I called it

Now that all is said and done I can say I told you so. I’m not going to dig up the post, you all saw it so you know I said that when it came right down to it Brett Favre would decide coming back wasn’t worth the effort and he would remain retired. If you press me I’ll dig up the quote, but I knew he didn’t have the guts to come back just to stick it to Ted Thompson. And now all he did, and I thank him profusely, is cause big problems for the Minnesota Vikings. It is clear now that the Vikings’ head coach doesn’t like his current quarterbacks and now with their training camp beginning Thursday he all of a sudden has to reassure his remaining quarterbacks that he had confidence in them all along, even though he was trying to replace them. Good luck with that.Favre is a drama queen and his long courtship with the Vikings proved that. And while I’d like to think this thing is over I can’t help but feel we may have to go through this again before the season starts. But only the Vikings would give Favre that leeway. One of the funniest things I read in my life was the suggestion that if Aaron Rodgers were to get hurt the Packers would call on Favre to bail them out. Leave it to sell-out Mike Florio and NBC Pro Football Talk to come up with that one. Thompson would call Jeff George long before he would call Brett Favre. I can’t see Favre returning to Lambeau as a retired player for a long time, especially if Thompson and the Packers start winning. Myself, as a fan, would welcome number four back with open arms to be the ceremonial captain and toss the coin before the game. In time I will forget his childish behavior and one-year bust in New York. Much like I forgot the way the Packers’ newest inductees into the Packers’ Hall of Fame – Dorsey Levens and Antonio Freeman – left the team.I do believe this is it for Favre and it will be interesting to see if the Packers will reach out to him in hopes he will be an ambassador for the Packers like Bart Starr is still to this day, forty-some years since he won five NFL Championships in Green Bay. Packers’ fans will forgive and forget like I said I already will do. I just hope it happens sooner than later. Won’t be this year, I wouldn’t think. How about next year’s home opener? Might be a couple of years later than scheduled, but by then all should be good on both sides of this story. The Packers having a good season this year would make it all that much more special.My final, final, final, etc., word on Favre is just to say thank-you Brett. Thanks for sparing us Packers’ fans another distracted season. Now we can again look back at Favre’s glory days and once again love the player who along with Reggie White, Mike Holmgren and Ron Wolf took the Packers to their first Super Bowl win in 30 years. I loved the the recent series by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in re-running articles about some of the Packers’ greatest wins. It was amazing stuff. Wolf, Holmgren and Favre started it, Reggie White added the final piece of the puzzle. We won’t talk about the next year.Now, let’s get ready for 2009 and what I think is going to be a great year in Green Bay. All the pieces are in place, a potentially great offense, an improved defense and an easy schedule. Like Al Bundy would say – “Let’s rock!”.

  • steve

    Al,

    Just shut up will you?!

  • Mel e Mel

    The Viqueens are a Mickey Mouse organization. Great Defense, Scrambling QB and a great RB what does get you? Ahh its the 1970s all over again! The have absolutely nothing at the WR spot. 8 and nine man fronts and a new gomer called the Rosencopter. Happy days are here again.

  • packer_bob

    “Brett Favre could have been the greatest quarterback in Green Bay Packers’ history even though he only won one championship, but he choose to stick it to the Packers and their fans instead.”

    “And just like last year the main reason we all know Favre is coming back is because he refuses to face the press and say he isn’t.” 5/05/2009 (Jumping the gun, anyone?)

    “Now that the storm has blown over, and I believe in my heart that Favre will stay retired rather than go through six months of pain just for the shot to beat the Packers twice, which is highly unlikely”–I assume this is the quote to which you triumphantly refer?

    Waffling, anyone? First you all but knew he was coming back, then a couple of weeks later doubted he would return. It’s easy to be right if you argue both sides of the same point, then claim victory when one of them comes true.

    Perhaps you should retract this gem: “A guy we worshiped for 16 years hates us.”

  • Matt Hayton

    Agreed Packer Bob…for everyone who has given Favre Shit on this blog for the last 3 months, now has a little bit on their faces…with of course, Favre having the rest on his face for pulling his schenagins, once again…

    One thing Al and I agree on is that either, knowingly or subconsiously, he went out as a true Packer by screwing the Vikes one final time!

