Lots of Packers fans will argue that Don Hutson is the best Packer ever. Don actually has a strong case, and funny thing is he had the retire and unretire drama around him for many years as well. My personal opinion is that its Favre. I also believe that most people would have said Favre 6 months ago, but they're so damn bitter now that most people refuse to acknowledge that Brett was anywhere near as great as he really was.
They we're a SB contendor last year (losing in the NFC championship game in OT), and with Favre, would of returned all 22 starters. On top of that, with the type of season that Tramon Williams, and Nick Collins are having, and with Grant finding his groove at just the right time of the season, you could argue that the inconsistent play at QB is what is holding the team back. You would be hard pressed with howt he packers did last season to not say with Favre they would not be SB contendors this season, considering it's the exact same roster. Last game not withstanding (because, Favre is bound to have a game just like that every season), the packers record would most likely be much better then it is now, and they could arguably be fighting for a #2 seed, just like last season, and just like the jets are right now. There are other issues with the packers not QB related (AR has had a decent season, given his first year starting) but you can't tell me a 13-3 football team last season is sitting at 5-6 this year and that the one player missing from the equation of last years 13-3 team is not a major factor that they are not as good as last season.
yeah. he didn't deserve the contract he got though. it's as much as Favre's ever gotten his entire career and after only a few games of starting.
Agreed, fans just like to point fingers and blaim favre for a couple reasons: 1. HE RETIRED. If he never came back, NO DRAMA! 2. He is no longer a member of the GB Packers, and TT is. Hence, we must support TT blindly because we have him, and not #4. 3. Favre did the will he wont he ever season for 5 years! IT GOT SO DAMN OLD, GOSH. (yeah, I am sure that is what crossed our minds has favre single handidly thrashed seattle in the playoffs last year, or when he beat Denver in OT on a bomb first play. Or, when he threw the GW TD pass against the Chargers, who were the other losing team in the AFC championship game) In other words, our hatred of Favre in general seems to be stemmed from MM saying "Favre does not feel 100% commited to the GB Packers". Well my gosh GB fans, before that conversation ever took place, the GB Packers were not committed to Brett Favre. Can you blame him then if he wont commit to them? THey spent a whole month trying to force favre to stay retired. Meh.
Another point people fail to mention. AR is getting payed like a top tier, upper echelon, QB in this league, when he has not proven anything but that he is like most young QB's, inconsistent. The guy doesn't even have a playoff apearance, a division crown, or a winning season under his belt, and he is getting payed like he is one of the best in the league. Seems... fishy. Again though, most agree TT was banking his GM status on AR, and that contract just proved it. I see some fans secretly hoping AR bombs out over the next couple years so TT can get the boot.
Its not like they said Favre could not come back to GB. They just said he would not be their annoited starter. Especially after going through all the retirement ceramonies just months earlier. And after the coaching staff spent all off season gameplanning for a new QB. Brett made his own bed on this one.
they said he COULDN'T be their starter. that's much different than just not annointing him the starter right away. let them fight for the starting job, brett was fine with that.
Please dont call us the New York Bretts. I guess I'm fine with the New York Jenkins, but please not the New York Bretts!
Clearly he's basing his career on Rodgers, but he's doing pretty well so far. His other choice was giving Favre another year, then playing the "will he, won't he" game and get nothing for Rodgers and have even less of an idea what he is. The Jets gave Pennington a big contract, which turned out to not work out particularly well, because we didn't have enough time to judge what he could be. If Rodgers didn't play this year, there is no way the Packers could have possibly judged him. The problem with the Packers is that Cullen Jenkins got hurt, and they can't stop the run whatsoever.
I believe that TT let personal feelings influence his decision to give Rodgers that big of a contract. Its his way of saying "Haha I'm right and all of you were wrong!". Well, how has Aaron performed since then? Ok at times, not so good at many others. Surely hasn't looked like an elite guy, but not a bust either. It was simply too damn soon to pay him that much money, but I don't think we'll know for sure for a couple years.
good point on cullen. they also don't have the depth across the board on the D line like last year. that was key to their success in 2007- rotating guys in all game long.
