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.

Marino Bailing Out of Concussion Lawsuit Speaks Volumes

NFL and concussions do not mix like oil and water, cats and dogs, peanut butter and tuna fish, Kris Jenner and a smart decision. There are major topic in the sport, and the one thing that could take the hegemony down.  They have a long-standing concussion lawsuit with some notable players including Jim McMahon and Clinton Portis. But it seemed like on Monday they were getting the biggest name with Dan Marino joining the concussion lawsuit… Or so they thought. Marino pulled out of the lawsuit claiming he did not know his name would be publicly on the class-action filing. Once again, a player bowed down to the power of the powerful shield.

All of these former prominent players in the NFL are puppets to the commissioner office.  There is no way to think of it otherwise.  Not one single media member on FOX, CBS, ESPN or NBC been a part of the concussion lawsuit with the league.  Marino stayed rather quiet during the 18 months when the former players went against Goodell. Marino may have made mention about having issues with concussions, but nothing to the point of suing the league. None of the four major networks will have someone talking football and also suing the league at the same time. Goodell will not allow it because he rules the roost with an iron fist.

Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King was all over the story and mentioned on Dan Patrick Show, Marino would be getting a role with the Miami Dolphins. King did not know what the role would be, but once again, there will not be a former player working for a team  and also suing the league. This led Marino to back out of the lawsuit.  Goodell got into his ear or the Dolphins ear that this will not happen again.  Think about this for a second, the NFL right now is so powerful, it told the Dolphins, their most famous player would be quintessentially black-balled from the league and the team. Even if the NFL will not openly say they black-balled the player. That’s carrying quite a big stick, and it might mean we never see a truly famous NFL athlete join the lawsuit.

If a guy like Brett Favre goes on the offensive suing the NFL, do we see him on NFL Network ever again? It is a fair question to ask because it feels like we are living in a sort of police state with the NFL. You want to sue to the league?  Okay, you are not going to be a part of the NFL ever again or until the lawsuit ends.  They will still do interviews and such with outlets that have NFL football yet if they want to be directly involved with something in the league like on television or with the team, it's not happening. NFL Network's Kurt Warner made comments about not wanting his kids to play football and got annihilated by other former players in the media. The former NFL players in the media feels like one major forced groupthink.

This is just another example of how powerful the NFL is in our country. Honestly, I truly believe the league is stronger than half of the Fortune 500 companies. This is the same league that's made Ray Rice's sexual assault disappear into thin air. The same one whom had no coverage on Arizona Cardinals starting middle linebacker Daryl Washington getting popped for a second time this season and getting suspended for the season. Instead, we are worried about if Tom Brady is a top five quarterback. It is absurd what conversations the football media has versus what they really should be talking about on a daily basis.

Marino is out of the conversation with the concussion lawsuit. He will probably get questions about it and have to figure out an answer as to why he wanted to join the suit in the first place. But in a couple months, he will work for the Dolphins and we will forget this even happened because that's how it works in the National Football League.

Charlie.

10 Quick Thoughts About the Packer Schedule

NFL schedule came out last night. Everyone is pretty giddy for September. People see different matchups
they like and get irrationally excited about the possibilities of a successful season. The inverse happens to with fans thinking the season is over without one snap of the football. Let's look at the schedule and add some thoughts to how it looks on paper

FOR THE SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE 

1.) Fail Mary return - I didn't want to open the season in Seattle given how no Super Bowl winning team has lost at home to begin the season. I also wanted the Packers to start the season easy for once as they have played San Francisco the last two years. But I think the team is genuinely excited to get back to Seattle and get their revenge. I will end up talking myself into Green Bay winning.

2.)  Bright lights - Green Bay has five primetime games on the schedule with two Thursday night games, two Sunday Night Football games and a Monday Night affair. What I like is a majority of them are being played at Lambeau Field.

3.)  Early divisional foes? - Green Bay finishes the year playing divisional opponents only twice in six games with a late November meeting in Minnesota and a home game to finish the year against Detroit. It will be interesting to see how the divisional race shapes out withe Green Bay's lack of divisional games late.

4.) Trip to New Orleans - If you are looking for a road trip, New Orleans during Halloween season. You might see Green Bay lose, but you have Halloween in New Orleans so it is not the worst thing in the world.

5.)  Road trips early - Green Bay begins the year with three road games in the first four games. Packers haven't started the greatest in past years so hopefully being away from Lambeau will not affect them too much.

6.)  Same opponent, same date? - This is kind of neurotic, but Packers played both Chicago and Philadelphia back-to-back last season at Lambeau in November which holds the same. They also played Minnesota in the same week, but at home versus on the road. And Packers also played Atlanta in early December. Just a weird note.

7.) Best chance to get flex - Green Bay has many late afternoon and primetime games. Looking at their schedule, the only two that might have some flexing abilities would be Carolina in mid-October or Tampa Bay in mid-December. Those seem to be the best bet.

8.) No Holidays - For the first time in awhile, Green Bay is not playing on the holidays. While I enjoy watching the Packers on special days, I would much rather have them play normal Sunday or Monday games.

9.) New England-Green Bay will be the best game of the year - This is a pretty simple prediction, but late November matchup with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers seemed delightful. I assume tickets for this game will be sky high.

10.) Favre's return - There is a rumored Favre return and I could really see it in three games... Home primetime games against Minnesota, Chicago and Atlanta. I might think Atlanta is the favorite with a December date plus Favre's relationship with ESPN.  

Should be a fun year.

Charlie.