Report: Pack offer Favre $20 million to stay home

[Captain Erv]

Report: Packers offer Favre $20 million to stay home
By Greg A. Bedard
Wednesday, Jul 30 2008, 09:51 PM

Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers are so desperate to not have Brett Favre report to training camp that they reportedly offered him a substantial amount of money to stay home.

WTMJ-TV Channel 4 in Milwaukee, citing two sources, reported that Packers president Mark Murphy offered Favre a package in the neighborhood of $20 million over 10 years to remain retired. Murphy met most of Wednesday with Favre and his agent, Bus Cook, in Hattiesburg, Miss.

If the report is true, it could potentially cripple the Packers in court of public opinion as it could be interpreted as they were attempting to bribe Favre, a player that has said he wants to continue his career.

Murphy arrived back in Green Bay at approximately 9 p.m. and did not stop to talk to reporters as he was driven from the airport. A few minutes later, the Packers released this statement from Murphy:

"I was in Hattiesburg today and had a nice visit with Brett Favre. We discussed a number of topics not related to football, including Brett’s long-term relationship with the Packers. I consider our conversation to be confidential and am going to be respectful of Brett and his family and keep the details private."

When asked if the Packers had a specific comment on WTMJ's report, Murphy's spokesman, Aaron Popkey, said no further comment would be coming from the Packers this evening.

Favre apparently didn't think much of the Packers' offer, as Cook told reporters that his client wished to return to the Packers.

"Right now he's interested in going back to the Green Bay Packers," Cook said.

"He would love to go back to Green Bay. That's why he started working out. But right now it looks like he'll be the quarterback at Oak Grove High School (where Favre has been working out)."

Yikes. Uglier and uglier.

[ReasonablySober]

OMFG.

[MickeyDavis]

If this was Murphy's idea he should be fired immediately. In fact it doesn't matter whose idea it was, Murphy is the guy in charge and for making this ridiculous offer he should be out on his ass.

[ReasonablySober]

I wonder who's idea this was. The Board? Murphy? Thompson?

How stupid do you have to be to believe that a guy with as much money as Favre would go for a **** bribe? Easily one of the more boneheaded ideas I've heard of.

As for Brett, I'm so sick of this damn fiasco. I don't ever want to see him in a Packers jersey again. If they can't trade him, to hell with it...just release the bastard.

[magicfan4life05]

OMFG.

[magicfan4life05]

WTMJ-TV Channel 4 in Milwaukee, citing two sources, reported that Packers president Mark Murphy at least floated the idea of paying Favre a package in the neighborhood of $20 million over 10 years to remain retired.

wow....they really really really dont want him back, that is a lot of money!

[MickeyDavis]

There is absolutely no way Harlan tries to bribe Favre. Even if it was the boards idea Harlan would have shot it down instantly.

Favre has acted like a jackass the last month but the Packer organization has acted the same way. Murphy should crawl back to Northwestern.

[ReasonablySober]

There is absolutely no way Harlan tries to bribe Favre. Even if it was the boards idea Harlan would have shot it down instantly.

Favre has acted like a jackass the last month but the Packer organization has acted the same way. Murphy should crawl back to Northwestern.

Gotta agree.

[ReasonablySober]

You don't give a dog a bone for **** on your carpet. What the hell are the Packers doing offering this guy the most massive of golden parachutes when he's completely screwed the organization that made him worshipped & wealthy?

[LUKE23]

I'm truly embarassed if this report is true. Not wanting him to play? Fine. Openly bribing him to not play football? Wow.

[Captain Erv]

Not only is it classless, but as mentioned, why would he care about the money? Makes absolutely no sense at all. I've been on the Packers side during this whole ordeal, but now I'm thinking both sides made this into the biggest mess possible.

[TheGhostDog]

A breathtakingly bad idea. A monument to sheer stupidity. Mark Murphy has made himself the Neville Chamberlain of NFL executives. With Murphy arguing for the small-town Packer's perspective in upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement talks, we are soooooo screwed.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm truly embarassed if this report is true.

I've been on the Packers side during this whole ordeal, but now I'm thinking both sides made this into the biggest mess possible.

A breathtakingly bad idea. A monument to sheer stupidity. Mark Murphy has made himself the Neville Chamberlain of NFL executives.

If this was Murphy's idea he should be fired immediately.

[slappyg]

Put the money into a contract extension for Rodgers and let Favre compete for the job.

[LUKE23]

This idea is too dumb to even write for a movie script. It can't be right. If it is, fire everyone.

Between this debacle and the Brewers shoving their heads up their asses, might be time to drive my car off a cliff.

[TheGhostDog]

Finally, some news in the Favre saga that everybody can agree on.

[ReasonablySober]

This idea is too dumb to even write for a movie script. It can't be right. If it is, fire everyone.

Pretty much my line of thinking. How can well educated people (or even the slowest of the slow) come up with the notion that paying Favre off is not only a good idea, but something he would actually consider?

Wow. This better not be correct.

[TheMachine]

I think it is time now for the Packers to just call Favre's bluff. He may show up to camp, and if he does it will be a circus for a month, but Favre will then retire again before the opening game of the regular season. Why?...the streak.

I also think the Packers should stop trying to keep Favre's legacy in tact, and tell the public the truth... that the most important thing for Brett is keeping the streak alive. The best scenario for the Packer's team would be for Favre to willingly accept a role as the backup. If Rodgers gets hurt or faulters Favre would provide the best backup you could have and perhaps save the season. If the Rodgers plays well and stays healthy, than that is great for the Packers also. The problem is Favre wants what is best for Favre (the streak), and not what is best for the Packers. No way in the world Favre will stay on the roster as a backup. If he is still on the roster when Rodgers takes the first snap against the Vikings, the streak ends.

We all know that Favre is all about the streak. In fact that is what this whole thing is about for Favre, keeping the streak alive. As I have said there is no way Favre is on anyones roster for opening day unless he is guaranteed the starting job. It is all about the streak!

[MetroDrugUnit]

Next move. Murphy tells Favre that he knows people who take care of problems like him and make it look like an accident.

WTF is going to happen next. I prided myself on knowing the fate of Vick before everything hit the fan and knew that this was going to be ugly when weeks ago everyone around the office was saying woo hoo Farves coming back. Well, as much of a realist as I am this is really starting to blow my F-ing mind.

You know they weren't capable of handling this. Remember the whole locker thing weeks before this happened. McCarty was quoted as saying (about the team not removing Farves locker) We can't just move it. It's more then a locker, were not sure what were going to do. The very next day they have a press conference about the F-ing locker. Ever move these jag offs have made has been a reactory move. The should have hired a third party firm to handle their PR on the Farve matter from day one. Because all parties involved look like complete retards.

[paulpressey25]

There comes a time on this board when you know you've got to fold on your previously held opinion on something.

I can no longer support the Packers here. How hard is it to get a real President of this team?