http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/articl...9168/1058/PKR01
QUOTE
Mike Vandermause column: Who dumped who? Sorting through the Favre saga
Nick Barnett tried to describe how Green Bay Packers fans are struggling with the notion of Brett Favre dressed in purple and playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
“It’s hard for them to adjust to it,” the Packers’ linebacker said. “You can’t blame them. They were in love with Brett Favre and he dumped them and went with another chick. So, they’re a little heartbroken.”
If only the Favre saga were that simple. But the legendary quarterback’s ugly divorce from the Green Bay organization has two sides, and Favre no doubt believes the Packers dumped him first.
It’s a classic he said, she said scenario, and fans are caught in the middle like children forced to choose between parents.
Not surprisingly, the Packers organization is reluctant to rehash the gory details of Favre’s departure last season. “I have zero interest in going back to last training camp,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at his press conference Monday.
On the contrary, I have boundless interest in the Packers’ breakup with Favre, which has transformed Monday night’s Packers-Vikings game at the Metrodome into the most anticipated regular-season matchup ever. Here are 10 things I believe about Favre and his involvement in the biggest soap opera in Packers history:
1. Favre is good for the NFL
A player on the verge of turning 40 who never has missed a start in 17 years and continues to produce makes for an incredible story. His passion for the game cannot be questioned. The TV networks love him because anytime Favre plays, he compels people to watch. His last-second pass to beat the 49ers on Sunday was remarkable and provided one more piece of evidence proving you should never bet against him, no matter how old he is or what color jersey he is wearing.
2. Favre is not a traitor
Some Packers fans want to demonize Favre for going over to the dark side. But how many of those critics would turn down a sum of around $13 million for less than five months of work to perform a job he loves?
3. Ted Thompson did the right thing
Some fans won’t forgive Packers General Manager Ted Thompson for leaving the train station without Favre last year. But it was a fundamentally sound football decision. Favre announced his retirement, and the Packers moved on. When Favre changed his mind for the umpteenth time — conveniently waiting until the Packers completed their offseason program — Thompson and McCarthy deemed it prudent not to look back. Their confidence in Aaron Rodgers proved correct, and the Packers are in very good hands at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
4. Rodgers isn't to blame
The Packers’ lousy record last season was a result of many things, but Rodgers’ play wasn’t one of them. The presence of Favre wouldn’t have made much, if any, difference in the Packers’ final record. Why won’t the same critics who blame Rodgers for 6-10 also point the finger at Favre for the Packers’ 4-12 record in 2005? Anyone who genuinely believes Favre magically would have turned some of the Packers’ close losses into victories in 2008 are forgetting about his abysmal performance in the final five weeks of the season with the Jets.
5. Trading Favre to the Vikings wasn't an option
It has been suggested that since Favre landed in Minnesota anyway, the Packers should have traded him there last year and gotten more than a third-round draft choice in compensation. There was no way of knowing Favre would be a free agent a year later and still playing, and there’s no way of knowing whether the Vikings would have parted with a first-round pick. What Thompson knew at the time was the Vikings were potentially one good quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. No general manager worth his salt would bolster a hated division rival’s biggest weakness.
6. Favre wants revenge
No matter how adeptly Favre dances around the topic this week, there is no doubt he wants to stick it to Thompson in a big way. The jilted Favre wants his pound of flesh, and he wants it badly. Over the past year, Favre stooped to pettiness in taking verbal shots at Thompson. But the quarterback knows the best way to make Thompson look bad is to perform at a high level and propel the Vikings past the Packers.
7. Favre has been coddled
Brad Childress served as Favre’s chauffeur when the quarterback arrived in town, an image the Minnesota coach may never shake. Childress broke every coaching rule in the book by elevating one player above the rest of the team. Favre was allowed to skip most of training camp and walk in off the street and be handed a starting job. Childress looks like a genius now with a 3-0 record, but his buddy-buddy approach toward Favre could blow up in his face and cost him his job, especially if Favre suffers through his customary late-season fade.
8. Favre loves the attention, records
One reason Favre hasn’t retired is he craves the spotlight and cares about his place in the NFL record book. Behind that “aw, shucks” demeanor is a man who can’t get enough adulation. Don’t think Favre isn’t aware of Peyton Manning slowly creeping up on him. The longer Favre sticks around, the more secure his records will be.
9. There is no love lost between these teams
McCarthy and Childress don’t like each other. Favre hasn’t spoken to Rodgers in ages. The Packers filed tampering charges against the Vikings concerning Favre last year. Is there any doubt this goes way beyond a heated rivalry? It’s a border war that spills into the streets and involves passionate fans. Don’t be surprised if pushing, shoving and a few cheap shots break out, on and off the field.
10. This is no ordinary game
Players and coaches will attempt to downplay the hype surrounding this grudge match, but they will fail. First place is on the line, not to mention bragging rights for the next month. But more than that, Favre will loom larger than life over this full-blown, ESPN-fueled media circus.
