Today's blog is in regards to what some consider an act of treason in an industry that has become big business. If the CEO of AMD became the CEO of Intel it would look weird. Unfortunately the NFL has become a big business more than entertainment.
As a fan of the Green Bay Packers since the mid-90's, when I really started to understand the game of football, I watched Brett Favre lead the team to the playoffs, and a couple of Super Bowls, year after year. I saw 3 MVP seasons in a row, numerous "how'd he do that" type plays, and numerous "why'd he do that" plays. For the last few offseasons I also saw a teetertotter of "do I play or do I retire?". Yes he has the right to make that decision when he wants to. The problem is the team has executives and coaches that need to start working on making the team better right as March 1 hits. It wouldn't help the improvement process when you have a franchise player who can't make up his mind. It is especially concerning when that player is a QB. If he can't make up his mind about playing or retiring how do you know he will be able to make up his mind on the playing field?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of the Packer fans who is angry that he went to Minnesota. In fact I don't blame him. Minnesota has coaches that he is familiar with, they have a pretty good defense (wouldn't be as good without Chad Greenway of course), and the top RB in the NFL (assuming he doesn't get hurt). It also gives him 2 shots at beating the only team that he has yet to beat, the Green Bay Packers. He has said repeatedly that he's not playing to break records. If that is the case I want to know why he is still playing. His shoulder is still ripped up (yesterday he disclosed that his rotator cuff has a tear) and he isn't 26 anymore. It was evident in the NFC championship 2 years ago that he didn't want to be playing anymore. He looked done as the game went into the 4th quarter, and then overtime. I really hope Minnesota realizes what they are getting: a legend who is on his last legs, or shoulder tendon in this case.
What I don't like are the "fans" who are changing their alligence from Green Bay to Minnesota because he is on the team and they feel he was done wrong by the front office in Green Bay. I always say the player is not greater than the team. Was he forced out? Not really. He was given a timeframe to make a decision and he made one. The team moved forward. That is what you are supposed to do. There is no reason to think otherwise. Aaron Rogers is poised to become a great QB in the league. He has plenty of young weapons around him. There will be growing pains but it appeared they were gone last year. The bad record last year was on the defense and the injuries to the defense. The offense didn't miss a beat. Prior to the defensive collapse the offense was, again, one of the best in the league. I have no doubt in my mind it will be the same thing this year. This shows that, while Brett was an integral part, the team still had success without him. It was only a few years ago that he threw more interceptions than touchdowns and cost the team some games.
I wish him well, but I will still enjoy watching the green and gold knock him around on October 5 and November 1.
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