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[Qbins Missile Crisis]

Aug 6th, 2008 - When Superegos Collide

There is no such thing as a humble quarterback. First of all, submissive guys don't make the NFL and the meek shall never, ever inherit an NFL QB slot.




You'd think the Green Bay Packers would have known that considering they have been riding their own in-house megalomaniac since September 27th, 1992.

After what was, arguably, his greatest season ever from a personal stand point, Brett Favre retired in March, then almost immediately changed his mind. Then he retired again, and once again bowed out. Finally, he decided that he wanted to grace the Lambeau fans with his presence for one more season, and made it clear to the Packers that this time, he was not kidding. Then he turned the tables on his old bosses telling Packers season ticket holder Greta Van Susteren on FoxNews that prior to his announcement, management was "rushing him."

After that rushed announcement, management announced they were preparing for the post-Brett era, taking a QB high in the draft and anointing Favre's backup as their new starter. Coach Mike McCarthy said only last week, "Aaron Rodgers is our starting quarterback. The organization has moved on." They even offered a marketing deal to Favre, which would have garnered him, $20 to $25-million - but only if he stayed retired.

The battle lines were drawn, and as he has done innumerous times in his career, Brett Favre won.

Going to the commissioner meant that the Packers were in a no-win scenario. The team's brain trust, trying to demonstrate they were still running the show, announced their living legend would have to "fight" to earn his starting role.

If it was to be a fight, it could hardly be called fair.

Let's compare: Aaron Rogers has never started an NFL game in his life and has only thrown 59 passes in the pros.

Brett Favre has started a record 275 consecutive games. He has 160 career wins, has thrown 442 touchdown passes and holds the NFL record for total passing yards with 61,655. Despite last season being his 16th in the league, he threw for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns while completing 66.5 percent of his passes and sported a 95.7 passer rating. Already with three MVP awards and a Super Bowl ring, an OT interception last season meant he fell just short of taking the Packers to the NFC title game.

Who would you pick?

Let's say, just for saving face sake, that the Packers did decide to start Rogers. Just how long do you think he'd last? Would Rogers even get to take a snap from center before the fans, pissed from seeing the consecutive start streak blown by management, started chanting "FAVRE, FAVRE."

Starting Rogers with Brett on the sidelines would mean that every pass he threw would have to be a touchdown. Every handoff he made must result in a first down.

He could not be sacked - ever.

NFL quarterbacks aren't the only ones with super-sized egos. Team honchos like to think they are the ones running the show. Packers CEO Mark Murphy and GM Ted Thompson spent the past few weeks trying to prove that they, not Favre, were in charge.

It took them that long to learn otherwise.

No - Brett Favre would have to be the starter for certain, and the Packers would just have to suck it up and have to deal with their so-called "plans" being blown.

It's so rare for a player in the NFL to be in such a powerful position. Yet Brett being Brett, it turns out that even after schooling them so thoroughly, he is just not happy. Despite ostensibly running the team, on Tuesday he skipped out on practice to negotiate with management and now he's really not satisfied with the situation.

Said Favre, "The problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it. Stuff has been said, stories planted, that just aren't true. Can I get over all that? I doubt it."

Now nobody knows how this ongoing epic will turn out, least of all the object of the exercise, Favre himself.

No matter what happens, the brand of one of the most storied franchises in all of sports has been tarnished...

...and the reputation of one of football's greatest players ever has now radically changed from "living legend" to selfish "prima donna."

Cheers - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch

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