Favre: Summer Low - Frustrated

[Thunder Muscle]

Green Bay - Quarterback Brett Favre might be in his 17th season in the National Football League but Saturday night in Pittsburgh was one of his all-time summer lows, he said today.

"I was as frustrated when I came out as I think I've ever been in pre-season," Favre said during his second press briefing of the Green Bay Packers' training camp. "Knowing that their scheme poses problems and it would be difficult, I just expect more from myself and the offense in general. It wasn't so much what they did but what we didn't do."

Favre played the entire first quarter in the Packers' 13-9 victory over the Steelers, failing to generate a single first down in four three-and-out possessions.

"Talent alone does not get you championships," said Favre. "Chemistry does. We have to find it fast. There will be a lot of ups and downs along the way. We have to get a little bit better each week."

Among Favre's other comments were these:

On the past: "Our play-calling is different. We have a different head coach, different coaches, different players. A lot has changed. In games from the past, you go out and can do things blindfolded. Whereas last year and this year, we're constantly trying to find chemistry and to find what we hang our hat on.

On the Steelers' 3-4 defense: "That defense poses us a lot of problems. It did two years ago. They give you a lot of looks. They make you change your scheme up for that week because they are 3-4. You never know who's blitzing. They're hard to run against. That scheme is hard to run against. It offered some challenges. To a certain degree, that scheme makes you look bad. Or question where you're at offensively."

On the season ahead: "You'd like to go into a season like Indy is now and NE and even the Bears. The way we were in years past. I consider the Saints in that position. San Diego. You know Indy will run the same plays but it's hard to stop them because they've been running them so long and so well. We were the same way. I mean, you knew I was going to throw a screen pass to Edgar Bennett but you didn't know when it was coming. It worked.

"It's frustrating for me but I understand. I've been there. I'm having to maybe anticipate a little more. It's hard to anticipate a throw down the field when I'm a little unsure if he's going to break it off when I think he is. It's hard to play that way. Once again, that's the way it is.

"At some point, I have to play the game. I've tried to focus on only what I do. In years past I have tried to coach everybody up on the fly. It's hard enough to play my question to focus on everyone else. I can't do that."

On where the team is headed: "I may play five more years. I think we're all assuming that's not the case. If this was a five-year project and this year is just the first step ... but I want to win now. I hope everyone else does, too. We've had a lot of success in the past. Most of these guys didn't experience that success."

More daily coverage from the Packers training camp will appear online later tonight and in the newspaper Wednesday morning.

[Ruben Douglas]

"It's frustrating for me but I understand. I've been there. I'm having to maybe anticipate a little more. It's hard to anticipate a throw down the field when I'm a little unsure if he's going to break it off when I think he is. It's hard to play that way. Once again, that's the way it is.

This is very good news to hear as a Bears fan.

The article also makes you wonder if some teams might slip in a 3-4 package against the Pack from time to time.

[ReasonablySober]

I hate to say this, but Brett, you can retire at any time if the rebuilding plan doesn't sit well with you.

[Thunder Muscle]

Now this will be a story probably...

[Ayt]

I hate to say this, but Brett, you can retire at any time if the rebuilding plan doesn't sit well with you.

Why does he hang on like this then complain about the situation? When was the last time an ancient QB acted this way?

I don't get it.

[El Duderino]

It seems pretty obvious to me that Brett is somewhat bitter towards Thompson the last two years in regards to how he's gone about trying to slowly change the team and ignoring the offense except for just young draft picks.

If i could see that winning sooner than later wasn't Thompson's biggest objective,i struggle to see how Favre would be surprised with the current state of the team.If trying to win was really Brett's number one reason for playing the last two years,he should have asked Thompson to see if a trade to a team looking to win was an option.I'm sure Brett wanted to play his whole career as a Packer and wasn't keen on going to a new city/team,but a trade last year was his only realistic chance to possibly play in games that matter instead of playing here on a team/management that didn't share Brett's objectives.

I do wish Favre had a better team around him for what i hope is his last season,but it is what it is and he should have accepted this was going to be the case before decided to come back.Was he really expecting Thompson to make a bold move or two and spend money in free agency?I sure wasn't and Brett shouldn't have either.Suck it up and play,Ted Thompson was the GM,not Ron Wolf.

[Mags FTW]

-= original quote snipped =-



Why does he hang on like this then complain about the situation? When was the last time an ancient QB acted this way?

I don't get it.

I hate to say this, but Brett, you can retire at any time if the rebuilding plan doesn't sit well with you.

My thoughts exactly. Retire or ask for a trade. I want to try and enjoy this season. Not listen to him complain everytime he doesn't like something.

[LUKE23]

-= original quote snipped =-



This is very good news to hear as a Bears fan.

