Full Court Press

Great point, Roman.

Favre is past his prime. He alone cannot carry the Packers to anything better than the 4-12 record they achieved this past season. It's time for Green Bay to go through the growing pains of Aaron Rodgers, much like how Detroit has suffered under Joey Harrington.

But, I think that a greater concern, heading into next season, is the Bears' situation at QB.

I feel that Kyle Orton should be given every opportunity/chance possible in training camp to compete with Rex Grossman for the starting job. Neither one has shown their best football yet, and Rex has never been given a good in-camp competition for the starting job. I think 2006 is the time for Rex to show whether or not he is capable enough of earning the responsibilities of the Bears' starting QB full-time.

I think most Bear fans appreciated Favre when he was killing the Bears for years. Now, it seems, with all of the personal problems within the Favre family, he's been given a free pass by the media considering how horrific he's been over the last few years. By comparison, Emmitt Smith was blasted in the media for hanging around too long (with good reason). I'm not sure which is worse - Favre's annual retirement discussions or his performance on Sundays. For Bear fans, we can only hope he hangs around for a few more years. He make Kyle Orton look good!

Brett Farve sucks...Green Bay sucks....I rather have Rex....

Favre hurts his team just as much as he helps. With his diminished skills, he can't make the plays he used to. Unlike Elway, Favre failed to adapt his playing style to his age. Last year, the Packers scored as many points without Favre, but they might have won more games. He kept them in shootouts, but made critical mistakes in the close ones.

As a Packer fan, I have loved Favre's play and heart fro a long time. While a guy like Grossman can't stay healthy for 6 games, Favre has done it for 15 years. However watching Favre last year was like watching Mickey Mantle his last year. It was depressing. He can no longer go deep.
However I don't understand how you can say he is not in the same league with Elway. Elways had 300 TD pass to almost 400 by Favre, and had a lower qb rating (less than 80).

I don't believe anyone is questioning the Brett Favre legacy or legend, simply that his time has past. Now, as a Bears fan, I want Favre to stay in Green Bay, keep playing, and demand more money (I understand this will not happen) - all things considered I believe it is our time to be the class of the division or if worse comes to worse, a 2 - 14 record while sweeping green bay. I certainly respect Favre as a football player, and honestly, if his career is going to end, I'd think it would be most appropriate if it ended after an Alex Brown/ Oguleye sack.

I'm obviously writing this in the minority opinion but you people are nuts. How can you say Favre's done? How well do you think Seattle would have done with Darrell Jackson gone for the whole year? No MVP running back? For that matter his next two back-ups gone also? Oh, how about losing two of your best offensive guards during the off season? Then throw in a pourous and undersized defense and what do you have? Favre was put in a position he has never been in last year. He was simply trying to do too much with so little. Now if I see a duplicate season this year with Javon Walker and Ahman Green back, then I'll be one of those holding the door on his way out. I don't see that happening though. As much of a competitor he is, there's no way that he leaves with such a sour taste in his mouth and last season fresh on the minds of his ever growing list of critics. Where were all of you when he was beating the Bears all of these years?? Hiding in your den of course. He loses to the Bears one season and now the Bears are dominating him. I don't think so. I can't wait for this season to start.

I just wanted to go on record to state my thoughts on Brett Farve. I am one of the biggest fans of his ever. I have watched him every play of every season since the beginning. I lived in Wisconsin for 10 years. He has not only given that whole state a reason to live and something to hope for, but he has been influential in my life too. He is a true champion with the heart of a lion. I must admit though that I think he is at the end of his rope. In his defense, it makes it hard for him when the Packers defense is so bad. Farve is forced to get them into the endzone on every play just to keep them in the contest. The management as a whole has nearly destroyed the organization. Bad player personel and coaching decisions, I fear will lead them to a future that resembles the glory days of the early eightys. Farve is in my opinion one of the top three greatest QB to ever hook a chinstrap. I would put Montana first and Elway second...only for the rings. Since Marino is ringless, yet full of stats, I would put him one step behind Farve. As for Brady, he is a luck punk that was in the right place at the right time. His legacy will be short lived and he will be sacking groceries at the local Walmart within five years. Farve, is and always will be, "the man"...he has proven time again that he will never give up. But I fear that this time...he needs to pass the torch to someone else. God, help us if it is Aaron Rodgers...he looks like a scared little boy right before his first pony ride. Thanks for the post!

