Latest from Cimini blog at nydailynews.com: "Agent says Favre deciding between Jets and Bucs And now comes the waiting. Brett Favre has narrowed his decision to the Jets and Bucs, his agent told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger Wednesday morning, and the decision probably will be made Wednesday afternoon. Favre’s Mississippi-based agent, Bus Cook, told the paper at 11:25 a.m. EDT that an announcement could be made within the hour. “Brett’s ready to go play,” Cook said. “It looks like it’s going to be New York or Tampa Bay. We’re waiting to find out and we could learn in the next hour or so.” League sources believe the Bucs are the favorite, although the Jets are very much in contention. The Jets reportedly have the best offer on the table, but it’s unclear if Favre wants to play for the Jets. Most believe he prefers the Bucs. Right now, the Jets are in a holding pattern as they prepare for their 3 p.m. flight to Cleveland, where they face the Browns Thursday night in the pre-season opener. The Jets are downplaying their chances of landing Favre, according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking. In Tampa, the organization is on pins and needles, awaiting word. Conspicuously absent from the team’s training-camp facility is GM Bruce Allen, the point man in the Favre negotiations. People close to the team are absolutely convinced that Allen is off site, working on the Favre deal."
move on By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer 3 minutes ago GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson was not seen at practice Wednesday morning, and his scheduled early afternoon media availability was postponed—one of several signs a trade involving Brett Favre might be brewing. Favre’s Mississippi-based agent, James “Bus” Cook, told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger Wednesday morning that a trade, either to Tampa Bay or the New York Jets, might happen as soon as this morning. “Brett’s ready to go play,” Cook told the paper at 11:25 a.m. EDT. “It looks like it’s going to be New York or Tampa Bay. We’re waiting to find out and we could learn in the next hour or so.” Favre was on a private plane that left for Hattiesburg, Miss. at 1:25 p.m. Cook and Favre’s wife, Deanna, also boarded the plane. Favre’s family home is near Hattiesburg. Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden refused to address speculation that the team was on the verge of a deal for Favre. The Buccaneers have yet to confirm publicly that they are interested in Favre, although Gruden conceded that Favre’s situation is “unprecedented” and acknowledged that he’s always willing to explore ways to improve his team. “We are a good football team,” Gruden said. “We’re trying to become a great one. We’ll do anything we can to get better. And if that involves looking at other players, by George that’s our job. That’s our responsibility.” The Jets had no comment on the Favre situation, a team spokesman said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he was happy the rest of his players were getting a chance to move on. Players vented frustration over the Favre situation Tuesday, after fans chanting “Bring Back Brett!” turned practice into a zoo-like atmosphere and reporters continued asking questions about Favre instead of football. “It’s time for it to be over,” cornerback Charles Woodson said Tuesday. “It’s gone on long enough.” As the league’s longest-running daytime drama continued to twist and turn, Woodson and other veteran Packers players weren’t publicly assessing blame or taking sides. They just didn’t want to talk or think about it any more. “For them to keep us in the dark and just have us answering a bunch of questions that we can’t possibly have a good answer for, I don’t think it’s fair to us,” Woodson said. “I think there needs to be something said, yea or nay for Brett Favre.” That answer—a resounding “nay”—came Tuesday evening, when McCarthy told reporters that after extensive conversations with Favre over the past two days, he has determined that Favre doesn’t have the right mindset to play for the Packers. McCarthy has praised his players’ ability to stay focused throughout the team’s showdown with Favre, but acknowledged Tuesday that it could take a toll on the team. “We have an excellent opportunity here to be a very good football team in 2008,” McCarthy said. “We’ve had an extraordinary challenge dealing with this situation, a lot can be learned from it, but they definitely want this thing resolved as soon as possible.” Wide receiver Greg Jennings admitted Tuesday’s practice—with fans chanting for Favre and against general manager Ted Thompson—was a distraction. Just like everything else in this ugly, omnipresent mess. “When it’s in your face, like this, how do you avoid it? How do you not allow it to be in the back of your head? You can’t,” Jennings said. “You’re thinking about it. Everybody’s in here thinking about it, and we just don’t know what the next move’s going to be.” The next move might be coming soon. But for now, it’s clear that bond between Favre and the Packers appears to be broken beyond repair. After approximately six hours of what McCarthy called “brutally honest” conversations with Favre over the past two days, McCarthy said Favre couldn’t seem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensions mounted in recent weeks—even with the chance to win his starting job back potentially on the table. “The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want,” McCarthy said. “He needs to jump on the train and let’s go. Or, if we can’t get past things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving.” Favre left Lambeau Field just before Packers practice Tuesday afternoon. “We’re at a stalemate,” Favre told ESPN Tuesday morning. AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall contributed to this report from Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Is he gonna pick up an entirely new playbook in 3 weeks? Wish some folks would look at this logistically. This is not like a baseball trade, where the game stays the same. A soon to be 39 year old qb who has been in one system essentially his whole career is gonna come here and be able to fit in in 3 weeks? if this were february, sure... its freaking august 6th. I really am having a problem with him saying he didn't want to play for the jets. F him... go to tampa. This whole soap opera, fostered by ESPFARVE is freaking annoying.
Well if we have a better deal and he doesn't wanna play for us. Fack him let's do this dance with Penny or KC, let the best man win and bring on the g-damn season baby.
If our OL is good and our running game is good we don't need to run such a complicated O. Favre will push the safties back and a much simpler game plan will be much more effective than trying to fool 11 defenders in a 10 yard box.
It sounds like the Packers made the decision for us. So if Brett wants to play in New York, then New York has to take him? WTF is this crap? And of course Cook is going to say Brett is ready to play, they desperately want to deal the frigging guy.
I would like to think our offensive playbook is a bit bigger and more complex than "run to the chevy and I'll hit ya."
It is. People who play Madden all day think you can just trade anyone anywhere and get the same results instantly.
"a source" from the jets told mort yesterday that they believed Favre could have the offense down by week 1 if he were to report by the 7th (tomorrow). If the CS believes he can learn the offense by week 1, I believe them.
I would like to think that a guys whos been doing this for so many years could pick up a good deal of the play book rather quickly. Its not as if he's never seen an NFL playbook. Sure some things would need to be toned down at first but not by the end of the season.
Mort? A source? This is a CS that doesn't reveal what the coaches had for breakfast on game day as not to give away some sort of competitive edge, and they are gonna tell mort something that is going to completely weaken any bargaining position? hmmm... not sure about that one.
While were at it I hear Darrell Green is not playing anywhere this year. We should try to pick him up as well. :up:
I would like to take a guy like Boomer Esiason, a former NFL quarterback, who said repeatedly last week that he was against this trade for the jets, as a NFL QB needs a great deal of time to pick up a new system, gain timing with receivers, and learn the playbook verbiage, especially when said QB has been in a system that has been taylored for him for 18 years, at his word.
Mort has been the one breaking all the news on this whole Favre fiasco before anyone else. He must have good contacts.
