Earlier we published thoughts on Brett Favre's interview with Fox News, during which he slated Ted Thompson, the Packers GM, for not re-signing Marco Rivera or Mike Wahle in 2004.
A reader informs that the Packers were actually unable to sign Wahle or Rivera due to salary cap issues. The team had just $975,000 left at the end of the season, the second least amount of room in the whole league. As we said, Favre is the Quarterback for a reason, and his GM skills leave something to be desired.
Not only that, but neither Rivera or Wahle has had much success outside of Green Bay. Wahle is now with the Seahawks, after being released by Carolina after just three seasons, while Rivera is out of the league completely after being released by the Cowboys last season.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as a General Manager, but we don't think Favre give up his day job just yet.
Actually, what the hell is his day job?
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Jones to sign with the Bears today? Manning undergoes Surgery
The Chicago Tribune reports that Kevin Jones, a free agent since March 13th when the Lions cut him due to serious injury concerns, will take a physical with the Chicago Bears today (Tuesday 15th). This following Tony Fleming's (Jones' agent) remarks in the Tampa Tribune that Jones would sign for either the Bears or Steelers on Tuesday.
The 2004 1st round pick had a standout rookie season for Detroit gaining 1133 rushing yards (only the 3rd rookie in Lions history to rush for 1000+ yards in a rookie season) while 2005 saw his numbers slip to 664 rushing yards.
In 2006, after 12 games and 689 yards, his season was ended when he suffered a Lisfranc fracture to his left foot. In 2007, after recovering from his foot injury and regaining his starting role, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury forcing an end to his season on 27th December, and ultimately leading to his release.
Back on June 11th Fleming stated "Chicago would be a great opportunity for him". It seems that opportunity may present itself after all.
Update: According to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, Kevin Jones has now signed with the Bears.
In other news Peyton Manning underwent surgery on Monday afternoon, The Indianapolis Star reports, to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. With rehabilitation expected to take four to six weeks Manning should be fit for the week 1 game against the Bears (and possibly Kevin Jones?) on Sept 7th - at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
The 2004 1st round pick had a standout rookie season for Detroit gaining 1133 rushing yards (only the 3rd rookie in Lions history to rush for 1000+ yards in a rookie season) while 2005 saw his numbers slip to 664 rushing yards.
In 2006, after 12 games and 689 yards, his season was ended when he suffered a Lisfranc fracture to his left foot. In 2007, after recovering from his foot injury and regaining his starting role, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury forcing an end to his season on 27th December, and ultimately leading to his release.
Back on June 11th Fleming stated "Chicago would be a great opportunity for him". It seems that opportunity may present itself after all.
Update: According to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, Kevin Jones has now signed with the Bears.
In other news Peyton Manning underwent surgery on Monday afternoon, The Indianapolis Star reports, to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. With rehabilitation expected to take four to six weeks Manning should be fit for the week 1 game against the Bears (and possibly Kevin Jones?) on Sept 7th - at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
Favre's '3 issues'
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has a full transcript of the Brett Favre interview from Monday night on Fox News, and it gives a more in depth look at the Quarterback's thinking. The transcript includes segments that were not aired on TV, including three issues that Favre apparently feels strongly about:
The Packers failing to land Randy Moss
Favre mentions that he was willing to give up some of his own salary to land Moss, who enjoyed one of the most productive seasons in NFL history last year. Unfortunately, the Packers saw something in Moss that didn't fit with the team. In truth, it's hard to think that the Packers needed Moss, especially when you consider that they already had a good starting tandem of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Still, it's fair to say that any QB in the league would love to have a player like Moss to throw to, so we can see Favre's point on this one.
Allowing key offensive linemen to leave in free agency
Favre was dissapointed also, in the team's inability to keep hold of starters Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera in 2004, the Guards who had anchored the line for several years. Remember that the Pack have had the youngest Offensive line in the league for a few seasons now, and the only fixtures have been tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. If anything can hurt an offence's rhythm, it is an incosistent line. Again, we see Favre's point here, mainly because to take away two starting Guards in the same season, when you have the cap room that the Pack invariably have, is false economy.
Steve Mariucci not being considered for the Head Coaching position
Brett Favre's final major gripe was the front office's refusal to interview long time friend (and former Packers position coach) Steve Mariucci for the vacant Head Coaching position in 2006. It's here that you start to wonder about Favre's sense of perspective, as he berates Ted Thompson for hiring ANOTHER of his former QB coaches, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has done exceptionally well as a coach, and was even named last season's coach of the year. Wheras we actually like Mariucci, it's hard to see Favre's point when he discusses the three incidents leading to a 'lack of trust' between himself and Thompson.
In fact, looking back at all three of Favre's concerns, the Packers seem to have got it right in the main. The WR unit has unparalelled depth, and was recently ranked as the 4th best in the NFL by Scouts inc. The Offensive line, similiarly, was ranked 8th best in the league, and was statistically amongst the best pass blocking units last year. As we already mentioned, Mike McCarthy has been a big success in Wisconsin, winning acolades from his peers, while also taking the Pckers to an NFC Championship game, which they narrowly lost to eventual Superbowl winners, the New York Giants.
There is a reason that Ted Thompson is paid to make personel decisions, while Brett Favre is not. A look back at the GM's record on such key issues seems to suggest that he gets them right, even when flying in the face of what outside influences believe is right for the team.
Something that Favre might want to consider when he looks at his own situation.
The Packers failing to land Randy Moss
Favre mentions that he was willing to give up some of his own salary to land Moss, who enjoyed one of the most productive seasons in NFL history last year. Unfortunately, the Packers saw something in Moss that didn't fit with the team. In truth, it's hard to think that the Packers needed Moss, especially when you consider that they already had a good starting tandem of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Still, it's fair to say that any QB in the league would love to have a player like Moss to throw to, so we can see Favre's point on this one.
Allowing key offensive linemen to leave in free agency
Favre was dissapointed also, in the team's inability to keep hold of starters Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera in 2004, the Guards who had anchored the line for several years. Remember that the Pack have had the youngest Offensive line in the league for a few seasons now, and the only fixtures have been tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. If anything can hurt an offence's rhythm, it is an incosistent line. Again, we see Favre's point here, mainly because to take away two starting Guards in the same season, when you have the cap room that the Pack invariably have, is false economy.
Steve Mariucci not being considered for the Head Coaching position
Brett Favre's final major gripe was the front office's refusal to interview long time friend (and former Packers position coach) Steve Mariucci for the vacant Head Coaching position in 2006. It's here that you start to wonder about Favre's sense of perspective, as he berates Ted Thompson for hiring ANOTHER of his former QB coaches, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has done exceptionally well as a coach, and was even named last season's coach of the year. Wheras we actually like Mariucci, it's hard to see Favre's point when he discusses the three incidents leading to a 'lack of trust' between himself and Thompson.
In fact, looking back at all three of Favre's concerns, the Packers seem to have got it right in the main. The WR unit has unparalelled depth, and was recently ranked as the 4th best in the NFL by Scouts inc. The Offensive line, similiarly, was ranked 8th best in the league, and was statistically amongst the best pass blocking units last year. As we already mentioned, Mike McCarthy has been a big success in Wisconsin, winning acolades from his peers, while also taking the Pckers to an NFC Championship game, which they narrowly lost to eventual Superbowl winners, the New York Giants.
There is a reason that Ted Thompson is paid to make personel decisions, while Brett Favre is not. A look back at the GM's record on such key issues seems to suggest that he gets them right, even when flying in the face of what outside influences believe is right for the team.
Something that Favre might want to consider when he looks at his own situation.
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