The Packer puzzle: 10 possible outcomes for Favre
The Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers have dominated NFL headlines for the past several days. Will Favre come back? Will he stay retired? Do the Packers want him back? Will he be traded? Does he want a trade? What does Rodgers think?
Since it is all speculation and conjecture at this point, I’ve come up with a handful of scenarios that outline how this puppy could unfold. How do you, the fans, think this sticky situation will play out? Pretend that you’re placing a bet in Vegas, not on what you think should happen but what you think will happen.
1. Favre returns to Packers, Rodgers remains his backup: Coach Mike McCarthy realizes that a Favre-led team means another serious Super Bowl run and shelves Rodgers for another year of clip board duty.
2. Favre returns to Packers, Rodgers is traded: Maybe the Packers like Tundra columnist Casey Burkett’s scenario, which involves Rodgers being traded to Miami for Jason Taylor, or maybe Rodgers demands a trade after having the starting job taken back from him just months after finally earning it.
3. Favre agrees to compete with Rodgers for starting job: In this scenario, general manager Ted Thompson welcomes Favre back, but not with a guaranteed starting role. A quarterback by committee could result, or Favre could replace Rodgers holding the clipboard while hoping for an injury to get back on the field.
4. Rodgers remains the starter, Favre is traded: The Packers decide that Rodgers is the future of the franchise and trade the legend to a team that could really use him like the Ravens. In return, Green Bay gets a quality player(s) and/or a couple 2009 draft picks.
5. Rodgers remains the starter, Favre is released: This would be a goodwill move by the Packers. If the Packers trade Favre, then he is stuck with a particular team. However, if they release him, Favre then has the opportunity to shop for the team he feels most comfortable with. Such options include the Vikings, Panthers, Bears, Ravens, Jets, 49ers, Bucs and Texans, to name a few.
6. Favre joins Packers midseason: Whether Rodgers plays horribly or he suffers a season ending injury, this possibility has Thompson calling Number Four midseason to rescue the Packers for one last playoff run.
7. Favre pulls a Michael Jordan: No, he doesn’t decide to give baseball a whirl. In this hypothetical, Favre takes a year or two off before jumping back into the NFL. We know how that worked out for MJ.
8. Favre stays retired: All this talk ends up being for not. Favre never dons an NFL uni ever again. He rides his tractor into obscurity or takes on a job as an NFL analyst, commentator or contributor a la Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, etc.
9. Rodgers jailed after putting a hit out on Favre, Brohm starts: Okay, so I’m not being serious here, but just imagine how pissed off Rodgers is right now. First the infamous comment controversy, then all this Favre talk. Is Rodgers on suicide watch?
10. Other: Let me know of a scenario that I haven’t thought of. How else do you think this soap opera will develop?
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on Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm and is filed under Mike McCarthy, Ted Thompson, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Offseason moves, Retirement.
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32 Responses to “The Packer puzzle: 10 possible outcomes for Favre”
July 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
If you only have 9 reasons- don’t include 10 possible items in the title. That’s annoying.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Corey if you are not a Packer, don’t say you are. That’s annoying.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hey how about Brett comes back as a receiver? He lined up at least once that way …imagine the end around plays…
July 6th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
At minimum; management owes it to Brett to allow him to play elsewhere if they do not want him back.
To stop our 17 year Hall of Fame QB from playing just to save face after all he has given to this organization would tarnish the image of the Packers more than letting him move on with dignity.
Do the right thing Ted !!!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I would say #2, that Favre will be the QB, and Rodgers will be traded…however, it is so sickening that we have to hear from everyone but Brett…..There are quotes from Brett’s Mom and brother, and supposed friend, but nothing from Brett himself…He could clear this all up, by opening up his mouth…
Maybe TT would be more in tune to Brett’s feelings if Brett would have been more decisive the last couple of years…..
If we all went into our bosses office every year and said, “I’m not sure if I am going to work next year, let me think about it for a few months”….you all know how long that would last…I realize Favre was great and put Green Bay on the map, etc. but his indecisiveness has got to be driving TT and MM crazy…we have drafted accordingly because TT assumed Brett was hanging it up soon….
Bottom line is, I will be rooting for Brett Favre to return to the Green and Gold this season….