I have to count to ten ( thousand) and then I will speak my mind. Favre sets himself apart from most of today's NFL players, including rookies, who whine and cry for more money when they can't even play with a broken finger or before they are even on the team for Christ's sake. How many times has Brett put his team ahead and sucked up his injuries to finish a game? He plays with his heart and that isn't something you find often. He is more of a role model for younger athletes than most professional athletes today. He holds himself accountable for the losses just as much as the wins. He has overcome many obstacles on and off the field with more class than any player out there. So for all of you, who criticize his decision, find any player out there today who compares to him and I doubt you will be able to come up with anyone. He loves the game for what it is and his humility speaks for itself-he said himself when he leaves "...there will still be football in Green Bay, and they will have another quarterback...it will go on, just as life goes on..."
Find something more worthwhile to criticize than picking apart one the greatest quarterbacks of all time...And for all you ( Bear fans ) who would rather have Rex Grossman- like the saying goes " one swallow does not make a summer.." So beat Favre twice this season and then MAYBE your point will be well taken.

This is a ridiculous conversation.

Favre has great physical skills, and they remain intact. And his wits have improved. He has always been on the edge of sanity, and in common with Jim McMahon, who--does anyone recall???--retired as a Packer, that seems to be an advantage in this wildest of team games.

But he works for a coach and general manager who is trying to "build a team" on a budget, and who has released more solid veterans than most NFL teams have on their entire rosters, including most of what was once an excellent offensive line, the team's best receiver, and certain key support personnel.

If Favre has a "fault", it is that he loves to play the game. That his superiors are cheapskates who do not understand that victory involves talent and payroll is outside his venue. He just wants to have fun.

Frankly, I don't agree with his decision. Dealing with the same cost-cutting cretins, I'd value my health and avoid dealing with simpleton executive
types, greedy to save a buck and impress some s.o.b. who doesn't matter anyway.

Green Bay's problems are not DUE to Favre. They're squarely at the front door of the tightwad slimebuckets who apparently have no idea what it takes to win in the NFL. Maybe these
scumbags should try
tiddly-winks.

But Favre? Sorry, pal,
he's in the mould of Bobby
Layne and Jim McMahon, and if the Bears had rights to him a decade ago or so, they'd have several more Lombardi trophies to brag about.

By the way, anyone
notice that is not the
Ditka or Halas trophy??

Why do you suppose that
is???

8-8. keep up the negative press. we'll see what happens this year.

Roman responds: He'll break more records. That's all that matters, right?

I guess all you Brett haters are wrong. He threw to passes right on the money in the Monday night game. Roman, whats the Packers record this year? Hmm, let me think, oh thats right 7-1. Whats the Bears record this year, not 7-1 not even 6-2, and where is GROSSman? Oh wait a minute, he's sitting on the bench where he belongs.

Bwahh hah hah hah.

Wow, was this story written by a 2nd grader? What kind of reporter are you? You can keep Rex Grossman, i'll stick with Favre you fool.

Wow Roman, you must really feel like an idiot now.

Roman responds: Yep, he proved me wrong. That's for reminding me. I'm going to repost it now.

LMAO..."I'd Rather Have Rex Grossman"...than what?...AIDS? Herpes? Henry Burris?

Wow...and you posted this after the AZ and Miami games??...I see you were beer-bonging the kool-ade last Christmas

Roman responds: Favre threw 29 picks! It's easy to laugh in retrospect.

Roman that is nothing to be ashamed of. You went with your gut. You are right more often than not. Farve is the man, but it would take a combination of Cowboys and Packers to even compete with the Patriots.

Hasn't the "I told you so" sports statue of limitations run out on this?

How about this; Grossman will probably be a Packer next year, and kill the Bears for the next ten years. Ten years from now, Roman might be right about ole Rex after all. So is he even wrong now, if he is going to be right in the future?

