Favre Frenzy Continues

What a day for Tampa Bay sports. Jay Glazer from Foxsports.com posted a report at 3am this morning that Brett had a 5 hour meeting with head coach Mike McCarthy and his report was basically that Favre wouldn't be attending training camp today and 30 minutes before the Packers were scheduled to hit the field, Favre left camp and went home for a meeting with his family, Coach McCarthy and GM Thompson. After shortly less than an hour, the meeting was ended and Favre remained at home while management went back to the practice field.

After the meeting, the rumor mill was on full speed, and all trade targets were focused right here on the Tampa Bay Bucs. As a Bucs fan, things were pretty hectic between 3-6pm EST this afternoon. I was jumping around to various online sites, flipping back and forth between various cable channels, awaiting news.

While listening to 620 WDAE this afternoon, I found myself agreeing with the 3pm host, The Big Dog. Head Coach Jon Gruden has repeatedly dismissed any Favre talk this offseason and during training camp, but The Dog introduced an interesting scenerio which makes sense.
The mainstream sports media thinks Gruden has a love affair with every experienced quarterback in the NFL. I've listened to 620 this week as the morning hosts interview Gruden when he comes off the field. I believe that if the Bucs pull off a trade for Favre, it is not Gruden's wish. Gruden has faith in Garcia and maybe if a trade for Favre could have been pulled off 2 months ago, he'd have a different opinion, but I guess we'll just have to see how things play out overnight.

The reason I agree with The Big Dogs' opinion are threefold. Favre would boost merchandise sales right away. The so-called 100,000 members waiting for the season ticket waiting list, has evaporated. I know I added my name to the list in 2006 and before the start of last season, I was contacted by the Bucs for a season ticket package. The Glazers are acute business folks, and can see how the local housing slump, fuel prices, unemployment and the fact the Bucs nearly didn't sellout a home playoff game last January, could factor into the addition of a superstar quarterback which would generate some serious revenue.

The Glazers are shrewd, and General Manager Bruce Allen is so tight, he uses a crowbar to open the owners' wallet.

I'm really divided on this possible trade. On one hand I'd love to see Favre throwing deep to Galloway and Bryant. On the other, I am concerned having a Favre coming into Bucs camp, not understanding the playbook, digesting the offense, and just winging the ball around on Sundays, which results in a season like Brett had in 2006 and a meltdown of the Bucs for this season.

Then of course there is the salary and contract issue. Will the Bucs absorb the 13 million dollar salary hit this year? Is Brett going to play only one more year? Are the Bucs going to go through all this again this next year?

In the presser this afternoon, Coach Mike McCarthy said after a 6 hour discussion last night that Favre wasn't in the right mindset to come back to the Packers. This should raise some issues with the Bucs front office. What is the commitment level going to be? If he comes to Tampa is he going to be in the right mindset? Is he playing for 1 year? 13 million for 1 year? I can't justify that but then again ownership might think they will make up the difference in revenue.

Bruce Allen, leave our quarterbacks alone, don't trade for Favre.