I hope my column on Friday explaining some of the issues behind the divorce between the Packers and Brett Favre gave insight to readers. After reading the comments, I’m reminded of the intelligence, knowledge and passion of our readers. Through his desire to return to play -- which should have been no surprise to anyone, especially the Packers -- Brett put the team in a difficult position that was exacerbated by his popularity and previous treatment in Green Bay. The Packers handled it in a way that was best for them, leading to a messy divorce. The latest chapter of the story ensued Sunday, with Brett doing an admirable job of maintaining control of his emotions and his game in leading the Vikings to a win.
APBrett Favre led the Vikings to a win in his return to Lambeau Field.
During the Fox telecast, Troy Aikman said with some certainty that perhaps Brett never really wanted to play for the Packers again after his brief retirement last year. That meshes with some of the issues discussed here Friday, knowing the parties involved. Hearing it from Troy gives it added credence. I will explain.
Brett and the TV guys
There’s a reason so many of the national television broadcasters speak in reverential terms about Favre beyond his accomplishments on the field. They’ve come to know him so well from the generous amounts of time they have with him, for reasons that may not appear so obvious.
In my time with the Packers, when we arrived in a city as the visiting team on the afternoon before the game, our public relations staff would immediately meet the crew working the game for Fox, CBS, ESPN, ABC or NBC. Their producers typically gave our staff their list of three or four players they wanted to interview in preparation for the broadcast. The other names on the list would change week to week, but it always included Brett, no matter what our record, where our game was, etc. And Brett was usually the last one to be interviewed by the broadcast team.
While most of the requested players went for their 10-15-minute interviews and were off to do other things, Brett would stay and talk to the analysts sometimes for an hour, or two or three or four, even to the point where the broadcasters would kick him out so they could go get some dinner.
There were a couple of reasons Brett hung around so long. First and foremost, Brett had nowhere to go but back to his hotel room. It’s not like he could walk around the streets of a city and grab dinner somewhere. It’s not like he could hang out in the lobby and chat up memorabilia-toting fans. And after his longtime roommate, Frank Winters, retired, Brett just stayed in a single room (under an alias, of course, and there were some good ones).
The other reason Brett hung out in the broadcast meetings so long is that he just loved talking football with those guys. He especially reveled in sitting back and telling stories with people like John Madden, Matt Millen, Phil Simms and Troy Aikman. Some of the meetings with Madden are legendary for their candor and bawdy humor.
APFavre enjoys a great relationship with the network analysts.
I remember seeing Brett walk out of a meeting three hours after he went in, and he was laughing to himself. I asked what it was about and he said he was just laughing with Madden and telling him about his Uncle Rube (I’ll spare you the details). Sure enough, in the latter stages of the broadcast the next night, there’s Madden talking about how Brett gets some of his toughness from his Uncle Rube.
So if Aikman said something enlightening about Favre, which he did, it came from Favre on Saturday night in the Vikings hotel, with Brett ensconced in a production meeting as always, talking football with the broadcast team.
Didn’t want to be a Packer
Aikman’s comment jibes with the feelings about the discussions with the Vikings that riled Packers management so much. As detailed here Friday, Brett never warmed to the management style of GM Ted Thompson. Beyond the stilted communication, Brett felt he received lip service from Ted about the team making runs at veteran players but didn’t actually pursue them, as that was certainly not his preferred style for building a team.
Brett had no business making personnel decisions for the team but felt his suggestions had merit. He would bend my ear for hours about getting Randy Moss or other veteran players who became available. Whenever Brett would make these comments, I would tell him to trust the young guys we had such as Greg Jennings. Brett replied that he didn’t have time to wait; I would tell him he didn’t have to wait.
After so many tirades about how we weren’t going after this guy or that guy in free agency or trade, I would say to Brett, “What part of Ted Thompson’s philosophy do you not understand?” He would just shrug and walk away.
Brett wanted a ready-made veteran team for the longest time. That’s what the Jets sold him last year, and that’s what the Vikings were selling this (and last?) year. Now he’s where he has wanted to be for 16 months and, at the moment, thriving.
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Comments
Add a CommentAndrew - this article sounds a whole lot like a writer with a secret that he can't divulge but someone else let's the cat out of the bag.... Bradshaw was another media member whose known to have many of these lengthy "meetings" with Favre and he also commented last night that perhaps Brett didn't really want to play for the Packers anymore.
Andrew,
I enjoy your insight and I thought Aikman's comments about Favre's desire to play elsewhere were not surprising. The angst that the fans had was that Favre never came out and said it. I don't think anyone would have begrudged Favre for wanting to leave after 2005 or 2006, when it appeared there would be some rebuilding in Green Bay. After 2007 why would he have wanted to leave? Good team and a great offense with lots of young stars on the rise? Had Favre not retired at that time maybe Ted would have signed some veterans for a superbowl push. Once Favre announced his retirement it changed their plans. I've been a Packer fan all my life and a Favre fan since he came to Green Bay. I agreed with the decision to "move on" with Rodgers--he's got a good future in front of him. My frustration is that no one was willing to say the truth. If Favre wanted out, he should have said so. People might not have liked it, but this "divorce" has tarnished both Favre and the Packers, and given the respect he has amongst the Packer fans, I think we would have respected him more had he just said he wanted to go elsewhere. I wish him well, but will root for the Packers.
