I’ve been hesitant to blog about Brett Favre because
- I could give two craps about the Green Bay Packers
- and I think Brett Favre jumped the shark after There’s Something About Mary.
There are so many good writers who are blogging about Brett Favre’s predicament on teh internets; however, I feel compelled to wade into these waters (!sports!) because I just read that Brett Favre could get paid to stay off the field in 2008 - 2009.
For reals? Didn’t this guy retire?
In fact, he did retire — but now he has second thoughts and wants to come back to work. Join the club, buddy. We lost over 400,000 jobs in America, this year, and I’m sure there are plenty of people who feel the same way: they just want to go back to work.
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I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Green Bay and I know it’s a desolate and empty place without much opportunity. I have family up there, and people work two or three jobs while still struggling to pay the bills. A full-time job at a factory and a part-time job in the service industry is the norm, not the exception.
Also, I’m unemployed — just like Brett Favre. Maybe I’m doin it wrong because The Green Bay Packers aren’t paying me to stay at home in my big mansion, shut my mouth, and watch Oprah. Then again, I’m not a former football player with a bruised ego & hurt feelings.
Here’s my message to Brett Favre:
Buddy, it’s over. You didn’t lose your job at a Wisconsin paper mill and you aren’t hurting for cash. You retired, dude. You made plenty of money whoring for Prilosec. You have a mediocre steakhouse. Move on with your life. Go fishing with your kids. Quit acting like a victim, and don’t even think about accepting a an offer not to play.
You are tarnishing your legacy and you look like a dick.
The nerve of Brett Favre. What’s next? Will he try to collect unemployment insurance?
When Favre announced he’s coming back, I knew then the Packers would be screwed and Favre just made the decision when training camp broke. I was going to side the Packers because they had the players and a quarterback they believe could be effective.
However, in the past couple of weeks, I have to side on Favre because the Packers are just holding him for value and have no idea what they’re doing. Yes, he has 3 years remaining on the contract and he has no control of where he is going, but the Packers are dragging themselves. If Favre does come back to Packers camp and starts the season on the bench, the fans would never trust the Packers front office unless they win the Super Bowl in the next 3-5 years. I understand the front office has worries that Favre goes to a division rival, but if your organization thinks you can win with Aaron Rodgers, then have Favre released and if your confident your going to win the division, have Favre go somewhere else. The Packers know he has one more season in him and they want value, but no one is biting.
Also, if Favre takes a deal, then he’ll be regarded for using the last season to cash in and not winning the championship. Favre might have caused the situation, but the PAckers are prolonging the problem and it’s sad for both sides. Of course, winning cures everything.
It happens in business too. Some people just don’t know when they have ceased to be effective and need to WALK AWAY. Do something else - volunteer, teach, fish, whatever.
I think that I will write to the GBP and ask them to pay me to stay home.
Ego. Yuck.
I have very torn feelings about all of this. I just wish he would have stayed retired. With his resources, there are so many fulfilling things he could be doing. He’s obviously not thinking creatively about that. As he loves football so much I can think of about a hundred things he could be doing related.
It’s really hard to fathom being offered 2-million dollars to do nothing! What a stupid stupid stupid idea! I say if he wants to play that bad and the Packers don’t want him then they have an obligation to trade him where he will be paid to perform the job function; play football. But to shell out millions so he can do nothing just seems so wasteful and disrespectful to just about everyone; the state, Green Bay, their fans, football fans everywhere!
The Packers made a decision to move forward with Rogers. How would you feel if you took a position somewhere and then the guy who previously held that position decided he wanted his job back? Kind of the same thing here really.
Like I said, I am just torn about this whole mess; but the bottom line here is that BOTH sides are looking like jerks; just my two cents! Coming from being in the media, it has created quite a circus that is making for a lot of story opportunities, not necessarily a bad thing there.
Thanks for letting me vent!
@Tracy Winning does cure everything — but the packers haven’t won with favre in several years. It seems like a lose/lose situation to me. We need a mediator.
@hrmaven I’m with you. Ego gets in the way of progress!
@Cori I *love* that you’re here. Comment and vent anytime!