The article also makes you wonder if some teams might slip in a 3-4 package against the Pack from time to time.

This isn't the Bears board last time I checked.

[xTitan]

The irony that is most laughable to me are the comments Favre made when talked about coming to GB and starting off with Dorsey, Edgar, Chewy, Robert Brooks, Antonio....and how its different now...ya think??...The irony is that Rodgers is waiting in the wings to form that same connection with the young players coming in now and Favre is basically in the way complaining.......when Bennett and Levins came to this team...they were less thought of then Jackson and Morency, plus Brooks, Freeman, and Chewy were all picks drafted 3rd round and lower I believe.....the difference is the QB had a chance to grow with the young players around him....thats put on hold for now so whats really important can happen...and thats breakin some records

[Ayt]

It just seems like he's living in a bubble. How the hell can he not understand what is going on in GB?

You could interpret him as venting a bit I guess, but that is still terrible from the supposed leader of the team. Complaining about all the young guys? Great move, vet.

[Fandom]

For years, I looked forward to the weekly Favre press conferences, but in the last few years and especially this year, he's reminiscing too much about the good ol' days and is starting to sound like a bitter old man; I can't watch it anymore.

[mbucks22]

He's just frustrated because of how bad the first string offense looked. Nothing more.

[ReasonablySober]

Was listening to NFL Radio on Sirius on the way home tonight. Bob Papa and Vic Carucci (or was it Bryan McGovern...?) were talking about their impressions from their visit to Packers training camp yesterday. Said if you took the numbers off the jerseys you'd think Rodgers was the starter and Favre was the inexperienced backup. Said how Favre was still driving McCarthy crazy with poor decisions and trying to take what isn't there. They also posed the question of whether or not McCarthy would be forced to bench Favre at some point this season in favor of Aaron and they thought the answer was yes. They said it might occur late in the season or possibly earlier if Favre continues to make bad choices out there and it becomes apparent that Rodgers would give the Pack the best chance to win.

[Ayt]

This could be a very interesting season.

[El Duderino]

When father time comes knocking at the door for an athlete,he can't just refuse to answer the door.Brett is 37 years old,simply keeping himself in shape is no guarantee to keep father time from not only knocking at the door,but actually coming in and taking Favre with him.

His accuracy has already taken a big hit with age,if it gets much worse and his legs decline even more this season,Brett won't be productive at all.Mix in Brett's ingrained belief that he can create big plays out of nothing,even though he rarely can anymore,it could be ugly if Favre doesn't play within McCarthy's wishes.

I'd hate to see Favre go out riding the pine for bad play,but if McCarthy sees that Brett has declined beyond repair,he'll have to make the call for the best of the franchise.Every once great aging athlete potentially puts themselves/the team in the position where a tough choice has to be made that everyone involved would prefer not to see happen.Hopefully this is avoided and Brett didn't try hanging around one year to long.

[Ayt]

I'd honestly enjoy all the drama if Favre got bench at some point.

[El Duderino]

I'd rather not see it especially if it came from Favre looking very washed up.He's meant to much to the resurgence of this franchise for me to wish that ugliness on him,even if Brett would be partly to blame for it by not hanging it up before this could happen.

With that said,if it happens,McCarthy has to be strong enough to make the call if Brett plays just terrible.

[eagle13]

I'd rather not see it especially if it came from Favre looking very washed up.He's meant to much to the resurgence of this franchise for me to wish that ugliness on him,even if Brett would be partly to blame for it by not hanging it up before this could happen.

With that said,if it happens,McCarthy has to be strong enough to make the call if Brett plays just terrible.

What he said.

[Ayt]

I may not sound like it, but I realize that watching Favre has been a gift and I'll likely never watch a guy like him play every week for my favorite team, but old QB's reach an end point. I'd like to see him play out the next two years (after this one) somewhere else and watch him be rejuvenated by the change. I've wanted him to go elsewhere for two seasons now, for his own good. His still being the QB in GB is like a marriage that should have ended, but neither party can pull the trigger.

[ReasonablySober]

I may not sound like it, but I realize that watching Favre has been a gift and I'll likely never watch a guy like him play every week for my favorite team, but old QB's reach an end point. I'd like to see him play out the next two years (after this one) somewhere else and watch him be rejuvenated by the change. I've wanted him to go elsewhere for two seasons now, for his own good. His still being the QB in GB is like a marriage that should have ended, but neither party can pull the trigger.

Nice analogy.

I too, would love to see him pull a Montana or Rice and go somewhere where he can still compete for a season or two. But the Packers are easily one of the worst fits in the league. Our roster is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, in the league. Thompson is perfectly content to go with a youth movement and by the time these cats are ready to be apart of a serious contender, Favre will be gone.

If all he cares about is playing, then what difference does it make if it's here or in KC?