After a month it’s finally over. The Green Bay Packers traded quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets to join former Oregon Duck Kellen Clemens for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, which could turn into a first round pick if Favre takes 80 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl.
That’s highly unlikely considering the Jets went 4-12 in 2007, but the addition of the all-time leader in touchdown passes (and interceptions) couldn’t hurt.
But the end result to this story doesn’t reflect on how we got there. We have to go back to the tearful news conference. Favre said goodbye to football, saying, “I know I can play, but I don’t think I want to. And that’s really what it comes down to.”
That was March 4. Three months later, on July 2, it was reported that Favre was in talks with Green Bay about a possible comeback to the team. It wasn’t until July 11, however, that things really got interesting. Favre sent a formal letter the organization asking for his unconditional release from the Packers so he could pursue a job elsewhere. Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson adamantly replied that he would not in fact, grant Favre’s release and reaffirmed the programs commitment to Aaron Rodgers as the new starting quarterback.
Following the refusal from Green Bay, Favre spoke publicly on Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” about the situation and said that he was “guilty of retiring early” and that he was “never fully committed to retirement.”
He also said that he respected Green Bay’s wish to move on with a younger quarterback, but he wished that they would let him do the same. He continued by saying he sympathized with Rodgers, who had been badgered by the media since the news first broke about Favre wanting to come back, and said that he was “fully prepared to play in the NFL in 2008.”
The two weeks that followed saw many he said, she said moments, including an accusation by the Packers saying that the Minnesota Vikings illegally contacted Favre. This led to a formal charge filed by Green Bay, but commissioner Roger Goodell found no evidence of tampering.
All this boiled down to Favre finally being reinstated to the NFL on August 4, and he immediately reported for Packers training camp. But after only one day, he sat down with head coach Mike McCarthy, and both came to the realization that the situation was broken.
McCarthy thought Favre wasn’t in the right mind-set for a return to the Packers, and Favre thought his relationship with the Packers front office had been hurt by the months of haggling.
I think the real blame for this situation lies with the Packers. They were like a jealous boyfriend after a break-up with a beautiful girlfriend. They had just accepted the fact that he wasn’t coming back when Favre says he wants to play again. They immediately said they wouldn’t let him go or trade him – effectively imprisoning Favre.
Granted, Favre didn’t help by staying retired for two months.
In hindsight, Brett Favre has made his name as a member of the Green Bay Packers. His legacy will be remembered for what he did in the yellow and green, and it took the Packers awhile to come to grips with losing their most celebrated quarterback since Bart Starr.
The last note on this whole saga ends with an Oregon connection. Former Oregon standout Kellen Clemens will be the backup to Favre in New York, after the Jets announced earlier last week that Chad Pennington had been released. This is good news for Clemens, who started a few games last year, because he can spend the next few years learning from the future Hall of Fame great before taking over control as the starting quarterback when Favre retires.
In the end, the attention this story received might have made some weary of it all. Everyday the Internet was full of new updates, and actual games were being pushed to the background so more focus be put on Favre. But the reality is that America loves football. NFL Live runs daily on ESPN, while other major sports shows such as Baseball Tonight and NBA Fastbreak only run during the season and special events. It might drive a baseball fan crazy to see reports on NFL happenings in July, but the league is financially the best in the country and competing with the “Boys of Summer” for America’s hearts.
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