Bye Bye Brett - ESPN

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The bond between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers appears to be broken beyond repair.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday evening that after approximately six hours of what he called "brutally honest" conversations with Favre over the past two days, the three-time MVP just isn't in the right mind-set to be part of the team.

Even with the chance to win his starting job back potentially on the table, McCarthy said Favre couldn't seem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensions mounted in recent weeks.

"The football team's moving forward," McCarthy said. "The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want. He needs to jump on the train and let's go. Or, if we can't get past things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving."

McCarthy said he and Favre made plans to speak later Tuesday evening, but McCarthy didn't seem to allow for the possibility that anything significant would change.


Brett Favre 2008 Timeline

The Brett Favre saga in Green Bay might be nearing a conclusion after the un-retired quarterback said he and the team might be better off without each other. A look at how the story has unfolded:


Aug. 5: Left practice facility in the afternoon ... did not practice with the team ... met with Packers officials to discuss trade options ... tells ESPN's Chris Mortensen "the best thing for this team is for us to part ways" ... considers talking to the Buccaneers about a possible trade.

Aug. 4: Favre reports to training camp and is added to active roster after passing physical

Aug. 3: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates Favre

July 31: Favre offered $25 million to not report to camp

July 30: Meets with Packers president Mark Murphy in Mississippi

July 29: Faxes reinstatement request to NFL

July 25: Favre tells Packers he plans to report to training camp

July 19: Returns to Lambeau Field to attend Packers Hall of Fame ceremony

July 16: Packers file tampering charges with NFL against Vikings

July 11: Packers receive letter from Favre formally requesting release

July 8: Favre asks for release with understanding he won't be starter

July 6: Sends text message to Packers GM Ted Thompson

July 2: Favre says reports of return were "all rumor"

June 20: Favre tells coach Mike McCarthy he may want to play again

April 9: Says he might consider comeback if opportunity was presented

April 4: Agent reportedly contacts teams to gauge trade interest

April 3: Denies rumors of a comeback

March 6: Favre conducts retirement news conference

Jan. 20: Packers lose NFC Championship Game to the Giants in OT
-- Compiled by ESPN Research
Favre seemed resigned to a future elsewhere, telling ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Tuesday morning that the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways."

Favre said the team once again rejected his request to talk to teams about a trade within the NFC North -- preferably to the Minnesota Vikings or possibly the Chicago Bears.

The Packers have attempted to work out a trade outside the division, with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported as likely suitors, but to no avail. A source told Mortensen that Favre is receptive to talking to the Buccaneers, an NFC South team, about a possible trade there.

McCarthy wouldn't address trade talks, but did say a quick resolution to the situation is important to the rest of his players.

"Absolutely," McCarthy said. "The players, they want it resolved. Even talk to Brett about it -- he feels bad about it. It's time for them to talk about somebody else."

Favre left Lambeau Field just before Packers practice Tuesday afternoon, taking a right turn out of the stadium's back gate and heading away from the field where the rest of his teammates were assembling for drills.

Favre emerged from the stadium's loading dock exit at 2:34 p.m. ET Tuesday, hugging Packers senior security advisor Jerry Parins before getting in his SUV and driving away. Shortly after, an SUV driven by Packers general manager Ted Thompson left the gate heading in the same direction.

"We're at a stalemate," Favre told Mortensen. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner reinstated me, so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."

McCarthy said Favre was excused from practice Tuesday, adding that he wouldn't have practiced with the team anyway because of an abdominal strain found in his physical examination Monday. McCarthy did not say whether Favre would be fined if he stayed away from camp starting Wednesday.

Favre told Mortensen he doesn't have a problem with competing with Rodgers for the starting job, and can "truly understand" why McCarthy would make Rodgers the starter. But Favre also said a competition "probably isn't going to work" and that "the problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it."

Did Favre not feel wanted or welcome enough by the Packers?

"That's part of the issue with him, quite frankly," McCarthy said. "And listening to him talk about that, you respect his opinion. And frankly, I told him, I said, 'I'll take responsibility because I have a voice in the building.' I never thought he truly was going to play. I thought he was emotionally driven for other reasons."

