The national media and a large number of fans are still dumbfounded that GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy didn’t want Brett Favre back. They point to the veteran quarterback’s impressive statistics and the team’s success last season and are left scratching their heads. Then they come up with possible theories. One is that it was too late to readjust the offense. Another is that the team’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers would be ruined. Still another is that Thompson’s an egomaniac who wanted his own guy running the show. And while the list of theories goes on and on, none of them are accurate. In fact, the real reason why the organization didn’t want Favre back is quite simple – they don’t think he’s capable of taking the team where it wants to go. “Thompson and McCarthy were certainly OK with Favre playing another year,” said a person familiar with the situation, “but there’s no question that they didn’t beg him to come back. That’s because of what they witnessed late last season.”
So what happened to make Thompson and McCarthy question whether Favre still has what it takes to win another Lombardi Trophy? “His performances against the Cowboys in Texas and in the bitter cold against Chicago and the Giants raised a big red flag,” said the source. “The way things are in the NFC, the Packers will almost certainly have to win at Dallas and/or in nasty wintry weather in order to get to the Super Bowl. And I just don’t think Thompson and McCarthy liked their chances with Favre at quarterback.” For the record, the future Hall of Famer completed 41 of 81 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions in those three games.
Whether the Packers would win more regular season games in 2008 with Favre isn’t the question. The odds are they probably would. But there’s no reason to start a quarterback who turns 39 in October unless you believe that he can take you to the Super Bowl – especially when there’s a talented young understudy waiting in the wings. “They didn’t see Favre getting them to Tampa in early February, so what’s the point?” asked the source. “Winning 10 or 11 games and then getting knocked out in the first or second round of the playoffs would accomplish very little. Thompson and McCarthy only care about winning a championship, and in their minds, the sooner they get Rodgers on to the field, the sooner that goal can become a reality.” There are other reasons why they wanted to turn the page, but none are nearly as important.
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