Sounds like the Packers have backed down on the "Rodgers is starter no matter what" stance.



http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/archive/2008/08/03/negotiations-dead-favre-to-compete-for-starting-job.aspx

Sweet.

The Green Bay Packers have apparently decided they need a little help on the public relations front when it comes to handling the ongoing Brett Favre saga.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Packers will employ former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer for one month as a consultant.

Fleischer, who was President George W. Bush's official spokesperson for a majority of his first term in office, is now president of Ari Fleischer Sports Communications, a joint venture with IMG.

According to an Associated Press report, Fleischer met with Packers players Thursday, but the meeting was scheduled several weeks ago, before the Favre controversy flared up. The report also said while Fleischer didn't focus on how players should handle the Favre situation, the topic was discussed.

"Obviously it's a topic, and it wasn't ignored," Fleischer told the AP in a phone interview Thursday.




Circus? It's a full blown CAUCUS now.....

Poor Rodgers, booed before he even throws a pass. In all fairness, he shouldn't have been booed until he threw the 4th pass... then it was fair to boo him.

I'm thinking that unless Favre can play defensive tackle, it all is a moot point anyway.

If the Packers were looking for someone to do a good job handling the press, Ari Fleischer isn't exactly the guy to hire...we weren't nation-building in Iraq, were we Ari?

Hmmm, I wonder if there will be a bounty for some rookie defensive lineman to hit Favre from behind during his first practice...

I think it's the other way around: Green Bay management is going to get some shlub D-lineman, who deserves to get cut, to roll-up on Rodgers in exchange for a Practice Squad spot, then say "See how smart we were for not trading Brett?".

I dunno... they were willing to pay Brett $25M to NOT play. They could get away with paying some Arena-leaguer $1M just to pop his knee.

They get the same result and save $24M. That buys a LOT of bratwursts....

Whatever happened to "Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers"?

Which one of the Packers management caved in?

If this was any other team in the NFL I would say look directly to the owner when team management suddenly changes their mind for no apparent reason. But since the Packers don't have an owner... you have to look to their executive committee. They supposedly leave the football descisions to the football guys... supposedly. But GM Ted Thompson must report directly to them every month on everything from injuries to the draft. I'm sure the fact that Favre did an extensive ad campaign for committee member John Bergstrom, and the fact that the committee isn't made up of football guys but rather 7 lifelong Packer fans who take the best interest of the Packers as a whole over player personel moves, wouldn't cause them to put a little pressure on Thompson to at least give Favre a shot. <conspiracy theory rant over>

Tonight's scheduled press conference with McCarthy was postponed until tomorrow as Favre and McCarthy's meeting went way over the expected time. Probably not good news... McCarthy was unconvinced of Brett's commitment to putting in the time necessary to be the starter.

As for the change in stance, it doesn't seem like they had much choice. Trade discussions are going nowhere; if Favre is in camp they HAVE to give him a shot at the job. To deny the best candidate for the job a chance to compete would have caused a lot of dissension in the locker room.

Brett appears to be on the way out of Green Bay after hours and hours of discussions with Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson over the past few days. McCarthy indicated in his press conference yesterday that Brett had been unable to "move forward" from what Brett perceives as poor treatment by the organization, including various allegations from Brett that the team had planted false stories with the media.

The Packers apparently have convinced Brett that they will not trade him within the division nor release him, and Favre has reluctantly agreed to consider a trade to another team. The Jets and Buccaneers have reportedly shown the most interest. While Jay Glazer reports that the Jets are offering better compensation for Favre's rights, it is considered more likely that Brett will end up in Tampa Bay, where he would face the Packers September 28.

With Favre, its not inconcievable that the Jets could make the playoffs this year. Sending Favre to Tampa really shafts Garcia, who had a good year last year. This probably results in Garcia playing for Minny or the Bears.

Reports tonight are that Jets have offered a 4th round choice, Packers have asked Tampa for a 3rd-round choice plus Brian Griese (or another player)

Favre to the Jets!