The Packer Pundit

Well it's Super Bowl Sunday and I'm going to be cheering for the... *gulp* Chicago Bears. (Don't stone me... I have my reasons) First off... hey bite me... they're representing us as the NFL Norris Division. Secondly... They're my Nephew Steven's fav team and blood is thicker than wanting to see Peyton get his damn Ring! Soooo... bite me again!

And now for the important shit... the stuff about Brett Favre --



Favre's return provides stability
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
Brett Favre’s early announcement of his return for the 2007 NFL season changes the tenor of the Green Bay Packers’ offseason from a year ago. This year was going to be different, anyway, because coach Mike McCarthy and his assistants have had a year to establish their program. Last year at this time, McCarthy was a first-time head coach putting together a staff and identity for the team, and General Manager Ted Thompson was remaking the Packers’ roster. Favre’s announcement Friday profoundly enhances the team’s stability going into the offseason, whereas last year his status was the major question that lingered over the team until he determined in late April he was coming back. When McCarthy and Thompson met with Favre after the season, they agreed they couldn’t repeat last year, when the Packers went into the start of free agency in March not knowing whether Favre would return and didn’t find out until the week of the draft. “All of us,” Thompson said, “Brett included, knew it was better for the organization, better for him, better for everybody and his teammates, who he was quite concerned with, to decide this earlier. There were fewer uncertainties going into this offseason. Last season, there was a coaching change and other things that (the Favres) had to work through.” With Favre coming back, the Packers don’t have to pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency to back up Aaron Rodgers, who would have been in his first season as an NFL starter had Favre not returned. “I’d think (the early decision) would help (Thompson and McCarthy) a lot, particularly when you consider the alternative,” said Ron Wolf, the Packers’ retired GM. “What would be the alternative in free agency if he says, ‘I’m not coming back?’ Who do you go get to be your (backup) quarterback? So, I’d think that would help them immensely.” Though Wolf doesn’t study NFL personnel anything like he did as GM, he considers Favre “easily” among the top 10 quarterbacks in the game, even at 37. He said the top echelon of quarterbacks includes Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer, with perhaps a couple or several others. “After you get by the first tier, (Favre’s) got to be right in there with the rest of them,” Wolf said. Though Favre’s return for his 17th NFL season and 16th as the Packers’ starter adds to the Packers’ stability and is an endorsement of Thompson’s rebuilding program and McCarthy’s coaching, it’s difficult to know how it will affect Thompson’s personnel moves this offseason. McCarthy and Favre discussed upgrading the team’s offensive personnel in a phone conversation early last week that Favre found encouraging, though Thompson said Favre neither asked for nor was given any promises. -- More



Expectations rise for 2007 season
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
With Friday's news that Brett Favre will return for the 2007 season, expectations for the Green Bay Packers are heightened considerably. The Packers closed last season with four straight wins, and only a tiebreaker kept them out of the playoffs. Now that Favre has declared his intentions for 2007, General Manager Ted Thompson said he believes the Packers are a serious playoff contender. "I certainly hope so," Thompson said. "I think everybody goes into the new year with aspirations of being in the playoffs. We feel like we're getting better as a team, and certainly I think it's good to be having Brett coming back." That wasn't the case a year ago, when the Packers were coming off a 4-12 season and there was little optimism surrounding the team. But the Packers exceeded expectations last season, Mike McCarthy's first as coach, and Thompson said he believes Favre wanted to come back and build on that success. "There are less uncertainties this year," Thompson said. "I think he likes this team and the team likes him. I think it's good, certainly good for the Packers, and it's good for the NFL. I think as long as he's healthy and happy and playing, I think it's a good thing for all of us." Las Vegas oddsmakers believe Favre's return greatly will enhance the Packers' chances of making the playoffs. According to bodog.com, an online gambling site, the Packers were a 100-1 long shot to win Super Bowl XLII without Favre. With him, they're 60-1. For the Packers, getting Favre's decision now could be a positive as they enter free agency. Last year, he waited until four days before the draft before he announced his intentions, and the Packers had to pursue free agents without knowing who would be their quarterback. -- More



