Packers Need a Plan For Favre

It is hard to believe there are people around Wisconsin whom still hate Brett Favre. It is hard to believe there are people whom still love Brett Favre like a son they never had. He is an enigma in the State of Wisconsin. There is no doubt in my mind if Favre ended his career in 2008, there would be statue somewhere near Lambeau Field already plus he would have his number retired without any question. Right now, Green Bay and Favre are in a holding pattern to when he will return to Lambeau Field. There are some simpler solutions than a whole jersey retirement right away.

Any game featuring Favre involved will be a huge deal. No one will be talking about the game. Aaron Rodgers could be on a streak where he had six consecutive games with 300 yards or more with three touchdowns per game at MVP-like level yet all of the attention would be on Favre.  Green Bay could be undefeated midway through the season yet all eyes would be on Favre. Fans wearing his jersey (PS if you still think it is not okay to wear his jersey, you are the Packers fans I don't like to associate with tbh) and it would be the top headline in the National Football League. That's how big of a deal it would be to have Favre back in Green Bay getting his jersey retired. This is why the first time back in Lambeau needs to be complete surprise and then have the ceremony in the following year.

The element of surprise could be a beautiful thing for both sides of the aisle. Imagine a game against Chicago or Detroit at Lambeau where the FOX, NBC or ESPN cameras pan to the field seeing Rodgers and Favre chatting it up before the game. Social media explodes, it becomes a must-watch game all of the sudden and yes, the attention goes to Favre yet in a much smaller time frame meaning it will not be as much as a distraction. Everybody goes nuts and it becomes a different game on the schedule. Favre probably does a little television with either any of the networks talking about his time with Green Bay. Everybody would be fully into it and start building the bridge back between Favre and the Packers.

If they went with this strategy, the Favre jersey game would not be the biggest thing of the NFL season for a likely playoff contender and probable Super Bowl contender. It still would be a massive game with tickets prices being in the thousands. But this might take things down a notch slightly. It would probably also mean no one is booing him. Although the fact people are even worried about Favre getting booed at the place where he reigned supreme in the 90's and most of 2000's is utterly ridiculous.  If Favre gets booed, it would be by the one percent of the fanbase and also the same people in their 30's whom still think their high school rivalry is worth a damn.

Whether they go with a jersey retirement ceremony this year, a surprise visit or two or nothing at all. It will happen at some point with Green Bay embracing one of their golden children with open arms.

Charlie.

Quick Tap Podcast Episode Eleven

Quick Tap podcast episode eleven hits you hard and hits you fast today.  We talk about a variety of things
for 20 minutes of goodness. I talk about Manny Machado's bat throwing incident by answering the question 'Would you rather deal with a bat thrown at you or a baseball thrown at you?' I discuss my top three karaoke go-to songs. I talk about Madden Curses and why people will be all over Richard Sherman if he is not good this season. It continues with a discussion about advocating against circumcision which I had no idea was a real thing but apparently it is leading to my mind being blown. Why it's my fault I got let down by Game of Thrones. Quarterback gossip talk with Aaron Rodgers/Olivia Munn and Johnny Manziel.

Charlie.  

The Return of YOTTO?

Former Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley was an enigma on the Packers roster. People didn't like him for being brash and not a robot to the media while others loved him for the way he played enjoying his brashness. Everyone had an opinion on Finley. He suffered a neck injury against Cleveland in Week 6 of the season. Finley missed the year, and some wondered if he would never play football again. The tight end made great strides in the past seven months continuing to become the player he once was before the injury.

According to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Finley will be in Green Bay on Wednesday with the Packers doctors taking a look at his neck.  This seems like it would be the final decision with how things go with Finley.  The assumption would be this is the last stand for Finley and the Packers organization. If things do not well, Green Bay will move on with the seven tight ends they have on their rosters. But if things end up looking up, he could be on the team before the end of the summer. 

Looking at things on social media is not always the best way to make conclusions as it can run you into trouble. I mean looking at a friend's Twitter account where you assume there is a subtweet and it obviously has to be about you in some way, but I digress. Finley has been using his Twitter account to make it sound like he wants to rejoin the Packers. From his picture last night with Aaron Rodgers talking about missing him when conveniently comes before he gets tests on his neck plus it happens to be the first day of OTA's when Rodgers will be in the building.  There are all sorts of pictures on his feed from him lifting a massive amount of weight on the dead lift bar which takes a ton of strength from your neck and back area to motivational pictures.

It is almost like Finley is trying to show the world including the Packers through social media he can play football game. Even if the doctors will say there is no chance, Finley believes in his heart of hearts that he can be on a football field in the coming months. This is not the acts of a delusional player rather someone whose been likely busting his ass harder than ever before. Doctors have found problems with neck injuries like this in the past, but given what is out there on Finley, it seems like he is attempting to make it impossible for the doctors not to clear him.

But here's the thing looming, Green Bay's doctors aren't really known for being ones to take risks. Doctor Pat McKenzie is one of the best in the NFL, but he is also one of the most cautious. Remember how delicately he handled the Rodgers situation. During his weekly visit with ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde, it seemed like Rodgers was ready to comeback before the Atlanta game. Obviously, you could hear the frustration in Rodgers' voice, and it still took three weeks to come back from there. Finley might not get cleared today from the Packers' doctors despite what he has already heard from other doctors around the country. By the way, don't blame those people if Finley isn't cleared. They are only trying to protect these men.

If Finley does get cleared, it raises a whole new set of questions. Do the Packers signed Finley with their wealth of tight ends?  More than likely if the price is right because none of the seven players really have the experience that Finley brings to the team. Whom becomes the odd man out in this situation? We will save that question if this bridge ends up happening. The other question needed to be asked is, 'How much does Finley get paid?' My guess would be somewhere around five to seven million dollars for one-year. Finley getting a one-year deal will allow him to get a big pay day if he ends up being good again with his neck injury. I doubt Finley would be asking for the world, but you never really know with J-Mike.

We will see what happens in the coming days. ESPN's Rob Demovsky is now reporting Finley is in to chat with the team and it's nothing else. Who knows if that's smoke from the team officials, or if Finley's people thought there would be more to this conversation. The status of Finley will be a storyline to follow throughout the summer.

Charlie. 

Quick Tap Podcast Episode Eight

Quick Tap Podcast comes in hot with an unusual early afternoon edition. We got some great questions this weekend which is really nice to see and hopefully, something that will continue in the coming weeks. The podcast leads off with trying to decide whose better - Olivia Munn or Olivia Wilde, impossible task. What I could spend with $17.14 which is Wei-Chung Wang's ERA. What athlete scares me mentally and physically. Summer stuff ranging from my favorite summer as a child, Season power rankings and least favorite summer clothing item. We finish with wondering why Haseem Thabeet plays for Oklahoma City then TV thoughts on Louie plus why FX might be the second best network in the game right now.

Charlie.