Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Here’s the transcript of the second half of Brett Favre’s interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News today. (Click here to read the first half.) I don’t know why Greta refers to the Minnesota Vikings as the Minneapolis Vikings.

Greta Van Susteren: Let me ask you something. Right now are the Packers paying you any money?

Brett Favre: No.

GVS: So you are, quote, retired?

BF: Yes.

GVS: What you want, since they don’t want you back, at least they’ve sent that message to you, they say they’ve moved on, you want to be released to pursue anything you want?

BF: To play for whoever, you know?

GVS: And they want to, quote, trade you…

BF: Maybe.

GVS: Maybe trade you or put you on the bench. If they trade you, they can basically hide you on a team that they know the Packers won’t compete with or doesn’t have a Super Bowl chance.

BF: I would say that’s exactly right. And they haven’t even talked about a trade. It’s been, ‘We will welcome Brett back. He’ll have to understand he’ll be a backup.’

GVS: Why not do that? If you look at it, Aaron Rodgers, I hope he’s a healthy man, but he hasn’t started a game. You’ve started the last 275, I think that’s the number. And he’s been injured twice.

BF: The one thing in this, I do feel bad for Aaron a little bit. I think he’ll do a fine job, to be totally honest with you. I do. He has been injured. The two injuries are not his fault. Couldn’t control them. I know this has been tough on him. I think he’ll do a fine job. And this has nothing to do with him, this whole deal. If they want to make me a backup … The thing is, they’ve been preaching about, ‘We want to protect Brett’s legacy’ … and we both know what that’s about. How does that protect my legacy if I’m a backup? Brett, we welcome you back, we’ll pay you $12 million but you’ve got to hold the clipboard and ball cap. That’s probably better for them as opposed to letting me go somewhere and me coming back. Then, their legacy, the management, could be in jeopardy. Let me worry about that. You don’t worry about my legacy. It’s a bunch of bull. That’s all it is.

GVS: To think ahead, if the Packers did release you, and let’s say a team picks you up that really needs a quarterback. Chicago, Baltimore or even Minneapolis. And I think the thought of that first Monday night game, I think the Packers play Minneapolis. Don’t they play the Vikings?

BF: Yes, yes.

GVS: That’s also the day they’re supposed to retire the Green Bay ‘4.’ To have you run out in a purple uniform will make the fans crazy.

BF: I’ve never envisioned that. I’ve heard all the talk like everyone else. It’s hard not to. But that’s always been our biggest rivalry, obviously with the Bears. Did I ever think of that? No. Did I ever think it would happen? Absolutely not. In my getting a release, obviously it gives you an option. I don’t know if other teams would make a play for me. … It may not work out. We won’t know unless we’re released. And how am I supposed to trust that they’re working on a trade after the things that have been told to me in the past? Teams may have called and said, ‘Hey, we’re interested.’ Well, you know, I mean, they may never tell us. The longer this goes on, the less likely that I am to play with someone because of the time factor.

GVS: Training camp starts, right around the corner. The 27th of July?

BF: For Green Bay. Other teams are probably reporting earlier.

GVS: Let me get this straight. You’re now 100 percent certain you want to play football?

BF: Where is a different question, yes.

GVS: 100 percent?

BF: Right. And I very well may not play, Greta.

GVS: But that’s your desire?

BF: Well, the circumstance…

GVS: And you’re physically ready to do this?

BF: I think so, yeah. I think I’m ready.

GVS: And Deanna is on board, your wife?

BF: Yeah.

GVS: Have the Packers told you you could come back and sit on the bench?

BF: That’s what I’m hearing, yes. Yeah.

GVS: Is that unacceptable to you?

BF: I think so. I’ve had a lot of people say, and you’ve mentioned that, go back and hold them to it. Well, I don’t see it that way. It’s tempting because everyone is saying, ‘Call their bluff,’ or whatever. I think it’s going to be a circus in itself already, whether I go there or whatever. And I like my teammates. I had a lot of fun with them. I have talked to numerous guys throughout this whole ordeal. I wish them the best. I really do. I hold nothing against those guys. We had a lot of fun together. It was an amazing year last year. I don’t want to make it any worse than it is. I mean, I’ve always been a Packer and always will be a Packer. Will I play somewhere else? Remains to be seen. But I don’t want to go back there just to stick it to them.

GVS: When you had that announcement in March, you got very emotional. Is this emotional for you?

BF: Very emotional. The way I play the game, the way I live my life, is very emotional. And I’m sorry. I’ve got friends that pick on me all the time about crying, not only during that press conference but last year after a Chicago Bears game. ‘Hey, Favre is crying again.’ And it is a little bit embarrassing to me at times. But that’s the only way I know to be. It’s real. It’s genuine. Every game I’ve ever played, regardless of if it was preseason or Super Bowl, meant the same to me. And I laid it all on the line, and I hope people can appreciate it, because I do. And if I don’t play again, it’s not the end of the world, because I look back and have no regrets. There are some games that I wish I would have won, but I played every game the same way. And so what you see is what you get. I don’t know what else to tell you. Yeah, I was emotional. ‘He was believable.’ I heard that. ‘Favre was believable.’ Well, it was real. I didn’t think I’d play again and still may not. I was giving an honest answer at that time. They didn’t make me give that answer. They asked if they could have that answer before free agency and the draft. And I did.

GVS: Have you spoke to Aaron Rodgers at all?

BF: No.

GVS: Were you friendly with him?

BF: We got along fine. He’s 14 years younger than me. I know he made some comments here lately. But when I was his age I made some crazy comments, too, so I can’t hold that against him. It seems to me that some things were released I think the same day that the Sports Illustrated article was coming out. They’re going to probably say that they didn’t release any of this info or get the pot stirring. But if they did it was pretty smart, because it deflected a lot of the comments that he supposedly made.

GVS: About the fans having to basically get over you?

BF: Yeah. And I’m sure he’s tired of answering questions about Brett Favre.

GVS: It must be hard on him.

BF: It’s got to be hard on him. My only advice to him, and I never gave him advice really, would be that the only way to shut that up, we all know, is to go out and play and play well. And that’s not to say that they would forget what I’ve done. But go out and prove it on the field. That’s all I would say. I’m not sitting here bashing Aaron Rodgers. I think he’ll do a fine job, and I think his comments are not a surprise. Not only from him, but I might have said the same thing.

GVS: I know you haven’t made any decisions, but is going back to Green Bay an option and being the backup quarterback at this point?

BF: Going back and being a backup quarterback? No.

GVS: What about competing for starting quarterback?

BF: Why?

GVS: I’m just asking.

BF: That’s what I would ask them: ‘Why?’ ‘Well, Brett, you retired. You know what I mean?’

GVS: Allowing them to trade you so that they get something in return?

BF: It’s hard to imagine. But if I’m going to play, I mean obviously I would have to agree to whoever it is. And I’m sure they’re not going to do it with a big rival or a competitor or whatever. But that may be our only option. I don’t know what else to do.

GVS: If they release you, which is now your first choice if you can’t be the starting quarterback, if they release you, that at least enables you to make your own decisions.

BF: Why not ask for it? That’s what Bus [Cook] and I, we talked about it. Why not ask for it? Do we think we’ll get it? But that gives you freedom to sign with anyone. But I’m still under contract, and as far as I know, you can’t talk to anyone and they can’t talk to you. They have to go through the Packers via the trade scenario. ‘Hey, we understand that Brett possibly could be traded.’ How do we know that he hasn’t talked to someone? I guess he yesterday said that no one has inquired. That may very well be true. But then again, how do we know it’s not?

GVS: What do you make of the rallies? There are a couple rallies scheduled to bring Brett Favre back, some of your fans.

BF: Once again, Green Bay is a special place. Wisconsin is a special place. I truly appreciate not only these rallies, but the way they … you know, I’ve been booed a couple of times in that stadium, deservedly so. I didn’t always play well. I had my ups and downs. But through it all, most people can say, ‘You know, I appreciate the way he played, the way he handled himself. I wasn’t perfect. Never will be. But I’ve always shot it straight and honest and played the game that way. I think those people, now, I think they’ll hear this side of the story. They can believe what they want. But for the most part, the people that are rallying and know me, think they know me, would say, ‘You know, now this makes more sense. That’s kind of what we thought.’ I’m not here to convince people. I’m here to tell the truth. And I hope the fans know it’s not about them. Obviously it’s not. Because I can’t go anywhere else and get what I’ve got in Green Bay. Never will. No one can. And I was fortunate through those years to appreciate it, witness it, feel it. There’s nothing like it.

Source: Fox News, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brett Favre Fox News Interview Part 2

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

It’s about time we heard Brett Favre’s side of his retirement story. Here’s the transcript of Brett’s interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News today. There is supposedly a second part which will air tomorrow.

Greta Van Susteren: Why did you retire so early?

Brett Favre: Well, I’m sure that a lot of people out there, of course there has been a lot of things said, and this is the first time I’ve talked. But one of the things from what I understand is that people are saying that Brett retired because the Packers or [General Manager] Ted Thompson didn’t ask me back. That’s totally untrue. They wanted an answer before free agency/draft. [Coach] Mike McCarthy called every week, after about a two or three-week grace period after the season. Mike would call, ‘Hey, how are things going? Where are you at with your decision?’ I said, ‘Boy Mike, I’m kind of burned out right now and I just need some time.’ I said, ‘Boy it would be nice if I could wait until training camp.’ Well, [McCarthy said], ‘We have a different direction we need to go in if you’re not going to be here.’ Which is fine, I totally understand that. But I was not ready to totally commit. The bottom line, and I said that in my press conference, regardless of what people think, the bottom line, on March 3, when I got in front of the podium, did I want to play? Yes. One hundred percent? No. I think people who have followed my career, people who know me closely, I won’t play if I’m not 100 percent committed. I could have easily said, ‘You know what? I’ll take the money. I’ll come back. And hopefully, I’ll get committed somewhere either before, during training camp or during the season. No one will know.’ But that’s not me. So on March 3, when I got in front of the podium, and one of the things I said, Greta, is, ‘I know I can still play, but at this time, I don’t think I want to.’ And sort of left the door open, but they wanted an answer. Am I mad at them for that? No. I think that’s what needs to be cleared up. It’s, hey, you wanted an answer, I gave you the honest answer at that time, as opposed to lying to you and saying, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll come back, and giving you not what’s expected of me, and that’s 100 percent effort.’

GVS: I take it you like being a Packer.

BF: I can’t imagine being with anyone else, or haven’t envisioned being with someone else. That has always been my focus. As I said then, I will say now, really as I’ve said my whole career, playing in Green Bay is … there is nothing like it. There is nothing like that. It’s one of those things, it was destiny. A kid from south Mississippi, a lot like Bart Starr. Who would have ever thought that I would go to Green Bay and have the career I had? And it’s unfortunate that it’s come to this. I’m sure there are a lot of fans that are thinking, from what they’ve heard, that Brett is a traitor, he wants to go play elsewhere. That’s not true. I was told that playing in Green Bay was not an option. Regardless of what you hear from up there. I’m not making it up. I was told that playing in Green Bay was not an option. Then I was told that we can’t envision you playing for another team as well. What does that tell me? It tells me, ‘We don’t want you playing, period.’

GVS: Have you signed any official retirement papers?

BF: No, I have not signed any official papers.

GVS: So this is no great surprise to them that you sometimes have second thoughts?

BF: No, it’s not a surprise. And you know, I understand how the public is. It’s kind of like, ‘Make up your mind already.’ But, there’s no way that I could expect them to understand what I’m going through.

GVS: What are you going through at this point?

BF: To be totally honest with you, and to simplify it as easy as I can, I think if you were to poll players who played as long as me or almost as long as me, if you said, ‘Come March, whether your intentions are to come back or they are wishy-washy or whatever in March, are you committed one way or the other?’ They are going to tell you no.

GVS: Did you talk to coach McCarthy or did you text message him?

BF: Talked to him on June 20 and that was it.

GVS: And said what?

BF: Well, it was small talk for a while. I said, ‘Mike, I’m thinking about coming back. I’ve been working out at the high school.’ I said, ‘That was a big hurdle for me to get over. Don’t want to get up in the morning and go run and throw.’ Which I did this morning. And I feel good. I said, ‘You know, I have to admit, I’m thinking about it. What’s your take on it? If I’m going to play, it’s going to be in Green Bay.’ But I need to find out what their take was. And he, oh, I could just see him. He is, ‘Aw, Brett, this is … We’ve moved on.’ And I said, ‘Moved on?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we’ve moved on. I had to tell the team something. You told me you were not 100 percent committed, not only when you retired but several weeks after when we were talking about coming down there, when we had that conversation. You said you were not 100 percent committed.’ And I said, ‘You’re right. You’re absolutely right.’ And it was a good conversation. We’ve always had good communication, the two of us. And I said, ‘You’re right. I totally agree. I was not 100 percent committed.’ And I said, ‘But you guys wanted an answer in March, and I gave you the honest answer.’ And I said, ‘If I had been able to wait until training camp, that would have been great.’ And he said, ‘Well, why didn’t you tell me that? We would have let you do it.’ And I told myself, well, you told me before the draft/free agency — and you ended up drafting two kids in the draft — and that kind of tells you …

GVS: Two quarterbacks?

BF: Two quarterbacks. And once again, that’s OK. That’s fine. All I was asking on June 20 was, ‘OK, you guys have a different path, fine. What does that mean for me?’ So I say, ‘That means you either give me my helmet, welcome back, you release me, or you attempt to trade me.’ We all know that’s a possibility but a way-out-there possibility. And he says, ‘Well, playing here is not an option, but we can’t envision you playing with another team, either.’ And I thought, ‘So basically I’m not playing for anyone if I choose to come back.’ I understand. I am guilty of one thing, and that’s retiring early, and I have an answer for that and have spoke on that. And I knew I would have second thoughts. And I think Mike has even made the comment that, ‘I knew Brett would go through this. I knew he would have these second thoughts.’ Well, I am. So you’re telling me that playing there is not an option, but playing elsewhere, we’re trying to protect your legacy? Well, thank you, I appreciate that. But apparently now, they want to protect my legacy by bringing me back and having me be a backup. Boy, that is really good.

GVS: Are you physically ready to play football?

BF: Yeah. I’ve been pretty fortunate. Aside from 38, I know during this whole ordeal, especially on that June 20 conversation when Mike and I talked about coming back. He said, ‘You know, when I was in Kansas City we traded for Joe Montana and he wasn’t the same, you know? You’ve got to worry about that.’ … I think Joe went there and played quite well. And believe me, I’ve thought of all those things. And when they sent [Packers assistant coach] James Campen down here to [tell me] ‘you’ve got to think about moving your family to another city. Are you well aware of what that means? The fan reaction? There are going to be some people calling you a traitor?’ Yeah. The bottom line on all of this is I may not play anywhere. But we have thought of all those things. We have thought about it.

GVS: It’s interesting that management is worried about you having a rough time, supposedly.

BF: I appreciate them thinking of me, yeah.

GVS: I take it you’re a big boy and can handle all of this?

BF: I would hope so. And I keep going back and talking with people. I am guilty of retiring early. There is a reason for that. The major issue is, ‘Why did he retire?’ He asked for his release because he doesn’t want to play in Green Bay. That’s not true. And I hope that the people are hearing this and say, ‘OK, that clears it up.’ There are going to be some people who say, ‘So what?’ And once again, them moving on does not bother me. It doesn’t. I totally understand that. By me retiring March 3, I knew that that could possibly happen. All I was saying was, ‘You know, I’m thinking about playing again.’ The ‘itch’ has been used. That’s been the word that’s been used. If you want to say itch or the fire has come back or whatever, if I’m going to play it’s going to be 100 percent commitment, and it’s not going to be in March. And so, if you’ve moved on, you tell me one thing. Don’t come back and tell the public … just say, ‘We’ve moved on. We’ll work with Brett on whatever it is.’ Don’t make up a lot of stuff or give half of the truth and say we want to let you be the backup and he’s got to understand and all this. I mean it’s ridiculous. It really is.

Source: Fox News, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brett Favre Fox News Interview Part 1