July 6th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
how about player/coach Brett Favre?
he comes back to make one more run while Head Coach Mike McCarthy grooms Favre to be a future coach…
Favre had never expressed a ‘desire to coach’ but it is in his blood at some level after growing up with his father as his coach
July 6th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Nick, I like the way you think….Favre as QB coach??? That would be sweet….if Rodgers does not get what Brett is telling him, Favre can throw on a helmet and show him how its done….
July 6th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I’m old enough to have enjoyed Montana, Elway, Marino, Young ect. I am a Chiefs fan, but the only way I want to see the most entertaining and best quarterback of my time is in a #4 Green and Gold Jersey.
Farve is still better than all but possibly Brady and Big Brother Manning. With #4 Green Bay has a Superbowl team. With Rodgers they have an untested QB they hope can take over. This is a stupidly easy scenerio if Farve wants to play. As a football fan I want him on the field.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Okay, let me start by saying good article, posing some interesting thoughts. But only five are possible; here are the flaws with others posed seriously:
#3: Favre will never agree (nor should he) to compete for the starting job with someone with no NFL starts. He’s earned that job, even if he did give it up, and his pride would not allow it.
#5: The Packers will never release Favre because they do not want to risk him ending up in the division.
#7: His physical skills are deteriorating already, and with two years off he will not be able to win playoff games.
Now to address some of the comments:
Mike G: He barely has the athleticism at this point in his career to play QB, much less receiver.
Aaron: thanks for articulating that so well.
Nick and Aaron: Favre as a coach? Are you kidding? He is a great player, but his fundamentals and decision making are so poor that only he can get away with them because of his unique physial gifts. If Rodgers or Brohm tried to emulate him much less follow his instructions, they would throw 2 INTs/TD!
July 7th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Oh, yeah, and with #4 I do not see the Dolphins wanting him or him being willing to go there. He doesn’t have enough time left to learn a new offense and captain then turnaround of that ship.
If he is trade, Tampa is good enough and runs a West Coast offense, and Gruden loves old QBs and Favre in particular. If the Eagles stupidly give up on McNabb that’s a perfect fit. Maybe Houston gives him a shot, and Ahman Green could convince them they can contend. That’s about it.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers to the NFC Conference Championship and retires to ESPN for more money than he’s getting from his rookie contract that expires in 2009.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
A few thoughts…
1.As a Pats fan, I would love to see Favre gone, but as a football fan I would love to see him back…
2.My friend was excited that Favre retired because he would finally be able to wear his Rodgers jersey, do YOU think this guy is a REAL packers fan?
3.In MY opinion, with Rodgers, unless he pulls a Brady (instant superstar, just injure Bledsoe and watch the magic) the Packers have no chance, they are not a chanpionship contender, but with Favre, they can make it to the superbowl vs the Cowboys or Pats…
July 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Also:
1. Favre returns and told he is the veteran back-up that they’ve been looking for.
2. Favre returns…as a quarterbacks’ coach.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hoffman, your friend is not a real packers fan. Also the Packers will never play the Cowboys in the SB because we are in the same conference.
I actually like the semi coach/backup idea - if Favre takes a paycut. I feel very conflicted about all of this. I like Favre, but sometimes it just seems as if he just wants to make Rodgers’ life miserable. If Favre comes back to the Packers, then we will have the 1st, 2nd/3rd, and 4th best QB’s in the conference. The person who is between 2nd and 3rd that isn’t a Packer is Kitna.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Number 6.
But his return will not yield any better results than with Rodgers. Then he will be back as the stater the following season and really stink it up and get benched. What a great way to end a career!
GO BEARS!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
All this talk ends up being for not.
All for naught.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
If I had to wager in Vegas I would probably say Brett stays retired and all this was just some media attention. (ala Bill Shakes above) PS: I always lose when I gamble
I still believe the best chance the Packers have is with Brett with or without Taylor. I would not give him a two year ultimatum. Favre can go when he wants.
They would NEVER release him. Never. Can you imagine Brett with the Bears or Queens? Puke.
It is also possible he comes back and Rodgers takes back his job as easiest position in the NFL: Backing up Favre.
It would be possible they trade Favre, but he would decide the team and it just doesn’t seem likely. TT would be vilified. Unless Rodgers takes us to the Super Bowl and wins. Kinda unlikely in a first year pro.
I can not understand why any Packer fan wouldn’t want Brett back after last year. We’ll all just have to hope that we don’t have such a crazy cold winter again!
