Open Competition

So after weeks of insisting Aaron Rodgers was the starting QB it appears the Packers will reverse course following Favre’s decision to unretire. Mark Murphy issued the following statement:

Sixteen years after Brett Favre came to the Packers, he is returning for a seventeenth season. He has had a great career with our organization and although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back. We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage.

Frankly, Brett’s change of mind put us in a very difficult spot. We now will revise many actions and assumptions about our long-term future, all predicated on Brett’s decision last March to retire. As a result of his decision, we invested considerably in a new and different future without Brett and we were obviously moving in that direction. That’s why this wasn’t easy. Having crossed the Rubicon once when Brett decided to retire, it’s very difficult to reorient our plans and cross it again in the opposite direction – but we’ll put this to our advantage.

Brett will be in camp tomorrow. Although there has been uncertainty regarding Brett’s return, Ted Thompson and Coach McCarthy had previously discussed this and have had a plan in place. Coach McCarthy will talk to the team and the quarterbacks about the plan moving forward, and after he has done that we will share it publicly.

No matter what, I look forward to another successful season for the Packers and our fans. This has been a tough situation, but the Packers will make the most of it.

That means there will be a competition for starting QB.

The Green Bay Packers are through negotiating with quarterback Brett Favre on a marketing deal and they are anticipating him reporting for training camp Monday and being on the field as soon as he passes his physical, a Packers source said.

Another source close to the club, said that the Packers have agreed to allow Favre to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting job and he won’t necessarily be the backup this season. Trade talks with Favre have not advanced and coach Mike McCarthy is expected to come up with a plan that will split the practice repetitions with Rodgers.

So now it’s apparently an open competition for starting QB. 

sources told ESPN’s Wendi Nix that coach Mike McCarthy will announce he’s holding an open competition for the starting quarterback position.

Seriously does anyone truly believe that barring a trade or sudden change in heart to stay retired that Brett Favre will not be the Packers starting QB on September 8th?

Creation

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with Broccoli, Cauliflower and Spinach, green and yellow and red Vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live Long and Healthy Lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful Yogurt that Woman might keep the Figure that Man found so fair.

And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.”

And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables, and olive oil in which to cook them.”

And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

So God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.”

Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds.

And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the Potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.

And Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.

And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent Double Cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.”

And Man went into Cardiac Arrest.

God sighed and created Quadruple Bypass Surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs.

Just say no

John McCain was recently rebuffed by Bobby Jindal following the surfacing of his name as a possible choice for VP.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he will not run for vice president on the Republican ticket, adding himself to a growing number of those pulling themselves out of the race.

…

“Let me be clear: I have said in every private and public conversation, I’ve got the job that I want. And I’ll say again on air: I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee or vice president. I’m going to help Senator McCain get elected, as governor of Louisiana,” Jindal said.

“I look forward to continuing to be governor of Louisiana. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to improve our state. We’ve cut six taxes but we’ve got a lot more work to do right here in Louisiana. … I’ve never talked to the senator about the vice presidency or his thoughts on selecting the vice president.”

Now the McCain camp is apparently turning it’s attention conservative House member Eric Cantor.

John McCain’s campaign has asked Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor for personal documents as the Republican presidential candidate steps up his search for a running mate, The Associated Press has learned.

Cantor, 45, the chief deputy minority whip in the House, has been mentioned among several Republicans as a possible running mate for McCain. A Republican familiar with the conversations between Cantor and the McCain campaign said Cantor has been asked to turn over documents, but did not know specifically what records were sought.

…

Cantor has been a visible McCain surrogate for weeks, appearing frequently on cable news outlets chiefly to promote McCain’s positions on domestic and economic issues. He has been a forceful critic of Democrat Barack Obama’s resistance to lifting the federal ban on oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Cantor has strong support among the party’s conservatives, perhaps comforting a segment of the GOP base that has been reluctant to embrace McCain, who has often been at odds with members of his own party on several issues, including a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, federal funds for embryonic stem cell research and campaign finance reform.

