green-bay-packers
I promised myself last summer that I was not going to write about Brett Favre. I did.
It’s not that I thought I’d want to write about Brett Favre. The only other time I even sort-of wrote about him wasn’t really about him; it was about ESPN’s media stalk-gala into his every inaction after he asked Roger Goodell for reinstatement papers but did not sign them last summer. And I was happy that I did not care.
But now? Now I care. Because now it’s personal.
Move on. Get over it. Keep your mouth shut. Don’t be so bitter. This is the advice Packers fans so generously offer Brett Favre. It seems, though, that the Packers themselves should be the ones heeding this advice. The Packers would like everyone to believe they have moved on and gotten over the Brett Favre drama. Their words and actions say otherwise. Upon being questioned about Favre’s alleged coaching session with the Detroit Lions, some Packers players were quick to pass harsh judgment with complete disregard as to the story’s accuracy. If anyone knows how quickly rumors spread within the NFL it is the players, and most players would not comment on something they know nothing about. A team that has moved on and completely separated itself from a former controversy would not readily concern themselves with a new controversy. A team so supposedly anxious about a media circus would not offer their services to perform as clowns in the next media circus to come to town. Why is it that Packers’ players quickly jumped all over this, without so much as taking a breath, when they have moved on? Why were some players so ready, willing and prepared to comment when they had already gotten over it?
Maybe I am alone; maybe I am out of touch; maybe I am just missing something. No matter what, I do not think it’s a bad thing.
When I woke up this morning, I made my normal voyage over to ESPN.com. I don’t like ESPN, never have and never will, but I need to make the trip in order to keep the proverbial enemy closer.
And there I see it.
“He has the itch…,” mentioned Al Harris, a guest host on ESPN’s NFL Live this Wednesday, when asked about Brett Favre’s potential comeback. He went on to say about Aaron Rodgers, “We embrace Aaron. We support Aaron. Aaron is our quarterback. Brett is retired, but if he wants to come back, there will be some guys that wouldn’t mind it.” Chris Mortensen of ESPN also reported that Favre had made Head Coach McCarthy aware of his “itch” to play. “Mort” also reported that a source in Green Bay made him aware that Favre’s family is pushing him to return. Personally, I don’t think he’s going to return, but I’d be lying if I told you it wouldn’t make me happy to see him back. I just don’t believe it benefits Green Bay in the long run.
The day has finally come. It is time to say goodbye to everyone’s favorite fun-lovin’, gun-slingin’, Wrangler wearin’, 5’o clock shadow-havin’, burger eatin’, just another regular guy like you or me (except for the money, rugged good looks, and talent) quarterback. The announcement came early Monday morning around 7:30am Eastern Time: Brett Favre is officially retiring… probably.
I’m sorry cheese heads, but the dream has died. For the second time in four seasons, the Packer Nation was teased with the idea of a “magical” season that seemingly could have no end. But that’s the trouble in having Brett Favre as your quarterback. While you’re never out of a game, you’re just as sure to have your heart ripped out in the final seconds by a coined Favre interception.
But let’s not hang our heads. The 2007 Green Bay Packers accomplished many things, let alone reached the conference championship game. Along the way to a 13-3 record, the Title Town natives escaped tough road game at Denver and Kansas City, beat one of the two teams in the AFC Championship, and won one of two against this year’s NFC representative in the Super Bowl. Granted, they couldn’t finish things up in the most crucial match-up of the season, but can you really blame them?
Well, actually, yes you can.
I’m sick of hearing about the New England Patriots. Don’t get me wrong, I love the way they play. Hell, I love everything about them. I hope and pray Tom Brady shatters the touchdown mark. But enough, already. And forget about the Indianapolis Colts. I’m tired of hearing about the greatness of Tony Dungy or the execution and finesse of Peyton Manning. And don’t even get me started on the star on the rise; Joseph Addai.(Mostly because Chris Berman and his stupid “to live and let” nickname)Because, honestly, it’s gotten very repetitive and boring. Since no one else cares about anything except the winner of the AFC championship game, I’m going to go out on a limb and talk about the best team not being talked about. The best team that isn’t from New England or Indianapolis. I’m going to talk about the Green Bay Packers.
The NFL amazes me. Once again, they have found a way to not only enrage a superstar, but they may have found a way to phase him out, as well. Brett Favre, merely an average season away from three major records, recently expressed his displeasure for Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers organization when they failed to bring in Randy Moss.
By Rob LaBrie
A flash comes across the screen, “Breaking News!” it reads in immortal ESPN text. It’s midnight and you just realize you’ve been dozing off on the couch. You see the screen and you decide it’s worth wiping the drool off the side of your face and sitting up to see what the news is before hitting the sack. Naturally, John Clayton pops up on the screen. “I’ve just received big news out of Green Bay. It seems Brett Favre may have played his last game in the NFL. Sources close to Favre say the legendary quarterback is leaning toward retirement. Of course, this is not set in stone, but we are one step closer to seeing Favre hang it up [pushes glasses up higher on his nose and sniffles].” You put your pants back on to hear this? Well, at least it must mean pitchers and catchers will be reporting pretty soon…
Will Brett Favre retire? Should Brett Favre retire? Are the team and management letting Brett Favre down? Is Brett Favre letting them down? Who hasn’t asked these questions about the most beloved player, by media and fans, in football today? For weeks now, questions about Favre’s future have been as persistent as any other subject, including the Colts run towards perfection.
Most football analysts claim that Favre, at age 36, still has plenty of gas left in the tank. According to the analysts, the Packers are 3-11 because Favre has a weak supporting cast. They say he has no running game, a porous offensive line, and no playmaking receiver. To them, Favre’s play is never the culprit when the team fails to perform adequately. However, any astute analysis will show that it’s Favre who hasn’t performed adequately – for years.