Rodgers is not even close to the problem in Green Bay, their defense cant stop anyone! If Brett was there they would have the same problem. Anyone who saw the Saints game Monday night knows that!
No, they pretty much said he couldn't come back. Not directly to the media, but every time Brett made another move toward reporting to camp, they set up another roadblock. First it was "we moved on". Brett persisted. Then they tried to buy him off. Brett flew in to GB to report to camp. But he wasn't allowed access to the facilities. Then the 5 hour meeting with MM and TT, which IMO was them basically convincing Brett that he couldn't go on without holding a grudge. They knew that they couldn't stop Brett from being their starter if he suited up. Only way to stop him was to talk him out of wanting to be a Packer. Brett would have always disliked TT, but in no way do I believe it would have affected his performance on the field for GB this season, had he been allowed to play for the team. In the end, it is what it is. I'm ok with how things worked out. Favre being 39 years old.....the team made a decision. They just went about it all wrong. Another thing.....the will he/won't he retirement issue is something I blame the media for, not Favre. The media won't STFU about it. They have asked Brett this question every damn week so far this year, and have done so for 6 years now. Brett basically gives the same answer all the time but they won't let it die. Its not like he's issuing an unsolicited weekly press release of his retirement status.
Absolutely. However, GB is losing most of the close games this year. Last year they won most of them. A veteran QB can make a big difference in these situations. GB won 13 games last year, and were a play or two away from losing 4 or 5 of them. Really when you look at most teams' schedules, this is true across the entire league. Having veteran players to make plays in critical situations can a lot of times be the difference in winning and losing. GB and the Jets are finding that out this year.
LOL, an d so it begins. Or rather, builds, resurges. Expect the cacophony to become deafening if the Packers lose to the Panthers tomorrow & their season essentially comes to an end. I could say that that Thompson does not deserve half of what he is probably about to get -- but on the other hand I could say he does deserve the other half. Instead, I think I'll just continue my policy I've had here from day 1, and just stay the hell out of it ... here
The packers defense CAN BE good and they CAN BE really bad. The week before getting stomped by NO they shut down Chicago. To me, the inconsistency in play is due to a lack of Confidence and Leadership - The intangibles that a team leader brings to the field. Rodgers clearly showed his frustration (borderline pouting) and it looked like the team started to give up in the 3rd quarter. I honestly believe that when Favre is on the field, he elevates the play of all of those around him. I think the players around him (when he was in GB and now with the Jets) subconsciously play a little harder when he's on the field and that makes all the difference in the world. So, I don't agree that if Favre was there that the team would have the same problems on the field. Which in my mind isn't a lack of talent (they had talent last year), but rather a lack of effort, attitude, belief and perseverance.
People who argue that the team would be no better with Favre can only base that claim on stat comparisons. There's alot more to leadership than stats.
Don't mean to be a jerk and not to step on anybody's toes, but doesn't the talk about how Green Bay would be with Favre (and the talk about TT) belong in a Packer's forum?
Exactly, a lot of fans earlier this year saw comments made by Charles Woodson and thought "yeah, he wanted #4 back". He's playing with a broken Toe (ironic, considering some pansies sit out with turf toe) and when the packers started to lose he said "Why should I put myself through the pain of playing on sundays if the team is committed to winning. I might just go get a cast on my toe and be done for hte year". Obviously, it's too late to do that at this point, but it seemed to me to encompass the general feeling of the players that have been around awhile: They felt dumping the 2nd most valuable player from last season when you could of had him at the helm, leading this team, was a shot about "not committing to winning, but committing to winning down the road". See, Super Bowl shots don't come around often. This team almost got there last season. Why would you want to begin developing a young QB after you JUST LOST in the NFC Championship game? I mean, seriously. The packers were on the cusp. QB has proven to be possibly the most critical position on the team, and a great one can change the aspect of not just a season, but the attitude in the locker room. meh, TT was ok at throwing away a season to get AR ready. Look, I want years of success, but I want a SB more. Favre would of gave GB a better chance this year. Oh well, it gave me a new appreciation for #4, and a new team to cheer for. May Brett help get the jets a title this season, and come back for yet one more shot!
