Last Updated: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 4:32 PM CDT
Favre calls the Packers’ bluff
QB sends in his letter for reinstatement
By Tyler Dunne - Shawano Leader sports reporter
The chips are in. Brett Favre is calling their bluff.
Time for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy to show their hand.
For the past couple weeks, the Green Bay Packers’ general manager and head coach have become exasperated broken records –– constantly affirming that Aaron Rodgers is the team’s starting quarterback. On Tuesday, Favre officially applied for reinstatement and appears ready to dare the team to bench him.
Theoretically, Green Bay has a 48-hour window to decide whether to take Favre back or release him –– 24 hours for commissioner Roger Goodell to officially sign off on Favre’s return and another 24 for the Packers to make their move. The iconic Favre could be in camp as early as today or as late as Friday.
ESPN initially reported Tuesday that Favre had faxed his reinstatement letter to the league.
“It’s obviously the first step in Brett coming back, but we’ll deal with that when Brett is reinstated and have a plan for that when he comes back,” McCarthy said after Tuesday’s practice.
The letter is in. Let the chaos begin.
Forget the smattering of pro-Favre signs along the fence at Clarke Hinkle Field and the array of different colored Favre jerseys and shirts fans are sporting at camp.
One veteran provided a sneak peak at the mayhem Favre’s return will create.
As Charles Woodson walked off the practice field Tuesday behind the pack of reporters beginning to huddle for McCarthy’s press conference he pumped his arm and yelled, “Bring Brett back! Bring Brett back!”
Maybe the chant was made in jest, but it begs the question: Will Favre’s return tear apart a team starkly mixed with youth and seasoned veterans?
The current starter who’s been in the middle of the Favre-Thompson mess doesn’t think so.
“We’re a tight-knit group,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “I don’t think anything will be a distraction. We’re a focused team. We have the right mix of youth and experience.”
McCarthy realizes it’ll be hard for his team to remain in tunnel-vision mode.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s not a distraction,” the third-year coach said. “It’s only a distraction if we let it be a distraction.”
As of now, no rumors are swirling from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New York Jets –– two teams considered Favre hot spots. If the Packers are unable to trade Favre, choose to keep him on the roster and do indeed stick to their plan of rallying behind Rodgers, the three-time MVP would not be a happy camper, said one of his former teammates.
“Brett’s been in the front for a long, long time,” said guard Daryn Colledge, who played with Favre the last two seasons. “So I think it would definitely be a difficult position for him.”
Favre’s go-to receiver for the last six years, Donald Driver, didn’t banter for Favre’s return like Woodson. Favre as a backup? Driver isn’t sure how that role would be received by No. 4.
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Driver repeated. “We’ll see what happens. No one knows that yet. We’ll all have to sit back and wait.”
Added Colledge, “If (Brett) wants to come back and compete, it’s his choice.”
That’s the curveball in all of this, though. For now, ‘compete’ is not an option. For now, McCarthy is not firing the starter’s gun on a quarterback controversy. Competition remains closed at the position, he reiterated Tuesday.
No use turning back now. That’s the message.
“I’m not bluffing,” McCarthy said. “My story never changes every time I come up here. It’s not going to change today either. … It really goes back to what we’ve been saying all along as an organization and the direction we’ve gone with our football team. What has happened here the last week or 10 days, really doesn’t factor in us changing our direction.”
If and when Favre returns to the team he led to 160 wins, he’ll need to pass a physical and a run test just like any other newcomer, McCarthy said.
And then he’ll begin breathing down Rodgers’ neck as a backup quarterback. Yes, a backup quarterback who finished second in the MVP voting last season with 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns.
You can practically see the 12-inch leash on Rodgers.
Nonetheless, Rodgers maintains such a lurking presence in his shadow wouldn’t frazzle him. Heck, he said that the two would probably “joke” around when Favre first arrives.
“We’ve never had a problem,” Rodgers said. “We have a great relationship. If he’s here, we’ll welcome him back. … I’m going to prepare the same way. Brett was a great resource when he was here. If he does come back, I’ll continue to tap into his knowledge.”
When the tapping begins, how friendly it is and how long it lasts remains a mystery.
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Becky wrote on Jul 31, 2008 10:07 PM: