One Fine Day: The Jets and Favre Saga

It has recently come to my attention that the Jets, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, and former Jets head coach Eric Mangini, now the Cleveland Browns head coach, have all been fined in what is now known as "Favre-gate."

Two weeks ago, the NFL fined the Jets ($75,000), Tannenbaum ($25,000), and Mangini ($25,000) after a league investigation turned up evidence that the organization failed to report Brett Favre's injury, a torn bicep tendon, late last season. The investigation was sparked due to press conferences where Favre, justifying his poor play in the last five games of the season, stated that he had torn a bicep tendon late in the season.

I wasn't able to find the exact wording for the rule that was violated, but found a brief description:

"All players with significant-noteworthy injuries must be listed, even if the player takes all the reps in practice and even if the team is certain that he will play..."

The purpose for this as stated by the NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell in an interview on ESPN is as follows:

"Hiding injuries could affect an opponent's preparation."

In this situation I don't understand a few things, but I am going to try and dispel them anyway.

First of all, why would the NFL fine them this far after the season and why so much? Well for one, I guess maybe if Favre would have kept his mouth shut we wouldn't be talking about it. This is the reason it was brought up.

Do you really think that Favre is that egotistical to throw the Jets under the bus like that? From what I have read, that is the general consensus. I personally don't think he thought his injury going unreported was out of the norm, if he did, I don't think he would have said anything. It's not his place to know those types of NFL policies. So how would he know?

What advantage did the Jets really gain? I'm not trying to say they shouldn't get fined, but $125,000 with nothing to show for it? Bear with me for a minute.

In the last five games of the season, the teams the Jets played would still have had to prepare as if Favre were going to play, because–one, if they listed the injury, the Jets would have listed him as probable if they had planned on playing him anyway—and—two, since when does this guy sit? He hasn't in 272 games and at that point hadn't in 264 games. Also, nine interceptions and two touchdowns isn’t what I call getting an advantage.

There was really no advantage for the Jets in listing or not listing Favre. What can be said is how stupid the Jets were for not listing him, due to the fact not listing him made no sense whatsoever because they planned on playing him anyways. They could've saved $125,000.

The amount they were fined is astronomical when you compare it to the amount most teams have been fined for this in the past—$25,000. I can see if they didn't list Favre and then chose not to play him, which in turn gave them an extra win due to teams not being prepared for Kellen Clemons. In this situation $125,000 to all those involved?

WOW!

The second thing I was questioning is the many calls for Favre to repay the Jets and all who got fined. This is absurd. Last time I checked, Favre has an unusual pull on people, but to imply that he has the ultimate power whether he plays or not where injury is concerned is crazy.

The coach has the power to bench whoever/whenever he wants. Also, all of the reports and articles I have read state that Favre was "convinced" to play with his injury.

As far as I'm concerned, the decision to play was made in agreement between all the parties involved.

As far as listing Favre's injury is concerned, Favre has no say when it comes to listing the injury. That responsibility lies solely on the shoulders of the coach, and I guess the GM and the organization as well.

Some people need to get a clue.

To be honest, and don't get me wrong, I love Favre. I think the Jets just wanted to be involved in the Favre circus.

Well, if that's the case then I guess that's what they get.

In all honesty this chapter in the book of Favre's life was actually not caused by him but by the negligence or stupidity of the team's officials.

I'm sure he didn't want to sit; we all know he never does, but ultimately, benching him and choosing whether or not to report the injury is not his responsibility. This situation is not on Favre, people do get injured. Shame on them for not reporting it.

The only thing Favre can be held accountable for, and this is pending whether or not he knew not reporting the injury was a violation, is being a snitch and ratting out his old team. I think you'd have to stretch pretty far to reach that conclusion.

Favre, at times, has delusions of grandeur, but to say he'd throw someone under the bus that gave him a chance is ludicrous.

WAR: Brett Favre and the Miracle at the Metrodome.

WAR: THE PACK BEATING THE SNOT OUT OF THE VIKES ON MNF.

Sorry Brett, "I love you, Man", but this weekend I hope you die like a dog.