Patrick Mulroy

Well, the calm before the media storm that will be tommorow here in relation to Favre story storm I spent some time looking back over the past few months since his ‘retirement’ just to tie together some previous comments and clues together with the new info we learned to see it a different way.

- April 9th, a report surfaces that Favre tells friend Al Jones (Biloxi Sun-Herald newsman and close friend) filling in for Rodgers would be tempting if the Packers came a knockin’ and that such a scenario would be hard to pass up.

- Thursday, April 24 Favre is a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman.  In response to Letterman asking if he may start feeling something once the annual rites of the season draw near (mini camps, OTA’s, Training Camp) he initially said, not with mini-camps and then the most mentioned quotable, “I think when training camp gets close, I will - something’s bound to happen”.

- Friday, April 25th - right after the Letterman appearance, the Packers make the move to place Brett on the reserve/retired list.

It is fun just to put those dates in perspective now, with 20/20 hindsight and a few now public knowledge behind the scenes pieces.  At the point of the news story of April 9th we only knew Brett had been ’retired’ about a month.  We did not know he had almost unretired shortly after the March announcement but then abruptly decided against unretiring again before the end of March.

It is odd that Favre would make a statment that he would be tempted to come back to the Packers and play if a scenario arose where Rodgers was down and out.  That to me indicated that although he did come to terms with being retired, he would consider coming back if something were to happen.  This wasnt to say, heck ya, Id come back now as a backup..but more or less, I’d come back as the starter if they lost the new main guy.  As in - I know he’s the guy know, but I would naturally be able to fill in as necessary.

As April headed towards the NFL Draft - his appearance on Letterman, a few weeks later he had obviously to me - based on the comments made again changed his mind.  However this time, it almost seems like he was beginning to feel that yeah coming back was going to happen and perhaps not with the Packers.  Without saying much, the grin and the comment about something being bound to happen around training camp - well guess what..something has happened.

Did something occur between April 9 and April 24 that gave him the idea that a comeback with another team was now an option?  He obviously seemed to have accepted the facts that A-Rodg was the new QB and respected it enough to say April 9th - he’d make a good fill in for Aaron.

So why all this stuff now?  If, as some critics suggests that Aaron could very likely get hurt and Brett felt he could step in as the backup at any point quickly - why didnt Brett just wait and see (with reinstatement forms filled out and waiting by the fax machine) and comeback that way given how he said he felt.  Everyone is happy.  Or - try retirement out for a year and inform the team your ready to comeback after they’ve tried Rodgers out for a year?

….

Patrick Mulroy

Couldn’t resist using that title..and can you blame me, this whole thing as serious as it somewhat is - is also somewhat amusing.  More on the whole Favre saga near the bottom.  I don’t want to overshadow, other, real Packers news..soo..

Looking ahead to this weekend - and the 38th Annual Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.  Some great characters coming into the hall, and notable ‘presenters’ as well. 

First off - Gilbert ‘Gravedigger’ Brown.  I remember my first trip to Green Bay and my visit to the Hall of Fame (then located behind the Brown County Veterans Arena.  One of many things that stood out to me that day and are still in my mind was the display of Brown’s bigger than life football shoes!  Without ever seeing much of the guy on TV or in person - the shoes totally made me feel as though this man was a giant.  It wasn’t long after I became a fan of football and looked into the path he carved.  What a time it must have been watching him go - and win the Superbowl in ‘96.  Brown has chosen former Packer Santana Dotson to present him.

Al Treml…a local media guy served the Packers since 1964 and local media outlets have noted various stories over the years.  The guy has literally seen (and captured) it all.  I can only imagine being able to work a dream job for your favourite sports team, in your favourite city, with your favourite sport.  The intriguing thing to me is how back in the day - your abilities and expereinces guided you into what you did.  There wasnt heavy emphasis on other factors which determined your actual lifelong jobs or areas of expertise.  Hard work paid off it seems a tad easier back then as opposed to today - but there is still no substitue for hard work.  Packers QB great Bart Starr is his presenter.

And finally….

Mr. Frankie Winters.  Ah - the only thing of note here now is that Favre is coming to town for the job of presenting him.  How will they do it?  Anyways….what a circus this Saturday is going to be..

OK>>>>>onto the recap and opinion of part 2 of the Fox interview…

Sounds to me basically like Favre is coming back this year.  Good for him.  Not imagined before, but now a reality - there is a definete split among everyone as to the right outcome.

He’s upset - the Packers are upset.  Both sides have there reasons and are sticking to their stories.  Three potential scenario’s exisit - 1) He just stays put in ol’ Miss.  2) Pack welcome him back, Ted and Brett bury the hatchet and A-Rod earns his million on the sidelines again this year (how tough would that be again?) 3) The Pack see no other way to do it but do the unthinkable (at least up until now) and trade Brett Favre…

The circus that is now ‘The Brett Farve Saga’ - comes to Green Bay this Saturday.  I am going to attempt to get a photo or glimpse of the man in the spotlight.  The event is being held in the Lambeau Field Atrium and I expect many to show up in his support or lack of.  Depending on how quickly he gets his ‘reinstatement letter in’ and how quickly the Packers place him on the roster - may determine if a trade in the next week or so happens or not.  Otherwise - this could linger though August and training camp.

At that point - the distraction may begin affecting the team I feel. Right now - the team isnt all around or together here yet.  In fact, there still working on the Packers traning camp accomadations over by where I work - at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI.  Basically for those not familiar with Green Bay and area - there are about 4 towns, villages whathaveyou that are right on each side of Green Bay - yet all connected and within no more than 5-10 mins drive.

Anyways - more on everything as it happens.

Patrick Mulroy

Two follow-ups on previous blogs…

As previously reported, Packers DL Johnny Jolly was recently arrested last Tuesday.  According to court documents, July 22 is the date Jolly gets his day in court.   Jolly, was alleged to be in possession of at least 200 grams of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony when cited in Houston.

Also in follow-up to my Sunday, “The Phone Call” blog, it is reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette that the man behind the mysterious phone call poll recieved througout the area Sunday afternoon was the brainchild of one Thom Serafin (originally from Milwaukee, but now lives in Chicago), a Packers shareholder.  Apparently he was able to poll more than 21,000 of an esitmated 50,000 residents and cost in the nieghbourhood of $10,000.

I’ll let the results made known speak for themselves…(and I can say my wife and I were part of these numbers!)

- Seventy-four percent of those who took the survey said the Packers shouldn’t trade Favre, 17 percent said trade him and 9 percent voted to release him.

- About 33 percent said Favre should be starting quarterback, while 19 percent said use him as a backup. Roughly 15 percent said use him as a player/coach and the rest want to see him stay retired.

- Fifty-four percent said they would feel betrayed if Favre won the Super Bowl with another team, 28 percent said they would not and 18 percent said it makes no difference.

Of the residents who took the survey, 53 percent were female, 47 percent male and 18 percent were Packers’ shareholders.