http://www.sbnation.com/users/Packschmid Posts made by Packschmid on SB Nation http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2008/7/31/583679/time-to-get-proactive Packschmid Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:21:50 -0000 <p>Brett Favre has been pulling the strings on this whole operation for far too long.&nbsp; The Packers have tried wishing and hoping for him to change his mind and go back into retirement but clearly that's not going to happen.</p> <p>Favre wants his unconditional release, and obviously that's not going to happen.&nbsp; So, you're stuck with three options:</p> <ul> <li>Call Brett Favre's bluff and bring him into training camp.&nbsp; Yes, it will be a circus, but we're already there.&nbsp; May as well bring the elephant into the center ring and see how he reacts to being a backup and see how Aaron Rodgers reacts to his presence.&nbsp; Let Rodgers start all four preseason games, give Favre a series or two at most in each game, and see how everyone responds.</li> <li>Call Brett Favre's bluff and trade him to the New York Jets for whatever conditional draft pick they're willing to offer given the fact right now that Favre hasn't been willing to even talk to them.&nbsp; If the price is low enough, the Jets might be willing to take this circus on.&nbsp; Obviously, the deal would have to be structured in a way where we get assurances that the Jets don't trade his rights (i.e. the 7th rounder escalates to a 1st if they trade his rights to anybody but us before the conclusion of the 2008 season), but it would accomplish the goal of&nbsp;getting him out of the conference and the division and would eliminate Brett's options.&nbsp; If he wants to play, he would play for the Jets.&nbsp; If he doesn't want to play for the Jets, then it's time to retire.&nbsp; The Jets don't really lose anything because they have a QB competition going on anyway and it's up to them to convince Favre to play.</li> <li>If worse comes to worse, call up the Chicago Bears and tell them to make an offer.&nbsp; Trading him within the division would not be ideal, but assuming Favre would go there Chicago is a much better destination than Minnesota.&nbsp; Given the lack of offensive talent on the Bears, Favre would be likely to revert to the QB that throws 25 interceptions rather than the QB who throws 25 touchdowns.&nbsp; </li> </ul> <p>Brett Favre isn't retiring, and he isn't going to be the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.&nbsp; Either suck it up and let him be the backup, or trade him to a place where he does the least damage.&nbsp;</p> <p>One final hail mary option is to talk to Roger Goodell and tell him point blank that they will not release Brett Favre and play up the open tampering investigation.&nbsp; Tell Goodell that if he wants a resolution to this mess, then they will release Favre and drop the tampering charge on the condition that Favre cannot sign with Minnesota.&nbsp; When I initially saw the tampering charge, I thought this is the escape hatch scenario that Thompson was trying to set up.&nbsp; Now, I'm not sure he was that smart, but he can still use it as leverage.&nbsp; If Brett wants to play football and wants the freedom to choose his own situation, then this solution gives him 30 NFL teams to choose from.</p>