The Packer Pundit

ARTICLE JACKED FROM MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

MORTENSEN SAYS FARVE DELAY HURT

Chris Mortensen of ESPN, who broke the story Tuesday that Brett Favre will return for one more season with the Green Bay Packers, says the quarterback's prolonged delay in deciding to play again has created bad publicity for the team and a potential problem in the locker room.

Mortensen, ESPN's lead National Football League reporter, made his comments earlier Tuesday, before the Favre news broke, during a conference call with reporters about the National Football League draft this weekend. "Well, I don't think it affects anything they do draft-wise," Mortensen said, referring to Favre not yet making his intentions known. "Listen, the Packers need another veteran quarterback anyway. They don't know if Aaron Rodgers is going to be ready. In fact, he probably won't be ready. So they need a veteran quarterback and that should have been addressed. I've been told for a couple of weeks now - and I believe it - that Brett's indecision will not affect their draft. In other words, if they want to take another quarterback at No. 5, they will take a quarterback. I don't think that is likely to happen."

"I can't make the case for it hurting the Packers," Mortensen said, referring to Favre's indecision. "Other than it's kind of bad publicity. It makes him look bad. Brett has pretty much stated his case openly, which is, 'I'm waiting to see if the Packers can compete this year. If they can't compete, I'm not sure I want to play.' What he is saying by his indecision right now (is) 'I don't like what I'm seeing.' I think just from a publicity standpoint it probably hurts the Packers." (Read More Here)