    But it’s time to retract Al, not gloat…if he truly was a vengeful SOB as you have accused, he would be lining up in purple in Mankato next week, despite his body telling him it’s over…but he isn’t.

    But alas bring on training camp…I am still not all rosey about the 2009-10 team, though, as others are, but that’s another topic for another day.

  • Richard Krause

    I haven’t commented on the BF, Packer, Jets and Minn controversy but I feel that he has the right to play for whomever is willing to pay him to play.

    But I will never understand why he call the Detroit Lions last year and talk to McMillan and the coaches for over an hour. I don’t think anyone knows for sure what was discussed but I personally think he was telling them what our tendencies were. As Tony Soprano would say, “He’s dead to me.”

    Deek

  • http://Orlando Mark

    Richard, I think Millen set that up because he knew #4 liked to talk and share his opinions. Then when Millen saw he was going to get pushed out of Detroit he sold out Brett to show he had inside info to get a job as a broadcaster. Just my opinion but that was one of most successful games of the year so I would say talking to #4 actually hurt the Lions.

  • Punk

    2008, was it (7) losses by (4) points or something like that? A one or two game tougher schedule because of the prior winning year. I believe we were 2-6 after Barnett, Bigby, Jenkins, and Harris went down. Thats (4) starters guys! Now we get that one or two game easier schedule and we will see what happens to the kids with another camp behind them. Some articles have brought up the fact that the backups are much stronger, wiser, and tougher. Chillar, Tramon, Jolly and/or Harrell, Rouse, the OL settle into positions w/ backups rather than musical chairs. The Specials have had a make-over. AR will have more options at the line with a reduced playbook keeping the WRs even more diciplined in they’re routes. All the other teams in our Div. have had off-season turmoil because of new personnel in skill slots and legal problems while we are solidifing our roster with relatively little change in people. For the record I don’t see the switch to 3-4 as that huge because I thought we were not using our D people in the right system to begin with. As Capers has stated, “we do have some very good athletes who can play in any system”. How is a 3-4 different from a 4-3 when you have a LB up all the time anyway? How is a zone different from man-to-man when after the initial “bump” you slide into a zone? To me it just looks like we are going to be stronger, bigger, and more powerful on O, and a hell of a lot faster on D. This will be one of the best camps you have seen in a long, long, time!!!

  • packer_bob

    “I knew he didn’t have the guts to come back just to stick it to Ted Thompson.”

    So if he had played, he would have been a vengeful prima donna egomaniac but if he doesn’t, it’s because he lacks the grit? Talk about both sides of the fence.

    Is it possible, just possible, that this has always been about a guy conflicted about whether or not to hang it up, nothing more, nothing less?

  • packer_bob

    I do agree that it would be great if somehow this pisses up chemistry in the Vikings locker room, but am doubtful of that. Once these guys get into camp, this Favre stuff will become a distant memory quickly. We can hope though!

  • Punk

    Obsessive compulsive comes to mind. Put the Icon back on the pedistal and remember him for what he was and not what he is! This is 2009; gone, done, past, memory, anything, but get back to the 2009 Green Bay Packers. Good schedule, good team, good camp, GOOD TIMES! New schemes, different playbook, a couple of different starters, new coaching staff on D, lets go!

  • jackson

    I can’t believe my last post was deleted. I will try to be more sensitive to you little 8th grade girls that love Favre when he retires and hate him when he wants to play. Grow up…it is like he screwed your girlfriend. He is one of the greatest football players of all time and brought more joy to me than any other player in my lifetime. In fact, I liked Favre so much….I would let him screw my girlfriend….for those of you who are dim…this is an analogy of him playing for another team….SOUR GRAPES TO THE FAVRE HATERS

  • Devil’s Advocate…

    If Favre still has a little green and gold running through him, he’ll still keep making comments about, maybe he could play for the Vikings if they were to need somebody during the season should an injury or something occur. That should keep things stirred up a little bit in Vikeland!!!!! Just a little comment here and there is all I need. Just something to keep the distractions coming their direction.

