Favre says Thompson begged him not to return

[Captain Erv]

Sunday, July 27, 2008
Favre delays arrival to Packers camp at GM's request
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

Brett Favre has signed his letter seeking reinstatement to the Green Bay Packers but may not send it to the NFL until Monday or Tuesday.

Favre admitted in a telephone interview that he did not report to the Packers' camp Sunday with the rest of the team in part because general manager Ted Thompson pleaded with him to delay his arrival.

Such is the drama that continues to build around Favre.

He offered to compete for his old job but was told that wasn't possible.

He admits he has spoken to Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress but says it wasn't tampering.

He's open to a trade but not just to the New York Jets or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He's hoping commissioner Roger Goodell can mediate the impasse that he has reached with the Packers.

"I asked Ted [Saturday], 'Am I welcome in the building if I report?' and Ted was just about shattered," said Favre in a telephone interview. "He said, 'Brett, you can't do that -- you'll get me fired.' I told him I'm not trying to get anybody fired. So Ted asked me to let the guys report and let's try to resolve this over the next two or three days."

Consequently, Favre did not fax a letter he has signed to request his reinstatement as an active player to the league office on Saturday. That did not sit well with Favre's wife Deanna or his agent, James "Bus" Cook.

"Deanna, Bus, everyone here [in Mississippi] says, 'You're so stupid, letting [the Packers] play you like this," said Favre. "They want me to get in there now. I may wait until Tuesday or so."

Favre said that Thompson wasn't receptive to the veteran quarterback winning his job back from Aaron Rodgers. He relayed his most recent conversation Saturday with the GM.

"I said, 'Let me compete, you'll know I'll win this job' and Ted said again, 'Brett, things have changed. Aaron Rodgers is our quarterback.' It's pretty clear -- and this is what I told the commissioner -- that they want me to go away, stay retired. They would much rather see me in a Packers' uniform, paying me $12 million to be a backup -- which you know they really don't want -- rather than see in another uniform, no matter what they say. They'll drag this out, asking a king's ransom [in a trade], hoping it all goes away."

Goodell has spoken to Favre twice, most recently on Saturday.

"Roger is willing to help but he has to be careful," said Favre. "I told him I could easily send in this letter [of reinstatement] but they really don't want me there and it'll be a big circus. They play this both ways. Privately, they don't want me there. Publicly, if I sent in the letter but didn't show up right away, they could always fine me or say, `See, why isn't he here? He really doesn't want to play.' Give me my release and see if I want to play or not."

It appears Tuesday is Favre's soft deadline to report to camp or possibly be traded. According to Favre, Thompson asked him if he was interested in a trade. "Yeah, but not just to the teams you want me to go to," Favre said, relaying his conversation with the Packers' GM.

The Packers have given permission to the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to talk to Favre. The Jets have had conversations with Cook but have not talked directly to Favre.

Favre would not admit that the Vikings are his preferred team of choice but he confirmed he has spoken with Childress and admitted as much to both Goodell and NFL director of security Milt Alherich. The Packers filed a tampering complaint against the Vikings.

"I have never denied talking to Childress," said Favre. "I've known [Childress] for about 12 years going back to when he and Jay Norvell were assistants at Wisconsin and they used to come in and sit in our quarterback meetings. And then Brad went to Philadelphia to be with Andy Reid and, you know, Andy and I are big buddies so the relations continued.

'Like I told Milt and like I told the commissioner, I've spoken to Childress. I've spoken to Darrell Bevell [Vikings offensive coordinator], I've spoken to Andy Reid, I've spoken to Mike Sherman, Matt Millen, Steve Mariucci ... I've spoken to a lot of guys who are my friends and guys who have coached me, either talked to them or left messages."

Favre claims that his communications with many of those coaches, including Childress, was a matter of seeing if it was within reason to change his mind about retirement.

"I called them and asked them, 'Am I crazy? Am I wrong for pushing this? Can I still play the game? Should I let it die? I mean, I think you know what the answer is. I can still play. I said it when I retired [in March]. Now I've had a change of heart about playing but I've always known I can still play."

Favre said Alherich asked him point-blank if Childress or anybody with the Vikings enticed him to play again.

"I told Milt, 'No, I wasn't [enticed],'" said Favre. "I told Milt and Roger Goodell that if talking to teams is tampering, then there's about seven-to-10 teams that are guilty of tampering. But Brad isn't going to try to entice me because he knows that even if he wanted me to play there, it's not going to happen. The Packers aren't going to let that happen.

"So Brad and I, yeah, we talk and we exchange text messages. The Packers know that. After we beat them last year, Brad sent me a text message, teasing me how a gray-haired quarterback could still play. And the Packers were aware of that because I shared a laugh with 'em about that."

