Favre traded to Jets (done deal)

[LUKE23]

If the roster you put together is the one that makes the SB, then yes you should get credit for it. Not directly, but everyone still knows who's team it was. If Melvin left the Brewers after this season and the Brewers make the World Series next year, it's still his (and Jack Z's) project that worked out, not whoever the next GM was.

[humanrefutation]

Who's that one reporter that keeps ripping Thompson and McCarthy? Just shut th f*** up and stop drinking the Favre koolaid.

[Ayt]

Is that Bob McGinn asking those moronic questions of MM?

[humanrefutation]

Is that Bob McGinn asking those moronic questions of MM?

McGinn has been supportive of Packers management, I'd be surprised if he was asking those questions.

[Ayt]

Is that Bob McGinn asking those moronic questions of MM?

McGinn has been supportive of Packers management, I'd be surprised if he was asking those questions.

Yeah, you are probably right. It sounded like MM called him Bob, but there are so many reporters there it could be some schlub I don't even know.

[Balls2TheWalls]

McCarthy really has a way of making reporters feel like jackasses. I like it.

[TheGhostDog]

Is that Bob McGinn asking those moronic questions of MM?

From what I heard I think it was McGinn that kept trying to pry McCarthy's specific plans for the quarterback competition, if that's what you were referring to. I think it might have a different reporter that repeatedly asked why McCarthy thought Rodgers was better for the Packers than Favre. Maybe when Packers.com posts video of the interviews later it will be easier to tell.

[humanrefutation]

McCarthy really has a way of making reporters feel like jackasses. I like it.

If he's like that with reporters, imagine what he's like with players. He has a way of breaking down people...and it makes it more clear why the situation reached its resolution after McCarthy met with Brett.

[humanrefutation]

Is that Bob McGinn asking those moronic questions of MM?

From what I heard I think it was McGinn that kept trying to pry McCarthy's specific plans for the quarterback competition, if that's what you were referring to. I think it might have a different reporter that repeatedly asked why McCarthy thought Rodgers was better for the Packers than Favre. Maybe when Packers.com posts video of the interviews later it will be easier to tell.

The questions about Favre v. Rodgers and Favre v. Brohm were asked by McGinn? Because, if so, he loses mad respect from me for his stupidity.

[ReasonablySober]

Yea, a reporter named Bob really sounded like he was trying to hammer MM on the competition angel. I can only assume that was McGinn, right? He sounded like a real prick.

[MickeyDavis]

For those of you without Sunday Ticket channel 58 announced today they will carry most of the Jets games. CBS assigns games to local markets but a station can request games if they think there will be more interest. Jets games of course will generate some pretty good ratings.

[ReasonablySober]

Alright, I looked at the transcript and the questions aren't worded the way I remember them, so I downloaded the audio. Looks like they took liberties to clean up the questions asked by the reporters in many cases. I thought that the lines of questioning in many instances were antagonizing and condescending.

At the 29:52 mark in the PC, Bob McGinn is called on

Mike (sort of snickers), the other day, if you woulda told him he's the starter, he woulda played. And he woulda been here. I mean you coulda done that. I mean we're hiding behind words and verbiage, correct?

That's what was said. This is how the transcript reads:

If you had told him he would be the starter, he would have been here, right?

A few moments later he continued to sound pissed off and MM didn't seem thrilled with the line of questioning.

[Neusch23]

Who's that one reporter that keeps ripping Thompson and McCarthy? Just shut th f*** up and stop drinking the Favre koolaid.

It is much more than one reporter, my friend.

seriously, no one was right in all of this. Both sides have mud on their face. Honestly, the media is fairly split as well.

Bottom line, the way it was handled with both sides, they ultimately get what they want, and by their actions, what they deserve.

[Neusch23]

For those of you without Sunday Ticket channel 58 announced today they will carry most of the Jets games. CBS assigns games to local markets but a station can request games if they think there will be more interest. Jets games of course will generate some pretty good ratings.

I am assuming you're out of the Milwaukee market....any word if Time Warner out of GB is planning on picking up the games?

[paulpressey25]

For those of you without Sunday Ticket channel 58 announced today they will carry most of the Jets games.

Wow...that is great, great news. Now the question I have for you is when will DirectTV come to an agreement with Jim Hall so that ch58 can be in HD on DirectTV?

[bigrich88]

I don't understand how people who claim to be Packer fans are saying i hope Rodgers and thompson and McCarthy suck this year and get fired. Way to support your team! I am ashamed of all of you who are doing this. I support the Packers, last time i checked it takes 53 players to win a championship, not 1. I am glad we got rid of a selfish superstar who put his wants before the teams. Lets go Packers and Rodgers shut the haters up and lead the team deep into the playoffs.

[Neusch23]

Neusch, I dont he was disregarding the team's impact on your business but rather the impact of the FO on your business. I dont think you should worry and assume the worse (granted you should be be conservative with your estimates). I do think you are overreacting about this team's chances. This team is still the favorites in the Central (ok a few have the Queens but being a GB fan I cant accept that)

I missed this earlier.

I believe they are relitive. The FO builds the team. If the FO chooses not to put the best team on the field, that is going to effect the Wins and losses.

Had Brett never choose to come back this season, I think we would be a better team. Right now, the locker room is in turmoil. We have hired people to help deal with this. We have players split on decisions of the FO. It puts Rodgers in a very tough spot. It puts an even brighter spot light on him, and his decisions. This isn't like he a just a blocker, or even a reciever. He controls the offense. He has to play well.