  • Hayward Pack Fan

    Listen Al-Way to give yourself credit buddy-a big ol’ pat on the back.

    Apparently “The Last Word on Favre” episodes 1,2,and 3 from you weren’t really the final words on Favre, or does this post not apply?

    I was waiting, knowing that you would be posting something with your wisdom concerning the situation-
    “I knew he didn’t have the guts to come back just to stick it to Ted Thompson.” You spend months calling out the guy for ruining his legacy, complain about him up and down, and then question his “guts” according to the game. You’re tough Al, real tough.

    Keep truckin and writing awesome posts man. I’m sure you’ll have a good one some day…

  • Michael Legat

    Que es mas macho? Brett Favre or jackson?

  • Rocky70

    @ Punk

    You’re making a valiant effort to restore order & change the focus to 2009.

    However, you also hit on why this may be impossible.

    “Obsessive compulsive comes to mind.”
    Favre Apologists eat, breath, sleep & spend alone time….. All with visions of BF dancing in their heads.

    It’s pretty much a lost cause. ….As a result, ‘Solid PackFans’ will have to lead the cheers in 2009. ….. Go Pack !!

  • Rocky70

    Al,

    Have to agree with the majority of your blog…. You hit on some valid points.

    However, I’m not sure this BFF (Brent Favre Fiasco) is yet over. Most of BF’s comments along with Bus Cook’s comments leave a door that is still open to BF returning – maybe even before the season begins. … We shall see.

    Another point: What’s up with “Action Jackson”?? -He’s yet to make a post without referring to grapes….. Here’s betting that he eats his grapes two at a time. -LOL.

  • http://www.packernet.com admin

    Action Jackson is walking a thin line. May be the next Jon. Maybe it is Jon. I love Bus Cook’s comments saying he would only play for the Vikings. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. Keep that cloud of uncertainty flying over the Vikqueens heads.

  • Rocky70

    Ditto your comment about the ViQween Express.

    I would love to be a fly on the wall in Chilly’s office as he gathers his staff for his first TC meeting. All his assistants have to be looking in his direction and saying. “WTF?”

    You’ll have to admit BF is 3 for 3 & batting a thousand…. He’s messed with & disrupted 3 TCs in 3 years. What he did to the Pack in 2008 is indefensible. I actually feel sorry for how he used the Jets after the 2008 season……… ……But I love the chaos & disruption he has caused the ViQweens.

    You know Sage & TJ will be walking on eggshells the entire pre-season & even possibly into the regular season. Everytime they botch a play they will see a vision of BF on the sidelines standing near Chilly.

    Hey, maybe this is a BF apology to GB & PackFans in a round about way ?

  • Punk

    Since nobody wants to talk about the Pack………! Childress has indicated that he’d take Favre in with open arms, but has he said, please, or maybe Pretty Please! ? Perhaps this is just a way for BF to avoid the rigors of camp, but who in they’re right mind would think that you can just walk on to a team and have the necessary timing and chemistry? Childress also said that he (Favre) already knows the system so it would be a short learning curve. It’s also been said that the MIN OL is the best even w/o Birk so why would he be concerned with coming in late, even being out of playing shape, as long as he thinks he’ll be protected and has the “cannon”? Damn, this is getting tiresome.

  • Punk

    Bigby, Rouse, Bush, Peprah, Smith, and if need be Woodson. Not a bad group with some “big hurt” appeal. What can Butz and Collins be thinking?

  • packer_bob

    Since I usually don’t agree with you, Rocky, let me extend an olive branch (grape leaf?) your direction–You are 100% right about Jackson and his obsession with sour grapes! I believe he does say that in every post, must have grapes on the brain.

    As far as Favre staying retired, if it wreaks as much havoc with the Vikings team as some of you seem to think it will, great, the more the better. I am extremely skeptical of this, though. Rosenfels is new to the team, Jackson dosn’t have the bona fides to cop an attitude, Favre never was a Viking and their training camp hasn’t even started yet. To think that somehow they have been “disrupted” and that it may effect their season is wishful thinking, imo.

