Last night I was at the HarleyFest and started talking with someone who has intimate knowledge of the situation. I can't say who it is but anyone who listens or watches the packer games knows this person.
He knows (off the record) McCarthy, Favre, and Thompson very well.
When Favre retired in March, Thompson told him then that under no circumstances will he be accepted back. The whole we want you back and will bring you back that happened at the end of March wasn't accurate. Thompson has never waivered on not bringing him back. He wanted hm back up until the retirement announcement.
McCarthy has always wanted him back However he was under strict oders from his boss that under no cicumstances could he come back.
The meeting between Favre and McCarthy was to try and figure a way to bring him back. Finally, Thompson came into the room and said, that's it. no more talking, he is not coming back here. McCarthy was not allowed to come out of that meeting with Favre coming back.
I have always said, and from very personal experience in sports, that what you read and hear in the media is seldom what actually happens.
Thompson was simply tired of Favre waffling the last few years and once he was able to make a clean break, that is what he was going to do.
"Trippster" wrote:
Let's say this information has backbone. This is where I feel it was derived from, based on all the information I have observed and collected through my own personal research.
I believe that Thompson did tell Brett something to the affect "Brett, if you retire, that's it man, theres no coming back, are you sure you want to retire?" I have a difficult time beleiving that Ted would say it in a tone of a threatening manner when he (as everyone else) knows the Packers chances of winning a Super Bowl in 2008 are better under Favre than Rodgers. I'd lean that itwas more to convince Brett to return for another year rather than the wrongfully popular belief that it was to force him to retire.
The un-retirement deal in March, the end of March that is. I feel that was a miscommunication of some sort. I think the Packers took soem of Brett's comments out of context and ran with it. There probably was more communication between say, James Campen and others that informed Brett onto the Packers thinking he was changing his mind so Brett respectfully contacted the Packers to advise them un-retirement was not in the near future.
The notion that Ted wanted a clean break from the waffling is not something to discredit, even players have said it was getting old and tiresome. Players like knowing who their QB is going to be going into the season. That's why many teams try to avoid the QB by competition. It's always best to know your leader and built a rapport with them.
One thing I have a difficult time agreeing with. McCarthy wanted Brett back. I know coaches tend to not tell all the truth, but McCarthy said the Packers were a better team with Brett, true. He also said that Brett was not in the right state of mind to be the QB of the Packers. This is from my own research and opinion, but, I truly believe it was McCarthy who made the decision that the Packers would be better served with Rodgers at QB than Favre under his current state of mind.
Regarding the speculation that McCarthy was not allowed to come out of the meeting with Brett returning. Does this not wreak of stupidity? Why waste the time? Why waste the energy? Why let the fans get their hopes up? If that was the truth, it was extremely stupid on the Packers part. It got the fans hopes up, it got the media kicking things up a gear and it took valuable time from the head coach and his evaluation of his team... for what? To waste Brett's time and everyone elses?
I agree with the statement that what we hear and read from the media is seldom what actually happens. No question about that one. I think I've supported many proofs of that.
edit, another thing I'd like to add to this. Notice how many people still hate Ted Thompson even though his PEERS respect him as the best executive of the year 2008 and he's turned the packers team around in the right direction? Ask yourself, why do so many hate Ted Thompson? I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with Brett Favre.