McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks away'

[Heatherthepackgirl]

By Andy Fenelon | NFL.com

KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- Brett Favre's decision on whether to retire or return to the Green Bay Packers for an 18th season is still "probably a couple of weeks away," says coach Mike McCarthy.


McCarthy, who signed a new five-year contract with the Packers on Tuesday, says he talks with his quarterback weekly and intends to talk with him in the next few days, but that he doesn't anticipate an answer, and isn't worried about it dragging out.

"It would be a different team because you're talking about a guy that's led the football team for 17 years," said McCarthy, who's in Hawaii coaching the NFC team in the Pro Bowl. "But it's a change that's inevitable. His career will go down as one of the greatest in the history of the National Football League. It's going to change and we're prepared for that with the progress of Aaron Rodgers."

Rodgers showed great progress in his third NFL season. He played a good portion of the Week 13 loss at Dallas when Favre got injured, performing at a high level and keeping the Packers in the game to the end.

Still, the Packers would like to hold off on the start of the Aaron Rodgers era for at least one more season.

"I hope (Favre returns), I just don't know if he will," tackle Chad Clifton said. "When you take away someone who's been there 17 years and is the face of the team ... but we don't want to think about that. We just keep our hopes up that he's coming back."

Favre was voted to his ninth Pro Bowl this year but declined the offer and instead headed home to Hattiesburg, Miss., to spend time with his family and contemplate his future. He was replaced by Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia.

 

[cheesey]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

Well....i THINK he'll come back. At least i HOPE he will! One more year with Favre would be great!

 

[vechenzo]

Come back for one more year, and let everybody know its your last, if not sign a multi year deal, just quit the damn drama about whether you are coming back or not. It would suck to lose you but it will happen eventually, and if you are not coming back let coaching staff no as soon as you can otherwise you are hurting the team.

 

[bozz_2006]

it's not drama. he's deciding whether or not to play. it's obviously not something that he takes lightly, so he wants to think about it after each individual season. and guess what! he could still do the exact same thing whether or not he had a long-term contract in place.

 

[cheesey]

it's not drama. he's deciding whether or not to play. it's obviously not something that he takes lightly, so he wants to think about it after each individual season. and guess what! he could still do the exact same thing whether or not he had a long-term contract in place.

Thats true. And really, theres nothing going on right now, so he's not "hurting the team." It's just making us fans sweat a bit! :lol:

 

[packedhouse01]

I too want him back, but I also want his decision sooner than later.

 

[bigfog]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

I hope he comes back. With him at the driver's seat and some improvements, Green Bay should be primed for a run.

I so want to see him ride off into the sunset after a Super Bowl victory. With some luck, that could happen here.

 

[nathaniel]

I'm not too worried about the whole situation. The media always blows this up into some huge deal, but when it comes to retirement everything should be well thought out.

 

[tromadz]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

it's not drama. he's deciding whether or not to play. it's obviously not something that he takes lightly, so he wants to think about it after each individual season. and guess what! he could still do the exact same thing whether or not he had a long-term contract in place.

Thats true. And really, theres nothing going on right now, so he's not "hurting the team."

Not yet anyway. When does FA begin again?

Although I think he'll decide a week after the pro bowl, and he'll decide to give it at least another year.

 

[Raider Pride]

Brett wants to play next year. What he does not know is whether he wants to go through the physical grind that it will take this off season to actually play next year.

This is a good thing that he is thinking it over. It would be so easy for him to slack off the off season training and just show up next year. He knows the vast commitment it will take. He knows the sweat, pain and time it will take to be there 100% next year.

He has never done anything half assed in his life. So this is a serious decision for him.

He is not playing a media game. He is not looking for attention. The man is a serious, and serious decisions take time and thought. Two weeks or four weeks is not going to make a difference to the Packers plans for next year.

Thankfully there is a plan "B" already in place. And I am confident you all are going to seriously pleased with plan "B"

 

[Zombieslayer]

I agree with RP. There's no way he would NOT want to come back to a team that exciting. We were #4 in offense and we have room for improvement, and we're the youngest team in the NFL. How could he not want to come back?

But the one thing holding him back is he's wondering if he wants to go the physical rigors of playing in the NFL for one more season.

 

[HomerJay]

A man like Favre doesn't get that close to his second SB title and NOT come back. Not with so much talent coming back next year.

 

[eap33]

I'm really hoping he comes back, but I definitely understand if he chooses not to. Can you imagine having to be in the best shape of your life for 17 years straight? I can't even maintain a decent level of fitness for 6 months! Think about that... you have to be physically ready to run around and get hit for 4 solid months. That puts a major toll on your body.

 

[packedhouse01]

I still dont understand why this process with Brett has to take so long. The questions you have to answer are: 1) do you still enjoy playing the game....it looks to me like he does. 2) do I have a chance to win.....he sure does. 3) do I want to go back through that difficult training regimen to be in top shape...that may be his most difficult decision. 3) if I retire can I put the game behind me....I don't think he can do that because he can still play at a high level. Even with all his injuries, he plays through him. I will say this, other than those two cold games this year, Brett Favre is the toughest player I've ever seen play the game. Those two cold games made him look fragile. 4) can I still play this game at a high level.........absolutely. He was among the top three QB's after 17 seasons with no visible drop off in skill. 5) do I have the energy to keep doing this...and this may be his most difficult decision. I could help but think after that game in Chicago that he was thinking, "what the hell am I **** here?" That's honestly the first time I saw him play where I thought he was disinterested and wished he were sitting in a chair in his living room being warm. If that's how he feels then retirement is his best option. If he still has the fire, then it's an easy choice becasue all those other things are no longer important.