  • JeffN

    Jackson, you should thank Al for deleting the post you refered to as it saved you so much embarressment. On the other hand you should be completely pissed off at Al for not deleting the other post where you referenced you would let Favre nail your girl friend.

    You are a wreck dude! Go get some help!

  • Jackson

    JeffN-
    I guess you are one of the “dims” I was referring to that did not get the analogy. And I even explained it.

    Packer-slob….you have no idea which direction you are going. I usually agree with most of what you have to say…there are only a few of us on this site who still respect Favre because we are not in middle school. You are on your own now!! Have fun getting abused…..

    We need paul the psychologist back to help y’all out. Where you at paul?……

    PS. What up stillawake?

  • justawake

    I was thinking the same thing jackson… paul needs to make a comeback.
    I am going to have to agree with Al for a change.
    Packernation needs to let it go.
    Let’s remember Favre for helping turn this franchise around.
    I am so pumped for this season to start.
    I am even willing to forgive TT and move on and focus on cheering the Pack back to the top of the NFC North where they belong.
    I think the rest of Packer fans are there with me…
    What do you say, Rocky? Let go of the hate???

  • JeffN

    Jackson Says,
    “We need paul the psychologist back to help y’all out”

    Do you think everyone else has an issue that they need help with? or do you think it’s just you that has an issue that you need help with? Think that one over for a bit…

  • packer_bob

    Jackson,

    Hey man, it wasn’t an attack, just confirmation of an observation that I had noticed too. You were always saying sour grapes in your posts–not that I disagree with the sentiment but it was getting a little redundant.

    As far as “getting abused”, deflating the Favre bashing around here is about as easy as it gets. You know you speak truth when the subject changes, ala the thing that had everyone worked into a state of high dudgeon (the presupposing of Favre joining the Vikings) DOESN’T occur, yet the guys bashing him for months claim victory or turn it around. The overheated rhetoric will eventually die down. Truth usually wins out over time.

    Looking forward to training camp and something substantive to discuss/argue about, and most importantly a good season!

  • Brotha Black

    Larry/Punk,
    You have seen it all huh?
    You were a Packer fan since before Lombardi.
    You saw Jim Brown play when you were living in Ohio. Which brings me to another amazing detail about you, you have lived seemingly everywhere!
    How old are you exactly?

  • Rocky70

    If BF is truly done then the conversations about him should also end. In retirement he has no impact on season 2009 in GB.

    At the same time, if the doom & gloomers post incessantly like in the past, then I basically have little reason to reside here. It’s a complete contradiction for any fan to constantly trash his own team.

    I have no hate for anyone. I use the term distain. My distain is for an EX-Packer who may still end up wearing purple in 2009 regardless of the most recent news. Not all PackFans have been as enamoured with the BF years as you may think. It’s simple for me. I’ve never been a huge fan of Favre. I’ll take a system QB who plays the team concept anyday before a gunslinger. A gunslinger is fun to watch but takes too many risks to win the 3 or 4 playoff games it takes to win a SB. Talented system QBs win the SBs…… Montana, Aikman, Brady, even T. Bradshaw were all talented QBs who adhered to a system.

  • MacCheez

    Good point, Rocky. Even Trent Dilfer (well, except for maybe the talented part)…

    The ’72 Dolphins could have won with Pete from Accounting under center.

  • Rooster

    I’m quite sick of the notion that if a player ever “leaves” the Packers that the fans have been betrayed. This is a business, and most of the players had little to no choice in their exit. People have a right to work in their chosen field. If worked at Reebok, then went to Nike, how would that be any different?

  • Pack4life

    This is a put up or shut year for the Pack. Lets journey back in time to week 11 where the Vikes, Bears and Packers were all tied at 5-5. From that time until now who has improved the most? The easy answer would be the Bears with Jay Cutler. However that would be an incorrect answer. The Bears defense was horrid last year and how did they address that? Rod Marinelli (dont laugh). The Vikings with Sage Rosencopter a man who has never appeared in more than 9 games. Then there would be the Green Bay Packers who have changed the entire right side of the O-Line and drafted a collision fullback. The Defense has been addressed with one of the great minds of football and the return to health of NicK Barnett and Cullen Jenkins.

