Analysis: Favre Wouldn't Have Saved '08 Packers from Struggles

When Green Bay sent Brett Favre packing in training camp, team officials knew they were trading away a wildly popular, remarkably tough player who might still have a good year or two left in him.

[Backing Favre]

I'm so sick of reporters talking about Brett. He had 16 great seasons with the Pack. It's always Brett's fault....not once have I heard that TT has made mistakes....wait a couple of years or maybe one year and the fans will be going against him too.

Let the man play ball....guess you guys have nothing better to write about.

[dewy]

The media again .Just trying to get a Favre comment and get S**T rolling again. Some of the lame posters on here will start the bashing for one side or the other or the lame comparisons. I for one still think the NFL is about wins how else do you get to the next level (play offs). The media when this dies down just starts with a new story about it. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF FAVRE WAS THERE. I should not have said that, here comes the neg. comments . let it die allready

[Oscar]

Babe Ruth retired as a Yankee. Brett Favre will retire a Jet. Sad.....Some things matter more than winning. Wether Favre would have helped or hurt the Pack is irrelevant. The storied Packer franchise kicked a legend to the curb. Thanks Ted... you have single handedly removed the luster of a franchise that once honored its past.

[Andrew]

In my opinion, there is no doubt in my mind that Favre would make this packer team an improvement this year.

I don't know how TT or MM would answer that, but I think they were doing whats best for the future of the franchise..TT is all about the future, finding young stars for the future.

Favre and his old body debating back and forth whether his body should take another beating in playing another season and not retire doesn't make him a locker room distraction.

It all comes down to wins and losses in this league. The Packers would be better off this year with him under center(imho) but there comes a time to decide what is better for the franchise for the future. It was Rodgers' time..

[jack]

Has this big bad A-Rod guy lead the Packers on a game winning drive yet? Or a come from behind win? NO!! They have beat poor teams only,with maybe the exception of Indy which just was not playing well. GB players seem to have no convidence lack of evert this happens when you dont think the Qb can get it done in the end. When he finally does ,that could change. The new england QB has not started sence when and he looks great. SO whats there problem in GB. Here come the excuses hurt ,can't practice, still learning(I thought some guys said he was ready), O-line. I am sure there will be more. No MM and A-Rod get pissed when asked questions. I guess they all know for at least this year they made a mistake. It is a win NOW and put the best players on the feild that give you the best chance. And were has TT been, early he was in the media and now things dont look so good he is out of sight . GOOD. They screwed up and can't admit it.

[normallylikeyell ow]

I don't think you lose anything skill-wise with Aaron in there. What I see (which I expected) is occasionally you think: "he should have checked out of that play." That's where experience will help him. Some growing pains are to be expected. I think he will see similar types of blitzes until he starts solving them more regularly.

[Paul Of Florida]

I am a former Packer fan for 57 years it is pretty obvious that Rodgers is no Brett Favre. The fact is that the Jets are now 7 and 3 from 4 and 12 and the Packers are now 4 and 5 from 13 and 3. This is simple math. They did the same thing to Paul Hornung (no number retirement) craped on Ray Nitsche, Reggie White, and now Brett Favre. Let it go Packers. You stink!!!!!

[jack]

I agree for the most part. I hope that does come for him. The point is GB had that and its a win now type of game. That said NO ONE knows what would have been with Favre but he still gave them the best chance win NOW. And all over just because he changed his mind or waited to give his decesion. And see what happens when a person rushes things. Both were wrong on things when this came to a head. Also I think they put to much into what they saw in practice from AR games are alot differant. OR TT just looked and hoped for a reason to play his pick. Time will tell if it was the right move. The only skill AR has over Favre (if you can call it that is he moves bettter) .I dont beleive he is even close to being as good (YET).

[jack]

Read the blog on JS on line (radom thoughts) I think it was called. It seems to fit and if thats the case teams will bring everybody. Hope he makes them quick reads.

[Mike]

Hey Paul did you ever think that the Jets are a lot better from last year because they also added a ton of free agents during the off season besides Favre? Faneca, Pace, Jenkins, Woody, Franks and of course Favre. Not saying all are great players, but each made an impact to improvement.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Skills don't make you a great QB. If so, Jeff George would be the best ever. I think we are over-simplifying. Mike's right, the Jets have added a lot of key contributors--including Favre. I do think experience reading defenses is a big plus. There aren't many looks BF hasn't seen. But let's not put the Pack's problems all on Rodgers. The better teams are whipping us at the line of scrimmage--we can't run, we can't pass protect and we can't stop the run. That's a lousy combo. It's a miracle we're only 4-5.