McCarthy said Favre was "very convincing" in their conversations about his desire to play Monday night and Tuesday. But McCarthy still seemed to have reservations about Favre's commitment to preparation.

Would Favre continue to stay at Lambeau late at night to study film, a major factor in his success last season?

"That was a very good question for him," McCarthy said. "He's in a tough spot right now."

McCarthy also didn't seem convinced that Favre was thinking clearly about his future.


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Mike McCarthy doesn't believe that Brett Favre is in the right mindset to play for the Packers.

"He has a lot going through his head, and I think he's emotional," McCarthy said. "And just talking to him, he's in a tough spot."

So, of course, are McCarthy and Thompson. Correctly or not, they might end up being seen by fans as the men who drove Favre out of Green Bay.

"That's not a good feeling, but I don't view it that way," McCarthy said. "I can only trust the truth. I've been part of a lot of conversations, and I don't feel that's the case."

Favre is a part of the team's 80-man roster but is officially on the Packers' non-football injury list, which means he could be activated at any time.

Rodgers, meanwhile, stuck to his mantra of not worrying about things he can't control.

"I just know we were out at practice today, and he wasn't there, and I'm the starter," Rodgers said. "So that's where we're going right now."

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday's practice, Rodgers stood just a few feet away from a locker with a "FAVRE" nameplate above it, stocked with shoulder pads and other equipment. It hadn't been used -- and now might never be.

Cornerback Charles Woodson had a hard time imagining the Packers trading such an iconic player.

"Everything went kind of sour a few weeks or a month back, but you never felt like it would get to the point or to the talks of him actually being traded," Woodson said. "I felt once he stepped back in here, he would be the quarterback. Him not being here today, I guess management has a different route. So at that point, we've got to go out and do our job."

yea i heard this morning that it is a good possibility that he will be traded to the buccs

packers management said favre doesn't have the capability to win another championship.

they must have been only looking at the last quarter of the nfc championship game

Reynolds, how long do you think your idol can honestly keep producing??

Mr. Reynolds wrote:packers management said favre doesn't have the capability to win another championship.

they must have been only looking at the last quarter of the nfc championship game

or the last 12 years...lol

pretty much until he stops producing.

i don't believe that we would have made it to the NFC championship game last year with rodgers at QB

[quote="Mr. Reynolds"]pretty much until he stops producing.

i don't believe that we would have made it to the NFC championship game last year with rodgers at QB[/quote

I respectfully disagree.]

you actually think we would have made it to the NFC championship last season with rodgers taking us there. wow that some b.s.

since were better this year, lets see if we can make to the NFC championship game. then i'll shut up, but we aren't going to make playoffs. possibly 9-7 but that's it

enough with the personal attacks and the homo comments, it gets old.

drago wrote:enough with the personal attacks and the homo comments, it gets old.

well dude! look at what he posted. no way would we have gone to the NFC championship game with rodgers last year

calling him a ****ing idiot doesn't prove your point. it just pisses people off and makes you look like a fool.

that's like as bad as saying NYG are winning the superbowl....

do u thinkwe would have? done that good with rodgers

Easy, people. Reynolds, I can't back up my thoughts until the end of this season (barring any massive changes). It's a gut feeling, nothing more.

NFC championship game is a gut feeling?? more like a miracle

Giants, dude. That's all I have to say.

those giants beat the almighty patriots in the superbowl. how could you say giants, dude. that's all i have to say.

That's what I'm saying! Who would've given the Giants any chance all throughout the season before the last 4 games? Hell, even in the playoffs??

not the packers, we whomped on there faces the 3rd game of the season

Yep....just to lose to them when it counted.

yea that was the teams fault.....

Mr. Reynolds wrote:yea that was the teams fault.....

teams fault when they lose.
brett's great play when they win.

yeah you're not a homer at all.

drago wrote:

Mr. Reynolds wrote:yea that was the teams fault.....

teams fault when they lose.
brett's great play when they win.

yeah you're not a homer at all.

what?


it is the teams fault when they lose and win, just not the denver game when he threw the TD i the first 5 seconds of OT

why was that denver game even close? Denver is terrible, it should have never gone to OT or even been close.

yea your right are defense sucked balls. favre had like a 156.8 rating (nearly perfect). not his fault. the pack just suck sometimes justl ike in the NYG game

tough to have a good QB rating against the 25th rated pass defense and zero pass rush. Everyone lit up the broncos last year.