Nah Roman...sorry bro..Rex was exposed against AZ and confirmed against Miami

Sweeney, you poured the KoolAde in Romans funnel, didn't you?...
Grossman beat out Aaron Rodgers?...umm, no....Rex will never start another NFL game outside of the starter getting hurt...or dabears, lol

Now, Kyle Orton getting cut and ending up in Minnesota is something that could happen...not as much because of Stanton...but Detroit, too

Romeoville-

Wouldn't feel too bad about your call on Favre. Last year he lacked a solid offensive line, decent running backs and good receivers (Driver and Lee are exceptions). This year, everything has come together.

Favre, like Brady, relies on his receivers to make plays. He often throws balls that anticipate his receivers making route adjustments. This year they have. Last year, with less experienced receivers, they didn't, and those passes got picked off.

In addition, Favre has McCarthy calling plays. He seems to understand how to set up defenses and take advantage of mismatches. We don't have that capacity in our offensive play calling. Of course, we don't have a Favre, either. And, no, Wrecks is not Favre -- not even a shadow of Favre.

Romo - you should take up another line of work. What kind of reporter/columnist actually admits he was wrong???!!!

Did Jay lecture you on this yet? Never admit you were wrong...just change the circumstance on why you weren't exactly right...or better yet, change your mind and never acknowledge you did.

Romo - you should take up another line of work. What kind of reporter/columnist actually admits he was wrong???!!!

Did Jay lecture you on this yet? Never admit you were wrong...just change the circumstance on why you weren't exactly right...or better yet, change your mind and never acknowledge you did.

Sure Favre is overrated-certainly not this season. When he was young, he had better nerves and more quickness, but he still threw picks. Their QB situation is very similar to ours. Favre isn't going straight down yet; he's still got some fight left in him. Green Bay shouldn't cut Bret unless they've got a slam dunk like Mcnabb waiting in the wings. If not, more than likely they will end up with 100 Jonathan Quinn clones.

I don't remember ever seeing a QB as good as brady. At times, maybe Hasselbeck.

Tommy sez: "Romo - you should take up another line of work. What kind of reporter/columnist actually admits he was wrong???!!!

Did Jay lecture you on this yet? Never admit you were wrong...just change the circumstance on why you weren't exactly right...or better yet, change your mind and never acknowledge you did."
_________________________________________________

That's "Wind Sock Mariotti's" modus operandi in a nutshell.

If you want a band wagon jumper who wets his finger and sticks it up in the air every day before writing his column, Jay's your man.

I sincerely hope that someone in his family likes him, because I've yet to speak to anyone else who does.

Wow, Roman - this is so unlike you! Funny, too because I just commented in a different thread yesterday that your predictions are almost always wrong. As a matter of fact, I can't think of one Bears quarterback I would've rather had instead of Brett Favre during his entire 17-year-career, let alone Rex Grossman. I'll take Favre and his 29 interceptions over the debacle we've had here any day. I just can't figure out why you actually bothered to repost it. To stir up the debate again because there is no Super Bowl buzz this year? Nah, can't be that - that's too easy now. Did you lose a bet or something?

I'd take one year with McMahon over 100 years with Favre!!!

and...I love how no-one cares about his pain pill...and whatever else he was poppin pills to beat the pain and get an advantage over the other QB's? Someone tell me that Pain Pills and Lanocane and Iocane shots are less cheating than Steriods...i know someone will.

The only rivalry worse than the Michigan vs. Ohio St. rivalry has to be Bears vs. Packers.

Hey...worst Bears Packers memory.....

I was at U of Wisc Parkside mid 90's and I remember the Bears got beat 37-6 andI had the ONLY Bears Jersey on and we watched the game in a Wrestlers basement with 50 packer fan wisconsin cheesehead college wrestlers....who made it so painful for me...i will never forget it....and I will never forgive Packerdom ....EVER!!!!!!!!!!

Roman, you get props for being man enough to re-run this.

An inability to laugh at oneself leads to very dangerous consequences - one grows up up to be an insufferable condescending legend in their own mind jackass.... like Jay Mariotti, for e.g.

I used to hate the Packers in the Ditka Bear days and immediately thereafter..

and still don't particularly care for them.

But if someone is not a Brett Favre fan, they are not a football fan.

the man embodies everything about football that I love, and as a guy his age, I love how he retains a kid's love of the game even after all these years.

