Jet Favre
It's a final. The pouting QB has been shipped to the New York Jets for a conditional fourth round draft pick and perhaps a corned beef sandwich from the Carnegie Deli.The great soap opera that has gripped Wisconsin and the rest of the nation is over. What have we learned?:
- Favre couldn't get over the fact that the Packers brass didn't keep his seat warm when he wanted to unretire. Coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that he needed 53 guys marching in the same direction, not 52 guys and one hurt superstar.
- Favre's reversal of direction on his retirement wore on everyone, including Packer fans. A lot of good will was lost during the contentious days following Favre demanding his reinstatement, and then saying he wanted to go to Minnesota and play for the Vikings. Think about it, if you quit your job, then wanted it back and had a non-compete clause, would your employer just release you to work for your biggest competitor? Only if you had no value.
- The Packers organization showed a lot of class by keeping their mouths shut during the last couple of days. Favre showed a lot of classlessness by airing his laundry in the media, especially to Chris Mortensen and Peter King. If Favre was looking for a sympathetic judgment in the court of public opinion, he blew it, big time.
- Favre is going to learn quickly that New York is not Green Bay. The media there is not as kind as the media in Wisconsin, nor will the Jets organization protect him like the Packers organization did. He may be very disappointed in what he wished for.
- The trade of Favre to the Jets is similar to that of Kenny Griffey Junior getting traded to the White Sox. An aging superstar has been acquired to help pump up interest in a franchise that gets a lot less media coverage than their in city rival (The Super Bowl Champion Giants.) This move is every bit cosmetic as it is football oriented.
- Favre showed Wisconsin and the world that beneath the "aw shucks, good old boy" image he tries to paint for the public that he is really a spoiled, manipulative, self-centered jerk. This whole debacle was about him, him, him, and his continued desire to show up people he perceived that he thinks don't worship him. His plan backfired when even the fans got tired of it. And believe me, I live in this state. It took an awful lot to do that.
- The Packers will not be as good a team without him, but they will be more of a team.
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