JEFF'S SPORTS BLOG - COULD THE CHICAGO BEARS MAKE A PLAY FOR BRETT FAVRE?
As a Bears fan, could you have ever imagined Brett Favre wearing a Chicago Bear uniform? Yes, the changing times in professional sports have teams exploring options that would never have been imaginable. Although there is very little resolution to the Brett Favre situation in Green Bay, the latest "buzz" is that the Packers would entertain trading Favre within their division.
According to NFL analysts, Favre really had four choices in this complicated scenario. He can opt to go to Packers camp with the notion of playing, the Packers could choose to release him outright, the Packers can opt to trade him and Favre could say yet to the marketing agreement presented to him by the Packers.
After examining these aforementioned possibilities, it's clear why a trade would make the most sense for both parties.
Let's take a look at option #1 - Favre goes to camp to compete for his job. Although Favre could go to camp and probably win his job back by beating out QB, Aaron Rodgers, it's not the direction the Packers front office wants to go. They are ready to move on without Favre and begin the Rodgers era. So, it's very unlikely to see this scenario play out.
Option #2 - the Packers release Favre - this is unlikely since the Packers wouldn't receive anything in return for releasing Favre who is still a valuable commodity. Option #3 - the Packers can consider a trade of Favre but the only caveat here is that Favre has to approve the deal.
Option #4 - the Packers have offered Favre 20 million dollars over the next ten years to stay retired - not a bad deal that reportedly has Favre considering the offer. Further, this offer now has the attention of the NFL with potential salary cap implications.
The rest of the teams in the NFL will wait to see if Favre reinstates with the Packers and from there will see what the Packers will decide to do. If the trade scenario becomes the most plausible solution, the Bears might consider a trade for Favre. Although Bears' head coach, Lovie Smith, stated that the Bears are more than content with the current QB competition of Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.
I can't imagine the Bears being that stubborn knowing that the defense sorely needs a QB that doesn't turn the ball over and can run an offense that eats up the clock and scores points. I think Favre could fit this bill and do it quite well - he has a proven track record and has shown he can take a team to the Super Bowl and win. He also posted one of his best seasons just last year.
No one knows what the Bears would have to give up for Favre, but I would hope that the Bears would explore this possibility should it become available. It's not a matter of "dreaming an impossibility" but rather making a good Bears team better.
JEFF ARDITO & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
