Debate: What Should Green Bay Do Now?

Today I’ve got a special Tuesday edition of the CSG bringing you, yes, more Brett Favre. There are two sides to every story and my friend Rafael Resendes at http://capitalistnexus.wordpress.com/ has asked me to join him in the debate over the new chapter in Favre’s retirement saga. Last week when Favre asked to be released from his contract with the Packers, there we’re two arguments to be made; There are those who want to let Favre go and become a free agent, those people believe the Packers owe it to him after all his years of service to the organization and then there are those who know that the NFL is a business, and realize that a contract is a binding document between two parties that should not be broken just because Favre “doesn’t feel wanted.” I myself believe in the latter. I know where Resendes stands on this issue and it’s the same stance as mine, but since he came to me first, I will gladly play Devil’s Advocate and argue why the Packers SHOULD let Favre out of his contract…

Will Farve return in green and gold? or in something else?

With three MVP awards, various records held, and a Super Bowl championship, it's hard to believe the relationship between Favre and Green Bay has run into so much turmoil. It's hard to envision after all these years, it's come down to Packers management vs Brett Favre. It is quite a surprise that Favre would ask out of his contract to play elsewhere when he once said "I don't want to move. I enjoy the fans. I just want to stay. I couldn't envision myself playing for another team. If that would ever come up, I'd probably just retire. I've made enough money that I don't need to jump ship and go somewhere else. So it was just important to me to stay here." But nobody really believes it's about the money, when your life has revolved around on constant for decades, it's hard to let it go, and the fact is, Brett wants to play.

Brett Favre has been the face of the organization for years, but if the Packers are the one's who don't want him back, then it's unfair to keep him on the sidelines. You could make that argument if Brett's play was declining, but the fact is that Favre played on an MVP-caliber level last year, and not only is benching him a poor ethical move, but a poor football move in general.

If the Packers aren't willing to release Favre then Brett's next best move is to return to Green Bay. Realistically, the Packers aren't going to waste so much money on Favre if they intend to keep him as a backup, so either they'll cut him, try to trade him, or start him. In a business world, should the Packers just let Favre walk away? Absolutely not, but does he deserve it based on merit? No Doubt.

Over the years, Favre has certainly paid his dues to the Packers organization. This is the same man who restructured his contract in 2001 to give Green Bay cap relief to give them a better chance to win. This is the same man who holds almost every passing record in Green Bay Packers history. This is the same man who, while in Green Bay, has never missed a single game. If Brett was in-fact forced out by Green Bay higher-ups, then that's all the more reason to let Favre free. Remember, coming back to Green Bay was always Brett's first choice, and it's ridiculous that a team coming off of an NFC Championship berth wouldn't want its pro-bowl quarterback to return. You can call his wanting to come back a "diva-move," but if there's anyone who deserves at least one free pass, its Brett Favre.

Rafe shares his own stance on the issue here.