Nick Barnett tried to describe how Green Bay Packers fans are struggling with the notion of Brett Favre dressed in purple and playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
“It’s hard for them to adjust to it,” the Packers’ linebacker said. “You can’t blame them. They were in love with Brett Favre and he dumped them and went with another chick. So, they’re a little heartbroken.”
If only the Favre saga were that simple. But the legendary quarterback’s ugly divorce from the Green Bay organization has two sides, and Favre no doubt believes the Packers dumped him first.
It’s a classic he said, she said scenario, and fans are caught in the middle like children forced to choose between parents.
Not surprisingly, the Packers organization is reluctant to rehash the gory details of Favre’s departure last season. “I have zero interest in going back to last training camp,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at his press conference Monday.
On the contrary, I have boundless interest in the Packers’ breakup with Favre, which has transformed Monday night’s Packers-Vikings game at the Metrodome into the most anticipated regular-season matchup ever. Here are 10 things I believe about Favre and his involvement in the biggest soap opera in Packers history:
1. Favre is good for the NFL
A player on the verge of turning 40 who never has missed a start in 17 years and continues to produce makes for an incredible story. His passion for the game cannot be questioned. The TV networks love him because anytime Favre plays, he compels people to watch. His last-second pass to beat the 49ers on Sunday was remarkable and provided one more piece of evidence proving you should never bet against him, no matter how old he is or what color jersey he is wearing.
2. Favre is not a traitor
Some Packers fans want to demonize Favre for going over to the dark side. But how many of those critics would turn down a sum of around $13 million for less than five months of work to perform a job he loves?
3. Ted Thompson did the right thing
Some fans won’t forgive Packers General Manager Ted Thompson for leaving the train station without Favre last year. But it was a fundamentally sound football decision. Favre announced his retirement, and the Packers moved on. When Favre changed his mind for the umpteenth time — conveniently waiting until the Packers completed their offseason program — Thompson and McCarthy deemed it prudent not to look back. Their confidence in Aaron Rodgers proved correct, and the Packers are in very good hands at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
4. Rodgers isn't to blame
The Packers’ lousy record last season was a result of many things, but Rodgers’ play wasn’t one of them. The presence of Favre wouldn’t have made much, if any, difference in the Packers’ final record. Why won’t the same critics who blame Rodgers for 6-10 also point the finger at Favre for the Packers’ 4-12 record in 2005? Anyone who genuinely believes Favre magically would have turned some of the Packers’ close losses into victories in 2008 are forgetting about his abysmal performance in the final five weeks of the season with the Jets.
5. Trading Favre to the Vikings wasn't an option
It has been suggested that since Favre landed in Minnesota anyway, the Packers should have traded him there last year and gotten more than a third-round draft choice in compensation. There was no way of knowing Favre would be a free agent a year later and still playing, and there’s no way of knowing whether the Vikings would have parted with a first-round pick. What Thompson knew at the time was the Vikings were potentially one good quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. No general manager worth his salt would bolster a hated division rival’s biggest weakness.
6. Favre wants revenge
No matter how adeptly Favre dances around the topic this week, there is no doubt he wants to stick it to Thompson in a big way. The jilted Favre wants his pound of flesh, and he wants it badly. Over the past year, Favre stooped to pettiness in taking verbal shots at Thompson. But the quarterback knows the best way to make Thompson look bad is to perform at a high level and propel the Vikings past the Packers.
7. Favre has been coddled
Brad Childress served as Favre’s chauffeur when the quarterback arrived in town, an image the Minnesota coach may never shake. Childress broke every coaching rule in the book by elevating one player above the rest of the team. Favre was allowed to skip most of training camp and walk in off the street and be handed a starting job. Childress looks like a genius now with a 3-0 record, but his buddy-buddy approach toward Favre could blow up in his face and cost him his job, especially if Favre suffers through his customary late-season fade.
8. Favre loves the attention, records
One reason Favre hasn’t retired is he craves the spotlight and cares about his place in the NFL record book. Behind that “aw, shucks” demeanor is a man who can’t get enough adulation. Don’t think Favre isn’t aware of Peyton Manning slowly creeping up on him. The longer Favre sticks around, the more secure his records will be.
9. There is no love lost between these teams
McCarthy and Childress don’t like each other. Favre hasn’t spoken to Rodgers in ages. The Packers filed tampering charges against the Vikings concerning Favre last year. Is there any doubt this goes way beyond a heated rivalry? It’s a border war that spills into the streets and involves passionate fans. Don’t be surprised if pushing, shoving and a few cheap shots break out, on and off the field.
10. This is no ordinary game
Players and coaches will attempt to downplay the hype surrounding this grudge match, but they will fail. First place is on the line, not to mention bragging rights for the next month. But more than that, Favre will loom larger than life over this full-blown, ESPN-fueled media circus.
