't give Favre back the starting job unless Mcarthy is also on board. So many people assume it's just TT who has decided to move on but I seriously doubt he'd force such a drastic decision on McCarthy against his wishes. Like a good GM, TT is acting as a lightning rod for all the criticism, taking as much heat as possible so that McCarthy can concentrate on coaching as best he can in this circus.

So far Favre has not dared attack McCarthy's judgement, I am guessing because he realizes that MM is very well liked by Packer nation, whereas I think we can all agree that TT is a bit of a cold fish personality-wise and makes for an easier scapegoat. McCarthy represents a bit of an untouchable third rail for Favre, to this point. If Favre does report to the Packers, is not named the starter, and decides to make life hell on the team to force a release, I think his final ace in the hole to play will be to start criticizing McCarthy in front of the team and in the press.