The Packer Pundit

ARTICLE JACKED FROM ORLANDO SENTINEL

PACKERS' GAME PLAN FULL OF HOLES
By Chris Harry

If the Green Bay Packers have a turnaround plan, they're doing a wonderful job disguising it. That takes into account everyone associated with the franchise, from General Manager Ted Thompson to new Coach Mike McCarthy to team icon/quarterback Brett Favre.

The cheese in the cheeseheads is spoiling.

Let's start with the front office. In an offseason in which several teams went outside the box in hiring a coach, Thompson pegged underwhelming candidate McCarthy, 42, to take charge. Last season, McCarthy was offensive coordinator in San Francisco, where he oversaw the 32nd-ranked offense. Not that it was all his fault; the 49ers had one of the least-talented rosters in the league.

McCarthy broke into the league under Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas City (1993-98), then it was off to Green Bay ('99), New Orleans (2000-04) and then San Francisco ('05), serving as offensive coordinator for the past two teams. Forgive me if I don't recall a lot of fireworks from those Saints or 49ers (I do recall a lot of Aaron Brooks turnovers, though).

"I just think you've got to prepare for the unknown," McCarthy said of his introductory season. He should consult Thompson on that subject, because Thompson surely doesn't seem to know where this club is headed -- though I have an idea. Thompson's watch since taking over football operations has seen the 2004 NFC North champions -- built by demoted-then-fired coach Mike Sherman -- tumble to their worst record (4-12) since 1991. Thus far, Thompson's answer to upgrading the roster has been next to nothing on the free-agent front, with S Marquand Manuel (from Seattle) and DT Ryan Pickett (St. Louis) the big acquisitions.

Green Bay selects fifth in the draft, but reportedly has yet to invite any of the top five prospects not named Reggie Bush -- QBs Matt Leinart and Vince Young, OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, DE Mario Williams or LB A.J. Hawk -- to town for interviews, a common protocol across the league. It makes you wonder whether Thompson, with a massive rebuilding project on his hands, is thinking of trading out of that high spot for more picks.

That brings us to Favre.

All he has done thus far is string along the team (and fan base) that has treated him like a deity. Favre, now 36 and coming off the worst season of his career (a league-high 29 interceptions), was expected to announce his plans at his charity golf tournament in Mississippi last weekend. Instead, he put off the decision -- with the Packers' blessing, no less.

Now, Favre has until July 27 -- the day before training camp opens -- to inform the club whether he intends to return for a 15th season with the team. That's when a $3 million roster bonus comes due for the three-time league MVP.

"I guess, ultimately, it comes down to just whether or not you want to play and run the risk of being 4-12 again," Favre said.

It's to the point where one of Favre's biggest fans, TV analyst/pending Hall of Fame coach John Madden, said last week that it was as though No. 4 was angling for a trade from the team he said he'd never leave.

"He would probably want to play, but he wants to play with a team that has a chance to win. The Packers really don't look like they are going in that direction right now, so maybe he's talking about another team," Madden said in an interview with the NFL Network. "There are a number of teams that could use him. . . . There are a lot of moving parts in this that could include the draft and could maybe include Brett Favre."

If we assume Favre's plan is to force his way out of Green Bay, we should assume it's the best plan going right now.

No one else appears to have one.

Never say never