Brett, I Hear You Calling...

So, it does appear that it wasn't just idle rumor; Brett Favre is going to force the Packers into a full-scale PR nightmare, so that he can play another year or two for a team not poised to win anything.

I wrote about this a few weeks ago, and got one comment then that I'd change my mind about how I felt if Favre wanted to join the 49ers.

I didn't even comment back, though I disagreed with the sentiment. Then, a friend asked me today whether I thought the 49ers would be interested in using some of their cap space on Favre.

So I thought it was worth a post.

I think it's a terrible, terrible idea.

Could it happen? Sure, since John York is a godawful owner who would probably be excited about generating excitement and the good press Favre would bring the team. But Niners fans would, or at least should, hate the idea.

It's not that Favre, 89 years old as he is (I may have my facts wrong on that), wouldn't be a huge improvement over Alex Smith or Shaun Hill. (For what it's worth, I think Hill has almost no chance to begin the season as the starter, regardless of the chatter.) Undoubtedly, Favre would be better.

But adding Favre is clearly anything but a move for the future. And the 49ers are still rebuilding. What's more, it's wholly unlikely Favre would even want to do this - if he wanted to take over a team with a horrible receiving core, why not go to Miami, where the weather is nicer in the winter? Or even Minnesota, who have Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice to go with All Day Peterson in the backfield and a good, young defense? (If Favre does end up wearing purple, look for a lot of folks to pick them to go deep in the playoffs. I don't quite buy it.)

In any event, let's be clear: I don't want the guy coming to Favre San Francisco. (Edited to add: WHOOPS.) And regardless of where he does end up, he's put the Packers in a hard place. Just four months ago, he told them he was definitely staying home. They've committed to Aaron Rodgers, drafted the same year as Alex Smith, but with a grand total of 59 attempted passes in the NFL. It's not like the Packers are definitely sold on Rodgers - they drafted Louisville's Brian Brohm this year - but if they are going to find out if he's good, that is going to happen this year.

So, do they keep Favre and start him over Rodgers? Is that a one or two year commitment? They can't trade him -- if they did, the fan fallout would be horrendous, as the shock of a first ballot Hall of Famer being sold for spare parts (which is all the Pack could get) would sting mightily. No team is giving up much for a guy who is so likely to instead be waived, which is the other option.

Favre did not paint Packers GM Ted Thompson in a positive light, and doesn't shy away from assigning some blame to him. It seems like a petty act by a guy who is generally considered a class act.

I just don't get it. I do know that he probably is right about thinking that he's still able to play, and at a better level than many in the league. But no team worth its salt - that is, anyone who could WIN anything - is so beleagured at QB. Minnesota fits the bill the closest, and that has to hurt since they're part of the same division. That's a serious double bird to an organization that made Favre what he is. It's not a pretty side of a competitive spirit.