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Favre Denies Trade Request, Wants To Lead Team's Young Talent
by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 05/18/2007
Quarterback Brett Favre denied on Friday that he ever asked for a trade from the Green Bay Packers, and he emphasized that he hopes his experience can make a difference on a young but talented team in 2007.
In his press conference on Friday prior to the first practice of the team's mandatory minicamp, Favre set the record straight about reports this past week that he had asked for a trade after the NFL Draft over his frustration at the team's inability to add veteran wide receiver Randy Moss as an offensive weapon.
"Never was a trade ever mentioned, requested, I just don't know where it came from," Favre said. "That's not true. Frustrated at this point last week? Yeah, but I'm here and ready to move forward."
Favre said he's over his frustration, and his relationships with General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy are fine. He also said his desire initially to skip this weekend's minicamp had to do with simply being bored with minicamps after 17 years in the league, on top of knowing he'd be limited in practice this weekend because of his surgically repaired ankle. But he realizes that part of being the leader of the team means being here and doing what he can in the first full-squad workouts.
"Ultimately, it comes down to me wanting to play and help this team win, and that's the one thing I can control," Favre said. "By being here, that's what I'm doing.
"I don't think anyone can question my leadership and determination to win, and that hasn't changed. At times people want to do that, and had I not shown up, I think it becomes an even bigger issue."
Favre still stood by his statement from a year ago that this team is one of the most talented he's played on, noting specifically that the offensive line could develop into one of the best he's ever played behind. But he re-iterated that all the talent lacks experience, implying that his frustration stemmed from no proven veterans being added to the offense in the offseason, only rookie draft picks.
His frustration also comes from knowing that time is running out on his NFL career while many of the young, talented players in the Packers' locker room may not hit their prime until after he's gone.
But Favre emphasized that if there's any way his leadership and experience can speed up the overall growth process of the team, he wants to take advantage of that.
"The only way these guys get better is by playing and experiencing the game and working with them, and that's true," Favre said. "But with that in mind, we have to get better, we have to get better in a hurry.
"You take me out of the picture, this is really the youngest team in football, and that's where I'd like to think that I can be the difference-maker. I do have the experience and should be able to lead these guys where we want to go, and I believe that."
As for any speculation that the earlier frustration has rubbed other players the wrong way, Favre said he expects no problems with his teammates.
"There's no hard feelings," he said. "I want to win regardless of who's on this team or not on this team, and hopefully we're all in this together.
"Really what matters most is the guys in this locker room, and I think everyone in there that knows me and has played with me knows that I'd do anything for this team, and that hasn't changed." |
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