Favre Dissed by Jets: The Grass was Greener in Green Bay

Brett Favre is learning that there's no place like Green Bay.

I don't think he knew how good he had it.

From FOX Sports:

As if finding a new head coach, preparing for the draft and figuring out whether the star quarterback will be part of their future aren't big enough issues, the New York Jets have a new problem to deal with as they begin 2009.

Brett Favre is not a popular guy with his teammates, some of whom think the legendary quarterback needed to be held accountable for crucial mistakes down the stretch as the team missed a playoff berth.

Appearing on a local radio show Tuesday, Jets running back Thomas Jones said Favre should have been benched during his three-interception performance against the Dolphins on Sunday, according to The Daily News.

"We're a team and we win together ... but at the same time, you can't turn the ball over and expect to win," Jones said in the interview. "The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. I mean, that's just reality. If I were to sit here and say, 'Oh, man, it's OK,' that's not reality.

"The reality is, you throw interceptions, I'm (ticked) off, I don't like it. You know what I'm saying? I don't like it, I know everybody else on the team doesn't like it."

Last January, when Favre threw that interception to lose the NFC championship game, when he literally threw away a return to the Super Bowl for the Packers, none of his teammates went on the record and said things like that.

At least publicly, they were always so supportive. No matter what Favre would do, they didn't show him any disrespect.

Obviously, things are different in New York.

"If somebody is not playing well, they need to come out of the game," Jones said in the WQHT-FM interview. "You're jeopardizing the whole team because you're having a bad day. To me, that's not fair to everybody else. You're not the only one on the team."

...Another player said Favre was an awkward fit from almost the moment the Jets traded for him on Aug. 6 and released Chad Pennington. Favre reportedly spent considerable time during the season in a private office near the equipment room rather than in the locker room.

"There was a lot of resentment in the room about him," the anonymous teammate told Newsday. "He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone."

Owner Woody Johnson has indicated he wants to see Favre back in 2009, but Jones' outburst is an indication that the quarterback has work to do on and off the field with his teammates if he plans to return next season.

On Monday, fourth-year safety Kerry Rhodes told the paper: "If he's dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way ... and be here when we're here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us ... then I'm fine with it. But don't come back if it's going to be halfhearted or he doesn't want to put the time in with us."

And the issue may extend beyond the locker room as the Jets look for Mangini's replacement.

"I want (Favre) out of the building before I get there," one general manager told The Daily News in analyzing the thought process of prospective coaches. "He's finished. You can read Mangini's body language: 'We can't control him. He will not follow. He's undisciplined. Belligerent.'

"Why would any reasonable man even want him around if you are trying to get a fresh start?"

Wow.

Brett, we hardly knew ye!

Is this the new incarnation, Broadway Brett? Was the good ol' boy Brett really such a prima donna when he was in Green Bay?

These comments from the Jets are not good. They're chipping away at the Favre facade -- the "no ego," "it's all about the game" stuff.

One can only imagine how bad the Packers' season would have been if we hadn't had the consistent and steady Aaron Rodgers as quarterback.

I blamed Ted Thompson for a good deal of the poison surrounding Favre's departure, but I'm beginning to question that.

Favre needs to do some reflecting. He's seriously tainting his legacy. That's not wise considering that these are the final days of his playing career, given his age. He doesn't have time to undo the damage and redeem himself. If he returns for another season with the Jets, I don't know that any changes he might make would be seen as sincere. Anyway, I doubt he's interested in changing.

It would have been so different if Favre stuck with his retirement decision. He would have walked off the field for the final time as a Green Bay and NFL legend rather than an egomaniacal jerk.

The grass was greener in Green Bay, but Favre wasn't smart enough to appreciate it.
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From Newsday:

A team source said Tuesday: "While they're open to Favre returning, Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum believe whomever we hire as the new coach should have significant input on that decision."

The two realize the incongruity of calling for a "new direction" with a very old quarterback. Whomever they hire may want Favre back, and if Favre is healthy and willing to commit early to the offseason program, there are reasons to do that. But that decision will be mostly the new coach's.

Note to new Jets coach: Favre's idea of an early offseason program is throwing some passes to high schoolers in late July.