No decision on ankle surgery
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said Friday quarterback Brett Favre may still have surgery on the ankle that has bothered him for the last seven seasons. Favre had surgery scheduled for the day after the season ended. When he returned home to Mississippi without having the surgery, some took that to mean his playing days were over. With Friday's news that Favre will return next season, Thompson said it will be Favre's decision about whether he has ankle surgery. "He might," Thompson said. "I don't think anything's scheduled, but it's something that, like Mike (McCarthy) explained earlier in the year, it's something that he's played with. But I think it's something that he might do. But if he does, I'm sure you'll know about it." Even if Favre doesn't have surgery, Thompson said he was unsure of how much Favre would participate in quarterback school, the minicamps and organized team activities. During Mike Sherman's final season as coach, he allowed Favre to skip both minicamps. During McCarthy's first season as coach, Favre participated in one of the minicamps and attended some of the organized team activities. "All? I don't know. … I'm sure some," Thompson said when asked about Favre's offseason participation plans. "Mike will probably be letting everyone know what the plan is." Favre will turn 38 on Oct. 10, and Thompson said the team is willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure Favre can continue to play at the level he did last season. -- More



Packers reassure Rodgers
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
One of coach Mike McCarthy's first duties after learning Friday morning that Brett Favre was returning for a 17th NFL season was to inform backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the news. McCarthy, who was unavailable for comment Friday, was at his second home in Texas on Friday when General Manager Ted Thompson called to tell him Favre is coming back. Thompson said McCarthy's first order of business was to talk to Rodgers, the 2005 first-round draft pick who likely would have taken over as starting quarterback had Favre retired. Rodgers is recovering from a broken foot sustained in the Packers' blowout loss to New England on Nov. 19. "(Rodgers) is doing good, he's doing very well," Thompson said at a news conference Friday afternoon. "In fact, we just checked on him (Friday). Mike talked to him (Friday), because, obviously, this affects him and his immediate future. We just wanted him to know that he's a Packer, and we're happy to have both those guys." Rodgers is entering his third NFL season, and no doubt part of him is disappointed he won't get the chance to take over as the starter this season. He was Thompson's first draft pick as Packers' general manager, No. 24 overall in 2005. "Aaron's everything a professional is and should be," said Ingle Martin, the Packers' No. 3 quarterback. "He's the kind of guy that when he gets his chance, he's going to do really well. I'm sure he would have been excited to be the starting QB, but he's still in a good situation." With Favre's return, the Packers probably won't be in the market to sign a veteran quarterback with starting experience. If Favre had retired, they would have wanted one as a fallback in case Rodgers struggled or was injured. -- More





Steady Thompson remains focused
By Mike Vandermause
Make no mistake, Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson was overjoyed Friday by the news of Brett Favre's return for the 2007 season. But you never would have guessed it from his demeanor. Thompson won't get any better news the rest of the offseason. He may as well have won the lottery. Yet he remained as unflappable as ever. With Favre in the lineup, the up-and-coming Packers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Without the future Hall of Fame quarterback, Thompson's rebuilding program in Green Bay would have taken a major hit. When Favre told him he was coming back for a 16th season in Green Bay, Thompson didn't shout with glee, or thank Favre profusely, or raise his fist in triumph. Instead, Thompson matter-of-factly told Favre: "That's sounds good to me." Good? Is that the best Thompson could offer? This is great news for not only Packers fans, but for anyone who loves pro football. Favre remains one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, so a chance to watch him play at least one more season is reason to celebrate. "It's good to have Brett coming back," Thompson reiterated. One gets the impression if Thompson were in the middle of a fire, he calmly would collect his important belongings and stroll out of the building. Try as they might, media members couldn't get Thompson to show much excitement, even when he was given the chance to toot his own horn. -- More