T.O., #4 and Breakdancing Duck. My world is falling apart!

The BBQ Pit
1

Thaks to Breakdancing Duck’s T.O. thread, I think it’s time to prepare for The End of Times[sup]TM[/sup]. The following is all speculation, but at this point in the season I can’t see it not happening. Of course, being the ever optimist in the Packers, I’ll attempt a positive spin later. (Fuck, I already see I’m delusional in this based on what I know I’ll say later.) :frowning:

First, to augment the validity of my doomsday scenario I must mention news from Green Bay. Now, I love Brett Favre. I’m hoping for at least another year, if not two. (Too old? Fuck that. He’s in his 15th season. Elway played 16 and Marino 17) Many non-Packer fans don’t understand the emotion we have for him. He’s quite literally like a family member in the loyalty and love we have for him. But enough of the fawning.

here’s why I see the perfect storm forming and why I fear I may have to lessen my hate for T.O.

Coach Sherman in August was given a contract extension through 2007. That, I said at the time, meant 2 more years for Favre if he wanted them. Ted Thompson isn’t a dummy. He was instumental, along with Ron Wolf, in building the Super Bowl teams. When he was brought back in the off-season, I knew Green Bay was going for one more ring for Favre. Though it may take 2 years to get the system set up for it.

Now, almost halfway through a season where a team that could easily be 5-2 is decimated with injuries that would make any other team fold the tent and head to another desert. Yes, easily 5-2. Take the 14 point loss in Detroit that has always been a problem anyway, balance that against a 49 point win over an admittedly weakened Saints team, and we come up with 5 losses decided by a total of 16 points. That’s 3.2 PPG. Not exactly dominating blowouts. On top of that the Pack is still out by only 3 games from first with 9 games to go. (Yeah, I’m rationalizing to stay sane, let it go)

So there is potential, even with the 3rd string RB now our starter and almost beating the Bengals in Cincy. Favre knows this and wants to play only for Sherman before he retires. And Sherman has a 2 year contract. It’s obvious it was granted to him because Favre wants to play for him and will retire after a ring or after Sherman is let go. So Sherman is now motivated to get the team back in shape for a SB, or face losing his job. If he (Sherman) does bring the Lombardi Trophy home, he can write his own contract. So we have Favre willing to play, it seems, another year or two as long as there’s promise of the team supporting him with a talented cast of characters, a coach motivated to become immortalized in Packer’s lore, a man in charge of building the personnel to what he helped create in the '90’s.

Anyway, back to the shitstorm brewing that is Hurricane Owens. He apparently is making noises that sounds like he may want to become a receiver for the Packers. This is a legitimate fear since he said many of the same things before the trade to Baltimore. Except he wasn’t traded to Baltimore because of what he said about Baltimore. He wanted Philly so McNabb would get him the ring he so covets.

I’ll take it one step further because I just now thought of it. Remember the shit he talked about McNabb after the SB loss about how McNabb didn’t win the game because he was playing sick? Remember in, '95 I think it was, when Greg Lloyd of the Steeler’s nailed Favre? What happened was Lloyd hit Favre hard late in the 4th quarter. Favre left the field for one play, puked up blood, then went back in the next play to throw the game-winning pass. T.O. must watch that every night now.

So here’s where I’m losing it. T.O. is a great receiver. No question. But he’s a complete cancer to a team. But he’s a great receiver.

Andre Rison was a cancer to teams. But a great receiver. He caught the longest touchdown pass in SB history to help the Packers win SB XXXI. See where this is going?
I’m almost hoping T.O. is wearing the Green and Gold next year. Let Nick Barnett keep him in line with bitch-slaps and wedgies.

I’ll feel dirty afterwards.
I hate myself for seeing any good in T.O. playing for us. (Mark Patrick rule exception: Yes, “us”, I own stock, I’m an owner.) :wink:

2

Shit, I forgot to mention one other thing. The whole contract thing would be handled by offering a one year deal. No chance to bitch about the overall structure. One year only. that would reduce his whining by at least a half percentage point.

3

And you call yourself a Packers fan? Hang your head in shame. It’s not nearly time to get that desperate yet.

4

Hence what comes out to a self-pit. I’m so ashamed for not dimissing this outright and actually looking for the good in it if it happens. :frowning: :mad:

5

I see what you are saying, but I just can’t find any good coming from Owens playing for Green Bay. The talent he brings to the field doesn’t offset the distraction and cancer he adds to the locker room. I haven’t kept up with the free agency situation this year, but there have to be some good receivers coming available that the Packers could draft to help Favre without destroying the team’s chemistry.

I wouldn’t wish T.O. on the Vikings. [sub]Although it would be fun to watch.[/sub]

6

[hijack]

To provide an anecdote here, a friend of mine has ruefully told me about his mother and her Packer-watching habits. She has a large photo of him that is displayed near the TV, but during Packer games - and even expanding into just “Packer season,” IIRC - she will take down this picture of her only child and replace it with one of Favre.
[/hijack]

7

Dispell this impression for me, please. When I actually get to see Packer games and interviews and stuff, it looks like the other Packers tolerate Favre because he is so good, but don’t care much for him otherwise. They just do the job while he does his.