    If the Pack cant convert in the Red Zone or Short Yardage this year, they will have no excuse.

  • Pack4life

    According to JSONLINE Clay Matthews Signed

  • Rocky70

    @ Big-Cheese

    In your futile attempt to expose someone else as a ‘fraud’ you have unwittingly done the same to yourself.

    People who work with the elderly or aged do not generally refer to them as ‘Old People’. Unless, of course, you work in one of those 19th century nursing homes.

    Jim Brown played in the NFL from 1957-65. I remember his career well. You don’t have to be 80+ to have followed Jim Brown’s career.

    I’m pushing 60 & have worked in IT since the advent of the computer. I’ve rebuilt every system I’ve ever owned. I know many people 10 or 20 years my senior who bounce around the web with ease & great proficiency.

    The word ‘punk’ . FYI……………….

    ” It first appeared in print in England in 1596, and soon was in very wide use………
    Shakespeare uses it four times, twice in ‘Measure For Measure’. In America, punk came into use in the late 17th century meaning ‘rotten, slow-burning wood, used as tinder’. ”

    Big-Cheese – do some research & your posts just may have a little more validity. Otherwise, STFU.

  • Roy Jamison

    As Lee Corso would say…”Not so fast Al”…Don’t be surprised if number quatro comes back after the bye week if the Vikes ship is sinking and needs another hand to bail them out. Now if the Vikes are fine and dandy w/o the 10 million dollar man…which I guess will be shaved to 5 million by then, that’s another story. 16 games no thanks, only 8…ah, yeah, maybe.

  • Rocky70

    @ Pack4life

    “Lets journey back in time to week 11 where the Vikes, Bears and Packers were all tied at 5-5. ”

    Good point. I really thought that GB was going to finish strong when all 3 teams were 5-5 in 2008. Unfortunately, they didn’t & numerous flaws were exposed. GB has been the most aggressive in the offseason when addressing those flaws. Da Bears still don’t have a WR worth mentioning by name & the Vikes still can’t rely on their QB position (w/wout BF). One could argue that the Lions have been even more aggressive but 0-16 has a tendency to force that issue.

  • Rocky70

    -

    Brett Favre is the only professional athlete in history to retire three times and STILL NOT miss a game.

    (It isn’t bashing if it’s the truth.)

    -

  • Rocky70

    The shareholders have spoken. Hey, it isn’t BF bashing if it’s the truth.

    ” On Favre: Commenting on last year’s circus in which Favre retired after a 13-3 season, then indicated an interest in coming back to the Packers, Murphy said this: “We wanted to be fair to him and we also felt we had to act in the long-term interests of the Packers, and I felt we did that.”

    After Murphy made that comment, he was met with warm applause from the estimated 7,500 shareholders who showed up at Lambeau Field on an occasionally rainy morning. “

  • Roy Jamison

    As long as we’re into scenarios…at least I am…do you think BF would come back if AR goes down at mid season? LOL

  • packer_bob

    “Talented system QBs win the SBs”–QB’s, even mediocre ones (Anyone remember Jeff Hostetler or Mark Rypien?) surrounded by great teams win Super Bowls, great QB’s with mediocre teams don’t. You can make the lack of SB’s in the Favre era all about Favre if you want to Rocky, but Marino had 0 and Steve Young has one, they were system QB’s, not gunslingers. With the exception of a 3-4 year window in the 90′s, most of the teams around Favre have not been that good. Ron Wolf even said if he had to do it over again, he wished he had given Favre more tools to work with.

    “If BF is truly done then the conversations about him should also end”–Then you post about him 3 more times? Come on, man, you’ve already ground your axe to a nub, let it go!

  • packer_bob

    “The word ‘punk’ . FYI……………….”

    This is how people define the word today, Rocky: “a young inexperienced person : beginner, novice ; especially : a young man b: a usually petty gangster, hoodlum, or ruffian cslang : a young man used as a homosexual partner especially in a prison”

    How the word was used by Shakespeare or in 17th century America isn’t relevant, unless you have a time machine in your basement or something. Most older men would not be comfortable being called that word.

