This year’s Brett Favre watch is getting more ridiculous by the minute and one has to wonder if the Packers really even want him back. According to Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki the Packers and Randy Moss had agreed to a three-year $30 million dollar deal until Favre said he could not meet Moss’ request that Favre play two more years. If this is true, combined with comments made yesterday by ESPN’s John Clayton that Favre has demanded the Packers add an offensive playmaker in order for him to return this season one has to begin wondering if Favre is still in his right mind.
Brett Favre is not the general manager of the Green Bay Packers and the fact that he thinks he is just cracks me up. Number one, the one and only Super Bowl Brett Favre won was because the Packers had the number one defense in the NFL and arguably one of the greatest of all time. 17 years in the league and Favre still doesn’t know that defense wins championships. The real Packers’ general manager, Ted Thompson is well aware of that fact and I expect him to use the second-round draft pick he received in exchange for Corey Williams on defensive help. In fact I would not be surprised if the first three picks next month are all defensive players.
Favre wants more playmakers? What is wrong with Mr. Touchdown Greg Jennings? Donald Driver isn’t any good anymore? James Jones has no future? Ryan Grant is a bum? The only weaknesses on offense the Packers have is guard and depth at tight end. Playmakers? All Jennings does in catch touchdowns and when was the last time you’ve seen a running back break so many long runs for touchdowns? Sure I think Grant needs to prove himself this year, it is certainly possible he does do just that. Favre needs to worry about himself a little more and let Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy do their jobs.
One has to wonder if privately Thompson and McCarthy aren’t growing tired of Favre’s antics. I guarantee you both Thompson and McCarthy believe they can win with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback in 2008. No matter what they say publicly, Thompson and McCarthy have to be worried about what Favre’s games are playing in their attempt to lure free agents to Green Bay. The first question of every free agent has to be “is Favre coming back”? Followed by, “how many years do you think he will play”?
This isn’t 2006 when the Packers had a new coach taking over and Favre wasn’t sure if he wanted to learn a new system and so on and so forth. Favre knows what the situation is and if he is waiting for Thompson to make a move just to appease him he has another thing coming. Thompson didn’t draft Rodgers with his first pick as general manger just for the fun of it. The Packers hold all the cards and I would hope that has been made clear to Favre. I have to believe it has or he would have made his decision by now. Can Favre accept that arrangement?
I don’t care either way because I think with or without Favre the Packers will be one of the favorites to win the NFC next year. But the time has come for a decision. I mean, come on. If it is this hard to walk away, then play another year. If you just want to take it easy and golf the rest of your life, then great, just let us know. The Packers will be just fine either way. But please, get it over with.
More to come…