Jet player: Favre created resentment in the locker room
According to an unnamed Jets player, quarterback Brett Favre created resentment in the locker room this season by being distant and unwilling to socialize.
“There was a lot of resentment in the room about him,” a Jets player told Newsday yesterday. He requested anonymity because team owner Woody Johnson has stated publicly that Favre is welcome to return next season if he wants to. (Favre reportedly will take until the end of February to decide about returning.)
The 39-year-old quarterback is not as welcome with his teammates, according to this veteran. After the Jets traded for Favre Aug. 6, the sure Hall of Famer made no effort to ingratiate himself with the already assembled team, the veteran said. He said Favre spent most of his down time at the practice facility in an office specially designated for him near the equipment room, not with teammates in the locker room, even after the media departed.
“He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone,” the player said. Asked to describe Favre in a word, he said: “Distant.”
There was more of the same sentiment from Thomas Jones, who was interviewed on Hot 97 FM Tuesday. Jones wanted to make it clear he wasn’t blaming only Favre but said, “At the same time, you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win. The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. You don’t like it. I don’t like it and I know everybody else on the team doesn’t like it, but all you can do is fight [through it].”
Jones reinforced comments made by other Jets Monday, when the team broke up for the season in complete disarray after Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Dolphins.
On Monday, Kerry Rhodes said: “If he’s dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way … and be here when we’re here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us … then I’m fine with it. But don’t come back if it’s going to be halfhearted or he doesn’t want to put the time in with us.”
If you read between the lines, you get the feeling that while Favre did want to play this final year, his mind wasn’t entirely into it. Not that he didn’t work hard or loafed, but I think Brett got to the Big Apple and then said, “What the f**k am I doing?” He probably didn’t allow himself to get close to anyone in the locker room because he just wanted to play football and go home.
Obviously this is all just speculation on my part, but these recent comments by Jet players paint the picture that not all was right in the locker room this season and Brett was at the hub of the issue. Either way, I think the Favre is done in New York. The experiment failed and now it’s time to go in another direction with a new coach.
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I’ve been a Jet fan since the Titan days. This is just typical high paid whiners blaming somebody else for failing. You win and lose as a team. Players are not paid to have diner and party with everyone. Favre didn’t complain when players drop passes or running backs fail to gain yardage. After Jones is in the Hall of Fame like Favre will be, then he can complain. Until then, how about shutting up and working on your own game!
I agree with L. Grimes. Jones has backstabbed a teammate, something that Favre has never done. Favre shows up, plays at a high level even with a torn bicep and Jones has the audacity to backstab his QB. One good year by Jones and he thinks he has that right………get lost Jones, you half-witted MORON.
Steve and Grimes, you have it all wrong. While I’ll agree that a team looses and wins as a team, Favre doesn’t deserve special treatment. Jones didn’t go on that radio show with the intention of slandering Favre. He was coaxed into commenting on Favre’s mistakes and the team’s reaction to Favre “throwing the team under the bus”. You guys shouldn’t blame Jones or any other player for being frustrated when their quarterback threw 22 interceptions in 08.
Favre did sort of throw Javon Walker under the bus a few seasons ago.
The QB gets too much credit when a team wins and too much blame when a team loses. Just check out “Aaron Rodgers is not to blame for the Packers predicament” if you want proof. Most of those people that were contending that Favre would have led the Packers to the playoffs had he stayed in GB are suddenly quite quiet.
Walker needed to be thrown under the bus, but all i really recall Favre saying is that he thought he should honor his contract and that Javon was a good man getting bad advice.
One decent season, and he whines for the cash. I’ll go to my grave saying he faked his knee injury to get out of playing in Green Bay. Punk would have to seriously step up his game to be half the man Donald Driver is.
If Walker had listened to Favre and done what he was capable of doing in 2005, he’d have gotten his fat contract in 2006, the 2005 Packers would have sucked a little less, and Javon (blame everybody but myself) Walker would have had the chance to do some serious stuff.
As it stands, I’d wager Greg Jennings eventually triples his career stats.
(Yeah, I don’t care much for the guy . . . )
But back on topic for a second – Jones and Rhodes need to shut their pie holes and get ready for next year – their GM threw Pennington under the bus, and it was Mangini’s job to pull Favre if that’s what was needed.
Favre, on the other hand, needs to see the writing on the wall and pack it in. (Even if he would have gotten one more score in at least three of our seven tight games and had the Packers in the playoffs . . . )
I said it last year and I’ll say it again. Brett needs to ride off into the sunset while he still has the “Cred” – go to the HALL Brett. Get on the John Deere and hunting and fishing. You did the deal – now your creating a mess wherever you go.
I think Brett still has a few tricks in his bag and we will all be very pleased with this level-headed professionals end decision. Mark my words though, I do not think he is going to retire. I believe he will rehabilitate his arm and come back to leave us with a stronge finish and a retirement to be proud of. He’s a proud man so this is the only end he will be able to accept. He has it in him and we will have the privilege of getting to see it. Possibly, with a new team to run with. Go Brett! 100% support for a 100% man
To add also very quicky. Loyalty!! Not to a fault of course but to your team-mate. For goodness sakes,where do these guys think these TDs they have in the books came from. They did not come out of thin air. They came out of the hands of their QB!!!!!! Let’s grow up boys. I am a high school football mom and my son is the star varsity running back and he is there for alot of reasons, two being that you talk up your team and by God you take responsibility for your team. All in or all out. I never let him pull the woe-to-me-card. pull your pants up Jets. You’re pissin’ all over yourselves. That is all.