If we get off to a slow start, it could end up blowing up the season. will players play through injuries if we are 3-5? will they they rush back to get on the field if it looks like we are not a playoff team, or if we are a long shot to be a playoff team?

I see us right now, as a below .500 if we get off to a slow start. With the way things went down, there is a lot more pressure on Rodgers than there was in May.

And this will effect the businesses. If we are not a playoff team, because, Brett could have joined the team in June...they could have just welcomed him back, and the Packers miss the playoffs, you're talking 10's of millions of dollars in lost rev. to the local businesses. That is huge to an already slumping economy.

If we are 10-6, and win the division, all will be for naught, but there are skeptics out there, me included. Bottom line, I am a die Hard Packers fan, and I wish the Rodgers the best. I need him to produce, my beef is with the FO, because as many have stated, we didn't owe Brett anything, but on the same token, we didn't owe Rodgers either. Win now, take care of Rodgers later.

[Mags FTW]

Favre press conference right now...

[Mags FTW]

LOL!!! Today Tampa's management completely denied talking to Favre, and now he just said he talked with Gruden about going to TB.

[Mags FTW]

Favre's gone for good, but Packers fans shouldn't panic

By Jeffri Chadiha
ESPN.com

Now that Brett Favre is a New York Jet and Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson is the most scrutinized executive in the NFL, let's get one thing straight: The Packers will be fine.

You can talk all you want about how much better the Packers would've been with Favre. You can point out the mistakes Thompson made in handling the longest-running soap opera in recent league history. What you can't do, however, is make a case for the Packers falling apart now that old No. 4 is working in the Big Apple. That one just doesn't fly.

For those people who want to point to all the things Favre has accomplished in his glorious 17-year career, I will steer you to some of the feats Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy have pulled off during their brief tenure in Green Bay. They put the league's youngest team on the field last season and watched it win 13 games and an NFC North title.

They've rid themselves of aging, expensive veterans and filled their roster with young playmakers, 40 of whom Thompson acquired since becoming general manager in 2005. And for those who pay attention to the bottom line, the Packers are still $30 million under the cap.

Those are the kinds of facts that don't get mentioned in the media or by fans because they're not as sexy as the fate of a miffed 38-year-old quarterback who's headed for the Hall of Fame. But trust me, they matter far more than most people realize. Those facts mean that Thompson and McCarthy have been quite proficient at their jobs since showing up in Green Bay. They also mean that skeptical Packers fans should be excited about a team that has clearly been built to last.

In fact, all the Favre supporters who castigated Thompson over the past month need to finally realize how much Favre contributed to this controversy in the first place. Favre was the one who chose to retire back in March. He's also the one who said he wanted to return to the Packers a few weeks later, only to tell them he didn't want to come back after all. While I'm on the subject, he's still the same guy who kept this controversy stewing for so long because he wanted to get his way and manipulate the public into believing he was still a star worth loving.

If this past month should've told us anything about Favre, it's that we now understand why Thompson and McCarthy got fed up with the guy in the first place. Favre simply couldn't commit to their plan, either because he didn't feel loved enough or because Thompson wasn't willing to sign Randy Moss, hire Steve Mariucci and kiss Favre's ring all in the same motion.

If you want more proof of how maddening it had to be to deal with Favre, just consider how he handled that reported 10-year, $20 million offer the Packers gave him to stay retired. Last week he was supposedly considering it and a couple days ago he was criticizing Green Bay for trying to buy him off.

I'm not making this stuff up, folks. These are actual facts that can be checked simply by clicking on Google. They're also an indication of how confused and conflicted Favre had been throughout this entire offseason. For those who don't know, NFL teams can't afford to deal with the confused and conflicted. They need players who are on the same page from day one and that belief is exactly what fueled the stubbornness of Thompson and McCarthy.

They had a plan in place and they believed in it. They also gave Favre a chance to be part of that plan. But Favre apparently couldn't accept working with a general manager he didn't like and a team that was ready to move on without him. That's fine. He now gets to play football again -- with a mediocre team that is about to get kicked around the AFC for another season -- and the Packers get to move forward with a team that should make another run at the Super Bowl.

And please don't tell me how much pressure is on Aaron Rodgers, Favre's successor. If anything, he should have more confidence now that Favre has been shuttled out of town because Rodgers is the best quarterback on the current roster. I'd also give Thompson credit for his ability to find talent. He's built a nice supporting cast for Rodgers because he's been able to pluck playmakers off the free-agent market and out of the draft.

In case you forgot, running back Ryan Grant was mired at the bottom of the New York Giants' depth chart before Thompson traded for him and set him loose on opposing defenses.

These are the kind of accomplishments Packers fans -- along with anybody else who has followed this story -- need to focus on now. There was going to come a day when Favre's career ended in Green Bay, and it just so happened that such a day came twice in the same year. But the game of football doesn't stop moving forward for anybody. Not even for a man with Favre's impeccable credentials.

So when you watch the Packers this season and wait for them to implode without their former starter, remember one thing: This isn't the NBA, in which you can just add a Kevin Garnett and a Ray Allen to a lousy team and win a title. In football, you need 53 men to be focused on the same goal -- instead of one man carrying a team. The Packers have that going for themselves today. And that's reason enough for them to not regret parting ways with one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.