Re: Report:Jets hold serious talks about Favre
If anything, this whole hootenanny seems to be about the Packers marketing department being scared some Wisconsin residents will start to buy #4 Vikes jerseys with their disposable income.
In a way I think you're right. While they don't want to "risk" improving a divisions rival in the one area they apparently are severley lacking (Jackson), I think what is at the root of this is a desire on the part of the GB FO to not see Farve demolish that shared legacy. It's worth millions, which is why they offered him so many to stay a retired Packer. I know Montana played on in KC and played well although not well enough, and everyone got over that, but he didn't shoot his way out of town to do so. The Packers FO took Brett at his word, and that was their first and most glaring miscalculation. They'd have been better served to **** on him while he was down in 2006, but for a variety of reasons (on and off field and even financially related) they choose not to. They let him basically play out his string. And given what he said in his farewell address, they had good reason to believe they'd seen his last best shot and he was toast. His defenders keep forgetting that he didn't say he couldn't play, he said he didn't want to play like a real QB has to in this era - in fact he was pretty adamant that he absolutely couldn't do that again. And he seemed to have come to the realization that to seriously contend he would have to.
He wants to go to the Vikings because they have likely assured him there will be no extensive film study or system to master. They will allow him to just sling it assuming that combined with Peterson that will constitute an offense - something Jackson cannot remotely provide for them this season if ever. Childress is on thin ice and willing to do whatever it takes to field a contender in a weak conference this season to save his own job. He's not looking long term. The only teams with any interest in Brett are in the same boat. They think they are a QB away, don't see him on their roster, and the clock is ticking on their HC's job. Childress, Mangini, Chucky (although Chucky was doing fine with Garcia once the looming Farve threat got him back on the field - until he again got hurt in non contact practice the other day...).
Meanwhile GB is trying to build long term for the post Favre era and trying to avoid this jackass obliterating his shared Packers legacy. He really put them in a bind in more ways than one. They can't really go nuclear on him damage control wise as he exits the building for that reason. Although I don't doubt you will start to hear some stories of what working with him for the last 3-4 seasons of his career has been like. His remaining legion will call that vicious sour grapes - as did the Drewpies until he proved it to be the sad truth.
Brett pretty much blamed his coaches and FO and selfish teamates he personally called out for his decline - didn't want to play through a rebuild. Had no interest in mentoring a successor. Like Drew he always had his media toadies pointing to lack of weapons or support. For double digit paychecks a QB is supposed to rise above those obstacles and elevate those around him - like Brady did for peanuts. Then the rebuild paid dividends during a weak schedule season and he got all the credit. Now he wants back in because he believes his own hype. But when he fails again it will be everyone elses fault including the suckers who take him on. On some level a number of FO's seem to have figured that out. Otherwise there would be more interest in him than there is. Taking him on you are hoping for 1 shot at catching lightening in a bottle. And enough of it to buy you cover for a year or two thereafter. If it doesn't pan out you will be out the door with him with your coaching career in dissary.
He will ultimately go to the most desperate HC unless he has an 11th hour epiphany about his legacy. It's a dicey risk reward calculation for all involved. The last place he wants to land is in the AFC, let alone the AFCE...
But hey, whether he ultimately lands in NY or just further undercuts Noodle and Clemmons and drives a bigger wedge between Mangenius and his veterans in the process, it all works for me.
