Brett Favre Responds to Accusations
Today was an interesting press conference by Brett to say the least. By his tone and the way he carried himself, it’s clear he’s frustrated with the story of him basically laying out a gameplan for the Lions and how it’s playing out in the press. ESPN has decided to stay away from it, and Brett said that that the call was short “15, 20, 25 minutes, whatever.” The time it took for him to get home from the facility to his home.
… on whether he called the Lions …
“I did not call the Lions. Nor did I call Tony Romo. I don’t know what else to tell you … it’s not like I’m going around the league calling people.”
… on being accused of sabotague by a former teammate …
“Accuse me of sabotague? Did they win [against the Lions]? Don’t think for a second I didn’t think he [didn't] want to know something. I don’t have a playbook from Green Bay. I didn’t send a playbook. [Talking to former colleagues about football] is common.”
… on where things stand at present …
“It’s unfortunate the way things went down this offseason, but it’s business. I’m trying to get ready for the Chiefs, and to spend any amount of time giving away … I’ve got enough on my plate. I’m well aware this is going on that that’s why it’s a big deal … Its unfair to [the Jets] and its unfair to [the players in Detroit and Green Bay].”
Whether the story is true or not is now irrelevant. He’s addressed the issue and hopefully everyone can move on. Until someone has a smoking gun linking him to covert premeditated devious actions that defy league rules, it’s a dead issue with hearsay and Favre’s it’s-not-as-bad-as-it-seems kind of way as the proof.
Jay Glazer is good, and probably got the story right, but he talks a lot about generating currency with players, contacts, etc. Since he won’t identify his source and where they are affiliated (Lions, Green Bay … there’s a lot of crossover there) you have to wonder if this was some sort of quid pro quo in return for getting the exclusive on the Favre trade in the first place … the piper came calling … if you will.
UPDATE: Here’s some more thoughts I had while writing an email to another web contact.
He basically admitted to the circumstances, but not the intent. Nor did he comment on whether anyone else was in the room other than Millen. He skirted whether if he knew he was on speaker or not in MIllen’s office saying he himself was on speaker, unable to distinguish.
He did say he didn’t send a book, and that the call was “short” whatever it took him to get home from the practice facility.
I also think he fails to distinguish between the word “call” and “initiated the conversation.” Yes he might have called Millen back on his ride home, but in a response to Millen’s conversation initiation with him. He lumps the Romo pinky thing into the same category as reference (which at first seems out of place, and which the beat writers laugh about because they don’t understand what he’s referring to, presumably).
UPDATE 2: Here’s a link to SNY’s reporter who was out at Florham today for the presser.
Filed under: Main Page
watch the media blame any sub-par performance on this ‘distraction’ they manufactured.
As a former Pack fan, I am dismayed by this subject. I suspect that calls from former players go on all of the time, but it is another sign of how ugly the divorce with the Packer is. I have no reason not to believe Brett since he is nothing, if not candid. It is heartbreaking to read this.
The only thing this whole story is about is the opportunistic, self-glorification of Jay Glazer. Everything about it screams irrelevant non-story: it’s many weeks old, even if it were true it would not have violated league rules in any way, and had no impact on either the Packers or Lions or Jets. Congrats to ESPN for having some journalistic standards.
hate to mention spygate in same sentence as this, but reporting on both issues show how few reporters know what’s really going on and therefore how to treat various stories, how some play faves and unfaves, and others feign outrage to pump up the import of the day’s dust-up.
Who cares if he called anyone! This happens all the time! Great job Sherlock Glazer- now go do something important.
um, it didn’t help the lions too much did it? not a big deal except it makes me nervous if favre goes somewhere else next year… then again, who knows if we’ll have the same offense, next season. (or if favre really knows this offense well enough to have an effect, for that matter)
Watched his presser,Look’s po’d……..Didn’t even call Romo………….
Glazer is a low life!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to get really sad go over to Jets Stream where they are arguing Chad vs. Brett!
knock, knock
Who is it?
It’s me, Chad.
Chad?
Yeah.
CHAD’S NOT HERE!
