Before I start this column, I want to thank my boy Derek for an EPIC F3W. I think I speak for all of us when I say...I hope he finds employment soon, but I'll hate to see the hours of scouring the web for "Filth" come to an end! The mere thought of it is bringing Brett to tears!
Now back to the "Cheese Drama".
Am I the only one that saw this coming? One line from that tearful presser on March 6th laid it all out..."I know I can still play". As soon as that phrase was uttered, Aaron Rodgers should have started warming up his "Clipboard grip", cuz it's headsets and Gatorade for you my man!
Memo to the worldwide sports media: Anytime a superstar athlete says "I know I can still play" at their retirement press conference...do yourself a favor...get up, walk out of the room, pencil him into the starting lineup for next season and move on to another story.
No? See Michael Jordan and Mario Lemieux.
So who's to blame here? Well that's hard to say. On the one hand, Favre's been holding that organization hostage for the last 3 or 4 years in what has become a very predictable scene at the end of the year. Brett's sitting in front of his locker at the end of week 17 tears in his eyes telling reporters he needs to talk to his family before making a decision to come back. Then waits until he sees what the team does in the draft and free agency before saying he'll return.
Understandably the Packers have a bad taste in their mouth from being strung along like some toy that Brett will cast aside when it's usefulness has expired!
However, this year's a little different. You're coming off a season where the team was one game away from the Superbowl. That team is still in tact, for now. The NFL window closes quicker than most other professional sports leagues with free agency and injuries contributing to league wide parody almost every year...and the Packers must realize this.
So now the decision must be made...bring back your Hall of Fame quarterback for another shot at the hardware? Or place your championship caliber roster in the unproven hands of Aaron Rodgers? (and NO, two quarters against the Cowboys awful pass defense last year proved NOTHING!!!)
A couple things for Packers GM Ted Thompson to ponder in the coming days...
1. Your resurrected running game with new "Cheese Head Idol" Ryan Grant will be non-existent with Aaron Rodgers under center. Ted, does 9 men in the box mean anything to you?
2. Ted, do you value your health? Bring back Favre as a BACKUP? Are you serious? You can't put enough security in Lambeau to keep the fans from running onto the field and escorting Rodgers to the bench and Favre into the huddle.
3. Trade Favre? I hope you know the NFL schedule for the next three years. Maybe you'll have about 5 teams you could potentially deal with to ensure no run in with "Golden Brett".
4. Release Favre? This is the one I'd love to see happen. Can you imagine? Favre rolls into Lambeau wearing Bears or Vikings gear. Then proceeds to STOMP the Packers with a wide receiving corp that no one has ever heard of.
I know Ted's trying to take a stand here against the bully who's been pushing him around for the last few years. Unfortunately this isn't a fight that the GM's gonna win.
I typically don't believe that any one player is bigger than the team they play for. Kobe isn't bigger than the Lakers, A-Rod isn't bigger than the Yankees. Brett Favre IS bigger than the Packers, unfortunately for Aaron Rodgers and Ted Thompson.
-Coop
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