The saga that is Brett Favre continues with more revelations from Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy.
Apparently, Thompson and McCarthy were ready to welcome Favre back onto the team weeks after his infamous, tearful press conference on March 6.
Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press reported yesterday that Thompson and McCarthy were close to hopping onto a private plane and flying to Mississippi to meet with Favre.
But Favre changed his mind by the time Thompson and McCarthy were heading to the airport.
Why should any team owner, general manager or the team, for that matter, be held hostage by whether Favre wants to play or not.
He does know that it technically isn’t his team, right?
It’s no wonder that Thompson and McCarthy decided to stick with their 2005 first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers. It’s no wonder that when rumors flew that Favre wanted to make a comeback that the Packers’ office kindly dismissed them.
I don’t care that he led the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 1996 — last time I checked, this was 2008.
And I don’t care that he had a great season.
Last week, Favre asked to be released from the Packers, and I’m so glad they said no.
Granting him a release would allow him to play for another team, most likely division rival the Minnesota Vikings. But now who’s in control?
Now who is holding whom hostage?
The only games Thompson and McCarthy want to play is football. Not these lame psychological games on who or who will not play. Whether Favre is retired or not retired. To release or not to release.
Jenkins reported that even after the March episode, all three parties regularly communicated with each other. Even then, Thompson traveled to Mississippi to meet with Favre and he didn’t feel like Favre was serious about a comeback.
Then McCarthy told the press he had a phone conversation with Favre in which Favre pretty much demanded: “Give me my helmet or give me a release.”
Well, excuse me. I didn’t realize he was the boss. I don’t think so.
Favre has not been granted a release from the team and kudos to the Packers for it. I’m glad they’re not playing his game.
If he wants to come back as a Packer, that’s fine. But it won’t be as their starter.
“We’ve communicated that to Brett, that we have since moved forward,” Thompson said yesterday, in his first public comments since Favre requested the release. “At the same time, we’ve never said that there couldn’t be some role that he might play here. But I would understand his point that he would want to play.”
If the Packers release him, then he can leave and go to another team and do whatever he wants.
Keeping him would mean that the Packers get something out of the deal.
They can trade him to another team and get something in return.
That seems like the most logical thing to do. As of yesterday, Thompson said he hasn’t received any inquiries from other teams wanting to acquire him.
We’ll see what happens. I’m sure this is not over yet. It’s actually kind of a shame that it’s going down like this now.
Why couldn’t it have ended on the nice, teary note with the press conference of Favre saying goodbye?
That would’ve been a whole lot easier than this. What was Favre thinking? That he would be welcomed with open arms, again?
There will be a resolution at some point. When is anyone’s guess.
“Quite frankly, it’s a little gut-wrenching as an organization to go through it, and certainly for Mike and myself,” Thompson said. “This stuff hurts a lot of people. I mean, it hurts. I’m not talking about physically hurting, but the sensitivity. We understand where the fans are coming from. This is a hot-button issue that surpasses anything I’ve ever gone through.”
• AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins contributed to this report.