Has anyone dared to ask this guy to deny that he still wears Green Bay’s colors under his Jet uniform ?
I guess loyalty doesn’t matter to most of you!!!!
Yes, he was asked in week one. He said he has an old pair that he is comfortable with. The coaching staff agreed that him feeling as comfortable as possible rather than having to break in a new set was more important than what color they were.
Nothing that a can of Krylon couldn’t fix….
Know-what-I-mean-Vern?
I thought about that but if Favre was addicted to painkillers, how is he going to react to the paint fumes? They must be on the banned substance list, right?
By the way, the yellow looked quite good with the blue and gold.
I can’t believe we are having this conversation.
Bent:
What is this, after spending millions on this guy the team can’t afford to hand taylor anything to his liking? Just more BS from this guy and worshipers/media alike fall hook, line and sinker for it !!!
It is disrespect to the uniform. It is the competition for Christ sake !!!
Or maybe it’s a non-issue that you are using to back up your irrational vendetta against BF because you have nothing of substance to back it up?
I couldn’t care less if he wore a Patriots g-string with a photo of Tom Brady on it as long as he plays as hard as can every Sunday. I find the extreme, personal emotional reactions to any player on either end of the spectrum to be a little creepy, frankly.
subwayfare,
just for the record FARVE is a Brady lover. They are manlovers. It just so happens that they speak so high of each other and then they kiss right before the game to wish each other good luck.
bent
why can’t you see that FARVE really doesn’t care about the Jet fans I mean we got rid of Pennington who was the pillar of the Jets character, a model to follow, and always spoke high of the fans and the organziation, and now we get greedy and want a dirtbag who really just sells himself as the greatest quarterback ever.
Jay Glazer is a douche
I agree Brett is playing games with the Jets. If this season keeps going the way its going Brett will probably reflect on the Jets as a pitiful franchise, a joke or as we know losers. He hates Mangini and Schotteheimer and when he leaves after week 17 I guarentee it all comes out. As Mike’d Up says “this marriage is not working”. If this doesnt work with Favre no free agents or big time coach will want to come here. Im all for Bill Cowher or Brian Billick to come in here because this mess with the offense would never have gone on as long with either of those two guys. Eric MANGINA
Prediction- Jets finish 8-8, Mangini keeps his job and retains all his coordinators, the players start asking for releases or trades. Jets draft a d tackle or fullback with the 17th pick Mangini finishes out his contract 5-11 and 2-14 finally gets the boot. Then the Jets hire a position coach from his old staff as head coach, and try to sell everybody a bill of goods like they have a clue of what they are doing. Woody is too cheap to hire experienced proven coaches or cords. that why we are stuck with sutton and schott, because they make 200k a year… Im just waiting for the spin they try to give after the train finally wrecks, no playoffs everyone except Mike T should get the boot
Bent:
” …….your irrational vendetta against BF because you have nothing of substance to back it up?”
Because I question his loyalty? Are you kidding me? I’m very surprised at your comment because I’ve found most of your past comments “rational “. I guess at the end of the day you are one of those sport fans the feel winning is the only thing. That there are no values or virtues to be learned from sports only “just win baby”. I guess loyalty, honesty and commitment (to mention only a few) come second to winning. Is this what coaches teach little leaguers?Isn’t this what we’ve been told are part of the Jets Core Values? Man, you are soooooo dead wrong on this issue it’s incredible.
As for having no substance to back up my argument how about these facts:
1)He requested and was granted that the clause to make public promotions for the team be taken out of the contract that he sined with GB. It was OK for him to promote GB but not the Jets.
2)He originaly Did Not want to sign with the Jets. He approved three maybe four teams that he wanted and the Jet were not one of them.
3)As a Jet, he immeditely started to complain about the playbook and confessed to never have taken it home to study it.. New team, new plays, doesn’t matter.
4)Hated most of the practice music and put in his own country style. I’m sure the city folk this is NYC not Mississippi) and rap followers on the team really love it !!!! and last but not least……
5) HE WEARS GREEN BAY COLORS UNDER THE JETS UNIFORM.
