OT--Brett Favre and what if this was a Blazer

by DrivetheLane on Jul 14, 2008 1:16 PM PDT

This whole Brett Favre situation is interesting, annoying, and a bit sickening to me. The guy retires while crying big big tears, leaves Green Bay under what seemed like good terms and all was well. And now, a few months later, he wants back after Green Bay has already commited to moving on.

I've never been a big Favre fan. I thought he was reckless, made stupid throws, too many interceptions. But he did play with some of the highest levels of passion I've seen any athlete play with. But at this point, he seems to be obviously past his prime. And now that he wants back, he's put Green Bay in a no-win situation: either they take him back and start him (because how couldn't you) and maybe make the team a little weaker (this is very debatable, I realize), or you cut him and he plays somewhere else which would just be strange and wrong, or you trade him and alienate your fan base (which is one of the most loyal in all of sports).

So let's pretend this is happening with the Blazers. Imagine that 15 years from now, after having a Hall of Fame career, winning some championships, biggest PTB icon in their franchise history (cause he won a ring(ok, 10 rings) and played here his whole career) and all that, Brandon Roy decides to retire. He's obviously on the downside of his career, not as effective, has good young kids ready to start playing behind him, etc. After retiring, and then the draft, and then free agency, he decides he wants to come back. How would we feel about taking him back? We definatly wouldn't want to see him with another team, we don't want to make our team weaker, he's a beloved local icon who we'll miss after he's gone, etc etc.

Personaly, I wouldn't want to take him back and I would maybe be a little upset he decided to unretire because he puts the team in a bad position. What do you guys think?

ps. i hope this wouldn't qualify as a junk drawer post, so don't kill me if it does.

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Tough call, if you ask me.

MJ did this same thing.

I think you bring him back, but there are no promises. If he can play still, he earns it by working for it. If not, he rides pine.

He doesn’t get to start, or even play for that matter, if he’s got nothing to add.

Playing basketball... is like playing poker while running on a treadmill at full speed with people swinging a Louisville Slugger at you. -Dave on 95.5 The Game

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 14, 2008 1:27 PM PDT reply actions

MJ's situation was pretty different

He didn’t retire and come back within the same year. When he retired in 1993, he sat out a full season before coming back. The team clearly needed him to remain a Finals contender. His 2nd comeback was stupid, but again it was on a Wizards team that really lacked direction, and it was thought he would be kind of a player/mentor, which really didn’t work out.

On the other hand, Favre has had this “will he won’t he” soap opera for several years now. The Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers as their QB of the future, and every year his development is being hindered. Favre had a resurgence last year, but he’s not the same QB anymore. If Favre had a shred of a doubt in March, he never should have had that press conference, and taken his time to make his decision.

I was a multiple time all star throughout my little league career. Won 5 championships- 4 in a row- thats more in a row than MJ… (kenwo4life@aol.com)

by Ozzie Montana on Jul 14, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Think the Packers

Should send him to Houston so that he can have a shot at a title with the Rockets. I mean Texans.

BLZRS FRVR

by nightbluefruit on Jul 14, 2008 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

Fahv ray

It’s one thing to welcome him back after retiring, but doing it every summer would get old quick. I’m about tired of hearing about Favre and really wish he would stay retired. It’s getting sort of sad. I can’t blame GB at all for this one. They let him come back once already and offered to allow him back this year, earlier this spring and he declined. It’s time to move on.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Jul 14, 2008 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

bottom line

Don’t retire unless your sure. Favre should have just waited out the winter and spring and let Green Bay know his thinking just a bit before the NFL draft.

Now he’s created this huge awkward situation that is a no-win scenario for the team he supposedly loves.

Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.

by douglast on Jul 14, 2008 2:26 PM PDT reply actions

Too many athletes

have wanted to hang on past their prime. The adulation, the fame, the comraderie, the esprit de corps, it can be a drug for some.

The interesting question-what do the fans of the Green Bay Packers want? It’s their dang team, after all-literally, in the case of Green Bay. Do they want to see Favre getting tossed around? Or do they want to see a new era dawn in Wisconson?

by EngineerScotty on Jul 14, 2008 2:28 PM PDT reply actions

There's a church in Green Bay with a stained-glass window of Favre.

I think they want Brett back.