July 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Lets face it Rodgers is not the answer.We watched Rodgers go in for a hurt Favre only to get hurt too.If I was Rodgers I would welcome a trade.No way can he live up to what is expected of him.To much pressure, go to Miami and compete for a job.Uh oh COMPETE……Trade Rodgers or at least make him earn his job , my moneys on Brohm.Better fit, no baggage or resentment.Greenbay is a solid football team capable of winning the division with or without Favre.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’m not sure what option i would place money on, but bfavre coming back is my frontrunner. ever since i saw his interview on Letterman i was convinced he would come back for another season. I, for one, am extremely excited about the prospect of having Favre under center for the 2008 season. As excited, if not more so, than if he would have just announced his intentions to return in March.
what i’m having a hard time understanding is how “packer fans” (or at least “fans” who have been vocal on sports radio and here in blogdom about the favre soap opera) are so quick to turn their backs on a legend. how soon we all forget about the 4k yards, 28 tds, & NFC championship home game when no one (and i mean NO ONE) in the national media gave the packers a snowball’s chance in hell to do anything last season. It’s not all about Favre’s 16 untouchable seasons as Packer signal caller - it’s about “what have you done for me lately.” And lately Favre has been AT LEAST a top 3 NFL quarterback. favre would have been a LOCK for MVP if it hadn’t been for Tom Brady and the Cheatriots. Now, i’m not an NFL GM, but i would assume that when a quarterback finishes 2nd in MVP voting and leads his team from an 8-8 season to a 13-3 season with an NFC championship birth (which went into overtime against the eventual Super Bowl Champions!), you would be exploding in your pants over the prospect of him coming back for one more go round. now all i hear is ‘Favre needs to stay retired,’ ‘it’s Rodgers’ team now,’ or ‘Favre is putting the Packers future in jeopardy. That is all just crap. Favre coming back for 1-2 more years with this young, talented, all of a sudden hungry and playoff experienced team, gives you the best team on the field today, this season. Is there another team in the league, hell, in all of professional sports, who has said ‘No Thank You’ to an MVP candidate who has the desire to come back the following season? I think you all know the answer to that.
I know some people are upset about Favre’s wishy-washiness. I am too. To a degree. Favre has done this for years. Suck it up. Rodgers is a grown man and he knows damn well that Favre had an outstanding season last year. One that he could not replicate in his first full year as an NFL QB. If TT continues to balk on the prospect of a Favre unretirement I am going to call a mutiny. All you so-called Packer fans need to un-cloud your memories and remember that the Packers were 13-3 and went to the NFC championship, all behind the ‘Old Gunslinger’s’ 28 tds, 4k yards, and MVP caliber season. you don’t turn your back on an MVP candidate. especially one that has given you 16 years and who can take this team to the super bowl NOW. get with it packer fans.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
100% agreement. It makes me sick that so called fans would call it Rodger’s team now or say we’re “mortgaging the future” by bringing Favre back. That’s pure crap. We have plenty of cap space, plenty of young QBs to step up when he’s done. Rodgers hasn’t “earned” anything yet by being the backup with 1/2 a good game in. He can be a man and wait until it is truly his time. In the meantime he can get on board or shut his mouth. In my opinion when Brett decides to truly sit or shows in a game that he has truly lost it to the point he should be replaced, that should be when we look elsewhere.
I think a lot of people like to just stir the pot.
I also think that just because the Pack isn’t talking much means they don’t want him back. If Thompson truly doesn’t want anything to do with Favre that is very sad. Thats an ego trip.
One more thing. I do really like Aaron Rodgers. I just think its absurd that anyone would anoint him better than Favre from what they’ve seen of him, and what they’ve seen from Brett. Absolutely absurd.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Favre will play again. I’d bet on that for sure. I was only convinced when Peter King said it on si.com, but now that he said it I’m convinced.
