NEW ORLEANS – Wisconsin is often referred to as “America’s Dairyland.”
But after having a week to digest the breaking news alerts, press conferences and numerous player/coaches interviews, the soap opera between former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre (never thought I would utter those words) and the Packers’ front office may cause some fans to become lactose intolerant.
But it’s all over now.
Favre jetted to New York – pun intended – after being booted from the team Wednesday afternoon.
But just because the Hall of Famer is out doesn’t mean this saga (or the criticism) is over.
It’s far from over ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to give Packers General Manager Ted Thompson a piece of advice: You made the wrong choice and should be slapped across the face for the way the organization handled the situation.
The fact is this: Favre should still be a Packer, and Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy and Thompson should have delivered a framed copy of the 2008 depth chart the moment Favre stepped off his jet that had Favre’s name already inked in as the starting quarterback.
Along with the depth chart, a big cake with the words “We’re sorry” spelled out with icing should have been delivered to Favre by no other than current No. 1 quarterback Aaron Rogers.
That’s right, people.
Most fans outside the situation have said Favre brought this on himself by announcing his retirement at a March 6 press conference and then reneging on his decision.
But what is not well know is that the week of Jan. 22, McCarthy reportedly told Favre the Packers would take a similar approach to Favre’s retirement decision as in the past, and would allow Favre plenty of time to make his decision.
Don’t jump me yet, I’m not done.
I realize that was more than a month prior to Favre’s decision, but Packers’ offensive line coach, James Campen, went to visit Favre on March 26 and told McCarthy a day later that Favre had second thoughts. Campen also said he thought McCarthy should call the quarterback.
He called, learned Favre indeed had second thoughts, and McCarthy and Thompson decided they would “welcome [Favre] back,” according to an Associated Press report.
The coaches secured a private jet from a Packers board member to visit Favre in person. The details of the proceeding conversation are still unknown.
NEWS FLASH – when you heard this news, a light should have gone off in your little head, coach, and you should have made it a point to prepare for something like this.
But of course, that would probably be the smart thing to do. And by the looks of things, intelligence doesn’t seem to be a quality in abundance amongst those in the Packers’ organization.
Watching Thursday’s press conference made me chuckle a bit. I felt as though I was watching an audition for a new “Three Stooges” movie.
All I saw and heard were three fools sitting there in front of the media, stumbling over their words and never really answering any of the dozen questions thrown at them.
And then a thought came to me: McCarthy, after shaving his head, gets a call from a well-known movie producer about a movie he’s making. After reading the part, he agrees he’ll take on the part of Curly.
The film’s producer decides to ask Thompson to play the part of Moe. Midnight black hair dye and a bowl hair cut later, Thompson walks into the audition room and is automatically given the part.
Which leaves Green Bay President and CEO Mark Murphy as Larry. Murphy – who stuttered through his opening statement Thursday and didn’t feel Favre was important enough to the organization to actually memorize a few words – has agreed to grow his hair and get a perm when filming starts.
Good luck with the movie business, because it seems as though you three can’t handle football operations or properly perform the jobs you all were hired for.
But I digress. Back to the point.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely blaming the Packers’ front office. Sorry Brett, I have to admit that this is partially your fault. If you didn’t want to hang up the cleats, you should have never said, while crying may I add, that it was time for you to go.
But Green Bay officials mishandled the situation and the person who resurrected their franchise.
The Packers have been blessed with two of the greatest quarterbacks that have ever graced a football field: Bart Starr and Favre.
Starr – who played for Green Bay from 1956 until 1971 – led the Pack to Super Bowl Championships in 1961, 1962 and 1966.
But as Starr’s skills began to diminish, the Packers did so as well.
From 1968 to 1991, Green Bay had just five winning seasons, one of which came in the strike-shortened 1982 season. They reached the playoffs twice during the 24 season, with no star quarterback.
Insert Mr. Favre, a young gunslinger acquired in 1992 from the Atlanta Falcons for a first-round pick.
Favre didn’t missed a start for the Pack – 271 games in a row (including playoffs) – propelled them to a .590 regular season winning percentage (161-95) during that time and helped Green Bay reach its first or many playoff berths in 1993 – the first for the Pack in 21 years.
Now, are you going to tell me this is a proper way to handle one of the NFL’s greatest players? And if you do, I’ll look you straight in your eyes and say you know nothing about football, nothing about manners and your stupidity has seemed to cloud you judgment.
Favre was a great player, a wonderful friend and a helping hand to that organization. Numerous Wisconsin residences see him as some sort of god. Many cried alongside Favre when he announced his retirement.
And what does he get from a team he’s put his heart and soul into? “Thanks, but no thanks. We’d like for you to be here, but sit on the sideline, keep yourself quite, and keep yourself busy with a clipboard and a hat.”
And to that, Favre said exactly what he should have: “Shove it.”
Thank you, Brett Favre, for turning down the $20 million “please stay retired” contract offered by the Packers’ GM, and thank you for not giving in to the organization’s demands.
I kind of feel sorry for Rogers, who is feeling about as much pressure as an uncorked, shaken up bottle of Champaign.
Former New York Giant defensive end Michael Strahan put it best when he spoke about the situation and the possibility of Favre riding the bench.
“You’ll have the Packers fans going crazy because if Brett Favre is on the bench and you lose one game, Aaron Rogers won’t be able to go home,” Strahan said. “He’ll have to go into a witness protection program. He’s already in the right place, Wisconsin, because nobody can find you up there anyway.”
It’s said, but true. Hope you make it through the season alive my friend.
In closing, I have a few questions for my readers and anyone else believing the Packers didn’t screw over Favre.
Would the Detroit Lions have rejected Barry Sanders if he’d asked to come back? Would the Miami Dolphins or Denver Broncos boot out Dan Marino or John Elway if they asked to return to their respected teams? Or would the Minnesota Vikings have traded Chris Carter if he wanted to run more routes in the Metrodome?
I think not. So why was Favre slapped with a wet newspaper and treated like a dog that just peed on the carpet?
—-Contact Jay St. Pierre at [email protected]