Favre adamantly denied reports that the Packers had evidence of his communications with Childress because they had the phone records from Favre's team-issued cell phone.

"That's just bogus," said Favre. "I don't have a Packers' cell phone. Never have. I told Ted [on Thursday] that he and [coach Mike] McCarthy needed to clear up this cell phone thing. I told him they needed to get in front of the media and admit that I don't have one of their cell phones. And Ted said, 'Well, I think somebody already squashed that [story].' But that isn't enough. They need to get up and admit it's ridiculous and bogus."

Thompson did not immediately return a phone message to respond to Favre's version of the story.

Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN

[TheGhostDog]

I want to live in Brett's world for awhile, an alternate reality where I can publicly boast about talking to the heads of my boss's main competitors, whenever I want, with no career repercussions.

[paulpressey25]

Favre's PR team is just terrible.

They need to tell him to just shut up and have he and Ted Thompson work out a trade.

You can almost read between the lines in this Mort piece that Favre wants to pick the team he goes to and TT won't let him do that.....so now he's even more ticked.

[BuckPack]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Thompson won't allow him to compete for the starting job. I furthermore can't believe that so many people have actually bought this "we've moved on" justification as to why he won't let them compete. It's just patently absurd. If you won't let him come into camp and compete for the starting job, then just friggin release him and say he can't play for the vikings or lions or bears. their unwillingness to even let him compete for the job suggests that they believe Rodgers is the better QB anyway. So if that's the case, then you shouldn't be concerned about Favre competing against you.

I've supported the Packersand Thompson throughout this process, thinking that they would at least let him compete for the starting job if he really wanted to play again. If he didn't outperform Rodgers, then he doesn't deserve the position. But to not even allow him to compete? Thompson will rue the day he make that decision....Rodgers better f*cking lead them to the Super Bowl next year.

[randy84]

I find it hilarious that people have no problem when a coach retires and unretires ala Parcells and Gibbs, or a guy misses a whole year and comes back to play (i.e. Pacman and Ricky Williams), but when a legitimate hall of famer, who basically put the Packers back on the map, coming off his third best year ever wants to "unretire" it's a major catastrophe.

Please, if Rodgers can't beat out an old man in camp then he doesn't deserve the job. The fact that TT isn't willing to put the best players on the field is going to undermine the Packers far more than Favre ever would.

[mnstinks]

I don't believe TT said that. I don't believe anything Favre says right now.

[paulpressey25]

Why are we all assuming that it is only Rodgers and TT who can't handle competition? Let me ask you guys this. What if Brett were outplayed in camp by Rodgers?

How many of you guys believe that Brett would sit back on September 1st and say "You know, Aaron is just the better man for the starting job. I'm proud to back him up and still be a part of this team"

Do you really think Favre's ego could handle this? And what if the competition was close but Rodgers was better by a hair? Can the Green Bay organization withstand then having John Madden blare away "Well, the Packers like this Aaron Rodgers guy and he's done well in camp.....but can you really take that job away from a veteran like Brett Favre? It's fine that Rodgers had a 124 passer rating in preseason, but when the bullets fly, isn't Brett Favre who you want.......I talked the other day with Donald Driver and he thinks Favre....blah, blah, blah"

If Favre were SMART, he'd say he'd be the backup and was looking forward to being a part of the team. Then if Rodgers falters or gets injured, and Favre comes in to bail out the team, Favre's heroic stock goes up 1000% among all of us. But we all know Favre's ego won't allow anything of the sort to take place. And by virtue of that, we know Favre would never accept being "beaten out" by Rodgers for the job in camp.

[Profound23]

He said on 1250 WSSP:

"I thought about what my father would say if he was alive, and he would tell me to fly my butt up there and compete for the job".

[randy84]

Your missing the point. TT won't even let Favre come to camp.

[eagle13]

I find it hilarious that people have no problem when a coach retires and unretires ala Parcells and Gibbs, or a guy misses a whole year and comes back to play (i.e. Pacman and Ricky Williams), but when a legitimate hall of famer, who basically put the Packers back on the map, coming off his third best year ever wants to "unretire" it's a major catastrophe.

Please, if Rodgers can't beat out an old man in camp then he doesn't deserve the job. The fact that TT isn't willing to put the best players on the field is going to undermine the Packers far more than Favre ever would.

Yep

Why are we all assuming that it is only Rodgers and TT who can't handle competition? Let me ask you guys this. What if Brett were outplayed in camp by Rodgers?

