Do What’s Best for the Team
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
I haven’t posted much, if anything, about Brett Favre since that day in March that he “retired”. This has been purposeful because I had made peace with the idea of the Packers sans Favre, and, much like the organization’s line right now, felt like I had moved on as a Packers fan. Still, things change, and now that the Packers (specifically Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy ) are faced with the unenviable task of pissing off no less than one of their QB’s and any number of fans, it’s time to think about what is absolutely the best thing for the team and organization. My take on this has changed a great deal since the reports started surfacing that number 4 was not ready to hang up the helmet just yet. Initially I took Favre at his text message…thinking it was all just a non-story that got blown way out of proportion because he mentioned to one guy somewhere that he kinda missed playing. Seems that it was more than a rumor Brett (so I guess Thompson isn’t the only one saying one thing to the public but another behind closed doors). My feeling then became that the Packers should just do what they were doing at the time…don’t trade him, don’t cut him, let him either come back and sit, or just retire gracefully. This would prevent the unthinkable…seeing Brett starting on Monday Night Football on September 8th in a hideous purple uniform (or other similar scenario). I was more on the “side” of the Packers. As the situations continued to spiral towards a pit of ugliness not seen in Green Bay since…well…2005 I guess, I felt more and more like Favre was tarnishing both his legacy, and the Packers image by doing what he was doing.
But then, last night, I really had a change of mind. The thing that keeps going through my head is what Ted Thompson has said repeatedly…that he must do what is in the best interest of the team. When I really considered this, I came to the conclusion that there is only one choice that is best for the team…
Let Favre Play. In Green Bay. As the starting Quarterback.
Now this may sound like it is coming from some crazed Favre fanatic that can’t let go, or some stupid fan that is not considering anything past his own nostalgia for 1996. While the latter point may be somewhat true (well all but the stupid part), I can honestly say that these are not factors in my opinion. Let’s take a look at what we are talking about when we say “what is best for the Green Bay Packers”.
There are two points of view from which you must approach this problem. The first is on the field. How do you build the best team? What pieces do you need to reach the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl? The second is with regards to the integrity and legacy of your franchise, especially in regards to the fan base (which in this case are your shareholders and paying customers rolled into one). I don’t want to dwell on the latter piece here because I would surmise that anyone reading this blog has a pretty good understanding of this portion. Favre is a legend. To see him play for another franchise would be painful, but if it were a division rival, it may even border on intolerable. The thought that someone as revered as Brett Favre can make the statement that he doesn’t feel wanted by a franchise for which he was the face for the last 16 years is frustrating to say the least. From the perspective of what I would guess would be a majority of the fans (I am sure there are plenty that would disagree), I would say that this is not true. There is a difference between not wanting Favre back and having moved on since Favre had stated that his services would no longer be available. In any case, if you asked any fan what their ideal scenario would be for this whole situation, it would almost certainly end with Favre retiring a Green Bay Packer (whether it be this year, next year, in five years, whenever) never having donned another team’s uniform.
It is the part about assembling the best team possible that really caused me to change my mind about this whole mess. First of all, just for a moment, forget that this is Brett Favre, and forget all the non-football related stuff that surrounds this circus. You are the general manager of a football team that was very nearly a Super Bowl participant the preceding season. Were it not for an other-worldly performance by one other guy in the league, your quarterback would have been the MVP. You have the guy still under contract, despite the fact that he had already announced his retirement. On the other hand, you have a possible rising talent who very well could be an all-pro at some point in his career, but is totally unproven over any length of time, and even has shown signs of being injury-prone. When you look at it from this perspective, I just don’t really see how you can make any other choice than but to go with the perennially proven talent. MVP or unproven yet promising player? Ok, now we can bring back into the picture who we are talking about here. I have heard all the talk about shattering Aaron Rodgers’ confidence if you allow Favre to return as a starter, and frankly, I think that is absurd. The man is a professional football player. He should be of the toughest mental mold. I realize how frustrating this may feel…to have a huge opportunity given to you, and then to have it instantly thrown into jeopardy. Still, it’s not like he won’t have a chance at some point (if not in 2008, he is a free agent and can sign anywhere he likes). The Packers have let a good number of better than average quarterbacks leave during Favre’s tenure, and may have some waiting in the wings again. The point is, when you were a play away from being in the Super Bowl (yes, I know the irony is that it was a Favre play away), you must seize the opportunity that is present, because you are never guaranteed the ability to reach that point again. You have an MVP caliber quarterback that wants to play. You have a roster very much unchanged from the 14-4 season of a year ago. To me, the decision is clear. You take the proven talent and go for it. Now.
I am not of the illusion that there are dozens of other arguments and positions to take on this saga. I also understand that there are several factors at play here that may make some of my points less black and white, and more shades of gray. Still, my biggest desire as a fan is to see the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl, and I feel that Brett Favre gives them the best chance to accomplish that feat in 2008.
If I were still in the Cream City last night, I would totally have gone to Miller Park (to where Major League Baseball relocated the Indians vs Angels game) dressed in full Indian (er…Native American) garb, complete with tee pee and drum, and done my best Randy Quaid:
Nice start to the year, for both Sheets and the Brewers. Not to sound pessimistic (ah bull$+@*, this is totally glass half empty), but the Bucks started off this season with a solid win in Detroit, and we all know what direction their season took from there. Let’s just hope the Brewers don’t follow the same path. Tim Kurkjian of ESPN did bring up one fascinating point tonight. Ben Sheets has the lowest walk percentage of any pitcher in history who averages a strikeout per inning. He went on to say that if he stays healthy the Brewers have a chance, otherwise they don’t. Well…like the historical evidence has made me a pessismist when it comes to the Brewers’ chances of making the playoffs, said evidence makes me equally skeptical they can keep Sheets off the DL. Please Brewers, prove me wrong.
Marquette had to have this game, and they did. Lazar Haywood came alive, and Dominic James finally contributed as he had been when they were winning. The result was a solid double-digit victory at home against a middle-of-the-pack Villanova team. This time, Marquette didn’t give the opposition a chance to pull out a late game victory, instead pulling away 3/4ths of the way through the game. At 9-5 in conference, and 22-7 overall, Marquette could still use a couple more wins to get to a decent seed. It will not be easy, as they have games remaining against Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. However, achieving at least a split could get them that first round bye in the Big East tournament, which would be hugely beneficial towards that NCAA tourney seeding. Hopefully this is Marquette getting permanently back on track at the right time. They need to play these last two games with fire and intensity, as well as to understand that in order to make it anywhere in the post season, they need to bring their ‘A’ game for 40 minutes at a time.