All this for a guy that so far is not man enough to stand up for the coching staff and let the media and fans know that he has input to ALL the game specific offensive plans and has alwayshad the right TO call audibles. I mean he does hear all the Fire the CS comments, doesn’t he?
Reminder: In case you’ve fogotten our record under Farve is 3-3 and our offense looks more lost than ever. Oh I forgot, we must blame the coaches. How disgusting !!!
Sorry if I was irrational. Of course I appreciate the concept of a team and of loyalty and toughness and committment and character. Favre himself is still revered in Green Bay because he displayed these things in the past.
If you think those things you listed are important, then I don’t know what else to tell you.
All I see is a guy who goes out on the field and plays hard for my favorite team, a team I will always root for since I am a loyal fan.
How many of the players in the NFL do you think put loyalty to their team ahead of their own personal and financial goals? Surely not just Brett Favre.
Remember this is coming from a guy who wasn’t particularly in favor of a Favre deal and has never called for the heads of any of the current coaching staff.
It seems strange that you would suggest that Favre’s loyalties still lie with Green Bay when the National story is that he supposedly screwed them over.
Bent;
As always, I can fully understand your comments(except one) and have to completely disagree on a couple. Your comment of “How many of the players in the NFL do you think put loyalty to their team ahead of their own personal and financial goals? Surely not just Brett Favre”.
I fail to understand that. Are you saying that Farve is putting loyalty to the Jets ahead of personal gain? If your answer is yes, then you have failed to grasp my whole previous cmments and there’s nothing more I can say on that.
The reports say that Farve has lost alot of attaboys since the media reported the Lions fiasco and his character is being questioned since it is understood to be a personal vendetta from Farve. Again I reiterate that I question his character and motives for signing with the Jets. Also….
It trully seem strange to me that you fail to understand why a despondent lover would try to screw over the guy(BG FO) resposible for keeping you away from the love of your whole life. How would you feel if your new mate(Jets) carries a picture of his old flame (GB) and he shows it every time you meet?
And last, I would question if he trully is capable of giving 100% to his new relationship while still wearing his old true love.
hank/naples-
I appreciate that you don’t like Brett Favre. Not everyone likes everyone else in this world. But your approach to denigrating the player is so filled with spurious accusations you claim as facts that it is difficult to read over and over again.
You imply that a contract clause to be relived of promotional duties is an indication of Favre’s lack of loyalty to the team. It’s just as likely that a 39 year old guy, playing for a new team after 17 years with another, moving his family to a new home, etc., has enough on his plate and would prefer to direct what energy he has to commitments on the football field rather than at dog and pony shows.
This argument also completely undercuts another you make relentlessly, that Favre was brought here only to sell PSLs and the organization doesn’t care about winning. If that were the case, why would the Jets agree to this clause? Wouldn’t his primary value be in promotional appearances?
You say that Favre had a list of several teams he preferred to sign with before the Jets and have unilaterally determined that to mean he does not want to be on the Jets now. Virtually every news report available on the subject and Favre’s own words reflect that there were only two teams he actively sought to play for, Green Bay or Minnesota. The Jets and Tampa approached his agent and he initially didn’t consider either because his focus was on the two previously mentioned. He has also stated in interviews that the reason he came to New York was because Tannenbaum and Mangini won him over, that he really liked them, believed they had a good program.
So, if he didn’t want to play for the Jets, why is he doing it? He doesn’t need the money. And if it were about money, wouldn’t he take the much richer deal Green Bay offered him to sit at home?
You also often state as a matter of fact that Favre doesn’t like the coaches, you may have said that he “hates” them – it’s hard to recall with the various aliases you post under – but the actual facts show that he constantly praises and defends the coaches in interviews: “I like our game plans. I like the way Schotty calls the games.”
You would seem to imply that’s all subterfuge and that Favre is actually dictating to the coaches and calling all the plays but present no evidence to back up this claim. In fact, if other statements you’ve made about Favre only caring about personal records are correct, the plays that have been run wouldn’t seem to advance that agenda.
You have run ad infinitum with some candid remarks Favre made about thinking NFL playbooks are too complex and that he never took one home. But he was actually referring to his entire career, not just with the Jets. If he didn’t take the playbook home in Green Bay the results were pretty favorable for 17 years.
