The 12 Million Dollar Question

Unless you’ve been living under a rock over the last few weeks you almost certainly have heard, seen and read a whole load about Brett Favre – the “retired” Green Bay Packers quarterback who has now decided that he wants to play football again. Since the word got out about his potential return so much conjecture has been thrown around in the mainstream media so I have decided to try and bring it all together and look at exactly where we go from here and what Brett Favre’s options are.

1. Stay retired – Having made his emotional, tearful goodbye speech in March in Green Bay and at 38 years of age, Favre could just remain at home on his tractor. Of course, this is exactly what the whole world anticipated after that press conference where he told everyone he just had no more to give and that he couldn’t put his body through it all again. It’s fair to say that many people who retire feel it is the right thing to do, only to find themselves bored and looking back with rose-tinted glasses, wishing they could go back. Assume for a second that Favre went back and decided during training camp, or even during the preseason, that he actually didn’t want to play after all – then what would happen?

2. Favre returns to Green Bay – From what has been said it would appear Favre would only return to the Packers with the full backing of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, something which appears unlikely at this stage of proceedings. The thing I have to ask though is why? As a general manager and head coach you should always want your franchise to be as competitive as possible and Brett Favre gives this team a greater chance of winning the Super Bowl. Don’t get me wrong, I think Aaron Rodgers can still take this team to the playoffs but I think know Favre is the better quarterback and is much more likely to help this team win a Super Bowl this season.

The other possibility here is Favre returning without the good graces of Thompson and McCarthy and forcing the Packers to pay him $12 million to stand around holding a clipboard. Firstly, do you really think the organization is going to willingly spend that much money on a guy just to stand around, especially a guy they know is better than the one they are sending out on to the field? The Packers might continue to say “Aaron is our starter” but there’s no way that would be the case by the time week one came around, unless of course they cut Favre.

3. Favre is granted his unconditional release – A lot of speculation suggests that Favre could well end up in either Minnesota or Chicago who both play in the NFC North along with the Packers if he is granted an unconditional release. Thompson and McCarthy have so far, correctly, refused to grant that based on the fact that they do not want a surefire Hall of Fame quarterback who is still among the best signal callers in the league facing off against them twice a year. A gentlemen’s agreement between the Packers and Favre could stop this from happening, but the chances of the Packers agreeing to this knowing that it would have no legal standing at all are minimal. Can you imagine the outcry in Green Bay if Favre returns to Lambeau Field in week one as a Minnesota Viking?

4. The Packers trade Favre – If Thompson and McCarthy are 100% definite about moving on with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback they have the option of trading Favre somewhere he would be willing to play. Tampa Bay, Washington and Baltimore have all been mentioned as possible destinations for Favre though I for one would love him to return to where it all began, Atlanta. Favre would have to be agreeable to any trade since he could then opt to stay retired if he didn’t like his new employers, and if he were to be successful with his new team the Packers could at least point to the compensation they received for a 38 year old as being good value, especially if Aaron Rodgers has a decent season himself.

The issue here could be whether a team was willing to give up a high enough draft pick to get Favre in the knowledge that the Packers would eventually have to cave in and release him, or spend $12 million on a clipboard holder. I think that somebody would, after all this is Brett Favre we’re talking about though whether it would be a franchise Favre would want to play for is another question entirely.

When Favre retired everyone felt Favre still had at least one more season left in him and now Favre is feeling that in himself. He would instantly return to being one of the top 5 or 6 quarterbacks in the league, and while some may now doubt his character as an individual there is no doubting the ability this guy has. As I mentioned earlier, Favre coming back to Atlanta and ending his career where it started would be my dream scenario, but what do you think will happen? Would you like to see your team pursue Favre? Can you see any way back for him in Green Bay?

As I understood it (before the tampering charge was filed) the Pack would not look for all that much in return...however, the rumor is there would be a "poison pill" to any deal to prevent a "backdoor trade" to any NFC team (or at least any NFC North team), whereas if such a deal were made, then the team originally trading for Favre would have to give Green Bay something ridiculous, like a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, or 2 1st rounders, etc. The legality of such a clause is still debatable, but it has been used in FA contracts before.

In regards to the tampering charge the Packers have filed against the Vikings, I just read an article (quoting a so far unsubstantiated source), that says the Packers have the goods on the Vikings in this matter, and apparently they have this information because Brett Favre's cell phone is paid for by the Packers. Anybody know what Brett's degree was in? Anyhow, according to this article, this may well be the reason there has been nary even a "peep" from Vikingland about these charges. If this report proves true, there will be some accountability coming.