Farve said “why” because he lead the team to the top 4 teams in the NFL last year, he isn’t injury prone, and was in the top best QB’s in the league last season. Aaron Rodgers has been prone to injuries, lost his senior college game and the only NFL game he ever played in. I think he says “why” because he’s earned it.

Most NFL quarterbacks are forgettable. Why take the risk on Rodgers, he’s still only 24.

Actually I took the why comment the other way meaning that ARod hasn’t done anything to suggest he could beat him out so to call it a competition is ludicrous. To me that’s part of the arrogance Favre has shown in his later years of football. I’ve been a huge fan of Brett’s over the years, but I think he’s let the fame and notoriety change who he is to some extent. I really do believe he’s telling the truth in these interviews, but I think he expects to be coddled based on past performance and that’s really not how the NFL works.

Again, Brett has always said he plays hurt because he knows when you’re not out there you can lose your job and that’s how he got his job. To me by not being there at all during the OTA’s and minicamps A-Rod passed him by. He can come back but unless he can show he’s still a better option than A-Rod he’d have to be the backup. My guess is he can win that competition as long as the fire truly is still there, but I’m really not sure it actually is. I worry that 4 weeks into the season or 8 weeks into the season he’ll be spent again.. and although he’ll be trying to give 100% his 100% isn’t what it used to be anymore.

Al, I am as tired of this fiasco as anyone, but your reasoning is false. MOST players who played that well last year will not be competing for a job. Do you really think that every team goes into camp with every position up for grabs? Cmon! Favre is being a baby right now. He is not reading between the lines, nor is anyone else. They want him back, and make no mistake about it, he would be the starter….you can’t put Rodgers in that situation, but they can’t come outright and say that anymore. They have to show Rodgers good faith to have any chance of keeping him. Favre should see that. Neither side has handled this particularly well, but it is not irreparable. Both sides are trying to choose their words very carefully and Brett was just throwing out a line about crashing camp to hopefully get a response saying that they want him to come to camp.
Anyway, its fine if you don’t want Favre back, especially after this nightmare, but please…I know you have some football knowledge, what you said just simply is almost the exact opposite.

It might be wishful thinking on my part, but I think A-rod would beat out BF in camp. Wow, I’m glad I’m down here in Texas so I dont get the rocks on my lawn. Sorry but I cant get over breaking the Blanda record (over 20+ yrs, not 16). How soon some forget all the heartbreak 4 has caused too. It all comes down to management skills and even at 37/38 Brett cant break bad habits. And, throwing underhand doesnt turn me on.

Thank you Jon! I would also like to point out that Favre does not go back to pass in order to throw underhand!!! GOOD GRIEF! If you are referring to the throw in the Divisional game to Donald…that was a hell of a play that kept a TD scoring drive alive. Look, there are alot of valid points to being anti-Favre with this whole catastrophe, but stop at realism. Trying to devalidate his career in order to validate yourself for wanting Rodgers as the QB is just silly. His #s are second to none. The team has had the best winning percentage in football since he has been the QB….thats what its all about right…..and yes he makes crazy, sometimes very ill advised throws sometimes, but it adds to the fun!!! Its a game…entertainment…fun. If he wasn’t successful most of the time there would be cause for uproar, but he is.

I thought Al was done posting on Favre….Am I the only one who remebers that?

UPDATE:

Here is a more complete list of the career interception percentages of the great quarterbacks (retired):

Joe Montana 2.6% (139 ints ÷ 5391 passes)
Steve Young 2.6% (107 ints ÷ 4149 passes)
Troy Aikman 3.0% (141 ints ÷ 4715 passes)
Dan Marino 3.0% (252 ints ÷ 8358 passes)
John Elway 3.1% (226 ints ÷ 7250 passes)
Brett Favre 3.2% (288 ints ÷ 8759 passes)
Roger Staubach 3.7% (109 ints ÷ 2958 passes)
Jim Kelly 3.7% (175 ints ÷ 4779 passes)
Dan Fouts 4.3% (242 ints ÷ 5604 passes)
Bart Starr 4.4% (138 ints ÷ 3149 passes)
Johnny Unitas 4.9% (253 ints ÷ 5186 passes)
Bob Griese 5.0% (172 ints ÷ 3429 passes)
Terry Bradshaw 5.4% (210 ints ÷ 3901 passes)
Joe Namath 5.8% (220 ints ÷ 3762 passes)

Instead of listening to the incessant drivel on ESPN about Favre’s “interceptions”, or reading Al’s crybaby rants here about Favre’s “interceptions”, I encourage all of you to look at the actual facts. You can verify the above information here: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/qbindex.htm

Not to take anything away from them, but clearly Montana’s and Young’s identical 2.6% interception percentages was a product, at least in part, of the system.

