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Mike Lucas: Are Favre, Packers being fair and balanced?

Mike Lucas  —  7/15/2008 2:04 pm

BREAKING NEWS.

BREAKING NEWS.

Greta Van Susteren interviews Green Bay Packers quarterback.

My reaction might have been similar to yours. My reaction, in fact, was similar to Pat Healy's reaction in the 1998 movie, "There's Something about Mary.''

Healy (Matt Dillon) was reacting to Mary Jensen (Cameron Diaz) seeing someone else.

"What the hell is Brett Favre doing here?'' Healy posed.

Exactly. What the hell was Brett Favre doing on Fox News? I thought it was a fair and balanced question to ask Monday. Especially since Favre got top billing over John McCain. But maybe that was presumptive on my part to think more people wanted to hear from the GOP presidential nominee than a retired QB.

That Favre agreed to tape a segment for "On the Record'' -- Van Susteren's nightly gig -- was odd only because it has been so difficult get Favre on the record. (Van Susteren, a UW grad and Cheesehead from Appleton, was hand-picked by Team Favre knowing that she would play ball, Gretaball, with Brett.)

Favre has usually used his agent, brother, mother or hometown newspaper bobo to send messages and air his dirty Wranglers at the expense of the Packers and Ted Thompson, the general manager -- and annoyance from the Kiln (Miss.) Klan perspective.

That has been the protocol whenever Favre has gone into his Off-Season Mode thereby creating a buffer zone between himself and any accountability for what is being suggested publicly about his retirement timetable and/or rift with Thompson.

At that, you can make the argument that Thompson doesn't possess any communication skills. Or appreciable warmth.

You can make the argument that Favre has become somewhat of a diva -- a John Deere Diva -- but a diva, nonetheless.

You can make the argument that Thompson and Favre have never been in sync on what's best for the Packers or Favre.

That can be traced back to 2005 and Thompson's first draft in Green Bay. With the 24th pick in the first round, he selected Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a falling star, who nearly plummeted into the second round.

What do you think Favre's perception of that move was? Instead of drafting someone who might bolster the depth chart and have an immediate impact on the success of the team, Thompson opted to tab Favre's successor, foreshadowing the soap opera.

With the 30th pick in the first round of the 2005 draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a pass-catching tight end, Heath Miller, who is on the brink of stardom.

With the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2005 draft, the New Englands Patriots took offensive guard Logan Mankins, who has already attained All-Pro status.

Two other pretty good players -- defensive tackle Luis Castillo and cornerback Marlin Jackson -- were available to Thompson when he drafted Rodgers. Castillo and Jackson have since become starters in San Diego and Indianapolis, respectively.

The point here is that Thompson did nothing to endear himself to Favre with that draft. That's important to note because Thompson was moving into a job once held by Ron Wolf, whose legacy will forever be linked to Favre's legacy. Ditto, now, for Thompson's legacy, for all the wrong reasons, perhaps.

If that was the starting point for Favre's dislike or distrust of Thompson, then, the breaking point was Randy Moss, who could have been playing for the Packers. Thompson, though, was unwilling to make a commitment to Moss. Or Favre, as Team Favre would have you believe.

The Patriots acquired Moss for a fourth round draft pick in '07.

"He (Moss) was going to wipe his contract clean and sign for $3 million guaranteed, plus a fourth-round draft pick. That would have been a steal,'' Favre told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun-Herald.

"But we were not willing to guarantee part of that $3 million. I even had Bus (Cook) call up there and tell them I would give up part of my salary to guarantee that money. Apparently that wasn't enough either.''

Cook is Favre's agent. And it was reported that Favre was so angry with Thompson that he had Cook request a trade.

On the Packers website, Thompson responded, "I think it's natural for a player (Favre) to be frustrated from time to time -- that's simply being human.''

Thompson later said, "Everyone knows that Brett Favre is all about winning. As an organization, we share that commitment. And we want to win now.''

With Rodgers, not Favre.

Favre insisted to Van Susteren that the Packers had made it clear to him that playing in Green Bay was no longer an option. The Packers were moving on, he said. Only they really didn't want Favre to move on and play somewhere else, according to Favre.

At one point, Favre brought Joe Montana into the conversation. Montana, a Hall of Fame quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, was traded for a first round draft pick and finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Montana helped lead the Chiefs to an 11-5 record and the AFC Championship game in 1993. The following season, he got the Chiefs into the playoffs as a Wild Card before retiring.

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy was the Chiefs' quality control coach in '93 and '94.

By the sounds of it -- from Favre -- McCarthy implied to Favre that it hadn't worked out well for Montana in Kansas City as a means to discourage Favre from coming out of retirement.

McCarthy took over as the Chiefs quarterback coach in '95 and his starter was Steve Bono, a journeyman. Some Packer fans may view Rodgers as a "Steve Bono'' equivalent. Not that anyone would know given Rodgers' lack of exposure and resume. But, soon, we'll all find out together whether Rodgers can play.

That would be the best possible conclusion to "As the Favre Turns." The Packers move on with Rodgers, for better or worse. The Packers trade Favre to an AFC team for a draft pick or a backup quarterback with some seasoning. And Favre moves on with his career and life, for better or worse.

Favre has every right to waffle on his future. That's simply being human, as Thompson noted. And the Packers have every right to plan for a future without Favre. That's business in the NFL.

But Favre has no right to think that Green Bay is obligated to give him his release so he can pick and choose his next employer. That's not how it works.

BREAKING NEWS.

BREAKING NEWS.

I can see Favre playing this season, but not in Green Bay. Where then? In his own words (the edited version) from his movie cameo, "I'm in town to play for the Dolphins, you dumb (bleep).'' We report, you decide.

Mike Lucas  —  7/15/2008 2:04 pm