Always signs autographs.. with a smile.

I reject athletes as "role models", but if we must, can't get a better one than Brett Favre

Roman responds: It's not that I'm not a fan, it's just that I thought he became more concerned with stats and records than wins and losses. Even early this season, they had a fourth-and-one or fourth-and-goal and it was an obvious running down, but he threw an incompletion. It was right before he set the record for most TDs. He set it later that game, in overtime, for the game-winner. So whatever, I question him no longer.

culzie:

"i will never forget it....and I will never forgive Packerdom ....EVER!!!!!!!!!!"

Don't get mad, get even. This guys are wrestlers-You could've put some Icy/Hot in their jock straps.

I Love it.

Listen he's a Packer. Hell of a football player for sure but again, he's a Packer, how can you like anything about them?

Why that would be akin to liking anything about the Sox.

I dont think wrestlers wear jocks...wouldnt fit under the Tights they wear...

"you wear tights?"

"no..i wear the standard wrestling uniform"

"tights!"

Gotta admit I'm a Favre fan even though I despise the Packers. It's hard to dispute the fact Brett threw early and often at the start of the season, a clear sign of EVERYONE involved at 'Cheesedoms' intentions, records. But, for the record, competitive juices, along with the superstar ego that, forbids you to NEVER be less and ALWAYS better than the man behind you, leads me to believe he would have been back if every record were out of reach. The tail end of last season gave him every bit of hope, and rightfully so. Besides, how can anyone dispute the results. The man still makes all the same dumb plays he's done since day one, but he gets rid of the ball as fast as anyone in the game, makes enough good decisions to win games instead of losing them, and has a very good supporting cast (coaches included). If they make it to the N.F.C. Championship game, or even the Super Bowl, he's back next year. Get another blog ready for '08!

Roman, I don't know Favre enough to offer an informed opinion on whether he cares more about stats than winning/losing.

I'm not sure most sportswriters could offer an informed opinion on this, after all, I don't think he's like some basketball players who are known for keeping studious attention to their game stats as well as season stats.

Favre has always been known for being perhaps a bit too "reckless", which would mean throwing when running would've been better or trying to throw a pass most smart QB's wouldn't attempt.

But that's always been a part of his charm, if you will, you take the bad with the good. If you want a "Terminator" like QB, then Brady is surely a better bet.

(besides, at times one can't help but think there is a little bit of "magic" about Favre.. remember the MNF game after his father's death? I remember watching it, and TWO of those long TD bombs were wild tosses that should have been intercepted, but "magically" the defenders either mistimed, misjudged or knocked themselves out of the way.. and a "legend" was born)

but do you think Favre's lobbying for Randy Moss was merely a desire to better his stats, or a recognition that the team needed help at the skill positions? (Jennings had yet to develop and no one knew about Grant).

do you think his boying jumping around after a big play or a td, is merely a way of patting himself on his back, or happiness that the team is doing well? Surely if you're a major part of the team's success, then you have to be happy for yourself as well - but a pure selfishness charge is a pretty big accusation.

One which I am not ready to accept when it comes to Favre. Party because I don't want to, and mostly because I don't see any particular proof and as I mention before, at his position, there is a major and direct correlation between his "stats" and how the team does. He's the main cog.

btw.. speaking of your other blog - looking for players for the Bears to draft - resign Rex to an incentive laden deal, keep Greasy, but please draft some offensive linemen. (and a RUNNING BACK!)

Roman responds: Hey Bogey, c'mon, keep it clean. You're too good of a poster for me to ban. (Every time I use that word, I feel like Joe in that Seinfeld episode when he bans Kramer and Jerry from his fruit stand. Great episode.)

"I have such a deep admiration for guys that roll around on the floor with other guys!"

sorry Roman, I must be getting very very old (it's all downhill and rapidly after 40, trust me)

but I don't remember swearing while writing that piece.. or did something slip out when writing about need for some linemen and a rb?

Hey Bogey, Roman already knows the other side of 40. You old farts!

BAN UM!!!

your guy are all dumb
Brett Favre is still one of the top QB i n the NFl

GO PACK!!!!