After those two, Favre is right there with Aikman, Marino, and Elway at around 3%.

And after that there is a steady drop off in interception percentages.

What I eagerly anticipate is Al’s explanation for Bart Starr’s 4.4% interception percentage, which is 37.5% higher than Favre’s 3.2% interception percentage.

I’m waiting, Al.

Statistics do tell the story, Larry.

It’s people who lie.

You wrote that Favre throws too many interceptions and compared him to Blanda, when the fact is he doesn’t throw that many interceptions.

The fact is he throws interceptions only 3.2% of the time.

That’s below average, Larry.

You were wrong, and I proved it.

If you had any integrity, you would admit, “Hey! Favre really doesn’t throw that many interceptions! Hell, he throws fewer than even Starr did! I didn’t know that!”

But you don’t have that integrity, do you, Larry?

Smart football is winning football. There are a ton of QBs who play smart football and manage games, always throwing exactly where they are supposed to. There are even a few great ones who have done it that way. The fact is that the teams that Favre has been a part of have won far more than they have lost. They have won more than any other franchise during that era. You can point to bad throws in big games, but I will then ask you to look at Manning, Brady, etc…in the playoff games that they lost and compare their numbers to Favre’s in playoff games he lost. Pretty much the same story. You can talk about championships, but as especially proven by the Pats this last year…defense win championships….They were undeafeted with a ridiculous offense and one of their worse defenses since they’ve been who they are…and lost. Throughout the 2000′s the Pack has had a pretty average to garbage defense…blame Sherman…Thompson has put together a magnificent team, and Favre has put together a magnificent career…both of these guys need to check their ego at the door, quit going to the press to communicate with each other and accomplish what both want, and can be done this year.

Al I really hope you read this, in fact, please email me a response.
I do respect your opinion very greatly, and I never rush to conclusions on what you say because you say what is on your mind, and I have absolutly no problem with that. But please, read what you wrote and tell me why Rodgers deserves to be handed the job over Favre? The day Favre retired, Rodgers was the unconditional number 1, but honestly what has he done to earn it? I’m not bashing him, because I truly believe that he will be a very good quarterback in the very near future, but the only time that we have seen him get quality game time was against Dalas in November. Favre had a record year, one of his best ever and he probably couldn’t repeat it, but I would still bet money that he would do better then Rodgers this year. I don’t think that Favre doesn’t think that he can beat Rodgers in training camp, I think that the reason that he does not want to go is that he doesn’t want to cause more division. He said that he doesn’t feel welcome, and he believes in Rodgers. To me, that adds up to him caring about the future of Green Bay, because he doesn’t want to make things worse then they are, he knows that if he goes to camp and beats out Rodgers, then Rodgers would probably seek a trade and next year we would be out a QB. That is how I feel. I know that you, like me, are a HUGE Packers fan. But you need to realize that being a Packer fan means being a Favre fan too, because he has meant and will always mean so much to Green Bay.
Again Al, please reply to this via email, because I need to know how you really feel, not just what is at the top of your mind when you write.

oops sorry about that

Look at the Championship game stats, not just the last offensive play.

Our running game was terrible. 28 yards in a game that goes into OT.
Take away Grant’s 13 yard gain near the end of the 3rd quarter and the Packers averages 1 yard per run play.
The defense couldn’t get the Giants off the field, leaving the offense out of sync. Time of possession Giants 40 minutes, Packers 22 minutes. How long did it take the defensive coaches to wake up and double up on Burress. If I recall correctly, we couldn’t stop their passing game that day. I’m sure Manning was happy to be on the field moving around, as opposed to sitting on the sideline for 66% of the game.

