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Favre Special!
By Sean Ryan | July 16, 2008
Here, as a special to VikeVision, my take on the status of the Favre drama:
After all the back and forth with Brett Favre, Ted Thompson, Brett’s Mom, Fox News, Mike McCarthy, and Drunken ‘Sconnies… we now know 4 things:
- Brett Favre wants out of Green Bay.
- Green Bay brass wants Favre out.
- Brett Favre wants to play in Minnesota
- Green Bay brass does not want Brett anywhere near the NFC
The commencing points 1 and 2 would prove to be fairly easy. However, points 3 and 4 muddy the waters, badly.
The background: What’s making things so murky?
The biggest problem is that pesky three years left on Favre’s contract with the Packers. It means the Packers have the rights to their biggest problem. If Favre ‘retired’ and his contract had expired – he’d be a free agent and this wouldn’t bean issue. He could have ‘retired’ then un-retired and go wherever he wanted to go.
The problem is now Favre doesn’t want to go the Green Bay… they team who has his rights for the next three years. Favre was forced to make a decision back in March about whether or not he’d want to return for another year. While he wanted to play – he says he wasn’t 100% committed. Given that feeling and having his hand forced by the Packers, who needed to decide how they would build for the future, Favre decided to retire. As he has admitted, he made that decision prematurely and now he wants to come back.
Favre was then forced to ask for his release form the Packers. Why the release? According to Favre, he was told by coach Mike McCarthy that the team had decided to “Move on” when the two talked on June 20th. The packers went so far as to send a player down to Mississippi to tell Farve to stay retired.
Understanding the situation, Favre knew Green Bay was not for him. But again, we run into the problem of that pesky three year contract.
It’s a contract that wouldn’t be so pesky – and the Packers would easily release him- if, say, the best team without a quarterback were in the AFC. The problem has everything to do with one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL: Minnesota/ Green Bay.
The Green Bay brass knows the best team that could pick up Favre would be Minnesota, a division rival and a team they face two times every year (if not a third time in the play-offs). The Green Bay brass knows it’s simply business to keep Favre from their division rival. Thus they have to hold onto the rights of the Hall of Fame quarterback, and possibly not even start him. Why not start him? They risk losing the quarterback they’ve spent 3 years training under Favre in Aaron Rodgers if they bring in #4 to start.
This is a PR nightmare for Ted Thompson. Say he starts Rodgers with Favre on the bench: Fans boo and chant Favre at the first incomplete pass. It goes visa-versa if he starts Favre. They simply can’t bring Favre back. Favre realizes this and knows he must go elsewhere.
This would all be fine and dandy… but remember that contract? Green Bay can do 2 things if they don’t take him back: Release him (which gives Favre the option to go to Minnesota) or Trade him (where they can trade him out of the conference). Problem here is there isn’t much interest in the AFC for Favre.
In talking with Al Jones – long time friend of Favre’s and sports editor in the Biloxi Sun Herald (Favre’s old hometown paper) – I been told in no uncertain terms that Favre is interested in playing in Minnesota. I’ve also had sources with the Vikings – including Play-by-play announcer Paul Allen – confirm that they too have sources very close to Favre saying he does in fact want to play in Minnesota.
Favre in Purple is a LONG shot – but it’s certainly something that could happen. If the Packers release Favre unconditionally, get ready to buy your #4 Purple Jersey (note: it won’t labeled “Booty”). But that happening is a pipe-dream. The only likely way Favre ends up in Minnesota is if the Packers trade him to an AFC team for say a 3rd or 4th round pick, and then that team turns around and gives him to Minnesota for a 2nd rounder. I’ve been told it’s unlikely - but a possibility.
Should Favre become available, through trade or free agency, should the Vikings bite?
In my opinion: Absolutely. I understand Viking fans are leary of the old foe – but he would most certainly put the Vikings in a prime position to win the NFC. Travaris Jackson could have a year or two tutelage under Favre as he continues to grow in the system. Also, Vikings coach Brad Childress gave a less than glowing evaluation of Jackson last Sunday on Rosen’s Sports Sunday. When asked about Jackson’s progress in relation to the Favre speculation, Chilly simply said Jackson is progressing and should be expected to play like a 3rd year quarterback. Instead of saying flat-out: Jackson is our man, Chilly waffled. It’s something to keep in mind as we approach camp.
Finally, on a personal note, I would like nothing better than to see Brett Favre run out of the tunnel at Lambeau on September 8th as a Minnesota Viking. This would only add to the lore of the Minnesota/Green Bay Rivalry, and essentially put it up there with the likes of the Yanks/Red Sox. That would simply be awesome theater.
-Sean Ryan, Channel 12 News
A Special to Vike Vision
Topics: Coaching Staff and Ownership, NFC North, Vikings |