Tannenbaum Takes Blame for Not Reporting Favre Injury

by John B on Sep 10, 2009 5:21 PM EDT

Mike Tannenbaum admitted error in the Jets not reporting a Brett Favre injury late last season.

-- New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum acknowledged Thursday he made a mistake handling Brett Favre's biceps tendon injury last season, and should have listed the quarterback on the team's injury report.

Tannenbaum and the Jets could face disciplinary action from the NFL for not listing Favre's torn biceps tendon on the weekly report following the injury with four or five games remaining. Tannenbaum said Favre should've appeared on the report as ''probable.''

''I'll take responsibility for that,'' he said. ''As the GM of this team, I should've handled that differently and listed him on the report. We didn't, just because he wasn't getting treatment every day and we knew he was going to play. But, looking back on it now, I should've listed him as probable, and we didn't, and I'll take responsibility for that.''

Tannenbaum called the league offices and spoke to Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, about the issue. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the league is looking into the situation.

This would probably be a nonstory if the media wasn't looking for any angle to get Favre's name in the news. No team is totally honest with that report. Why does Tom Brady's shoulder appear on it every week? The league should probably slap the Jets on the wrist for getting caught, but a stiff penalty doesn't seem to fit here.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

No team is totally honest with that report.

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Personally I feel this is a no-story, but the media apparently feels otherwise.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Sep 10, 2009 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

Injury reports

are the devils tools. The benefits to lying on them outweigh the negatives of being caught, it wouldn’t surprise me if everyone didn’t “Bellichek” their reports and list everyone as injured all the time.

The strong do what they have to do; the weak accept what they have to accept

by Riott on Sep 11, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

I think this is quite significant

Favre’s injury seemed to have quite a bit to do with his decline in play during the latter half of last year. It didnt come out until after the season that he had a injured bicep during the final games. When the report did land it came across that Favre hid the injury from everyone, putting himself before the team and cost his teammates a shot at having a better year. Now with this info that Tannenbaum did have knowledge of the injury, it raises some other major questions some of which may have already been answered. The aforementioned being, “how much confidence did the Jets have in Clemens at any point within the last 2 years?”. After knowing of Favre’s injury and seeing a direct correlation with a big decrease in performance, why didnt the Jets go to him or even Ratliff? Some of my bad feelings towards Favre may have diminished slightly and increased towards Tannenbumb and co. significantly.

by Ozone on Sep 11, 2009 4:45 AM EDT reply actions

I think your reading too much into Tannenbaum's comments

and influenced by taking Farve’s comments at face value. The reason Tannenbaum didn’t put Farve on the injury list is not because he was refusing to sit Farve and/or didn’t anknowledge Farve’s injury, it was so that opposing teams wouldn’t be aware of Farve’s injury and therefore wouldn’t come up with a game plan that didn’t respect the pass threat.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Regardless of Tanny's reasons

he was wrong and he cost the team a hell of a lot as a result. Whatever he was thinking or trying to accomplish, this was a bone headed move and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Tanny made the mistake of letting Mangini talk him into pulling some half-assed, wanna be Belichik move with this one.

I personally have been on Brett’s side of this since the talk about how the collapse was all his doing started. I never saw it that way at all. That team fell apart around him as much as his arm failed him and if management knew this and still chose to throw him in there vs. using Clemens, Ratliff or Ainge, then all i can say is shame on them.

What happened to all the “we do what we need to do to put the team in a position to win” talk?

The Jets owe Favre a heck of a lot more thanks than many Jets fans seem to want to admit too. Brett came in and showed this team how much of a difference a real, honest-to-goodness star QB could make…even at 38 years old! Because of the incredible performance of this team under his guide, we went right out and drafted the best QB we could. Without Favre and his talents where do you think this team would be right now? Wallowing in the mediocrity that was Erik Mangini thats where and probably with Clemens at the helm to boot. Just put that in your pipes and smoke it for a bit.

The only real mystery to me is why is Clemens still a part of this squad? Why did they even waste their time with him during this off-season? It is painfully obvious for those of us who chose not to sugar-coat things that Clemens will never ever be the man….so why is he still here?

Xander is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!

by Xander Diaz on Sep 11, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you tha Tanny made a mistake in not reporting the injury

But I’m a bit confused by this:

Without Favre and his talents where do you think this team would be right now? Wallowing in the mediocrity that was Erik Mangini thats where and probably with Clemens at the helm to boot. Just put that in your pipes and smoke it for a bit.

I think the Jets would pretty much be in the same position. I don’t think I understand what the lasting effects on Farve being on the team for one year were. Unless you mean that we got rid Chad (who helped the Dolphins to the playoffs) because of Farve and that is his lasting impact as well as having one less draft pick. But I don’t understand why Farve caused us to draft Mark Sanchez instead of relying on Clemens.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree...

because from where I sit the pre-Favre Jets were basically not concerned at all with finding and keeping a real QB. Chad was serviceable but no way he will ever compare rightly against a Favre or a Cutler or a Rivers or a Manning…I think you get my point. Even the choices they made over the last decade or so in head coaches were guys who in one way or the other fit the same mold that Mangini totally epitomized…Edwards at least was more personable and likeable but there was never any real fire behind these guys and our team consistently showed it. The post-Favre era has already given us way more positives to talk about than I can remember in recent history. Suddenly the Jets move heaven and earth to get a bona-fide face and future of the franchise…I find it almost amazing that you don’t attribute this 180 to his presence and the difference he made the year before. They go out and get a powder-keg head coach in Rex Ryan who for all I know may be the biggest bust in the history of the league waiting to happen but at least it will be one hell of a show all the way down. Yeah from where I sit, without Favre this Jets team is just the same old Jets. Mangini’s read and react D would likely still be there, Rhodes would probably be looking for a way out, there would be no Bart Scott or Jim Leonhard. Our players would still be under those ridiculous gag orders imposed by Mangini and not a single one of our guys would be having fun or playing with real fire. All of these things IMHO all come out of one pivotal event…the signing and subsequent play of one Brett Favre.