BLZRS FRVR

by nightbluefruit on Jul 14, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a Bad Situation...

for everyone involved. Athletes hardly ever walk away when they
can still produce. That being said, Favre has give the fans and
team the run around the last two seasons. Who’s to say he won’t
do it next year or every year after if the Packers don’t say no? Time
to close the book.

by FeelTheLove on Jul 14, 2008 2:38 PM PDT reply actions

It's easy to

give advice to the Green Bay Packers about what to do, but trying to put yourself in their position makes it more difficult. This is BRETT FAVRE. Likely, one of the 10 best quarterbacks of all time.

For comparison, fast-forward to 2020. Brandon Roy has just retired after a Hall-of-Fame career, including four NBA titles, two finals MVPs, and the all-time scoring leader for the Trail Blazers. In April of 2020, months after announcing his retirement, rumors begin to leak that Roy has “the itch” to play again and, looking at the roster, believes he can provide veteran leadership on a promising young Blazers squad in the upcoming season. in 2018, Portland drafted budding SG LaDorpheus Jackson with the 8th (the results of a KP wheel-n-deal), and after rookie of the year honors and a solid sophomore season, he is believed by many to be the new face of the franchise.

Now, with our fanbase, it seems like a lock to me that fans would want Brandon back under these circumstances.

Haha, now, after writing all that, it is important to note that in the NBA it is easy to assume a veteran role compared to the NFL (and particularly at the QB position).

And finally: send Favre to the BILLS!!!!!!!! havent we suffered enough?

by joelor on Jul 14, 2008 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

A 38 year old Brandon leaving to be happy?

I’d totally take that. I’d gladly take 15 more years of Brandon. If someone wanted to let him start, they can have him, but good luck having a productive 2 guard that has logged 17 NBA seasons.

by Bedhead on Jul 14, 2008 2:53 PM PDT reply actions

As a lifelong packer fan

I agree with all your points except saying that he’s past his prime. He put up incredible numbers last year, including the 3rd highest quarterback rating of his career (95.7, just behind 95.8 in ‘96 and 99.5 in ‘95). His 4155 yards are his 3rd highest total ever, 66.5% completion percentage is the highest of his career, and his 28/15 TD/Int wasn’t exactly bad. I’m completely torn, having him back would be an immediate benefit, but keeping him gone will benefit the team more down the road. It also depends on whether he wants “just one more” season or if he wants to finish his contract (3 years). Either situation is bad. If they wait too long they lose their promising young QB to free agency, and if he just plays one more year there will be that doubt as to whether he’ll pull this crap again.

All that said, I wouldn’t take Roy back. Shooting guards like Roy do not have the longevity of quarterbacks (especially Brett Favre). Again, Favre is still playing at an elite level, if his production had diminished that would be a different story.

by sixth on Jul 14, 2008 2:58 PM PDT reply actions

that's some good insight.

as for Roy, I just picked a number of years completey at random. The point was that the athlete would be on the downside of his career. although I have obviously underestimated Favre, according to those stats you gave.

by DrivetheLane on Jul 14, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

question

Early in your post you said that “he play[ed] with some of the highest levels of passion I’ve seen any athlete play with”

How do we even know that? He plays hard and busts ass, just like everyone else who has worked their way up to that high of a level. Somewhere along the line John Madden fell in love with him and every game that madden called with Favre became the Favre Praise Hour.

Goodbye blue Monday

by isaacjoe on Jul 14, 2008 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

my choice of words

might not have been the best, but what I meant was that whenever I saw him play, he always seemed to be trying his hardest, having fun, and seemed to really care—he never seemed to be simply going throught he motions like a lot of athletes do from time to time. It just might be that he let it show more than other players, but I thought his demeanor on the field was a reflection of the passion he played with. In my opinion, this was Favre’s greatest attribute.

by DrivetheLane on Jul 14, 2008 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Problem with Favre is that he straddled two eras of football.

In the early 90’s, he emerged in the thick of the era involving Aikman/Young/Marino/Elway, who are considered some of the greatest qb’s in history. Now, since about 2002, the new era has taken over, with Manning/Brady being the showcases, but Favre is still a strong part of that era too. So part of his “greatness” seems to be due to the fact that he achieved success in two eras involving some of the greatest qb’s to ever play the game. However, I believe that his interception stat mars his inclusion in the discussion of greatest qb’s ever.

by premthegrem on Jul 14, 2008 10:21 PM PDT reply actions