The Golden Boy Of Green Bay Goes "On The Record" With Greta

Depending on whether you're on Team Ted Thompson or Team Brett Favre (which sounds like a good chant, wouldn't you agree?), everyone should watch and dissect this interview.

Brett states that in early conversations (regularly, every 2 wks after the season ended) McCarthy basically hounded him for an answer so they could figure out what direction they needed to go in for this coming season. Brett responded with "Boy Mikey, I'm kinda burned out right now. I just need some time…. Boy, it'd be nice if I could wait til training camp." McCarthy's response: "Well, we have a different direction we have to go in if you're not gonna be here." Brett admits to not being 100% committed at that point and all but owns his wishy-washy behavior in the matter since he clearly was still torn. He says that on March 3rd when he announced his retirement he DID still want to play but just wasn't 100% into it at that time. What that really breaks down to is anyone's guess. LOL He feels like he was forced to make the decision he made because he wasn't 100% committed to the idea of playing just yet and that they needed an answer right then and there and he didn't want to let the team down by holding them hostage over his decision.

Synopsis of June 20th phone call appears to be:

Brett talks to McCarthy and says "I'm thinking about coming back, what's your take on it?" amid the small talk. McCarthy's response: "WE'VE MOVED ON. I had to tell the team SOMETHIN'!" Brett responds with "You needed an answer in March and at that time, and a few weeks after, I DID say that I wasn't 100% committed but had I been able to wait until training camp, things would have been different." ……. To which McCarthy gives the C.Y.A response of "Why didn't you tell us that? We would have let you do it." (**I don't know about you but that answer smells worse than a baby elephant's diaper to me. See the paragraph above in which Brett already TOLD HIM months prior that he would "sure like to have til training camp" and was met with the "Well, we have a different direction we have to go in if you're not gonna be here" speech. Really Mike, you're gonna tell him"Oh sure we'd have let ya!"? Seriously?)

Favre goes on to state that he started to get the indication that his services were no longer needed when they started looking for QB's in free agency as well as when they picked up 2 QB's in the DRAFT. So Brett says "Where does that leave me, at this point?" … since he knows his only options were 1) trade him, 2) give him his helmet and say "Welcome Back, Brett!", or 3) Release him and let him go where he wants.

McCarthy response: "Well, playing HERE is not an option… but we can't envision you playing with another team." (**Wow… hmmmm … ok then …). He goes on to state to Brett that, by the Packers not trading him or releasing him, they're "protecting the legacy" that he's created in GB.

Favre admits that he is guilty of "retiring early" and for what it's worth, I can appreciate his candor in accepting the responsibility for the pickle he has put himself in as a result of his premature and hasty decision …. HOWEVER, McCarthy trying to say that they're not going to trade him or release him because they're trying to "protect his legacy" is complete bullsh*t. It's not his life nor his team and not his decision about what Brett's legacy should and will be.

I liken it to a parent never letting their child experience the world and completely sheltering them from the normal life that children live and the injuries they get and inflict upon one another because they are trying to "protect them from harm and the world's harshness." Sooner or later, they need to realize that it isn't THEIR life to run and the apron strings need to get cut for the good of EVERYONE INVOLVED. Children should spread their wings and go their own way much the way Brett Favre should be allowed to go wherever he wants if he's not wanted in Green Bay. He's earned it.

McCarthy tries to relay to Brett his experience of trading for Joe Montana during his stint at the KC Chiefs saying "he just wasn't the same after that". My reply to that is: Really, Mike? He wasn't the same? Granted, that 1st year he got injured but he DID take you to the Playoffs BOTH SEASONS.

While there are two sides to every story, I'm inclined to believe Brett's version that Team Ted Thompson & Co are withholding conversations and words that have been exchanged and only telling half the story to the public. Whether it is to save face or because they just don't believe it is anyone's business is anyone's guess.