Moving on

Someone in Green Bay may hunt me down and re-enact Kathy Bates' role in Misery in order to force me to print a retraction, but I must say that I'm a Ted Thompson fan. The man clearly has steel cajones.

If you've been living under a rock lately, you might not have heard that Brett Favre reportedly requested his unconditional release from the Packers this weekend. Since then, GM Thompson has been largely villified for his insistence that he will neither release the Green Bay icon nor undertake any particular effort to ensure the quarterback a trade. Since then, Packers fans have held a rally at Lambeau to try to convince the Packers' front office to immediately reinstate Favre as the starting quarterback. Dunderhead ESPN contributor Gene Wojciechowski has taken the opportunity to write a ridiculous emotional argument that this whole situation is Thompson's fault.

The continually unfolding events of the Favre controversy have proven to me what I think is something overwhelmingly wrong with men's professional sports; namely, that fans and the media alike allow individual athletes to become more important both on and off the field than the team, even the sport, itself. Yes, such individuals are what give sports their personalities, their star power, and a certain personal appeal. Without a T.O., Adam Jones, Chad Johnson, or Brett Favre, the offseason would be much less eventful, and the media services to which so many of us are addicted like crack would start to look something like the local news reporting about potholes on a slow Wednesday evening.

I digress. Woj is correct in that Thompson's statements about wanting to preserve Favre's legacy and whatnot are bunk, but his logic pretty much ends there. He is so busy trying to garner emotional appeal from his readers in a pro-Favre rant that he forgets that the NFL is a business. Always has been, always will be. If it wasn't, our man Woj here more than likely wouldn't have a job.

The enormous slant is obvious enough in the tagline of the article's opening image: "Brett Favre, left, wants to play again, but Packers GM Ted Thompson won't release him." Furthermore, Woj goes on to spew more rhetoric:

"But Favre has earned his share of diva currency, enough for one Get Out Of Retirement card. He's played hurt. He's played with his heart heavy with grief. And he's played for the moment, not the money. There are bits and pieces of his body all over Lambeau Field."

"Management says the "finality" of Favre's retirement prompted the Packers to "move forward with our football team.'' But how can you move forward if Favre is still on the depth chart? If you don't want him as your starter, which is beyond astounding, then why want him at all?"

"But I'd love to see Favre report to Packers training camp later this month. I'd love to see the beads of sweat form on Thompson's forehead as he realizes he miscalculated the situation. Again."

It's enough that my head is spinning with frustration.

Thompson really isn't calling anyone's bluff. He's done with Favre. He was done with Favre in March when he sobbed his way into retirement, as any good GM should have been. You generally assume that retirement actually means retirement. The fact is that this postseason is not by any means an isolated incident for Favre. For years now he's been playing the "Will I or won't I?" retirement consideration game each postseason, dragging the debate on further and further through the postseason each year (until his surprisingly quick retirement announcement this offseason). That kind of drama affects the draft, free agency, and training camp. It affects every aspect of personnel decisions and coaching philosophy. So I really think that his "diva currency" has been completely spent already.

On a brief aside, I would question the assertion that Favre has "played for the moment, not the money." It's not to say that I'm a jaded observer who doesn't believe that any pros stick around for the love of the game anymore. I truly do believe that Favre loves the game. But to pretend that someone whose salary cap figure has averaged over $10.65 million since 2003* and has 3-years remaining on his contract for $39 million isn't at all interested in money is a bit idealistic. He's not a hero. He's a quarterback. A very good quarterback, yes. An icon in the sporting world, yes. But don't make him out to be something he's not.

Furthermore, I'm not altogether convinced that the Packers will forever be worse off without Favre. Aaron Rodgers has been groomed extensively for three years now to be the eventual replacement for Favre. Note that I did not say "heir apparent" -- Rodgers does have to earn his dues just like anyone else does. Recent history suggests that talented college quarterbacks, given a few years to develop on the bench, have had relatively easier transitions to the pro game than have rookies. Furthermore, read Sal Paolantonio's critique of Favre's hype. I'm not trying to say that Favre isn't talented -- he's a great leader who, with the exception of the '05 and '06 seasons, has had some very solid regular seasons -- but it's looking like his time has passed in terms of getting the Pack through a complete postseason. It's time to look to the future, and upon Favre's alleged retirement, Thompson began to do just that.

Other analysts have suggested that it should be easy enough to bring Favre back as the starter, readjust the offense back to what it was, and tell Rodgers to just be patient for another year. Or two? Or three? Who knows how much longer Favre will continue to play this game? Thompson knows as well as anyone that Rodgers can only be so patient for so long, and to reverse course now would be just the way to drive him away. He's no sure thing, but it's sacrificing years of development effort for a completely indefinite term of service from Favre. Heck, Favre could play for half a season and decide he's had enough if the Pack aren't doing well.

Thompson knows he's on the hook for Favre's salary should he seek reinstatement. He knows he's on the hook for Rodgers's performance should he maintain his convictions. He knows that he's definitely on the hook with the Lambeau faithful. But he's a businessman. I don't see how there is any other choice to make.

* http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/playerdetail.aspx?lname=favre&player=693