How many of you guys believe that Brett would sit back on September 1st and say "You know, Aaron is just the better man for the starting job. I'm proud to back him up and still be a part of this team"

Do you really think Favre's ego could handle this? And what if the competition was close but Rodgers was better by a hair? Can the Green Bay organization withstand then having John Madden blare away "Well, the Packers like this Aaron Rodgers guy and he's done well in camp.....but can you really take that job away from a veteran like Brett Favre? It's fine that Rodgers had a 124 passer rating in preseason, but when the bullets fly, isn't Brett Favre who you want.......I talked the other day with Donald Driver and he thinks Favre....blah, blah, blah"

If Favre were SMART, he'd say he'd be the backup and was looking forward to being a part of the team. Then if Rodgers falters or gets injured, and Favre comes in to bail out the team, Favre's heroic stock goes up 1000% among all of us. But we all know Favre's ego won't allow anything of the sort to take place. And by virtue of that, we know Favre would never accept being "beaten out" by Rodgers for the job in camp.

yep

crazy.

Bottom line is Brett brought this all on himself. Maybe TT and M3 did not handle it the best but what other player in the history of any sport has been such a drama queen about retirement over 3-4 yrs. He's been as emotional and confused and undecided as a menopausal woman. Take a look in the mirror Brett. Accept that you handled this like shxt - don't blame everyone else - take responsibility. Be the good team guy and be a real backup and wait for your chance. Rod would treat you better than you ever treated him. I know you want to play but you and you alone fxcked up that. After last season everyone wanted you back and for a change figured you would return for sure. But you did not get your way with Moss and Wahle. Hell Brett, I agree with you there but I've moved on. Your not the GM. IF you want to be GM - stay retired and who knows in couple years?

[El Duderino]

Favre's PR team is just terrible.

They need to tell him to just shut up and have he and Ted Thompson work out a trade.

I don't agree

I todays world of cut throat athletes and agents, few in Favre's spot would have said ok to Thompson and not show up for training camp today. Anyone with a pea sized brain would have to know that the absolute last thing the Packers want is Brett Favre anywhere near their training camp.

The Packers want no part of Brett being there competing for the starting job, the insane media circus that surely would follow, Rodgers being distracted by Favre being there, the team being distracted, and the coaching staff having to deal with countless questions about the QB situation.

If Brett wanted to be cut throat like nearly every agent would push him to be, he would have showed up today at Packers training camp and thus put intense pressure on Thompson to get Favre traded. Each day Brett was in camp and all the massive distractions that would surely would arise, it would give Favre much more leverage in this situation. Unless Ted would be ok with having a circus instead of a training camp, each day Brett was in camp and Ted didn't get a trade done that Brett was ok with, it would just be somewhat one more wasted day of training camp.

I'm fine with the Packers giving Rodgers the job, if he can stay healthy, i think he'll be a good QB. With that said, Brett has every right to change his mind and keep playing football. If i was Brett and wanted to keep playing, but the Packers wouldn't even let me compete for a job and kept trying to push me to stay retired, i'd tell them thanks but no thanks, i'll decide when i have to retire.

Same with trades. If the Packers wouldn't let me come to camp and compete for the job, then i wouldn't just let the team decide to trade me wherever they pleased. Favre is under contract with the Packers, but the team is the one locking the doors and saying, you aren't welcome here. So IMO Brett then has every right to feel he should have some control where the Packers trade him. Not full control where he's traded, but some control, just as every star in pro sports has. We aren't talking about a backup linebacker here.

[randy84]

Bottom line is Brett brought this all on himself. Maybe TT and M3 did not handle it the best but what other player in the history of any sport has been such a drama queen about retirement over 3-4 yrs. He's been as emotional and confused and undecided as a menopausal woman. Take a look in the mirror Brett. Accept that you handled this like shxt - don't blame everyone else - take responsibility. Be the good team guy and be a real backup and wait for your chance. Rod would treat you better than you ever treated him. I know you want to play but you and you alone fxcked up that. After last season everyone wanted you back and for a change figured you would return for sure. But you did not get your way with Moss and Wahle. Hell Brett, I agree with you there but I've moved on. Your not the GM. IF you want to be GM - stay retired and who knows in couple years?

I believe people call him MJ. Michael Jordan for the uninformed out there. I think he retired 2 or 3 times. Even took up another profession for a while before he "unretired"and came back.

[paulpressey25]

MJ retired twice and came back. Twice he retired after winning three straight titles.....1993 and 1998.

It was the subsequent Washington Wizards stint that I think has more application in this instance.....Favre right now is more Jordan during his Wizards time than his Bulls time.

If Favre were the unquestioned best QB and player in the game like Jordan was there would be no controversy here. The controversy is precisely because Favre is still good but not great anymore.

[El Duderino]

If Favre were SMART, he'd say he'd be the backup and was looking forward to being a part of the team. Then if Rodgers falters or gets injured, and Favre comes in to bail out the team, Favre's heroic stock goes up 1000% among all of us. But we all know Favre's ego won't allow anything of the sort to take place. And by virtue of that, we know Favre would never accept being "beaten out" by Rodgers for the job in camp.

