The most annoying show under the Big Top
I love NFL football. LOVE IT. I follow the Colts with a passion like Wilde had for his writings. Like Van Gogh or Michelangelo had for their painting. Like Rodin had passion for sculpting The Thinker.
I get caught up in the side stories on occassion; Chad Johnson being the most flashy player in the NFL runs his mouth and puts down his team in general/his quarterback(Carson Palmer), and I listen with baited breath waiting to hear what he’s going to say next, who he’s going to diss, and if he’s staying in Cincinnati. When a guy is having off field problems like Adam “Pacman” Jones, I want to know what his team is going to do about it. A guy is having big problems with his family, be it health or what not that causes him to miss games, I want to know things are well, and he’s ready to return. A player has issue with his team and starts demanding trade, or in cases such as Ryan Grant of the Green Bay Packers demanding a new and better contract. And here we are at Green Bay.
Last season, I saw an old man playing with the energy and drive of a rookie. I saw a future Hall-of-Famer playing like he had something to prove. A man who’d done it all- but wanted to reach the pinnacle again. And I saw youth in his game.
I saw Brett Favre throwing a snowball at one of his receivers in a playoff game. Brett Favre answering the press’ questions with a fire in his eyes that had been long gone. Brett Favre striving for excellence, willing his team to win at times. Brett Favre, falling just short of the highest peak a team can hope to reach in the NFL- the Superbowl. Brett Favre, tears in his eyes telling his teammates, fans, coaches, and the press that he was at the end of his journey. Brett Favre, 17 years into a legendary career, called it quits on March 4, 2008.
But it didn’t stick.
Head coach Mike McCarthy announced that Aaron Rodgers would be the new starting QB for the Pack. Rodgers had played behind Favre for 3 years, learning from a master of the game. Last season, when Favre was injured in the second quarter, Rodgers came in to take over playing the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas. The Pack was down 17 points when Rodgers came in. He got them as close as 3 before the Cowboys pulled it together and won the game 37-27. But Rodgers’ numbers were very respectable; he completed 18 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, no interceptions.
Rodgers was primed for this season. Coach McCarthy announced Rodgers as the starter. But brewing in the background, July 11, 2008, Favre asked the Packers to release him. He wanted an opportunity to “un-retire” and play for another team for his 18th season. The Packers wouldn’t grant this release, as it was a sure ticket Favre would be headed to Minnesota to play for their divisional rivals, the Vikings.
And so begins the Favre media circus.
July 15th, it was announced Favre wouldn’t be released, and furthermore, Aaron Rodgers was still the starting QB in Green Bay. After much negotiation and speculation, Favre applied for his NFL reinstatement on July 29, 2008. All the while, McCarthy and crew standing by Aaron Rodgers. And then it happened. The inevitable. The totally forseen and expected.
August 4th(yesterday), Favre returned to the Packers training camp. The same day, coach Mike McCarthy announced there would be open tryouts for the starting QB spot. A man and team that had stuck by the future of the team(Rodgers) decided to redact the statements made before, and pretty much handed Favre the starting QB job. Aaron Rodgers, the man groomed for the QB role, and who had the entire Green Bay offense redesigned for him, will probably be back to his backup role.
But I can’t really feel bad for him. As annoyed as I am about the whole situation, all the press coverage that doesn’t really need to be, all the hubbub is needless. When it comes down to it, Favre is a proven, seasoned veteran. He’s a man with 2 Superbowl rings, and the guy who took them to the doorstep of another(only to be hit by the Giants’ train, and Eli Manning, who went on to win the Superbowl last season).
I think what the Packers are doing to Rodgers is dirty. But by the same token, if you offer me an employee with huge potential for success, or honestly, failure, and another who has a proven track record of excellence, a legacy of greatness, and records no one is ever very likely to break, I have to pass on the kid. It’s business. Who knows- Favre may come into the season and underperform in spectacular fashion. That will be Rodgers’ cue to step up and be the man.
In closing- lets let this situation in Green Bay die. Favre will rejoin the team, start the season, and leave the door open for Rodgers next season(Favre’s contract is up after this season). Maybe that will be his time. Maybe he can be the unknown kid who comes in to achieve greatness. Maybe he can be the next Brett Favre.
