Green Bay has more troubles than just Favre

By Jeff Christian

Published: August 2, 2008

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre may actually turn down the team’s offer of almost $25 million to run its merchandise department.
Instead he is getting the itch, again, to board a plane for Wisconsin and the Packers’ training camp.
It looks as if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will reinstate Favre on Monday and that will give the Packers 24 hours to decide what to do with him.
Aaron Rogers is the starting quarterback for the Packers, that’s no secret. So what will the Packers do with Favre if he says no to staying retired?
They will be forced to trade him and Minnesota looks as if it is the only fit for Favre.
And that is something the Packers don’t want to happen.
Instead of a retirement party on opening night of the upcoming season for the Packers and Favre, it could very have Favre running out of the Vikings’ side of the tunnel leading out to Lambeau Field.
How strange would that be? Number 4 in purple.
Favre, however, is not the only problem the Packers have. It gets worse the more you look at what Green Bay could be faced with as the season gets closer.
Top running back Ryan Grant is holding out of Packers’ camp wanting more money. Without Grant, that puts all of the pressure square on Rogers’ shoulders and that is something head coach Mike McCarthy and the Packers can’t afford to happen.
Rogers is not ready for this kind of pressure.
Grant rushed for 956 yards in 15 games – seven as a starter – and scored eight touchdowns. Grant gave Favre another weapon to use, which opened up Green Bay’s passing game.
But if there is no Grant, what can the Packers do to resolve their running back issue?
Trade Favre to Minnesota for Chester Taylor, a former 1,300-plus-yard running back. The Vikings have Adrian Peterson, so trading Taylor for Favre makes all the sense in the world for both teams – even the Packers.
Yes, it will be hard to face the Packers to face the future Hall of Fame quarterback twice in one season, but it will allow the Packers to take the every play pressure off of a first-year starting quarterback, who without a proven running back will have to win every game by himself.
At least that is how Rogers will feel.
THE WASHINGTON Redskins may have caught a break tonight against the Indianapolis Colts in the Hall of Fame Game.
It was reported Saturday that Indianapolis will be without 14 players, many of whom will start during the regular season. With this development, Washington should win without much problem, that is if preseason victories mean anything.
After tonight, Washington will play four more preseason games before opening the season Thursday, Sept. 4, against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., on NBC-4, at 7 p.m.
The remaining preseason games will be against Buffalo (Aug. 9), the New York Jets (Aug. 16), the Carolina Panthers (Aug. 23) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (Aug. 28).
Home games will be against Buffalo and Jacksonville. Comcast SportsNet will air, along with WUSA TV 9, games against the Bills, Jets and Panthers, with the first two starting at 7 p.m. and the game against the Panthers starting at 7:30.
The preseason finale will be aired on NBC-4, beginning at 7 p.m.
SPEAKING OF THE JACKSONVILLE Jaguars, don’t be surprised to see them jump to Los Angeles.
Rumors have started to circulate about the possibility of moving the team to Los Angeles unless the city of Jacksonville gives the team a new stadium.