Is this impression a realistic picture of what’s really going on? Is fan fave Favre respected but unloved by teammates? Does Favre have problems making friends with co workers? Are you pondering the same thing I’m pondering?

8

Keep dreaming. This is a guy who told Hugh Douglas (revered in the Philly locker room) not to talk to him.

No one will keep him in line, including Favre.

9

Naaahhh. We get rid of excellent receivers, remember?

[sub]Yes, I’m still angry about the Moss trade.[/sub]

10

If Sherman is the coach next year I will fly out to Green Bay and slap whomever is responsible. The guy is a disaster as a coach, IMO, and I do not see any loyalty to him by Favre. If the Packers decided not to back Favre for maybe a final run at a title this year with their moves in the off-season, why would they start now? My personal hope is that Favre stays another year and mentors Aaron Rogers and then he retires. I love Brett Favre, but we as Packers fans must start preparing for the post-Favre era. They could’ve tried to improve the team this year and made a run, but they did nothing, and as far as I am concerned that ship has sailed.

No to T.O.

11

Winning cures everything. You didn’t hear anything out of him during the regular season last year when the Eagles were tearing up the NFC. If he’s put in a position where he can’t be unhappy with his contract (duffer’s one-year contract is the only way he should ever play again), then it all comes down to winning.

But god help you if (when) you lose)…

12

Packers need a WR, eh? Maybe you could aggressively pursue Javon Walker or Donald Driver. Imagine having those two on the field; Favre could light it up!

Oh wait, no he couldn’t, because you guys like to put on clearance sales with your best offensive linemen.

Take it from this Giants fan: until you straighten out your OL, you could have Terrel Owens, Randy Moss, and Ladanian Tomlinson coming out of the backfield, and it wouldn’t mean shit. It’s all about the line.

Also, your defense sucks ass.

I am nothing but impressed that Favre has kept your shambles of a team so competitive. I would have expected your 1-6 to be similar to the Texans 1-6, but instead it most closely resembles the Cowboys 5-3. I can only surmise that Favre truly is the man.

13

No it doesn’t.

14

You didn’t? What papers were you reading? Last year he was complaining about the money he wasn’t getting and (IIRC), saying that he didn’t mind being misunderstood because so was Jesus, so he was in good company.

15

Freeman! :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack:

I think I’m still jacked about watching Favre run off the field after the pass to Rison just as giddy as could be. Thems was the days.

And I don’t think the defense sucks as bad as many like to say. Favre gave up 5 picks to the Bengals and the D was still able to limit them to 21 points.

The O-Line? What fucking O-Line? We lost 40% to FA because it was too expensive to keep them, and another 30% or so (including 2nd stringers so the stat is skewed, to injury.)

Driver, while a good WR, is now the lead guy when he started the season at #3. Fisher (#3) is the starting RB, Franks just can’t seem to get healthy. Frankly, I’m suprised we’re able to put up more than 6 points a game at this point.

Er, on second thought, the O-Line seems to be marginally servicable. Favre is tied for 2nd with Warner for fewest sacks in the league. They must be doing something right. (Warner and Favre, 9 each. Manning 5)

16

I forgot to mention. Green Bay better step it up in the rush defense. I just found out Batch is getting the start on Sunday. Now’s the time to earn those paychecks boys!

17

[wistful] Gawd, I remember that. It was beautiful. sniff [/wistful]

I stopped paying attention to the Packers a couple years ago. I couldn’t find the games on TV (living in Baltimore, no cable) and when I did manage to watch, it was just painful.

Luckily, I moved to Boston! Go Pats! d&r

18

I don’t remember any of that starting until after the season was over. Once they had lost the Super Bowl, he came on with both barrels; during the season the only thing I remember was the touchdown celebrations and the universal dread of seeing Andy Reid in a catsuit.

Sacks don’t tell the whole story. Favre’s thrown 13 interceptions to Peyton’s 5. Think any of those picks were tossed up to avoid a sack? He’s throwing short passes - he’s 4th in completion percentage but 15th in yards per attempt. That 'll cut down on the number of sacks you give up, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your line is playing well.

19

I don’t think you can blame Favre or Sherman for this seasons downfall. Without all the injuries this team would be running away with the division.

How do you compete when you lose your #1 running back, your #2 running back, your #1 receiver, your #2 receiver, and your #4 receiver? You put it all on the QBs back. It forces him to push thread through needle passes to try to get something going. What else are you supposed to do when secondary receivers can’t get open? And yes, these will get picked off very often.

And you know Farves the kind of guy to never make excuses or blame someone else. It would be too easy for him to say “Who the hell am I supposed to pass to? These guys can’t get open.” But he’ll never say that. He’s played through physical and emotional pain worse than most. He could care less if he takes the blame for losing a game.

20

On what is this based?