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Packers should welcome back Favre with open arms
Brett “Kobe Bryant” Favre has wanted out of Green Bay for at least three years. And the Packers have wanted to cut ties with their moody and emotional superstar for the same length of time.
Fortunately for football fans, the Packers and Favre are stuck with each other. When things settle down from this latest dustup — Favre, who retired in March, requested his unconditional release on Friday, and the Packers said on Saturday that he’s welcome to return as a backup — I expect Favre to be quarterbacking the Packers in September.
Favre’s roller-coaster relationship with the NFL’s most celebrated franchise has been ignored by America’s football media because the majority of the league’s broadcasters, writers and reporters are unapologetic Favre groupies. It’s not just John Madden.
The reality is Kobe Bryant’s relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers is ideal in comparison to Favre’s Green Bay connection.
If you look at the undisciplined, high-interception play that marked the latter half of Favre’s Green Bay career, I contend it can be directly attributed to two things: 1. Favre’s frustration with what he believed was a weak supporting cast; 2. Favre’s unhappiness with being trapped on a franchise he believed was satisfied selling tickets and memorabilia thanks to a superstar quarterback rather than a Super Bowl-caliber team.
Sans a Denver rape allegation, there is no difference between Favre and Bryant. They throw offseason tantrums. They complain about management’s unwillingness to make big trades or sign big-name free agents. They inappropriately comment on their teammates’ situations (Javon Walker and Shaquille O’Neal). They whine that they’d prefer to play somewhere else. And they pout on the field and court.
Oh, did I mention that when they’re happy and content, they’re an absolute joy to watch and two of the greatest of all time? Also, much of what they say is totally accurate, and their complaints are completely legitimate.
The two are portrayed differently by the media for three reasons: 1. Kobe caught a case; 2. Kobe lost a public-relations battle to an even bigger superstar (Shaq); 3. There is no Charles Barkley of football broadcasting, an irreverent, outspoken, respected TV analyst willing to call out Favre for his petulance.
But you’ll never convince me there is any tangible difference between Brett and Kobe.
Favre has been angry at the Packers ever since the franchise didn’t go after Randy Moss when he left Minnesota for Oakland. A year ago, when Moss left Oakland for New England, Favre turned irate at his organization. When Moss turned the Patriots into the greatest offense in the history of the league and an undefeated team, Favre’s bitterness turned toxic.
Favre and Moss share the same agent, Bus Cook. Favre believed that Moss would’ve signed with the Packers over the Patriots and that all those records Tom Brady set last season would’ve been set by 38-year-old Brett Favre.
I’m sure Favre believes that Randy Moss would’ve catapulted the Packers into last year’s Super Bowl and prolonged Favre’s career by three seasons. With Randy Moss, Favre might have established himself as the greatest QB in league history.
Favre is right. And the Packers are tired of hearing “I told you so” from their legendary QB.
That’s the only explanation I can think of for the Packers’ reluctance to welcome Favre back with a parade. If Brett Favre wants to play football, you tell Aaron Rodgers to shut up and wait one, two or three more years.