I can’t even address your music statement or the color of whatever Favre wears under his uniform.
Personally, I was about 55% to 45% for signing Favre based on the hope that even his declining skills were possibly superior to those of every other QB on the roster and his enthusiastic energy and confidence would add something sorely missing on the team.
I like the coaching staff for the most part. I think they are continuing to gain experience and are smart enough to learn from it. While some say that Mangini and Favre are so different that it makes for a bad marriage, I think they actually compliment one another and Mangini will end up a better coach for the experience, whether it’s deemed a success or not.
You don’t have to like Favre and are obviously entitled to criticize him. But since you are posting in a public forum you must have a desire to convey some sort of point. If so, I suggest you base your arguments less in your own knee jerk reactions and more in fact or people eventually just tune you out.
Hank:
You wrote “Your comment of “How many of the players in the NFL do you think put loyalty to their team ahead of their own personal and financial goals? Surely not just Brett Favre”. I fail to understand that. Are you saying that Farve is putting loyalty to the Jets ahead of personal gain? If your answer is yes, then you have failed to grasp my whole previous cmments and there’s nothing more I can say on that.”
No, my comment was intended to mean that you seem angry at Favre for putting his personal goals ahead of the his loyalty to the Jets, whereas every single team has many players that do just the same.
The shoulder pads just happen to be yellow. They are not embossed with a Packers logo or anything. If Randy Moss wears black cleats is his heart still with the Raiders? You need to eliminate this aspect of your argument if you want to continue to be taken seriously.
I’m not angry at anything you’ve said, I was just a bit confused as to your viewpoint. You’ve explained that a little better now, for which I thank you and it’s clear we differ on some issues, but that’s fine.
Finally, in the situation you described, faced with the question “if you were with a girl and knew her heart wasn’t in it, but she was still scoring regularly with you and you didn’t have any better options, what would you do?” then a lot of people would probably just enjoy it while it lasted, without getting too attached … which is exactly how I feel about Brett Favre!
PS – good post, subwayfare.
Bent:
1st I want to thank you for taking time to answer some of my comments but, without trying to be rude, I find the part of “scoring with a girl and you knew her heart wasn’t in it ” really funny and absolutely true. Never looked this deal that way but then again I’ve been naive about such things most of my life.
The fact, as you pointed out, that Farve can be classified with those putting personal gain in front of loyalty is exactly what is wrong and the reason we are having this discussion. Look, I don’t give a rats a$$ about Chads personal life, being benched, traded etc. as long as MY TEAM does not sell their “core values” and prostitutes itself for the sake of maybe 1-2 more wins. Make no mistake about it: The NY Jets “core values lost big time in this swap !!!
As far as the color of the pads, I’ll give him a pass on that only because I agre with you, and enjoyed, your comment on scoring with that girl.
PS. Does she have a sister?
Question for anyone who want’s to answer………Glazer has a source in Green Bay that he’s getting this info from? So my thought is if this is true then what doe’s this say about the Packer’s to have this stuff leaked? And obviously someone there has it in for Favre?
And who is this Adam Shein character???
subwayfare,
“You imply that a contract clause to be relived of promotional duties is an indication of Favre’s lack of loyalty to the team. It’s just as likely that a 39 year old guy, playing for a new team after 17 years with another, moving his family to a new home, etc., has enough on his plate and would prefer to direct what energy he has to commitments on the football field rather than at dog and pony shows. ”
In the offseason?
