The Packer's Have a Baby

NFL Know-it-all — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:42:16 -0000

Since the new era of football began, fans have seen players acting like babies. The low supply of talent and high demand for good players has produced outrageous displays of egotism from the likes of Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and others. This is how some in the media have painted Brett Favre. Whether or not it’s true is irrelevant. (It isn’t.) What is relevant, however, is that we now have a general manager who has caught the same bug.

It’s one thing for players to act childish, but neither the Packer fans nor the rest of the Packer organization should tolerate a general manager who puts his ego above the team. Ted Thompson has made it clear he does not want Brett Favre to play and it is quite clear that his ego is the reason why. How many players are in Green Bay that isn’t the personal selection of Thompson? Although he’s made some great selections in the draft, he doesn’t seem willing to recognize talent that he hasn’t hand picked on his own. The only reasonable conclusion as to why Thompson doesn’t accept Favre is that his own ego blinds him to Favre’s value to the organization.

Favre’s value extends beyond the win and loss columns. He has numerous records on the line that could potentially be cut short. Imagine Peyton Manning breaking the most wins by a QB record or consecutive starts record because Favre was stopped now. Not by another team or player. Not because his physical ability kept him from performing. But because an egotistical general manger that will deserve no more than a footnote in the football archives took it upon himself to replace Favre with “his guy”. Favre’s records are more of a part of the Packer’s future as Thompson’s “guy” will ever be.

It is simply utter madness that has crept into Green Bay. The media has done its share of promoting this madness. It begins with the notion that a retired player can’t change his mind. Huh? So what if Brett Favre retired and now wants to play!? Why is that supposed to be a big deal? Nobody can truly explain it, but many have been captured by the momentum of the idea in the media. So far, for some hidden reason, some of the media has used this tactic and strangely, none in the media has pointed out that the Packer organization promised Favre a couple more years when they offered his current contract. Nobody in the media has pointed out that they have changed their minds at least as early as 2005 when they drafted Favre’s replacement. This madness that a person who reconsiders their position is a “flip-flopper” is ridiculous.

Everyone, especially the folks in the media, needs to keep the silly notions out of the story. We don’t need to cloud the issues with the idea that a person who changes their mind can’t be a leader. Let’s all awaken from the madness and face the real facts. Favre wants to play for the Green Bay Packers and Ted Thompson want’s him to quit. Between the two, it is quite clear who is being selfish.

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The Packer's Have a Baby