Favre says Thompson begged him not to return

[ReasonablySober]

DB, do you think Favre would still go there if they gave him his wishes and asked him not to go there, thus him looking like a traitor in the media?

Im just kinda curious. I think Favre really wants to go there, but how bad would he be willing to make himself look just to play there?

There's nothing in the CBA (as far as I know) that would allow the Packers to make that kind of agreement. If they release him he could go anywhere he wants and I don't think GB could leak it that they had an agreement that he couldn't be a Viking.

On a side note, for those that are curious, any trade made with Brett could have a poison pill stipulation preventing him from being a Viking as well. I know some are wondering why the Jets don't deal a 2nd rounder for Brett, then turn around and deal him to Minnesota for a 1st. The Packers could insist on a poison pill in the agreement, like if the Jets turn around and move Brett to the Vikings the Jets would owe the Packers three firsts and three second rounders.

[ReasonablySober]

If TT and MM are so confident Rodgers gives us the best chance to win, why not let favre compete? They said their job is to put the best team on the field. If Rodgers can't handle the pressure of competing, how can he handle the pressure of big games?

Nobody has ever said that the Packers believe Rodgers gives them the best chance to compete. McCarthy hasn't said it, neither has Thompson.

What they likely believe is they think that Rodgers can get the job done to the point where he won't be a liability, that the team around him will allow him to win games.

In 2001 Ben Roethlisberger was a rookie. He wasn't asked to do much more than not screw up and make the correct decision with the ball. He only threw for 2600 yards and 17 TDs, but he had an outstanding completion percentage and he didn't kill the team with a lot of turnovers.

They won 15 games. 15 **** games.

Rodgers is stepping into an enviable position. An experienced O-Line, a stable of outstanding WRs, a TE on the up-swing and a coach that works well with his QBs. Not to mention one of the better D's in the NFL. All he has to do is manage the games. It's a cliche but it fits.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

There's nothing in the CBA (as far as I know) that would allow the Packers to make that kind of agreement. If they release him he could go anywhere he wants and I don't think GB could leak it that they had an agreement that he couldn't be a Viking.

On a side note, for those that are curious, any trade made with Brett could have a poison pill stipulation preventing him from being a Viking as well. I know some are wondering why the Jets don't deal a 2nd rounder for Brett, then turn around and deal him to Minnesota for a 1st. The Packers could insist on a poison pill in the agreement, like if the Jets turn around and move Brett to the Vikings the Jets would owe the Packers three firsts and three second rounders.

Not saying an actual agreement, but just the Packers saying to the media that Favre would have the decency to respect the Packers and not sign with a division rival. I think everyone (media, fans, and NFL) would be on the Pack side if he did sign with the Vikings that there would be too much of a negative outcry.

And yes, I was curious if they Packers could out that stipulation in a trade

[ReddManBogieMan]

I always hated Cris Carter, more so since he retired and popped up on TV.

It makes me long for NFL Live with Sean Salisbury and Meril Hodge. (ahh, The good old days)

But yeah MD, I hate Cris Carter especially since he is a huge Queens homer. He sucks.

[MickeyDavis]

Holy cow, now Roethlisberger is being brought up.

[paulpressey25]

I was listening to Czaban on his Fox show this morning. They were reporting that a number of teams (you can define "number" how you want) have called Favre with the permission of the Packers to explore-work out a deal. But Favre has returned none of those phone calls. Zero.

Somebody wants to start for GB or the Vikings.

[ReasonablySober]

Holy cow, now Roethlisberger is being brought up.

Yes, and?

[randy84]

OUTSTANDING STABLE OF WRs? How much of this had to do with Favre. I remember for the last two seasons he has been barking at the WRs when they run the wrong route. None of them would be a number one receiver on another team, except the Bears.

Roethlisberger had an playmakers around him. He had the Bus, Ward, and a stellar defense. The Packers don't have half as many playmakers as the Steelers did when Roethlisberger took over. So all he did have to do is not screw it up.

The Packers only playmaker is Favre. If you take him off of the team then your in trouble.

[ReasonablySober]

OUTSTANDING STABLE OF WRs? How much of this had to do with Favre. I remember for the last two seasons he has been barking at the WRs when they run the wrong route. None of them would be a number one receiver on another team, except the Bears.

Roethlisberger had an playmakers around him. He had the Bus, Ward, and a stellar defense. The Packers don't have half as many playmakers as the Steelers did when Roethlisberger took over. So all he did have to do is not screw it up.

The Packers only playmaker is Favre. If you take him off of the team then your in trouble.

Right. Everyone around him is crap, same as they were three years ago when the Packers won four games. Brett's gotten exponentially better since then, but the talent level on the team has obviously remained consistent. Brett's really just carrying everyone around him.

[TheMachine]

If TT and MM are so confident Rodgers gives us the best chance to win, why not let favre compete? They said their job is to put the best team on the field. If Rodgers can't handle the pressure of competing, how can he handle the pressure of big games?

The fact of the matter is that the Packers did let them compete for the job, and Rodgers won it. The competition was held in minicamps, OTAs, offseason workouts, meetings, etc. Favre was a no-show. Rodgers won by default basically. Thats when the job was won. People underestimate the importance of this. They think that training camp is the only time that you are competing for jobs...wrong. The competition for jobs start in March. Favre wants to start competing in late July? Sorry... too late.

In fact my hunch is this all started back in late March when Favre asked to come back. I am guessing thaat the Packers said ok, but with the condition that they will be giving Rodgers the opportunity to show what he can do, and that the job will not automatically be handed to Brett. They told Brett that he needs to be at all workouts, minicamps, OTAs, etc., and will share reps with Rodgers. Brett thought about that for a day, and said "f*** that, I'll stay retired". Favre wanted nothing to do with that, you know... competing for the job and being held accountable.

He then spoke to the Vikings who said" you can come and start for us Brett". The Packers won't just release him to go to Vikings, so Brett is making it look as if the Packers won't give him the opportunity to "compete" for the job. Fact is he had the opportunity to "compete" for the job in March and turned it down.

All he wants now is to play for the Vikings, but doesn't have the stones to admit it.

[xTitan]

OUTSTANDING STABLE OF WRs? How much of this had to do with Favre. I remember for the last two seasons he has been barking at the WRs when they run the wrong route. None of them would be a number one receiver on another team, except the Bears.

Roethlisberger had an playmakers around him. He had the Bus, Ward, and a stellar defense. The Packers don't have half as many playmakers as the Steelers did when Roethlisberger took over. So all he did have to do is not screw it up.

The Packers only playmaker is Favre. If you take him off of the team then your in trouble.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste...but alas to late. The Packers receivers were 2nd in the league in YAC, that tells me they may have made the QB look better than he was...oh and throw in the leading rusher in the NFC the second half of the season. Next you are going to tell me Favre was great after thanksgiving and it was the coaches fault for his annual late year crap in the pants....go Randy.

[Kerb Hohl]

OUTSTANDING STABLE OF WRs? How much of this had to do with Favre. I remember for the last two seasons he has been barking at the WRs when they run the wrong route. None of them would be a number one receiver on another team, except the Bears.

Roethlisberger had an playmakers around him. He had the Bus, Ward, and a stellar defense. The Packers don't have half as many playmakers as the Steelers did when Roethlisberger took over. So all he did have to do is not screw it up.

The Packers only playmaker is Favre. If you take him off of the team then your in trouble.

Yeah, Grant wasn't snapping off 50 yard runs all the time or anything the last half of the season. Charles Woodson wasn't taking picks and fumble recoveries to the house all the time. The special teams didn't account for basically 3 or 4 TDs last year. Greg Jennings didn't torch his man down the sideline on a fly route last year or make ridiculously good moves on a slant route after the catch. Driver's consistency is totally due to Favre. Barnett doesn't make a ton of plays that lead to loss of yardage or turnovers. Kampmann isn't one of the best ends in the league. Crosby didn't lead the NFL in scoring.

Apparently if Brett is our only playmaker, he definitely made a ton of amazing plays in that Philly game (won by 2 muffs forced by the Eagles themselves and our special teams), the Washington game (won by some solid defense and game-changing turnovers), Nick Barnett didn't take an INT to the 1 leading to a TD to close out the game vs. SD (they would have tied it with their FG, otherwise), Woodson didn't take one to the house to close out the KC game, either.

Remember the Dallas game? I seem to remember Favre sucking, Grant having a long TD run, and Rodgers coming out and just steering the ship while guys like Jennings made some extraordinary runs after the catch to get us back into the game. I'm not totally ragging on Favre for sucking in that game because maybe it just wasn't his day (although sometimes it never seems to be his day in games like that), but that is what I expect from A-Rod. Not every game, because we dominated a very good defense in the near-comeback, but a solid game where he doesn't make mistakes and gets the ball in the hands of our playmakers. The thing is, Rodgers also has the ability to make plays, too, and he can if need be.

And LOL for calling Jerome Bettis and his 368 yards on a 3.3 YPC average a "playmaker" in their super bowl year. He was an adequate back the year before with a 3.8 average and 941 yards I guess, but that is a pretty pedestrian season if you ask me. That would have tied him for 35th best in the NFL last year.

Parker was a very good back, Ward is a great all-around WR, Randle El was an adequate WR, good trick-play, and very good ST guy...after that...it was all their defense.