25th pass defense, your so confusing. some threads you say like ohh the broncos Pass D is jesus. they have dre bly and champ bailey. two of the best DB's.

Mr. Reynolds wrote:25th pass defense, your so confusing. some threads you say like ohh the broncos Pass D is jesus. they have dre bly and champ bailey. two of the best DB's.

not this again...

yes their DB's are probably the two best in the NFL. Their pass defense still ranked near the bottom because they had zero pass rush. Same thing happened to the vikings over the last couple years, good corners, no pass rush. Now they have Jared Allen and you'll see their pass defense get much better.

It's not a tough concept.

dude most teams are like that. they have either or, not both. just like most team have a better run game than passing. you are just naming flaws in a team.

why don't you put in there ohh their DBs were both recovering from an injury as well as their pass rush sucks. oh and by the way their MLB sucks as well which couldn't cover GBs TE.

Mr. Reynolds wrote:dude most teams are like that. they have either or, not both. just like most team have a better run game than passing. you are just naming flaws in a team.

why don't you put in there ohh their DBs were both recovering from an injury as well as their pass rush sucks. oh and by the way their MLB sucks as well which couldn't cover GBs TE.

lol, now your fighting on my side of the fence. The broncos defense was terrible and you are pointing out this miricle game favre had. Most of those QB points were earned with his first pass in overtime...you don't think an 80 yard TD pass helps a QB rating? You know who is second all time in QB rating for a season? Chad Pennington. I'm sorry, but Chad not only sucks, but he should be playing for the candian league.

So what is your point?

My point is, you can have good DB's and a bad pass rush which will always give you a terrible pass defense. If you have great d-line with decent to good corners and you'll have a good to great pass defense (see the 07 giants).

Again, what is your point?

my point is that all teams have flaws, you just named one that the broncos had just to make it look like favre sucks and always will suck, and that he didn't play a good game with his 3-0 TD ratio and 286 yards. your right favre just sucks balls and rodgers would have put up 5-0 Td ratio with 400 yards in that game.

your just a favre hatter

hater**

Mr. Reynolds wrote:my point is that all teams have flaws, you just named one that the broncos had just to make it look like favre sucks and always will suck, and that he didn't play a good game with his 3-0 TD ratio and 286 yards. your right favre just sucks balls and rodgers would have put up 5-0 Td ratio with 400 yards in that game.

your just a favre hatter

LOL I have said countless times that favre is good if not great against terrible teams! lol

He just sucks against the good ones.

Intiendes?

he doesn't suck against good teams. that is too vague. the NYG weren't a good team until their last 4 games.

favre has beatin good teams even great teams.

Mr. Reynolds wrote:he doesn't suck against good teams. that is too vague. the NYG weren't a good team until their last 4 games.

favre has beatin good teams even great teams.

a great team huh? which one? I must have missed that season.

every season. every team is a good team

even the jets!!

Mr. Reynolds wrote:my point is that all teams have flaws, you just named one that the broncos had just to make it look like favre sucks and always will suck, and that he didn't play a good game with his 3-0 TD ratio and 286 yards. your right favre just sucks balls and rodgers would have put up 5-0 Td ratio with 400 yards in that game.

your just a favre hatter

That's a classic disregard to basic reading comrehension. No one on here has said Rodgers will "light it up". All we are saying is Favre is well past his prime and it is time for him to move on.

Yes, despite his 4,000 yards last year.

and his 96 rating

Mr. Reynolds wrote:and his 96 rating

Pennington had a QB rating of 105 for an entire season. Do you think he is as good as Brett Favre?

pennington probably played 1 games that season

he was decent until he turned 30 right drago!! ah

Mr. Reynolds wrote:pennington probably played 1 games that season

he was decent until he turned 30 right drago!! ah

He played 12 games.