Favre: Packers' $20M offer to stay retired may be best ESPN.com news services Updated: July 31, 2008, 11:40 PM ET Brett Favre, convinced that Green Bay will never permit him to compete to be its starting quarterback and recognizing its unwillingness to ship him to an NFC North rival, is actively considering an offer from the Packers that would provide the quarterback a paid lifetime role with the franchise that would not involve playing. "There isn't a perfect solution to this, but [Packers president] Mark Murphy is at least trying," Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder on Thursday night. "We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end.'' Favre could be forced to report to camp unless the Packers reach agreement with him on a non-playing role before commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates him. He has at least until Friday to resolve this standoff after Goodell opted earlier on Thursday to delay granting the quarterback his reinstatement one day. "Once he's reinstated, Brett's going in, and once that happens Packerland becomes Disneyland -- although that's not what Brett wants for his teammates,'' Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, told ESPN. "He wants them to be successful and do well. But that's what happens if this thing doesn't get resolved, and he decides to report." While Favre had a lengthy discussion with Goodell on Thursday, a source close to the quarterback told ESPN there was no dialogue with the Packers. The New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams that have made direct inquiries about trading for Favre. Favre had reserved a charter plane to fly him to Green Bay Thursday so he could report if he had been reinstated by Goodell. When that did not occur, Favre postponed the trip to remain in Hattiesburg, Miss., while awaiting Goodell's approval. "He's ready to go report, but you have to understand he's been told the job is not open to competition,'' Cook said. "He's been told, 'If you come up here, it's not going to be like it was. You are going to be holding clipboard. You're going to be the backup.' Given those things, would he rather decide to just stay at home and be affiliated with a team he loves with his whole heart and soul rather than go play someplace they tell him to go?'' Favre's first choice is to play for the Packers, a team for which he has started an NFL record 275 consecutive games. Once the Packers refused to accomodate him, Favre informed the team he wanted to play for another team in the division -- believed to be the Minnesota Vikings -- because he is familiar with Brad Childress' coaching staff and would be able to play against opponents he is comfortable competing against. "My intentions have been to play, and with Green Bay," Favre told Werder. "They say no, so I still want to play in this division for obvious reasons, which I made clear to management. If they won't let me play in Green Bay, let me play against you. That's where I am.'' The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Packers officials have had internal discussions about trading Favre to the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears as a "last resort" to resolve the smoldering controversy. But Packers general manager Ted Thompson said earlier this week that he would not consider trading Favre to one of Green Bay's NFC North division rivals. Then on Wednesday night, multiple reports surfaced that the team had offered to pay Favre up to $20 million to stay retired. Cook described Favre as mystified by the team's stance. "It's painfully clear the Packers do not want Brett back, but they will take him back once they have no choice,'' Cook said. "If the commissioner reinstates him, they have to take him back but they've said, 'Brett your job is to sit on this bench.' And that's where we are unless we make other arrangements that Brett would be involved with the Packers from now on but not as a player." ESPN NFL reporter Ed Werder and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Because rather than some stupid rumor coming from a newspaper, this actually quotes the participants. :smile:
First of all I do no think that Goddell should allow such a bribe to happen. It is ridiculous. Second, if Favre lets them do this which I suspect he might he loses all credibility. This in my view would be a dark mark against the NFL.
I really hope something else happens. Getting paid 20 million not to cause your lifelong team trouble just smells really bad to me right now. Particularly given that this entire situation is of his own making. Marino didn't hold up the Dolphins when he retired. Elway didn't hold up the Broncos. Favre needs to either take the trade that the Packers can work out or stay retired.
Favre no more likely this Friday then last Friday Blogger Erik Boland Erik Boland: Inside the Jets Breaking news, commentary and insider information on the New York Jets Printer-friendly posts July 31, 2008 Hold the horses on Favre So, it's just after 11 and I'm still at Hofstra. Alone. I need to eat, which I will do shortly. Hey, this still beats working. Anyway, I had copious notes from which I was prepared to draft the practice report to end all practice reports, but at 9 p.m. or so a story popped up out of Green Bay suggesting the Jets were getting all hot and heavy - my language (don't judge me, it's late) - in trade talks for Favre. Here's what you should know from the story I wrote for tomorrow's paper: "A published report Thursday night that said the Jets and Packers were in 'serious talks' for retired Packers quarterback Brett Favre exaggerated things somewhat, a person close to the situation said. The story, which appeared on the Green Bay Press-Gazette Web site under the headline 'Jets' trade talks for Favre heat up,' said the Jets were showing 'a growing interest' in dealing for Favre and hinted that something was close to being done. But late Thursday night the source said that was not so. In other words, the Jets were no closer Thursday night to dealing for Favre than they were last Friday when they were first mentioned as being one of his suitors. Though the Jets have not closed the door on dealing for Favre, each passing day makes a deal less likely." And toward the end of that story there's an item about Favre maybe taking the $20 million marketing job with the Packers and staying retired. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh. And you can quote me. Of course, that is now. I could wake up to the sound of a phone at 8 a.m. Friday morning telling me Favre is a Jet, where we're at Thursday night he's not and still doesn't appear to be any time soon. And if the phone does wake me that early - I'm a sports writer, ok, so 8 a.m. is early - it better be telling me something that major. Otherwise, no calls, please. So what can I say, we got sidetracked a bit here and hence, no afternoon practice report from Thursday. But as former Mets GM Frank Cashen used to say, "there's always another game tomorrow" and in this case, there's another practice tomorrow. But it's closed to the public. But not to me so I'll have a thorough - or what I consider thorough - review. Don't forget, however, the Green and White Practice which is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. That is free and open to the public. The day of activities starts at 10 a.m. and though we're not always serious on this blog, allow me to be on this point: The Jets and A-1 First Class-Viking Moving and Storage are hosting a food drive Saturday that will benefit The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network). There should be a nice crowd Saturday and fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items to donate to a worthy cause that operates 19 soup kitchens and 25 shelters on Long Island. And with that, lights out. Email this ? Subscribe to this feed ? Add to del.icio.us ? Digg This! ? Share on Facebook Posted by Erik Boland on July 31, 2008 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
i would just like to point out, that if he does it in NY, he probably makes 20 million alone in endorsements, year one... forget his base salary, and of course if he came back next year he'd make even more money than the 20 million. So basically Farve is passing up 20+ million this year alone, to take 20 million over 10 years, and as a result is screwing us over, and pissing this Jets Fan off.
http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=33888&page=47 Four links saying all sorts of things. Nobody knows what's going on. I'm so sick of it.
This guy forever tarnished his image, with this whole fiasco. No more will you think of Brett Favre, the great QB, now you will think of this circus, when his name is mentioned.
I'm not really sure why Favre is being made the bad guy. GB seems to be handling this worse and much less appropriately. If this bribe goes through it is a black day for the NFL>