Those Championship game stats (both offense and defense) are terrible on any day. On a bitter cold day, they show an entire team (players and coaches) that failed.

This offseason, there’s plenty of blame to go around (Favre, Thompson, and McCarthy). Yes, each of them also has a good argument. Worry about winning the season, not some petty argument. Right now, my personal feeling is that all three let last year’s success go to their head.

Bottom line, in 2008 who gives the Packers a better chance at winning? Rodgers or Favre. Time for them all to stop pouting. Winners put aside egos and injuries to find a way to work together and achieve victory.

If the Packers don’t reach the Championship game again this year, we’ll all be disappointed. However, if they win the Super Bowl, we’ll all be laughing about this in a year.

I’ll tell you what amazes me the most is these “pundits” who all were amazed that Favre retired when he did, declared that he would be back and that “come September #4 will be under center in GB” and are now slamming him, and preaching how the Packers should show him the door when he actually did decide to play again…what a crock! When did anybody think he would be changing his mind???

Ted, I mean Mikey,

I got this here for you.

First, it’s “Since 2001″, not “Since 2000″.

Second, if you bothered to read this thread you might notice that the issue under discussion is Favre’s CAREER. So don’t DISSECT his CAREER just to find a way to criticise him (“Uh, let’s look at his post-season stats, but only for a few years!”) . Okay, Ted?

Third, that’s what happens in playoffs, Ted, especially when the Packers had no business being in some of those playoffs but got in on the arm of Favre. I know, you’re too dense to grasp that.

Fourth, that’s what happens in playoffs, Ted. You play only the best teams. In the 2007 playoffs a much-younger-than-Favre Peyton Manning threw interceptions 4.2% of the time, much more than his usual figure. So, what’s your point again?

Fifth, since you’re an obvious expert on all things Packers, and since Al won’t touch this with a 10-foot pole, explain to us all how Brett “Interception” Favre’s career interception ratio (3.2%) is significantly lower than Bart “No Interceptions” Starr’s career interception ratio (4.4%)? What do you say, Ted?

Sixth, explain to us how Favre’s 3.2% interception ratio is an “INT issue” (your words) but Starr’s 4.4% interception ratio is NOT an “INT issue”?

Seventh, Favre’s CAREER PLAYOFF interception ratio is only 3.8% (28 ints ÷ 721 passes). Even using only this PLAYOFF FIGURE for Favre, that still puts Favre ahead of the CAREER FIGURES of Dan Fouts (4.3%), BART STARR (4.4) (there he is again!), Johnny Unitas (4.9%), Bob Griese (5.0%), Terry Bradshaw (5.4%), and Joe Namath (5.8%). Gosh, that’s just terrible company, isn’t it, Ted?

Sorry Jon but its not career, its now, and recently. As great as he’s been all those yrs he has the tendency to force and its getting worse. Doesn’t matter a whit comparing him to anyone, its what can you do for us now, and I for one have my opinion that Rogers is the way of the future and now is the time so he can grow with this very young team…

Ted, I mean Mikey,

If “the last eight years are more important than the first eight in terms of determining what the next several years will bring” (your words), then the most recent year – 2007 – is even more important for determining what the next year will bring! Right? That’s plain logic, Ted! If “recent” is a better predictor than “past”, then “most recent” is the best predictor of all! Glad we agree!

Now that we agree, looking at Favre’s “most recent” playoff figures – 2007 – we see that his interception ratio was only 3.4% in the 2007 playoffs! (2 ints ÷ 58 passes) (and in terrible weather!).

Wow! Favre’s 3.4% interception ratio in the 2007 playoffs was better than Peyton Manning’s 4.2% interception ratio in the 2007 playoffs!

Wow! Favre “sucks” and is “over the hill” and still had a better interception ratio in the 2007 playoffs than “many a man’s love” Peyton Manning!

Ted, applying your logic, this means the Colts should ditch Manning!

Curly, I mean Larry,

You say “its not career, its now, and RECENTLY” (your words).

Well, if “its not career”, as you now say, why then did you start this discussion by criticizing Favre’s CAREER interceptions and comparing his CAREER interceptions to Blanda’s CAREER interceptions? (see your post above on June 16). Why, Curly?