That's part of what makes Favre so special. Competitive fire coupled with abundant candor.
Aikman's comment cleared up a lot of concerns I had regarding no. 4 and the Packer Brass. This makes TOTAL sense. No. 4 wanted to run the team and he somehow started to believe that he was the Packers! If he felt he was that good on his own, he should have won us more than 1 SB in 17 years!!!
The fact of the matter is that no. 4 lost more "important" games for us than he won. Like it or not, he will do the same with the Queens this year. Even if they get to the NFC Championship game, he will find a way to throw game ending picks. This IS his legacy. Yes the media loves him to no end and whatever no. 4 says, his media disciples are there drooling all over themselves yearning for his next word.
Notwithstanding the outcome of this season, the Packer Brass made the correct decision to part ways with the waffle. No other organization would have tolerated this for this long. Holding a team hostage because the QB thinks that he's above the team goes to the true character of the player.
One needs to live in reality and no. 4 owes the Packers and its fans everything he has at the moment. Without the Packers, no. 4 would be nothing and one day he'll realize this. Unfortunately, it will be to late to recover from his tarnished legacy.
No. 4's jersey should not be retired. Plain and simple. Let the Queens or the Jets do it. No. 4 made his choice (and yes the Packers gave him ample opportunity to change his mind), sadly he decided he was more important than everybody else.
I predict that this man will have a lot of problems when he finally "decides" to retire. No more attention, no more media attention..... you just wait and see!
Aikman's comment cleared up a lot of concerns I had regarding no. 4 and the Packer Brass. This makes TOTAL sense. No. 4 wanted to run the team and he somehow started to believe that he was the Packers! If he felt he was that good on his own, he should have won us more than 1 SB in 17 years!!!
The fact of the matter is that no. 4 lost more "important" games for us than he won. Like it or not, he will do the same with the Queens this year. Even if they get to the NFC Championship game, he will find a way to throw game ending picks. This IS his legacy. Yes the media loves him to no end and whatever no. 4 says, his media disciples are there drooling all over themselves yearning for his next word.
Notwithstanding the outcome of this season, the Packer Brass made the correct decision to part ways with the waffle. No other organization would have tolerated this for this long. Holding a team hostage because the QB thinks that he's above the team goes to the true character of the player.
One needs to live in reality and no. 4 owes the Packers and its fans everything he has at the moment. Without the Packers, no. 4 would be nothing and one day he'll realize this. Unfortunately, it will be to late to recover from his tarnished legacy.
No. 4's jersey should not be retired. Plain and simple. Let the Queens or the Jets do it. No. 4 made his choice (and yes the Packers gave him ample opportunity to change his mind), sadly he decided he was more important than everybody else.
I predict that this man will have a lot of problems when he finally "decides" to retire. No more attention, no more media attention..... you just wait and see!
Great info, Andrew.
There is no doubt in my mind that Brett is playing a more disciplined game this year, in part, because of the huge chip he has on his shoulder against G.B. If he were still with the Packers, I can't envision him sticking to the game plan and being conservative like he is with the Vikings this year. No way.
I wonder what role, if any, team president John Jones played in the Randy Moss pursuit. John Jones was brought in to replace Harlan as Team President and then he was whisked briskly and quietly away from the team, citing health issues. But there were other rumblings at the time, and some say he left for reasons beyond just his health. All of this took place at the same time as the Moss talks
I always wondered of he or Ex Com officials had a hand in saying "No" to Moss, while Thompson took the heat in public.
Brand'ts background as a lawyer, negotiator, agent, consultant and advisor on both sides of the table gives us fans an interesting view into what went on behind closed doors
Thanks NFP for a great site and unique perspective
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
All this crying by Packer fans! Favre saved a lost franchise,Reggie White would never have come to Green Bay if Favre hadn't been there. Green Bay lead the NFL in wins the 16 yrs Favre was their QB! Sour grapes by ignorant fans. TT wanted to have his own players and has shown he has no eye for talent. TTs stipulations on the trade to the Jets showed how small of a person he is,now his worst niremare has come true. I will play the tape of yesterdays game as long as I live with great enjoyment!
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
Andrew, thanks again for the great 'insider' story.
Who can blame a guy for not wanting to work for Thompson? I wouldn't last a day working for a jerk like him! It sounds like both sides felt it was time for a change. Sorta like Andrew Brandt and Thompson's 'mutual' split. In both cases, the Packers became worse off and neither foe has sopken to Thompson since.
Imagine if we still had Brandt & Favre and no TT? I'm waking up from my dream now.
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01:15 PM
Wes, great to hear Favre spent so much time in interviews he needed to be kicked out. Perhaps if he invested the same amount of time in OTA's, the offseason and flim study he could be an even GREATER QB then what history will already paint him as. Personally, I'm trying to imagine how good Favre could have been during the latter half of his career with the Packers and his one-year stint with the Jets if he actually played within an offense like he is this year. Imagine that, disciplined football.
Brett's latest attention grabbing bit: Unsolicited, telling Peter King in an interview that he 'didn't know if he could go against the Packers cause' he had such a bad groin injury.' Not content just to let his play speak for itself he needs to worry about contributing to the legend and bulid upon his own legacy. it's little moments like this that, outside of the polarized individuals on both sides of this drama, lead the casual fan to roll their eyes at what they perceive as a diva and attention whore.