Favre as the Bucs' QB? It's not Favre-fetched

It's possible Brett Favre could go from Green Bay to Tampa Bay.

The Bucs are defending NFC South champions and have a playoff-caliber defense and offensive line.

Coach Jon Gruden, who loves collecting quarterbacks, was on the Packers coaching staff during Favre's first three seasons in Green Bay (1992-95). Jeff Garcia, who is also 38, is in the final year of his contract with the Bucs.

And, of course, Favre is comfortable running any version of the west coast offense.

On Friday, the Packers quarterback asked in a letter for his unconditional release from the team. He's decided to play this season and has been working out in Mississippi, throwing 50-yard 'ropes', according to one report.

If the Packers don't grant his wish, he will have to write a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and ask to be reinstated. Within 24 hours, the Packers will have to make a decision to keep him on their roster or release him.

It puts the Green Bay front office and coaching staff in a tough position. Favre has won more games than any quarterback in NFL history, leading the Packers to seven division titles in 16 seasons. In the 16 seasons prior to his arrival in Green Bay, the Packers reached the playoffs just once.

After Favre's tearful news conference in March, the Packers haved prepared to move on with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

They made it pretty clear in a conference call Tuesday with Favre and agent Bus Cook that they want to move forward without No. 4.

But Favre felt pressured to make a decision and the competitive juices are flowing again.

Now the Packers face the possibility of facing him sometime during the season.

There are several other landing spots for Favre if he is released, a few of them in the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings are a team that appears to have everything it needs to challenge for a Super Bowl, but quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is inexperienced. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions also are somewhat unsettled at quarterback.

There has been some buzz about the Carolina Panthers, but general manager Marty Hurney dismissed speculation that Favre was interested in coming to Charlotte. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder always has had stars in his eyes and quarterback Jason Campbell is still developing.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens might be the most QB-needy team. The New York Jets also are a possibility.

Trading Favre would be difficult, at best. He can refuse to report because he wants his freedom. The Packers probably owe him that. But again, they risk facing him in the same division.

It's hard to imagine the Packers not taking Favre back, but it appears there are too many hard feelings.

Would Gruden and the Bucs be willing to chuck their off-season preparation with Garcia and move Favre under center?

Absolutely. There are three quarterbacks in the NFL that Gruden would do almost anything to coach: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre, not necessarily in that order.

Gruden is a guy who loves staring at the back of a player's football card. And unlike when Joe Namath went to the Los Angeles Rams or Johnny Unitas mopped up in San Diego, Favre can still really play.

Favre, 38,  led the Packers to the NFC title game and passed for 4,155 yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Can you imagine how much a player like Favre can energize a football team, especially one like the Bucs who have two home playoff losses in the past three seasons.    

There are a lot of executives experiencing the 'wow' factor right about now. Favre is pressing the issue with the Packers.

Maybe if he gets his freedom and looks around, he might decide not to play after all. That was the case when Dan Marino parted ways with the Miami Dolphins.

But Favre believes he deserves the chance to look around and decide for himself. The Packers probably owe him that much.

       

Comments

[Jay]

John,

Keyshawn helped us win the SuperBowl and would run patterns across the middle that would make 98% of the WR in the league wilt in anticipation of the hit. He was fearless, and deserves a lot more respect than it seems you're willing to give.

[john]

Jay I know he was great for us .We coudnt have won without him.But he still has a bigmouth.And we got the better end of the galloway deal to say the least.

[Mike]

For everyone who is sick of reading DR's comments, just remember, everything is bigger in Texas, including the BS and the wide open spaces (inside their big heads)!

[Jay]

Hey, I'll take big mouths like Key and Sapp to win the SuperBowl over the Chris Henrys and Leonard Littles to languish in mediocrity. On the field, they played passionately and professionally, and off they were equally brash and outspoken, but never criminal or malicious. To me, that's just a matter of personalities in the game, and one of the things that makes it great to be a fan. Temper them with the Lynch, Barber, Brooks and Alstotts who are quiet professionals, and you realize that some people just crave the spotlight.

[john]

Jay your dead on their both great player Im just dissappointed in how keyshawn acted during his departure.

[Jesse]

Hey, talking about being big headed (not that Garcia necessarily is but in light of his contract dispute)... what would Garcia do if Tampa signed Favre? I am not asking what Tampa would do with Garcia, but how do you think Garcia would react to the fact that he probably wouldn't be the starter (even though I for one would rather have Favre stayed retired)?