Like I said it seems, to me at least, like most Jets fans are just determined to deny Favre the credit he truly deserves for helping to change an entire organizations attitude towards how they go about trying to win this game.

Just my opinion.

Xander is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!

by Xander Diaz on Sep 11, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I agree to disagree

I mean we’re all Jets fans here so it’s cool. I just can’t attribute Farve being some kind of butterfly effect that led to a number of events such of the hiring of T-Rex or the more aggressive defense but I respect your opinion.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude

you are way cool in my book. We are all Jets fans and there is certainly nothing wrong with a little friendly discourse or disagreement. I totally respect your opinion…you are far from alone in it. Thanks for listening and keep posting!

Xander is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!

by Xander Diaz on Sep 11, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I realize why Tbumb and co didnt want to put Favre on the injury list. Its very Belichick and its also very against league rules. What a surprise how hand and hand those 2 go. But I disgress. I also dont understand how I am “reading too much into” his comments the conclusions and questions I reach are more than logical and reasonable. Why did the Jets leave Favre in for the last 5 games knowing of the injury and seeing a marked decrease in his perfromance with each game? According to Brett (trust me I dont believe every word that comes out his mouth):

“Absolutely, I was receptive to (sitting) last year,” Favre told reporters yesterday at the Vikings’ facility. “When we finally did an MRI and found out I had a torn biceps last year, I felt like, with about four or five games left, that even though I was making some pretty good throws and some decent plays, I felt like I was doing the team more harm because I was missing on some throws.”

So the Jets still refused to put KC in the game? Again I guess this shows what how much they valued him. Perhaps they even pulled of the “we believe in Kellen” charade up until announcing Sanchez as the starter, which maybe saved them from giving up even more than they did for Sanchez at the draft. That may have been slightly slick and more importantly not against league rules. However, it still leaves me pissed off as a Jets fan that they refused to put the best team on the field in pursuit of the playoffs. Or they can say they did with an injured Favre that was clearly hindering the team, and be blissfully ignorant morons. If a qb on your roster cant go out and give more to the team than Favre did in the last 5 games, then he shouldnt be on the roster. period. I agree with l lot of what xander says, mostly, why is Clemens still on the team? The way they seem to think of him, he should have been among the final cuts. What good is he as the backup qb if the team has zero confidence in his abilites.

by Ozone on Sep 11, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Right or wrong

I think they still see Clemens as a prospect and while he wasn’t better than an injured Farve, perhaps they’re hoping he develops rather then carry a veteran QB ala John Kitna who will probably never be good enough to start in the NFL again. Again, I’m not saying this is the correct decision but I see their logic.

As for Farve, I’m not so sure he was as willing to sit out as he says as well as honest about how his arm felt, but of course that’s just an assumption from my part. His quote just seemed like odd timing to me and a way of placing blame away from himself, but you could be correct.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Clemens days as a prospect are over. His job has been taken by a rookie. Fungi develop at a quicker rate than he does. I ‘d like to see the Jets drop him and pick up a vet qb like Jeff Garcia. Most importantly, have a back up qb that you have the confidence in to go to in the event the starter isnt able. Back up qbs are tremendously important.
As far as Favre’s comments, I do think the timing is odd, and like I mentioned, I take what comes what out of his mouth as far from gospel truth. I honestly dont know why it took him so long to mention this since how adament he seems now to “protect his legacy”. Lots of irony in how that is turning out. I can see maybe giving Favre a shot at a game or 2 after the injury, but it doesnt take a genius to see that after that effort he’s far from the qb that got the team to 8-3. You have to go to another qb, there’s no way Favre in that condition gives the Jets the best chance to win, and if he does the qb’s on the roster have no business being there. I read some quote from Clemens saying that Favre at 85% (putting him at 85% after the bicep injury) was still better than him. I doubt that was 85%. And if Kellen truly feels that way (he may just be biting the bullet for the team) he needs a big confidence adjustment. The bottom line is this organization basically tanked the latter half of last year, I’d like to fine them for that from a fan’s perspective.

by Ozone on Sep 11, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear you.

I guess my doubts come from how willing Favre was to sit out. Also, I wonder how willing Mangini was in making a change as he seemed content in just shaking his head whenever Favre made a questionable decision rather than trying to do everything in his power to help the team. But before I go off on that tangent, I know we both can agree that whatever happened was the past and I just can’t wait till Sunday so we can talk about this years Jets team.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Non Issue

The injury reports in all the leagues are a joke. All 4 Major Sports come out against gambling (just look at Delaware trying to legalize sports books). Yet they all have injury reports. Its one thing if you put the guy on the DL or Injured Reserve, but whats the point for an Injury Report other then to give gamblers and bookies more info?

by Mark D on Sep 11, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

I believe your right

I was told that the injury report was solely for gamblers and bookies in an effort to equalize insider information. The NFL was worried that those in the know would sell information/be forced to give information that could potential yield to huge betting returns thus the injury report gives everyone the information. Of course this is all in theory, as certain coaches/GMs care more about gaining an advantage over their opponent then concerning themselves with gamblers.

by Sokojoe on Sep 11, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions