Snatching Victory....???

In what appears to be a tremendous sigh of relief for Favre and Packer fans alike, Tom Silverstein decided to clarify the whole "$20 million bribe" rumor his JS Online blog started yesterday.

(Incidentally, at what point is JS Online going to get smacked down for feeding us incomplete or incorrect information? This is two firestorms they have started in a week's time, between the phone and the bribe....yeesh!)

Anyway, according to Silverstein,

An NFL source who wanted the Packers' side to be explained, said Murphy first proposed a 10-year formal relationship with Favre in March after the quarterback's retirement and did not first bring it up during his nine-hour visit to Hattiesburg Thursday. There were occasional talks about it between March and June before Favre started making noise about wanting to return to football.

Murphy, the source said, decided that with the two sides at an impasse to meet with Favre face-to-face to finalize a post-retirement deal. He told Favre and Cook that the deal was on the table regardless if Favre decided to come back.

"He felt it was important to let Brett know face to face that he was serious about a long-term relationship regardless of his intentions to play football," the source said. "Regardless of how it was interpreted, it was a continuation of a discussion in March to formalize a long-term relationship."

So, there we are! All is good! Right?

Well, for the most part, though there are still some things that need to be worked out. In order to collect this deal, he has to be retired, otherwise the money goes against the salary cap. So, this deal, originally brought up in March, was done with the thought that Favre was already retired and this would segue a role for him.

It's interesting, though, that this is re-brought up now. Essentially, according to the NFL source speaking for the Packers, this is going to offered to Favre regardless of whether or not he comes back. The implication may be that he could go play a year for the Vikings, and that deal takes effect when he retires.

Now, I'm not sure that's how it will all play out. IF Favre were to go to the Vikings and have success there, I'm not sure the Packers (or their fans) would be in the mood to welcome back the Vikings hero as their own hero. So, there is a lot that goes into reiterating this deal to Favre that seems to suggest "stay retired".

This is as much a tug on Favre's realization of his own legacy as it is on his pocketbook. And, it is probably a smart move on Murphy's part, though I don't buy the idea that some are selling, that this proves that "The Packers have always had Favre's best interest at heart." Make no doubt this is being done with the Packer administration's and Aaron Rodgers' best interests at heart first and foremost.

There is still the point that Favre wants to play, and the Packers are unwilling to allow him to join their camp. They have also, with Favre's help, prolonged any moves to trade him. They have also refused to comply with his request to be released.

This reiteration of the PR offer can serve as a graceful exit for both parties. The Packers look the noble ones, and Favre accepts an offer to continue to be a part of the team. Water under the bridge and all goes back to what we thought was going to happen a month ago.

Favre appears to be considering it, but (according to his new favorite interviewing style, text messaging) seems to still have an equal amount of desire to play.

UPDATE: Favre has confirmed he is strongly considering Murphy's offer. He sent the following text message to Ed Werder of ESPN:

"There isn't a perfect solution to this, but Mark Murphy is at least trying. We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end."

"My intentions have been to play, and with Green Bay," Favre told Werder. "They say no, so I still want to play in this division for obvious reasons, which I made clear to management. If they won't let me play in Green Bay, let me play against you. That's where I am."

So, go figure at this point. Favre is considering the offer, but it still seems like he wants to play. And, to a point, this reiteration of the PR deal seems like something less like a despicable mafia bribe (as originally presented by JS Online), but still an offer of money and responsibilities that is being used to dissuade Favre from coming out of retirement.

Maybe not a bribe, maybe not quite as slimy as we thought. Speaking of slimy, did anyone else notice:

After the meeting was over, Favre refused to comment and Cook made no mention of an offer Murphy made during his visit. Curiously, Murphy also didn't comment on the meeting even after it was reported that he was offering Favre $20 million not to report to training camp.

It was widely assumed the "source" that leaked the bribe was Bus Cook, but now, not only was it not Bus Cook, but we still have no idea who the "source" is!

I guess those that piled on Murphy owe him somewhat of an apology, as do those that piled on Bus Cook (at least for this particular instance). Please don't get me started on irresponsible journalism again, but let's all please start telling JS Oline to start citing their sources.

So, here we are.

A deal was and is on the table from the Packers to Favre to do some PR work for them for the next ten years, essentially reiterated to convince him to stay retired and away from camp. This is reiterated because they have committed wholly to Aaron Rodgers and don't want Favre in camp as a distraction or to compete for the job.

Favre still wants to play, though he is considering this offer as he is seeing his choices limited and Roger Goodell continuing to force him to come to a resolution before playing.

If Favre refuses the offer this year, the Packers are apparently in serious negotiations with the Jets, and are considering offers from division foes. Favre still controls much of his own destiny here. He has the right to essentially void any trade he doesn't want to be a part of by refusing to report. We don't know if the Jets are really in his vision, but we'll soon find out.

The Packers are getting a bit more anxious, considering teams for a trade that they all but ruled out a few days ago.

This deal isn't perfect, it isn't being offered in complete good faith, but it may be the one way this whole nightmare can end with fans accepting and continuing to be fans of both Favre and the present administration. Favre can say he wants to be a part of the "team" as a goodwill ambassador (or whatever he'd be doing) and essentially gives up his drive to play by being a "team player" for the organization. The Packers make a show of faith by offering him a lot of money to be the "face of the PR department", and avoid some really icky PR to boot, plus keeping their chosen QB of the Future in the present.

Still a bribe? Somewhat, but a bribe that could put an end to all of this.

If Favre refuses, I don't blame him, especially if his passion to play can't be bought off. But, I can't blame the organization for trying in this kind of way, either. If this continues to its endgame, there will still be drama to be played out. But it seems that there is more communication and understanding between the two parties now that Murphy and Goodell have gotten involved.

Too bad this didn't happen a long time ago.

$20 Million Ways To Completely Lose Respect

Now, trust me, I am in no way placing my 100% faith in a news source that broke the "Favre has a Packer phone" story, mainly because this story is so much more idiotic and sickening than that one.

JSOnline has reported in their blog that part of Mark Murphy's goodwill journey to Hattiesburg included an offer that few in the world could refuse. I was watching Fox11's Training Camp Report and I listened to Drew Smith report this, I felt like I was watching TJ Rubely all over again. Johnnie Grey, incidentally, looked as stunned as I felt.

According to this report, the Packers are willing to offer Brett Favre $20 million over the next 10 years to end this, stay retired, and let the "moving forward" thingy go on unimpeded.

That's $2 million a year for ten years. No report on where this money is coming from...Pro Shop sales, Brown County sales tax, whatever.

But, if this report is true, I can tell you one thing.

One of the most rational Favre fans will lose all respect for Brett Favre if he accepts this offer.

And it takes a lot for me, a guy who has intelligently and vociferously defended Brett from his rabid critic base for the past five years, to have to come to grips with that. But it is true.

Waffling on his decision to retire? Yeah, I wish he wouldn't, but that doesn't make me want to disown all my admiration for him. I see him as emotional and irrational, but still passionate.

Throwing interceptions? Any true football fan knows that an interception comes with the territory when Favre is concerned. You take the good with the bad, like most quarterbacks.

Torching Packer brass in public? Wish he wouldn't do it, but when you are frustrated and emotional, you do lots of things you shouldn't. Not excusing it, but again, he's passionate about this.

But, allowing your passion for the game to be paid off? Nope. I can't forgive that. I've always had this impression that Favre would be willing to negotiate most of his salary down to nothing to play this year, if he didn't feel he'd be letting Ted Thompson waste the cap space he'd be gaining, instead of using it to make a run this year.

In whatever defense you could make for Brett here, in today's economic times, we've all assumed that he's rolling in money from his career and endorsements. Thinking about Deanna's stoic stance at his retirement announcement, it does make you wonder if perhaps the Favre's have spent what they've earned and like many other Americans, are fearful of foreclosure. In that case, perhaps the money will talk to Favre.

But, it wouldn't be enough to save Brett's reputation in my eyes. He has many opportunities to make money...probably even that much if he entered the world of media prognosticating. And, he'd be earning it.

To accept such a sleazy offer from the Packers would go against everything we've known about Favre. We've excused his interceptions, his childish response to retirement, we excused everything because we fell in love with his passion for the game, the excitement he has when he gets the ball in the end zone.

How can you put a price on that? If he were to accept that offer and slink away into the night, after professing he has a passion for the game again, I've lost respect for him. Even if he desperately needs the money, I have no doubt he could get it without the Packers having to pay him hush money.

So there.

Which brings us to the other side of the coin.

There are folks out there who have vociferously defended the way the Packers have handled this drama, even in the face of some poor planning and public relations on the part of Ted Thompson and his staff.

If Favre accepts this alleged offer, I will admit defeat in my defense of Favre's character.

However, if the alleged offer is true, and he declines it, will those who have defended Thompson and the current administration in this situation be able to do the same?

This is an offer that is insulting. Insulting to Favre, insulting to the fans, insulting to all of us who purchase tickets, jerseys, anything that goes to that all-important bottom line for the franchise to remain competitive in today's NFL.

Where is this money coming from? And for that matter, why would you spend it in such a manner? Are the Packers so enamored with Aaron Rodgers that they are willing to spend $20 million over the next ten years just to see if he can stay healthy for more than three games in a row?

If you really believe in Rodgers, why insult Favre this way? Give him the release he wants, and quit worrying about the fan base or getting some mid-round draft picks as some sort of "compensation". This officially goes beyond any "business sense", and it comes down to "common sense".

You are gaining value with a release. You gain $12 million in salary cap space. You get your chosen quarterback to move forward with without any competition. You allow your team to start having attention on the guys playing on the field, instead of on the guy who isn't.

That's not only decent business sense, it is darn good common sense....far more sensible than trying to buy Favre's passion with millions of dollars.

Or, bring Favre into camp. Redo his contract so he has one year, and take the $13 million he would get paid next year and put that money into a Rodgers' contract extension. Or, if you believe in Rodgers so much, give that $20 million to him now and seal him up. Let the two battle it out and let Favre go out on top or flame out. Either way, Favre is gone after 2008 and Rodgers is the starter in 2009 and under contract for a couple more years.

It was Favre's choice to return, for better or worse. It is his choice to request a release, for better or worse. Instead of letting Favre deal with his own karma, though, the Packers are pusuing a sickening game of cat and mouse, allegedly becoming so desperate to keep him away that they will pay him a ridiculous amount of money to do so.

So, I have placed it on the table. IF this offer is true, and IF Favre accepts it, I lose respect for him. Period.

However, IF this offer is true, and IF Favre refuses it, I sure hope those that have defended Thompson (and now, Murphy) so relentlessly take their own step back and realize the idiocy and sleaziness of this move. I hope they also realize that those two are NOT "The Packers", but the administrators of the moment who will pass, just like Tom Braatz, Ron Wolf, Bob Harlan, and Mike Sherman.

I commented earlier on leadership. Being able to manage a football team is easy when there are low expectations and few trials and tribulations along the way. Leadership is defined when the expectations are high, and challenges mount.

Managing is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.

Making such an offer to Favre is terrible leadership, paying a man who is able to play, contracted to play, and has the right to play somewhere in this league a ton of money to simply go away. The only way it is a good play for the Packers is if he accepts it, which will reflect terribly on his character.

It's not good business sense, and is sure isn't common sense, either.

I have never liked rumors, and usually make fun of them more than comment on them. But this particular rumor is one that is so potentially damaging for both sides, I am hoping that, like me, most true Packer fans (and this includes Favre fans and Thompson fans alike) are praying that this rumor is completely unfounded and false.

The ramifications if the rumor is true is titanic.

Results of Grant's Tomb Poll: Expectations of Grant in 2008 Mixed

Grant's Tomb: Ryan Grant is still unsigned with training camp looming. Do you believe Grant can repeat his success from the last half of last season?

Yes! 1,200 yards+ in 2008!	6 (30%)
Pretty much, but will struggle more this year. Close to 1,000 yards.	4 (20%)
Holdouts and new QB, bad karma. Will be closer to 500-700 yards.	4 (20%)
He's another Samkon Gado. Jackson will be the starter by midseason.	6 (30%)

Talk about an inverted bell curve. It's all over the board with what we really think Grant can do to repeat his success in 2008. Certainly, the fact that I started this poll before training camp, and with all the news since...I wonder if we redid this if there wouldn't be more votes near the bottom.

I like Ryan Grant, and hope he does well. But, there comes a point where both sides need to get him on the field, especially when you realize that the Packers not only eschewed any FA running backs, but also any running backs in the draft.

It appears Brandon Jackson is being touted as the potential breakout players, and for the Packers' sake, he better overcome his injury history and do so, because there isn't' another true starting-caliber guy on the roster, and Aaron Rodgers is going to need a legitimate running game in order to be successful.

TundraVision Prediction: Like most holdouts, Grant will struggle with his own injuries and conditioning and not amount to much this year. It will be another rotating door at RB, with Jackson eventually winning the job when healthy.