In this episode we take a look at the NFC North.  We give our predictions as to who will finish where and we spend a good deal of time bashing discussing the quarterbacks within this division and of course there are the obligatory shots at Brett Favre.

Hosts: Kevin, Ryan, Rich

 

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I think that somewhat lost in this entire Brett Favre debacle has been poor Aaron Rodgers.  I say somewhat lost because of course the media is still ramming it down his throat that he has to replace a living legend and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.  But it isn’t the pressure that would bother me if I was Aaron Rodgers, it’s the simple fact that the organization has treated him like crap throughout this whole mess.

If I were in that position I would be in the frontoffice demanding a trade and telling them that I wasn’t showing up to training camp anymore until I was traded.  The organization turned their back on Rodgers and stabbed him in the back, there is no reason he shouldn’t do the same now.  I understand he has the starting job in Green Bay, the same job he supposedly had locked up when Brett Favre retired.  Then what happened? Favre said he wanted to come back and the Packers reassured Rodgers the job was still his, when it appeared Favre wouldn’t relent the organization turned to Rodgers and basically said “Okay you’re not the starter anymore, now you have to compete with Brett freaking Favre to become the starter, good luck!”

To me that is a move that no organization should make, and if I were in an organization and they did that to me, it would be time to walk away.  Clearly the promises that the organization makes you aren’t worth jack shit to them.  Rodgers had to be wondering why the Packers were asking for Brian Griese from the Buccaneers.  Did they not trust Rodgers?  Is that why they were going to let Favre have an open competition?  And if it was going to be an open competition with Favre why shouldn’t it have been the same with Griese or second round draft pick Brian Brohm?

What the organization has done to Rodgers is unfair in every sense of the word, and it is to his credit that he is a big enough man to put it behind him and play for the Packers. I know that level of disrespect and lying is soething I couldn’t take.  How can he possibly trust his organization anymore?  Apparently Rodgers can, but I’m pretty sure any lesser man probably wouldn’t be able to.

Leave it to Deadspin to find a gem like this one, a great video with dubbed subtitles about Favre’s return to Green Bay. The movie clip is originally from a German movie, Downfall, but has been parodied several other times about pointless topics such as Warcraft and Hitler’s car being stolen. The subtitles, though a bit fast, are redeemed by their hilarity. Enjoy.

Obligatory warning: the subtitles are slightly vulgar

Congrats, Green Bay, you got your boy back.  The Packers have completely gone back on all promises they made to Aaron Rodgers and have welcomed Brett Favre back to Packers camp.  Favre will now have the chance to compete for the starting job even though the four letter network and most of America has already given Favre the job.  This is the straw that broke the Cal Bear’s back.

I’ll quote Walter Sobchak from the Big Lebowski when he said “Life does not start and stop at your convenience you miserable piece of s**t.”  Brett Favre is unbelievable.  His indecisiveness and demand for attention is unparalleled.  And now that he’s whined and cried his way back into the fold with the Packers, Aaron Rodgers is once again finding himself holding the clipboard.  Everyone is talking about Favre needing this job because Favre will lead this team back to the NFC Championship game.  Why are we talking about the NFC Championship game?  The goal needs to be to win a Super Bowl.  Do we really believe this Packers team can win a Super Bowl?  Do we think this Packers team, even with Favre, can beat the Patriots or the Colts or the Chargers or even the Cowboys to get there?  If we do, we’ve been huffing too much spray paint.

Giving Favre this job has damned this Packers team.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Aaron Rodgers has been told lie after lie after lie.  He’s not resigning with this team, he’s moving on.  Brett Favre will finally stop lying to us and actually retire after this year and Rodgers will be on his way out of Green Bay because the Packers wasted five years of his life.  Granted, the past three years Rodgers hasn’t had much of an option.  But this was supposed to be his year.  This was supposed to be the year of Aaron Rodgers and, even though they might have taken a step back in the short term, they would take three steps forward with Rodgers becoming the franchise quarterback.  Instead, the Rodgers era has ended before it even started.

This whole situation sucks and frankly I’m tired of hearing about it and tired of getting so pissed off at ESPN’s 24 hour coverage that I have to write about it.  Can it be September 7th yet?

A few months ago the Green Bay Packers said that Monday September 8th would be Brett Favre Day. A heart-warming ceremony would take place before the Packers hosted the Vikings in the first Monday Night Football game of the season. The Packers organization also said that Favre’s jersey would be retired that same night. Funny thing is, Favre will now play in the game as long as he outduels Aaron Rodgers in training camp. Wow, seems like a tough obstacle for Favre to overcome.

According to the lovely Wendi Nix, the Packers have accepted Brett Favre back to the team after Commissioner Goodell approved him for reinstatement. Barring the Madden Curse any major setbacks, it seems Favre will be able to run through that tunnel on a beautiful Wisconsin night.

I’ll admit it, I am a huge Brett Favre fan. Sure, he whooped my 49ers a few times in the NFC Playoffs in year’s past, but I honestly love the walking/talking storybook that is Brett Favre. Did he hold the Packers under siege? Of course, there is no denying that. Was there a better way to handle the situation ? Yes. But when it all comes down to it, we need to look at one simple question: Can the Packers win right now under Aaron Rodgers?

Favre hands-down gives them the best chance to get back to the NFC Championship game. Why he retired in the first place still remains an equation that even Albert Einstein can’t solve. But guess what? It’s over now. Favre is back and he is going to be ready to lead the Packers come week one. A lot of people out there wanted Rodgers to take over, but who says the quaterback out of Cal is ready right now? And I know what your thinking out there too. Who says Brett Favre won’t go back to his ways of two years ago when he led the league in picks? It’s a no-win situation for people who want to sit here and predict what will happen. Whatever happens will happen. We’ll pick up that conversation when either Favre throws his first interception or when he leads his team back to the NFC Championship.

All in all, I’m glad this whole debacle is over with. Now the pressure falls strictly on Favre to go out there on the field and perform. If he doesn’t then I point the finger at #4 himself, not the Packers. He wanted to come back, so his wish was granted. He earned it folks, now let’s see if he can go out there and back himself up. See you September 8th!