Subwayfare,
I agree with 90% of what you say, everything except for the Mangini being a better coach regardless of whether or not the Favre marriage is deemed a sucess. If this doesnt work there wont be QB worth spit that will ever want to play for him. Guys will say that this guy and his staff are QB killers. If they couldnt get the all time leader in just about every significant passing stat to be somewhat sucessful in their offense, and also make him look sloppy or just plain bad, Manginis done. No team will ever believe in him and he should just be put out of his misery. Listen this is year 3 now, plus hes got a HOF QB. Favre has always managed some sucess with every coach he played for. He made the playoffs with Holmgren, Mike Sherman and Mike McCarthy. All different offensive systems, all the same result, playoff win. Mangini and Schott ,who is on borrowed time and will never get another job in the NFL again after hes done with the Jets, have to change something whether it be the way they gameplan or just general approach to the game, like I said no playoffs, not a single coach on that team deserves to keep his job
Eddie De Gio:
Boy, you guys are tough !!! I guess if the Jets do make the playoffs all kudos go to Farve, right?
hank/naples-
Once the season opening roster was set it’s win or lose as the team we have, as far as I’m concerned.
Just be grateful you’re not a Giants fan. How would you root for an outfit with a “team” player the likes of Plaxico Burress?
Or would he be okay because he wears the right colored undergarments and listens to the correct music while he skips practice without even calling and curses at the coach after taking a bad penalty?
subwayfare:
comments
1) I’m NOT “implying” that the promotion clause was removed from Farves contract- IT IS A FACT !!
2)You rant and rave about being too old, too busy, too much on his plate, STUDY A PLAYBOOK (brain capacity eaten up by Vicodin,Oxycontin, Percocett addiction?) not enough time etc, etc,etc to be bothered by promoting the Jets…………………… in the OFFSEASON ?
3)Farves input goes into every “game specific” game plan every sunday and has permission ie. is allowed to call the plays AND audible during the game– FACT
4) Your reasoning for bringing Plaxico into this discussion is convoluted to say the least !!!!
1) You failed to address the subject of the word “imply” in the sentence, that the clause removal is a meter of the player’s loyalty to the team. Conjecture.
2) I guarantee you that Favre is not the only player in the NFL, or any other pro sports league, who uses his leverage as an accomplished player to be excused from having to be paraded around in front of a business luncheon in May. But, again, this negates one of your favorite arguments: that Favre is here solely for promotion and not for winning games.
3) On several occasions Mangini has stated that he seeks input from all players: “I’ve got to do a much better job. Part of that is continuing to develop relationships with the players and incorporating more of their insight into the process. We have a lot of really smart veteran players and it’s important to have that good dialogue.” Every QB in the NFL is not only allowed, but required to audible plays at the line based on defensive looks.
4) I was only trying to make you feel better about having to root for a team featuring a player you so vehemently detest. Imagine if fate had made you a Giants fan instead and you had to cheer on Plaxico and his even more peculiar team values.
Feel blessed, my friend! Go Jets!
Subwayfare;
Thanks for the Blessing, you too my friend. Go Chad !!!(just kidding)
Subwayfare,
Thats not what I was trying to say at all. Mangini has to make a concerted effort to change the way they gameplan on offense. A little conhesion and an executive decision is all Im asking for. I happen to think Mangini is a brilliant defensive mind and it shows because of the play of guys he has helped develop, Asante Samuel, Darelle Revis, Kerry Rhodes, even to some extent Rodney Harrison. I actually want him to have MORE control. If things arent going right with the people HE hired, he needs to step and kick some ass. I think he actually selling himself short because Schottenhiemer and Sutton aren’t even close to him in coaching ability. Im also surprised coming from the Parcells/ Belechik school, where if there hasnt been consistent offensive/ defensive approach by cords. for 22 games, that he hasnt stripped someone of play calling duties or fired them, that he has such a long leash with Schittenhiemer or Clueless Bob. Mangini is at the crossroads right now man, he needs to take the ship and steer it, and with the personel the Jets have now, he has no excuses, it’s all on him now to do BY ANY MEAN NECESSARY what he needs to do to get them going.
Eddie DeGio:
I agree, Mangini is a brilliant Manager and therefore very loyal to those under him. But because of this it restricts his coaching ability by staying with a player or assistant too long. Also a coach must have the ability to motivate, threaten at times to shake things up and he finds this an affront to his sence of loyalty. For this reason I think he requires character so highly in those around him. Mangini is not going anywhere. If anything he will make a perfect GM. Think about it and all the incredible Managerial traits he has.
Too bad you can’t split the baby in two. But don’t worry, he’ll make the Jets winners.