Andy Barch and Joel Hammond, two-fifths of the Podcast crew, are big Packers fans. Combine that with all the recent turmoil and controversy surrounding Brett Favre, and there's naturally going to be a lot of words on the issue, including plenty in Monday's show.
Andy weighs in this morning with his (changed) opinion.
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
I'm a stubborn ass, and it often pains me to admit when I'm wrong. I defended Brett Favre over the last few seasons when he's contemplated retirement. When my good buddy and colleague Joel Hammond has gotten on Favre and called for him to make a friggin' decision, I've always stated that as much as he's done for this franchise, he can wait as long as he wants to make a decision.
Those days are over.
When Favre made the decision to retire, he cried like a 16-year-old girl who was dumped by her boyfriend, grounded for a week and lost her cell phone. I don't often condone crying from a grown man, but that's just me. I didn't mind Favre doing what he did during his press conference; however, I'm now not just a little irked by what he's doing. I'm righteously PISSED OFF.
When you wear your emotions on your sleeve, and you cry your eyes out to the world and thank the organization that helped to make you what you are, then turn around by saying you want to come back four months after you showed the world you were serious about retiring, you enter a different dimension in my world.
Coach Mike McCarthy has redesigned his offense for Aaron Rodgers. The other players on the team have mentally prepared themselves for life without Favre, which will indeed be extremely difficult. As a fan, you have to acknowledge that at some point, Favre is going to retire and you have to move on. Rodgers is ready, and as a Packers fan, I'm confident he can do well, so long as he stays healthy.
Favre knows that he's at the very least disrupting the process by announcing that he wants to come back. While I haven't heard anything from the horse's mouth, its hard for me to believe that he doesn't want to come back after reading all of these reports.
When I saw Favre's retirement press conference, I was genuinely moved, and very appreciative of what Favre was going through. He's brought Packer fans like me a lot of joy over the years. What he's doing now is putting this franchise in a VERY difficult position.
If you're asking if I'm still a little bitter about general manager Ted Thompson's lack of energy and effort toward acquiring Randy Moss last year, the answer is yes. I've disagreed with a TON of things that Thompson has done in his tenure. Now, I'm forced to side with the White-Haired Wonder and I don't like it one bit.
Thompson knows that Rodgers won't be able to sit another year if Favre comes back. The GM is ready for Rodgers to prove to the world that he can be the quarterback of the future. He's cleaned up his look by fixing that ridiculous haircut of his and he has the respect of his teammates. He's had a few years now to learn under Favre and now has the chance to shine.
I also have a huge problem with not only Favre, but a lot of other athletes who have retired, and then tried to come back. There is also one HUGE issue going against Favre: He's the cover boy for Madden 09 and that's a big problem; he's doomed from the get-go. I admire the fans of Green Bay for at least acknowledging that they can welcome him back, and I was once part of that group.
As ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski said in his recent article, Favre's un-retirment is a diva-ish thing to do. Tears in March and Text Messages in July really rub me the wrong way. Favre thanked his fans and his organization for allowing him the opportunity to do what he has done, and as a fan of the team, I'm willing to thank him back.
But Brett, you left on good terms, and you left the organization in a good spot. That's more than what many other teams can claim. The Dolphins haven't been the same since Dan Marino left and the Broncos haven't been the same since John Elway left. The Packers are in a much better position to succeed but you coming back will make it a lot more difficult.
Please, Brett, leave your legacy alone. If you really admire your organization for what they've done, then stay retired and let your legacy speak for itself.
Nobody will hate you for that.









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