Come on PP, you're smarter than this

Do you actually think the Packers want Brett to come to camp as the backup QB?

They spit that out as pure PR spin. I don't believe for a second that either Thompson or McCarthy want Brett anywhere neat the city of Green Bay during training camp, even as a backup. It would just invite intense media scrutiny as every pass in camp and exhibition games by each QB was dissected by the local and national media.

If say Rodgers struggled a bit in camp and then Brett played better in the first exhibition game or two, every question to McCarthy and the players would be, should Brett be reinstalled as the starter? Just imagine opening game vs the Vikings and Brett is the backup. Rodgers has a poor first half and 60,000 of the 70,000 fans start chanting, We Want Brett.

That would be a wonderful situation to put Rodgers in.

[paulpressey25]

Here's some news from the Tampa Bay Bucs beat writer:

Seems to imply Green Bay and Tampa Bay are at an impass on a deal with the Packers holding out for a conditional #1 pick.

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sport ... s-back-on/

[slappyg]

"I said, 'Let me compete, you'll know I'll win this job' and Ted said again, 'Brett, things have changed. Aaron Rodgers is our quarterback.


Horrible decision to not let Brett compete. Quit being girls about it and put the best qb on the field. Thompson deserves to lose his job if he doesn't let Brett compete and Rodgers gets hurt.

[Profound23]

Bottom line is Brett brought this all on himself. Maybe TT and M3 did not handle it the best but what other player in the history of any sport has been such a drama queen about retirement over 3-4 yrs. He's been as emotional and confused and undecided as a menopausal woman. Take a look in the mirror Brett. Accept that you handled this like shxt - don't blame everyone else - take responsibility. Be the good team guy and be a real backup and wait for your chance. Rod would treat you better than you ever treated him. I know you want to play but you and you alone fxcked up that. After last season everyone wanted you back and for a change figured you would return for sure. But you did not get your way with Moss and Wahle. Hell Brett, I agree with you there but I've moved on. Your not the GM. IF you want to be GM - stay retired and who knows in couple years?

I believe people call him MJ. Michael Jordan for the uninformed out there. I think he retired 2 or 3 times. Even took up another profession for a while before he "unretired"and came back.

And Vince Lombardi.

He retired early, then came back with the Redskins.

[smooth 'lil balla]

This whole thing is a travesty (a sports travesty that is).

I'm finding it hard to be a Packer fan with the way we've handled this, and i can honestly say i've missed less than 10 games in the last 20 years.

How you can turn your back on Favre like this? I just don't get it, even if Rodgers is "slightly" better, although i have no idea how anyone can come to that conclusion.

Favre should be our starting QB, we should give Rodgers a fat signing bonus this year, extend him one year, and be done with it. Everyone wins. Rodgers goes down as a hero for stepping aside, Rodgers gets rich, Favre gets to play, and the Packer/Favre legacy remains in tact. Not to mention he gives us the best chance to win this year.

[paulpressey25]

Come on PP, you're smarter than this

Do you actually think the Packers want Brett to come to camp as the backup QB?

I don't think your picking up my point. No, the Packers don't want Brett anywhere near GB. Under any circumstance, starter or backup.

My point is that if FAVRE wanted to do the right thing and also put the Packers in a bind, he'd do a better job by him (Favre) saying he'd be glad to come in as the backup. There is zero chance that TT can still hold his job and turn Favre away from coming in as the veteran clipboard guy. Virtually every Packer fan in the State would love for Brett to defer to A-Rod yet still be part of the team. The only ones who wouldn't like that are TT, MM and A-Rod for the pressure it would cause.

But, why won't Favre make the mentor/backup play here? Because he's got too damn big an ego. Favre could win this thing right now by saying he'd love to be A-Rod's backup. But instead we're still hearing him bitch about cellphone gate and his problems with TT. Primarily because Favre wants to come back as the star he was.

[slappyg]

This whole thing is a travesty (a sports travesty that is).

I'm finding it hard to be a Packer fan with the way we've handled this, and i can honestly say i've missed less than 10 games in the last 20 years.

How you can turn your back on Favre like this? I just don't get it, even if Rodgers is "slightly" better, although i have no idea how anyone can come to that conclusion.

Favre should be our starting QB, we should give Rodgers a fat signing bonus this year, extend him one year, and be done with it. Everyone wins. Rodgers goes down as a hero for stepping aside, Rodgers gets rich, Favre gets to play, and the Packer/Favre legacy remains in tact. Not to mention he gives us the best chance to win this year.

My thoughts exactly! One other thought - Let Brett compete and he will be the starter opening day. If he flakes and retires again, Green Bay saved face by not immediately annointing him the starter.