In any event, I agree with you, too! “Recently” (your word) Favre’s interception ratio, in the 2007 playoffs, was only 3.4% – better than Peyton Manning’s 4.2% in the same playoffs! So by your logic, too, the Colts should ditch Manning!

And finally, back to Ted. You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth. When I present figures disproving your “I watch and obey ESPN” mantra about Favre’s “interceptions”, you change the subject and start counting Super Bowl victories. Changing the subject is an early symptom of intellectual impotence. That said, and you having changed the subject, I would note that Marino must have really sucked, for he has zero (0) Super Bowls championships; and Elway (Al just LOVES Elway) won two but lost three Super Bowls for a sucky .400 Super Bowl winning percentage – below even sucky Favre’s .500 Super Bowl winning percentage!

And Ted, as for Bart Starr, he won 5 NFL Championships DESPITE his lousy passing skills, as manifested in his mediocre-at-best 4.4% interception ratio (much higher than Favre’s 3.2% interception ratio). Those Green Bay teams were LOADED on both offense AND defense, and would have won 3 or 4 NFL Championships with a mediocre quarterback. If you are implying that Favre has played on teams with comparable talent levels as the Lombardi teams that Starr quarterbacked, then you are profoundly ignorant of NFL history.

Frankly, you guys are pathetic. Green Bay has one (1) Super Bowl Championship in the last 40 years thanks largely to one man, Brett Favre, and you “Packer fans” devote yourselves to finding ways to tear him apart. Just pathetic.

I for one keep in mind that a blogs purpose is to express ones opinion. I should be so lucky to be compared to Curly. This team has never (in fact never has any team) won because of one player. If one guy could pull it off I guess the trades for Hadl, JJ, Dickey, and some others might have had better results. I guess the nearest you could point to would be Reggie. Sure would like to have had him for 16. In any case as a dedicated fan I’ll match TT and MM records to any before them. Curly and the Mayor, Vince and Vince, and even Wolf and Holmgren. This is a good football team Ladies and Gentlemen.

frankly, this is part of the reason why there’s so much coverage of this. you people. Go read books, or the Economist even. Seriously.

All I know is that we’re going to have QB come September, and I don’t care who the hell it is, I’m going to root my heart out for the team. THE TEAM!

Respond how you like, I’m not reading about the Green Bay Packers until this damn Mushroom Cloud blows over, which will hopefully happen before the season starts.

Now I’m going to read a book, or be productive a work, it’s better than reading all of your damn bickering.

Filter out the fucking media and root for the team. Period. Not the front office, not the quaterback. The team. You know, the guys who actually play the game. The team. As a whole.

At this point, the Green Bay Packers really don’t know what’s going on. And that’s on Favre. I believe that at this point in time, Favre is still probably better than Rodgers. But and it’s not Brett’s decision anymore. He gave up his place on the Packers. And the Packers HAD to move on.

I don’t hear Favre saying that he wants to play for two more years. He might… he might not. His problems with the Cold Weather may be a symptom of decline… might not be.

I believe that the Packers are looking for more stability in the Quarterback position. They are tired of being jerked around by Favre’s Semi-Retirement Dance.

Why do I think Favre is better? Because he’s got more experience and has seen it all. The Packers think that Rodgers is going to be good… but they don’t KNOW. And, from a long term perspective, they need to know.

THAT’S why I think Rodgers is the #1 QB for the Packers.

I have never seen a quarterback just givin a job that he never earned. Te Thompson traded Favre away because he was worried about Rodgers feelings. He also refused to get a veteran backup because he didn’t want Rodgers to be looking over his shoulder. Moving on to the future with bad quarterback play and losing seasons is not in the best interest of the team. Favre could have stayed and they could have traded Rodgers and still had Brohm to groom for the future, or god forbid actually trade for a proven qb and still continue our winning ways. It beats giving up a chance at the Superbowl because they don’t come around very often. Last year will probally be the closest we get in a long time. What a shame. Thompson may have been tired of Favres waffling but the fans will be tired of losing too. So much for the Packers be owned by the fans. Thompson thinks its his team. I have been a Packer fan before Thompson and one after Thompson. I just hope I dopn’t have to wait too long.