As a strong conservative Cantor can do more good in Congress and considering we’ll apparently have either a RINO or a Democrat as President we need all the conservatives we can get in Congress.   Like with Jindal it’s not worth it to waste his political talent on a McCain ticket.  Hopefully like Jindal did, Eric Cantor will just say no to being VP on the McCain ticket.

Favre reinstated

The “Favre situation” is coming to a head. Brett’s being reinstated.

From ESPN -

Brett Favre will be reinstated and added to the Green Bay Packers’ active roster Monday.

The NFL announced the move Sunday. Commissioner Roger Goodell had held off on granting Favre’s request for reinstatement for nearly a week.

He hoped Favre and the team could resolve their standoff. By reinstating Favre, Goodell is following through on a recent promise to force action.

The league office was closed for business Sunday. The reinstatement will become effective Monday at noon.

Favre first informed ESPN’s Ed Werder of his pending reinstatement Sunday morning in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Favre was prepared Sunday to fly to Green Bay, he said.

ESPN’s Wendi Nix reported Favre’s plane was scheduled to touch down at 6:30 ET, though he didn’t plan to attend the sold-out Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field, which more than 60,000 fans were expected to attend.

Packers officials planned to greet Favre upon his arrival to Green Bay.

Favre was expected to report to training camp Monday by 1 p.m. ET, when the Packers say they will be prepared to make a roster move.

It could be to add him, trade him or usher him back into retirement if they complete negotiations on a deal.

From the Journal-Sentinal -

Brett Favre has been reinstated and is on his way to Green Bay, but it’s still not a lock that he’ll be in uniform again for the Packers.

A source familiar with the Favre situation said that commissioner Roger Goodell called Packers president Mark Murphy this morning to tell him he has reinstated Favre and that the Packers have until noon Monday to create a roster spot for him. Favre is scheduled to fly to Green Bay today and arrive at the airport at around 5:30 p.m.

The team is fully prepared to take Favre back. It has been saving a room for him at St. Norbert’s College and has a plan to integrate him back into practice. Favre will have to take a physical and a conditioning test Monday before being put on the roster. The Packers will have to cut someone to make room for him.

The source emphasized that negotiations on the marketing deal offered by the Packers are not over. In fact, there’s some thought that Favre, who is coming to Green Bay with his agent, James (Bus) Cook, and his family, may be reporting to force the Packers to meet his financial demands. The negotiations are believed to be centered around the total value of the deal.

…

The Packers probably will step up trade talks just to see what kind of interest there is.

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette -

Brett Favre will be reinstated and added to the Green Bay Packers active roster Monday.

The NFL announced the move today. The reinstatement will become effective noon Monday.

Favre will arrive in Green Bay today to resume his playing career with the Packers, a source told the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, confirmed that Favre plans to fly to Green Bay today and report to the Packers Monday.

“That’s the plan,” Cook said in e-mail to The Associated Press today.

Favre is expected to fly in around 5:30 p.m., about the same time as the Packers Family Night scrimmage activities begin at Lambeau Field.

The team has no public practice on Monday. Favre likely wouldn’t appear in uniform until Tuesday at the earliest, when the Packers have a scheduled 2 p.m. practice.

Favre retired in March but has been mulling his return for several weeks. He applied for reinstatement last Monday but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been holding off approving the move.

Favre had considered staying retired and accepting a 10-year, $20 million non-playing personal services contract with the Packers. However, his scheduled trip to Green Bay today indicates he has decided to reject that offer and instead resume his playing career.

The move puts the Packers, who have given the starting quarterback job to Aaron Rodgers, in a difficult position.

The team will either have to accept Favre back and endure a circus-like atmosphere at training camp, trade the 38-year-old quarterback or release him.

After weeks of public back & forth by both sides it appears that the situation will finally be resolved by Tuesday. The question, if he rejects the marketing deal, is will the Packers be smart and give him a chance to win back the starting job? Considering the overall performance of the offense in camp lately …

As evidenced by the detention imposed by McCarthy, the Packers’ offense is just struggling overall at this point. The protection is lacking, balls are being tipped at the line, passes are being dropped and intercepted. Just not very sharp. “We just have to pick up our game,” Driver said. “Right now we’re struggling early on and the defense is playing well. Coach is trying to get us up to their level.”

giving that option might not be a bad idea.