[eric]

no to mention,the Packers have alot more injuries then last year,the oline has peeked adn isnt playing like they did last year,NE lost thier
STarting qb,
starting RB
at least a few lineman adn starters on defense.

[Andrew Imel]

eric wrote:

no to mention,the Packers have alot more injuries then last year,the oline has peeked adn isnt playing like they did last year,NE lost thier
STarting qb,
starting RB
at least a few lineman adn starters on defense.

yet im not so sure the pack could compete with that banged up patriot team..

The Jets would not have won 7 games with AR or Chad Pennington at qb regardless of the other add on in free agency. The difference maker is can almost always be found at QB.

I think AR will do just fine. However, to believe that Brett Favre wouldn't offer anymore help than 4-5 is strange. How much more talented is this group than the 2006 team? We had to finish strongly, but we ended at 8-8.

It all goes back to experience and leadership. Last night Favre brought the JET back after being deflated. Faced with 3rd and 14, he found the TE Rookie Dustin Keller. I think being in a huddle with a leader like that makes all the difference.

Again, I think AR will be that kind of leader someday. The change had to come at some point, but to believe Favre would offer no help is wrong in my humble opinion.

[Tim]

Andrew wrote:

In my opinion, there is no doubt in my mind that Favre would make this packer team an improvement this year.
I don't know how TT or MM would answer that, but I think they were doing whats best for the future of the franchise..TT is all about the future, finding young stars for the future.
Favre and his old body debating back and forth whether his body should take another beating in playing another season and not retire doesn't make him a locker room distraction.
It all comes down to wins and losses in this league. The Packers would be better off this year with him under center(imho) but there comes a time to decide what is better for the franchise for the future. It was Rodgers' time..

I agree. One time has Favre taken us to the super bowl. That's it. As great as his stats show, we should have been in more. The man can't do it again. He chokes. The best he gives a team is the playoffs. The Jets will soon find this out. It will be another let down year. So let the Favre thing go guys, and move on. At least now when he chokes, it will be the Jets fans that have been hung out to dry. Not us.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Yeah, and Eli/Peyton Manning couldn't win a big game. You guys think in absolutes. The same logic says Tom Brady never fails. Well he's on IR. Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers both go out and compete like everyone else. Last time I looked Kerry Collins was leading a 9-0 team. Mark Rypien and Trent Dilfer won Super Bowls. Anything can happen.

[Oscar]

No one knows if the Pack will make the playoffs. If they don't, they will be one of the more underachieving teams in the NFL. The Packers are a very talented team. They may have the most balanced receiving core in the NFL. There pass defense is rock solid. Remember last year. Favre and the receiving core carried the team for 7 or 8 games before the run game got going. Consistency and confidence go a long way at the Pro level. Intangibles separate the good from the great. The Pack are missing a huge intangible for the first time in sixteen years.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Not disagreeing with Favre's intangibles. I'm just saying that lesser players than Aaron have and are succeeding. Look elsewhere. As we were taught as youngsters: it comes down to blocking and tackling sometimes. This group needs to do better job of it. The long run gains, for instance, are just missed tackles. Consistency--so right Oscar. Injuries are tough, but we still have to play. I put it on square on MM. Aaron's early success was great, but the adjustments--the blitz packages and other looks we're seeing are a lot to ask a guy to decipher who has started just 9 games. It's getting colder and we have to start winning at basic football.

[eric]

NLY,Thats a great call!.the blocking isnt there this year,for what ever reason.I think Clifton has hit the wall,last week,he sucked,but it was agaisnt Jared Allen,so its somewhat understandable,but, he has struggled against guicker ends.Hes still solid agaisnt big guys,but, hes to slow and Chi. has a quick end.the Interior isnt exactly doing thier job efficiantly either lately.As soon as the line can start playing ball,we will start winning,and as soon as the defense can keep the long runs to a minimum we should start winning as well.

[Biff]

yeah.
those sports writers always have to come up with something in order to justify their employment.

so they come up with the most obscure things and rehash old stories.
it's like soap operas for guys

[Biff]

or, rather,
soap operas for the "guy ideology"