He doesn't back down when it comes to Rosenhaus, Walker
Monday was about giving and charity. It was also a great day for golf in these rapidly dwindling days of freedom before training camp.
So it looks as if agent Drew Rosenhaus will have to keep waiting by his phone.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre doesn't regret the things he has said about the potential holdouts of his teammates, and he didn't back down Monday during his first appearance at the charity U.S. Bank Championship pro-am at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
Favre has said he wants receiver Javon Walker to honor his contract and report to camp late next week. Rosenhaus, who represents Walker amid his threatened holdout, has taken issue with Favre's opinion.
The first was back in May.
"Favre himself has had his own contract disputes. And I'm surprised he's not sympathetic and supportive," Rosenhaus said.
And just last week, Rosenhaus said Favre should call him now that Grady Jackson, another of his clients, is also threatening a holdout for more money.
"I think there are a lot of things (Favre) doesn't know about our situation," Rosenhaus said. "There are a lot of things he needs to know."
Monday, between the 14th and 15th holes, Favre's response wasn't spiteful and his tone wasn't snide, but he wouldn't waffle, either.
"I haven't called him yet. I don't think he'll answer my calls," Favre said. "Set me straight on what? I've played 14 straight years. I have not held out one time. He has nothing to say to me."
The ugly business developments have felt somewhat personal for Favre. After playing in Green Bay for 13 seasons, he decided to come back for a 14th for a chance to win, and not for the off-the field soap operas that have developed this off-season.
"I've invested a lot of time, and ups and downs with this team," Favre said. "Green Bay is home to me. I've been to the top. We won a Super Bowl. We've lost one. I've seen it done right. And the years that we've been successful and have been competitive were the years we didn't have the problems like we're having.
"I don't know what's going to happen this year. I hope Javon comes back. I hope he comes to his senses. I know he's a good guy; he's a great player. He's still got a lot left to give to this game, to give to the Green Bay Packers. But you can't do it that way.
"Some people would agree with me, some people won't. And that's fine. But I know we need him, and I know he's under contract, and to me that means he should be here."
Aside from those comments, the day was strictly about golf and the proceeds raised for charity. Favre played 18 holes in a fivesome that included pro Bob Estes. Gary Grunau, Roy Reiman and Ned Timarac all bid $7,500 each in a special auction to benefit the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund. Even Favre's caddie, Jason Abraham, donated $3,600 for the honor to haul Favre's bag.
Favre joked that he wouldn't pay $50 to play with him after a couple of bogeys, but the reality is he did all right for a guy who has barely played lately. His drives were outstanding, some 360 yards or more. He also made par a few times and hit tricky shots on others. His line drive power shots through tree branches, long terrain and bunkers to get back onto the fairway or onto the green were impressive. In fact, his best shots seemed to come from more challenging situations, not at all unlike the way he plays football.
"I'm doing OK. Having fun. As I said a couple times, I'm not out here trying to win the Masters. If I'm putting for six, I'm picking up," Favre said with a laugh.
A gallery of several hundred people followed Favre on a hot, windy day. He signed autographs for his playing partners. He also shook hands with Adam Spenner of Germantown, a well-known fixture in golf circles because he can always be found at the 15th hole. Spenner was born with a brain stem tumor and his mother, Linda, said he was given six months to live when he was 3 years old. Adam turned 21 last November and looked thrilled in his wheelchair to take in the golf and watch Favre play, and that meant a lot to Favre.
"It does. I have two girls myself, one who just turned 6, and I see things through their eyes," Favre said. "As we get older, you forget what it's like to be a kid. Having kids myself, it makes you go back and I know how much that means to them."
Today, Favre will be back for more, joined by teammates Ryan Longwell and Mark Tauscher and the quarterback he replaced in 1992, Don Majkowski, in a charity shoot-out. It begins at 3 p.m. and takes place on Holes 1 and 5 through 9. Other pros expected to attend include J.P. Hayes, Skip Kendall, Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker, but Favre expects a little competitive fire from the football guys, too.
"Longwell plays every day. Of course he's a kicker, and kickers have nothing else to do but play golf," Favre joked. "It'll be interesting to see how 'Majik' plays. I know how Tauscher plays. I've played with Tauscher at 340 pounds, 330 pounds, whatever. He's pretty good. He can play softball and he can play basketball. He's not a bad golfer. You wouldn't expect him to be able to hit it straight but he's pretty good. So we'll have some fun."
Lori Nickel  wrote: