Favre:

[Lil Bit Special]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/15/favre-my-intentions-are-not-to-create-controversy/

During a live HBO interview with Joe Buck tonight, retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre made it clear that he’s very serious about potentially playing football again.

That is, provided his surgically repaired shoulder cooperates and the Minnesota Vikings work out a contract with the former NFL Most Valuable Player. When asked if he plans to play football again, Favre was noncommittal, though. He answered Buck’s question with one word: “Maybe.” Dressed casually in a black T-shirt and jeans, Favre appeared relaxed. Yet, Favre acknowledged that it has been a roller coaster ride over the past few years as he has straddled the line between retirement and continuing to play the game.

“It is,” Favre said “I know people are tired of it. As we talked prior to the show, my intentions are not to create controversy. “It is what it is. I haven’t watched anything. I did see satellite trucks outside our gate. I was sneaking outside our back gate. I don’t know. It’s crazy. I try not to pay attention.” Favre acknowledged having surgery last month. He had his partially torn biceps tendon repaired.

“About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I had surgery with Dr. James Andrews,” Favre said. ”More or less, I can throw and I could throw before the surgery, but I couldn’t throw late in the year last season. Certain throws hurt. I had pain in my neck and down my arm. When I left the first time, I knew I needed surgery and I didn’t want to have it.

“If it feels better, I’m rehabbing. I have talked to the Vikings, but nothing other than, Are you interested?’ and vice versa. I’ve had the procedure, which they know. It’s how my arm feels and lets go.”

Favre confirmed that a Vikings trainer visited him in Mississippi on Sunday. “I met with their trainer yesterday,” he said. “All it was about was going through some exercises, some stretching, band work.” He’s only talking with the Vikings.

“That’s all I’ve talked to, yeah,” Favre said. “It makes perfect sense as far as coming back to an offense I’ve run for 16 years. I could teach the offense. It was tough going to New York last year. I was two weeks late, totally new offense. Brian Schottenheimer and Eric Mangini were great with me. We condensed it, but it was like learning a foreign language.”

He considers the Vikings to be a contender with running back Adrian Peterson as the centerpiece of the offense.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Favre said. “Thee pieces are in place. They have a great running back. They have a great running game. If I go there, there are no guarantees. “I would like to think that every player would think they’re a difference-maker. In that situation, understanding what’s expected of you, knowing your team and knowing we can run the ball and complete passes, we should be pretty good.” Notice he said, ‘we,’ in referring to the Vikings.

What does it take for him to end his retirement?

Favre’s reply: ”First and foremost, it can’t go past anything more than the arm. If that’s not up to par, then I can’t play. I gutted it out last year, but it affected me and it affected our team. I won’t do that again. That’s why I had the surgery. I had the procedure done and as I rehabbed and if it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then we’ll see where it is.”

Favre said there was never a deadline imposed by Vikings coach Brad Childress.

“No. It’s not like I talk to those guys every day,” he said. “Coach Childress did ask if I would go to OTA’s and I chose not to. You can pick sides on this. I think both sides are right. He wanted me to be there to be a part of the team knowing there’s no guarantee that my arm will be like it was before.

“I figured it would be a media frenzy if I was there and a media frenzy if I couldn’t play later. Why not just have one media frenzy? It’s either all or nothing with me.”

When it comes to the criticism of Fran Tarkenton and whether he’s tarnishing his legacy, Favre didn’t seem to let it bother him. “I think the 16 years I spent in Green Bay speaks for itself,” Favre said. “This whole process, I was talking to Chad [Ochocinco] backstage, there are people in your corner no matter what and people who aren’t going to like you no matter what. You know what?

“There are those we get letters all the time, nice e-mails from such and such, but my wife never shows me the bad ones. There are people who don’t give a damn. I totally understand that. It is what it is. Whether it’s right or wrong, who’s to say? I’m trying my best not to fuel the fire.

Favre said he got some advice from John Madden.

“When you’re gone and you’re away from this game, you just can’t go back,” Favre said. “I’m 40 years old in October. I’m not getting any younger. Things you think about at 39, you think about at 25. I get the same response from my family: ‘Whatever you want to do, dad.’”

Many Packers fans are angry that Favre would consider wearing the Vikings’ purple.

“I don’t know what to tell them,” Favre said. “Vince Lombardi went to the Redskins. I don’t hear people saying, ‘That damn traitor he went to Washington.’ Time heals a lot of things. Did some things happen there that may have ruffled the feathers for both sides? Yes. They chose to go in a different direction and that’s okay. I chose to play again and that’s okay. It’s football. It’s not life or death.”

Favre’s final answer dealt with being a celebrity in the sports world.

“As I got older, I cared less about what’s going on besides football,” he said. “I would go hunting, come back, go to the stadium. That was it. Twelve years ago when I quit drinking, I stopped going out to bars and doing things like that. I wouldn’t trade these 12 years for nothing. I’m at peace. I don’t want people to say, ‘There’s such and such.’ It doesn’t turn me on the way it once did. People are going to take sides and say, ‘He’s full of crap.’ I can’t change that.”

The show was billed as a discussion of athletes and celebrity.

Prior to Favre’s appearance, there was a lengthy segment of Favre highlights and interviews with the Green Bay Packers before retiring for the first time followed by Favre ending his retirement and being traded to the New York Jets before retiring again. And then the latest Favre watch was detailed, including shots of Scott Hanson of NFL Network reporting from outside Favre’s Mississippi home.

After a camera shot of Favre getting some powder applied to his face backstage from a makeup girl, Favre and Buck went through an attempted comedy bit where Favre promised Buck that he would be the first guest in the history of the program.

[aec4]

why do we still care about Favre?

[Lil Bit Special]

why do we still care about Favre?

who said we cared?

Its an NFL story posted in the NFL forum

[aec4]

who said we cared?

Its an NFL story posted in the NFL forum

just a general question.. if we didn't care, we wouldn't post it. PFT has 10s of articles a day, and except for 124, I don't see them all cut/pasted here.

[CTM]

Favre = 2009 CPOY

[Blackout]

glad that Favre cleared that up

[PS17]

In the end, he just wants to play. At this point, now that he isn't on my team, I am completely indifferent to whatever decisions he makes. I really could care less if he retires or plays.

[StillerPaul]

I wish the guy all the luck in the world. If I were in his shoes you can bet i'd have a hard time leaving the game ( and the money lol). Sucks for you guys that he 'gutted it out' at the end of last year and cost ya's a playoff run. If indeed that is what happened.

[JagsFanJif]

Favre = 2009 CPOY

Controversial Player of the Year

[124]

Just got done watching the show and Favre was actually pretty funny and was a good listen. I really hope the best for him and I think he's going to do well in Minnesota (you can tell that he is coming back unless problems with the recovery occur). He was amazing for us until he got hurt, you cannot blame him for getting hurt. Injuries happen. He is still one of my favorite, if not my all-time favorite, player.

[gsnts725]

stfu favre

[docdhc]

What shocks me is the guy knew he had a partially torn tendon before signing with the Jets and that is why he wore down at the end of the year. I wonder if the Jets medical staff knew that before he signed. It sucks that he was damaged goods but he took our money anyway.

[Irish Jet]

Die Favre. Just die.

[JETfrmWOMBtoTOMB]

**** you Favre!!! And **** everybody who supports your stupid hill billie ass!!!! I can't wait to see you fail miserably... That said, I'm a little drunk and can't be held responsible for what I say or do. **** You!!!!

[Klecko73isGod]

Favre = 2009 CPOY

[Lil Bit Special]

just a general question.. if we didn't care, we wouldn't post it. PFT has 10s of articles a day, and except for 124, I don't see them all cut/pasted here.

Favre story is being reported on in a bunch of places. His interview, breaking his silence for the first time this summer, is big news.. unlike most crap posted on PFT.