 

[vixtalkn]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

... and the beat goes on ...

 

[PackFanWithTwins]

I hope Brett returns for another year, and when he makes the announcement also lets everyone know that it will be his last year.

Let there be a big party after his last home game. Let all us fans say goodbye and thank you in Lambeau.

 

[Zombieslayer]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

A man like Favre doesn't get that close to his second SB title and NOT come back. Not with so much talent coming back next year.

That's what I'm thinking. We lost by a field goal in OT. We were that close.

 

[Buckeyepackfan]

HE'S HOLDING THE FRANCHISE HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!
Just like the last 4 years, nothing could be done until Brett decides, no decisions were ever made until Brett decides, the team is in shambles because Brett won't decide.

Oh wait, 13-3 last year 1 game away from the superbowl..............................NEVERMIND!!!

take your time Brett, make sure you really want it in 2008, I sure hope so but if not BF will go out very quietly and probably will not be heard from for awhile because he has always valued his privacy, and never needed to be in the limelight.

A step back without Brett, but IMHO next years team will be good enough to succeed with A-Rod at QB.

 

[flep]

Didn't we have the same thread last year?

And the year before that...

and the year before that.

It must be the off season.

 

[tromadz]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

HE'S HOLDING THE FRANCHISE HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!
Just like the last 4 years, nothing could be done until Brett decides, no decisions were ever made until Brett decides, the team is in shambles because Brett won't decide.

Oh wait, 13-3 last year 1 game away from the superbowl..............................NEVERMIND!!!

If that's the logic you're going to use, what was our record the 2 previous years before 13-3?

awww.

I really do feel sorry for people who are unable to understand how Brett's indecision effects the franchise when FREE AGENCY is going on.

People wanna KNOW who the QB is. Not who it MIGHT be. It's as simple as that.

I really am sad to be a Packers fan when people can't comprehend things like this.

 

[cheesey]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

HE'S HOLDING THE FRANCHISE HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!
Just like the last 4 years, nothing could be done until Brett decides, no decisions were ever made until Brett decides, the team is in shambles because Brett won't decide.

Oh wait, 13-3 last year 1 game away from the superbowl..............................NEVERMIND!!!

If that's the logic you're going to use, what was our record the 2 previous years before 13-3?

awww.

I really do feel sorry for people who are unable to understand how Brett's indecision effects the franchise when FREE AGENCY is going on.

People wanna KNOW who the QB is. Not who it MIGHT be. It's as simple as that.

I really am sad to be a Packers fan when people can't comprehend things like this.

I don't know.....maybe i missed something........i haven't seen any big "free agency" deals going on right now.

 

[tromadz]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

HE'S HOLDING THE FRANCHISE HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!
Just like the last 4 years, nothing could be done until Brett decides, no decisions were ever made until Brett decides, the team is in shambles because Brett won't decide.

Oh wait, 13-3 last year 1 game away from the superbowl..............................NEVERMIND!!!

If that's the logic you're going to use, what was our record the 2 previous years before 13-3?

awww.

I really do feel sorry for people who are unable to understand how Brett's indecision effects the franchise when FREE AGENCY is going on.

People wanna KNOW who the QB is. Not who it MIGHT be. It's as simple as that.

I really am sad to be a Packers fan when people can't comprehend things like this.

I don't know.....maybe i missed something........i haven't seen any big "free agency" deals going on right now.

exactly. thats why this isnt an issue (at this time). He should take his time, talk with his family about it, get some hunting in, talk with MM, etc, and have a decision before FA begins.

 

[cheesey]

Re: McCarthy: Favre decision 'probably a couple of weeks awa

HE'S HOLDING THE FRANCHISE HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!
Just like the last 4 years, nothing could be done until Brett decides, no decisions were ever made until Brett decides, the team is in shambles because Brett won't decide.

Oh wait, 13-3 last year 1 game away from the superbowl..............................NEVERMIND!!!

If that's the logic you're going to use, what was our record the 2 previous years before 13-3?

awww.

I really do feel sorry for people who are unable to understand how Brett's indecision effects the franchise when FREE AGENCY is going on.

People wanna KNOW who the QB is. Not who it MIGHT be. It's as simple as that.

I really am sad to be a Packers fan when people can't comprehend things like this.

I don't know.....maybe i missed something........i haven't seen any big "free agency" deals going on right now.

exactly. thats why this isnt an issue (at this time). He should take his time, talk with his family about it, get some hunting in, talk with MM, etc, and have a decision before FA begins.

I think he will have made his decision before then.
I'm not worried about it.

 

[tromadz]

He said he will have made it by then. I believe him. Favre's not a liar.

 

[cheesey]

He said he will have made it by then. I believe him. Favre's not a liar.

I know.......thats why i'm not concerned. I DO hope he gives it one more shot. He didn't have a good game in the NFC title game.......but then again, the whole team didn't have a good game.
I think he still has "it!"