[Jesse]

And... not to mention that all the money he wanted would be going to a guy that realistically will only play for a few years (perhaps only one) at the most (how long is Garcia going to be around anyway? He said he wanted to retire with Tampa - does that mean only a couple more years?).

[DR]

Don't believe the BS some loser posted using my name. I'll take Keyshawn over Galloway any day. Apparently Galloway is so fast that there has been no QB in his career that could get him the ball. Poor fella is always open. His stats say that. His 60 catches per year don't tell the true story of him being open every play. You all dog Clayton out for dropping balls and yet Galloway drops balls every game. The weakness of the Bucs offense is their WR play and Galloway doesn't get the job done as a #1 WR.

[john]

DR joey has more yards, catches, and tds than key.The only good qb joey ever had was troy aikman if I remember it only lasted to about halftime in the season opener.Before and then joey blew his knee out,done for year then troy retired.Then he had a cast of thousand tring to get him the ball.All im saying is hes a very good reciver with no qb his whole career.DR dont quite writting on the blog you have a lot to offer to us.

[DR]

Thanks John. I'm not saying Galloway isn't a good WR, I'm just saying he isn't a great #1 option. He would be a great compliment to a big possession WR. I know he blew his knee out in Dallas but before that, he didn't prove much and Dallas over paid for him. Remember Galloway held out for the fist 10 games for Seattle when he wanted a big contract. Seattle was 7-2 and when Galloway started playing, Seattle finished 8-8 and didn't make the playoffs. Not to say it was all Galloway's fault but he wasn't a locker room guy and his talents on the field were well overrated.
Key was a great option for Brad Johnson and was probablt the MVP on offense in his years in Tampa. He was a big target. You could NOT replace Key with Galloway. Jay is absolutely right about Key. Key would take a beating and still catch the ball. Galloway has average hands and is an average blocker. Galloway just isn't a #1 go to, possession WR. To say he is open all the time is completely stupid.

[Dubya]

do any of you have jobs?

[Dwayne]

If we get favre we get him im not gonna complain if he wins games but if we dont then well just roll with garcia, I also think Clayton should be put at number 1 thats why he had such a good season his rookie year he was the #1 option and knew most of the time he was getting the ball.

DR, not to say Romo isnt a descent QB so far you said brett farve throws late Int's in playoff games and Romo doesnt. Did you forget last year he forced the ball over the middle late in the 4th quarter and R.W. Mcquarters picked it off i believe that was late in the game. But Farve or Romo didnt get to the bowl so i guess it doesnt really matter.

[Dwayne]

If we get favre we get him im not gonna complain if he wins games but if we dont then well just roll with garcia, I also think Clayton should be put at number 1 thats why he had such a good season his rookie year he was the #1 option and knew most of the time he was getting the ball.

DR, not to say Romo isnt a descent QB so far in his career but you said brett farve throws late Int's in playoff games and Romo doesnt. Did you forget last year he forced the ball over the middle late in the 4th quarter and R.W. Mcquarters picked it off i believe that was late in the game. But Farve or Romo didnt get to the bowl so i guess it doesnt really matter.

[DR]

You got to look at the situation Dwayne. For Romo, it was 4th and 11 and they were down by 4 points. Favre has thrown INTs in OT and they were killers. I'm not trying to say Romo is anywhere near a HOF type QB, he has a heck of a lot to prove. You put Romo in 12 years ago and he's just another QB. He looks great compared to most QBs in the league today and thats because most QBs in the league are just plain awful. Garrett also has a lot to prove. His game plan and refusal to change the game plan against the Giants was ridiculous. He's like Gruden, very stubborn. But he's smarter than Gruden because he has knowledge from playing the game and being in the huddle.

[Kurt]

DR, are on this blog because even your own Cowboy fans don't want you around.

[DR]

Is that a question or a statement? There are two reasons that I comment on this blog: (1) I have the uncanny ability to judge talent based solely on stats, and (2) I have determined that every person (coach or player) associated with the Cowboys is better and will always be better than any such person associated with with the Bucs. This blog gives me the opportunity to flaunt both points.

[Jay]

I happen to like DR and his contrary points of view. Otherwise these blogs become a jerk fest of "Dungy's Team / Fire GruAllen" vs actual, intelligent football fans (the fans are often drowned out). I may not agree with everything he says, but that doesn't mean his opinion isn't valid just because he roots for the Cowboys.

It could be worse... he could be a Pats fan.

[PeaceOfficer]

There are some pretty ridiculous arguments going on here.

Favre is an amazing quarterback, and there are only two or three current QBs who are even near his caliber. To even insinuate that Tampa would be better off not picking him up is pretty stupid. And to then compare him to Brad Johnson, and claim that Johnson is the better quarterback (ahem, DR) makes you sound pretty stupid, as well.

There's a reason Johnson doesn't play first-string anymore...for one, he doesn't have good field control. He isn't ballsy or able to really improvise on his feet. And did I mention that he's just not very good? What has he done since leaving the Bucs, other than warm a bench?

Favre is a giant among the greatest NGL legends there are. If the Packers make the unwise decision to release or trade a quarterback that threw for 4,000+ yards last season, then they have lost all of my respect as an organization.

[PeaceOfficer]

"(1) I have the uncanny ability to judge talent based solely on stats, and (2) I have determined that every person (coach or player) associated with the Cowboys is better and will always be better than any such person associated with with the Bucs. This blog gives me the opportunity to flaunt both points."

Isn't that a bit contradictory?

The Cowboys don't have many players that have ANY extrodinary stats. They're a decent, solid football organization, but their play is simply average these days. So, where're these stats that you're supposed to be flaunting?

Also, if you are looking SOLELY at stats, why is it you don't like Favre?

Favre is the only three-time AP MVP (1995-97) in NFL history and led the Packers to two Super Bowls: a victory against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and a loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. His records include: most career NFL touchdown passes (442), most career NFL passing yards (61,655), most career pass completions (5,377), most career pass attempts (8,758), most consecutive starts among NFL quarterbacks (253; 275 total starts including playoffs), and most career victories as a starting quarterback (160).

Granted, he holds the interception record as well, but no one's perfect. And it comes with the type of game he plays.

Romo has...what records? Wow, he went to the Pro Bowl a few times! HAHA, big deal.

[Turk]

Want a laugh guys? check out this link.

http://www.pewterreport.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=0955523624df1f48e1cc5c9648a6d9b0&topic=25056.0

[Jesse]

Turk, there is one thing I don't understand about that article - how did Tampa trade the rights for Plummer to the Packers? Not to long ago, Tampa settled their dispute with him. Hasn't that situation been taken care of? Too, the article is dated for July 15th... that's tomorrow! Has the story already happened and the news will be released tomorrow or what? Is this a joke just to get us Bucs fan all stirred up?!?

[SV]

Some people are so stupid. You have a Super Bowl winning coach and a Pro Bowl QB....just shut up and be glad Culverhouse doesn't own the franchise anymore. Quit the crying and get ready to hop on the bandwagon later in the season. You know, forget the bandwagon and just stay in Polk County and play your banjo.

[Jay]

Jesse, it's satire. Read the comments on the originating source. It was meant to be funny, but the whole "Green Bay traded for Brian Griese" thing should have been a dead giveaway.

[Tony M.]

I may have just gotten out of grade school last week, hence my hideous spelling and grammar, but I do know one thing about football.

The only stat that matters is the almighty W. Furthermore, your regular season W's mean nothing if you don't earn your post season W's.

So, being that the Cowboys haven't had a post-season W since 1996, which I might add was 12 years ago, there is absolutely no way their organization is better than the Bucs in that time period.

"Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing." - Vince Lomabardi

Hey DR, they named a trophy after him I think. You should look that up.

[Turk]

Yes, Jesse it was and picked up by almost every sports news source right away. I thought you guys would get a kick out of it as it made national headlines almost immediately after it saw press. Just a bad joke!

[DR]

Shows how dumb the media is if they fell for that story. The Bucs wouldn't be saving any money under the cap if they traded Plummer. He doesn't count against the cap. As little respect for Gruden that I have, I would find it hard to believe that he would give up a 1st round pick for an aging vet. I know he loves QBs, especially Favre, but that is too much. If the Packers were offered a 1st round pick next year, they would be quick to take the deal I think.

[DR]

Tony, let's not forget that the Bucs haven't won a playoff game in 6 years. That includes 2 losses at home after such an important division championship. I agree with you though, regular season wins mean nothing compared to the playoffs. Ask the Steelers and Giants how much it meant to them not winning their divisions. I agree that the Bucs were better than the 'Boys from 98-02 but since 03, the 'Boys have been better. Not that it means much since neither team has accomplished anything.

[HiFly]

Favre still has the drive and desire to make it to the playoffs again and I'm sure would love another shot at a SuperBowl ring.