    If you’d use some common sense and quit being such a pompous ass, your posts might have a little more validity. I also might not think you’re an idiot. (It isn’t bashing if it’s the truth.)

  • Michael Legat

    Children, go to your corners!

  • packer_bob

    Sorry, Michael, just can’t stand this: “do some research & your posts just may have a little more validity. Otherwise, STFU.”

    in response to something as obvious as this:

    “none of them (older people) readily can associate with the word “Punk”.” It’s the condescending, arrogant nature of the response combined with the completely retarded etymology lesson that get’s me.

  • iccyfan

    packer_bob Says:
    ” Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Blah blah blah. Blah, blah blah blah blah”

    /rolleyes/ prior to leaving board unchecked for another week…

  • packer_bob

    But Rocky tells someone to shut the fuck up and that’s just dandy!

  • Big Cheese

    Rocky70

    You have proven to me and everyone else for that matter that you are LOOKING for an argument!
    My post wasnt even directed at you yet you attack me?
    well you took the bait and youve been exposed for the insecure, degenerate individual you are.
    You must get pushed around in life so much that you get on blogs to vent your frustrations and to feel like you can win an argument.
    Your such a stand up guy. people must look up to you and follow you around 24/7 so they dont miss out on all the wisdom you have to offer.

  • Lew

    wow, now i remember why I quit reading this shit.

    it’s like people think this is a semi-pro team and not a multi-billion dollar annual business. let it go. how can you forget 16 years?? he is a baby, but no one ever claimed he didn’t give it his all every down and he was a major catalyst in turning a pathetic franchise around.

    year 5 of the Thompson regime. better see some fucking improvement.

    i think i will go back into hibernation.

  • iccyfan

    packer_bob Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
    “But Rocky tells someone to shut the fuck up and that’s just dandy!”

    That’s quite beside the point. There are a bunch of trolls on this board and only a few serious contributors (FTR, I’m not including myself in that roll call). One of the trolls called out one of the long-term contributing types over his screen name and his knack of citing NFL history. Rocky came to the defense of the valued site contributor and ever so predictably, you went the other direction. I’ll end my participation in this thread with use of a quote, which IMO, applies to the author probably moreso than where it was directed.

    “If you’d use some common sense and quit being such a pompous ass, your posts might have a little more validity. I also might not think you’re an idiot. (It isn’t bashing if it’s the truth.)”

  • Rocky70

    Resorting to name-calling only indicates your inability to discuss anything at a mature level. It also indicates that you have basically run out of valid points to successfully continue the discussion. …… I’ll dumb down my posts if it will help some of you keep up ?? ….. I’ve done it for PB on more than one occasion.

    Why would I need more than 1 ID? I can express myself very well using just Rocky.

    Funny how some of you guys backtrack abit when challenged…. Ummm….. another clue that your arguments are weak & unsupported.

    It’s also abit perplexing that some IDs who haven’t posted for days or even weeks suddenly appear out of thin air as if they have always been here. Or maybe they have always been here. ….. Think about it.

  • Rocky70

    @ iccyfan

    I appreciate that someone else can also see the obvious. There are trolls with multiple IDs who hit this site on a regular basis. How else can a person explain some of the ‘off the wall’ posts that appear just suddenly out of the blue ? Many of them just copy & paste from their ‘library’ & then just alter the post a little to fit into the present circumstances. When you call them out & challenge them, you ruin their ‘game’ & they disappear for awhile. ……….Unfortunately, they seem to return. ….. Again using a different ID…. Eventually software will evolve to eliminate this problem. –The sooner, the better.

  • Big Cheese

    Rocky70
    You keep ignoring the fact that you meedle in other peoples business and you clearly are always looking to argue.
    I am not debating you, it would be impossible as you just keep arguing the same thing over and over!
    I am not interested in getting dizzy from going in circles with you.
    Since you are unable to address the facts i would think you would drop your petty argument.
    Oh and you want to talk about name calling?
    boy you are a hypocrite!
    Keep practicing your diversionary and disembling tactics.
    you cant win an argument or debate when you dont offer any points or counter points.
    do you think that “your” opinion is fact and if someones opinion is different then yours that mean they are wrong?