As for how that’ll happen, I’d bet that Favre starts and Rodgers backs him up.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Dan, I really hope that you’re correct. That’s the best possible scenario. That way, if Brett has this fall off like some people seem to think he will, then the coaching staff can make the transition and fans will all agree with it. I’ll eat my words, and we can see the new Packer QB take on the challenge.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
4k yards, 28 tds means nothing when you keep throwing picks to end your teams playoff runs every yr. mm/tt realize he won’t take what the def gives him, he wants to be the hero. if they keep him, make him commit to the remainder of his contract, trade rodgers and groome brohm.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I hope to God you are all right. I feel the same as you. I live in Missouri and we drive to Green Bay (11) hours each way to the games. We also go to some on the road. How many fans outside of Green Bay do you suppose there are? A hell of a lot of us. I know, because we always meet them in the bar at Favre’s restaurant. We have met countless fans from all over who travel a lot further than we do. Maybe not as often as we do, but we are obsessed!
After the sad news came last March, we seriously thought about not coming back for this season but something just told me this might happen so we bought our tickets. (I will sell them if Brett is rejected).
Not living in Green Bay I can only imagine the chatter. I certainly hope the fans will get behind Brett and demand his return. How could you not play Brett Favre???? TT better get his stuff together and listen up because I don’t think he has seen the rath of Packer fans if he loses the best damn player to ever grace Lambeau.
Brett has a very nice family and I am glad they are speaking out. I have met some of the family friends and his brother Jeff and they are so nice. I imagine that is why nothing was said back when he announced his retirement. I just figured something happened that none of us outsiders knew between Brett and someone in the organization. I think he was so upset, hurt, and tired his emotions just got the best of him. If he had waited another month, none of this would probably have happened.
Brett does not owe any apologies to anyone. The city of Green Bay and the Packer organization should welcome him back if that is what he wants and they should be so lucky!
Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre, its a no brainer.
Come on back Brett, the TRUE Packer FANS love you!!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
if the packers are really concerned about Rodgers fragile ego, i would think the LAST thing they would want to do is turn Favre away. think of the pressure on Rodgers to replace Favre now. now multiple that by 1,000 and that is what you will get if Rodgers is under center when Favre could have been. TT needs to bring Favre back and if Rodgers can’t handle that, he was never ready to replace Favre in GB in the first place.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Mr. Ted Thompson:
Put the best team on the field. Receivers, linebackers, o-line, d-backs, d-line…all solid. The team is stacked. Win now. In your heart, you know your job is to put the best team on the field. Favre is better than Rodgers.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I am traveling in Minnesota all week…..they are foaming at the mouth in hopes of getting Favre….after listening to Colin Cowherd today, and reading Paul and Sarah give their opinions, I more than ever believe we should welcome Brett back with open arms….
Did he cause us to draft QB’s when we didn’t need to? Yes….but I would rather have him under center this year than Aaron Rodgers….he puts us in the best position to get to a Super Bowl…
July 10th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
No one is “foaming at the mouth” to get Favre. Every contending NFL team already is either set at the QB position, or firmly committed to a starter. The Bears aren’t a contender, with or without Favre (and besides, they run a much different offense than GB…would take a season to jell with Favre). The Vikings are committed to Jackson … his numbers last year were similar to the first-year numbers of other very good NFL QB’s, and a lot of experts were picking them to win the NFC before this Favre chatter began. And if I were you I wouldn’t want him back another year in GB … it’s like they say when you invest — “past performance does not guarantee future returns.” Everything fell into place perfectly for Favre and GB last year. It won’t happen again. If he wants to play, his best bet is to wait for a starter on a top team to go down with injury in the preseason. Then your Pukers could at least probably get a draft pick by trading him.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
@ Reality: Not only are the Bears a contender the Bears will win the NFC North title.
Packers = crap with or without #4
Viqueens = crap, the RB was a flash in the pan
Lions = always crap
July 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
sweet valley high — “Not only are the Bears a contender the Bears will win the NFC North title.”
Thanks for the laugh!!!!!
Reality — “No one is ‘foaming at the mouth’ to get Favre” —
That may be an overstatement, but I’m in a FF league with MN folk who talk about it. The national radio guys take callers from MN who want it to happen. Read Viking posting boards — there’s plenty of chatter about it.
Answer this question: If you were given a million dollars should the Vikings make the SB, and you had the choice of picking quarterbacks to lead Minnesota, would you rather have Jackson or Favre behind center? One mill is a lot of money — I would take Favre, just because the Vikings have so many other pieces already in place. I just think the odds are better — not ripping on Jackson.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
valley girl..you must did not watch the 07′ GB season huh lol 13-3, What did the bears do?
oh yea, 7-9.
my, how time flys :0
August 6th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Laugh now suckers, just wait and see!
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