Ageless Favre goes from Packers pedestal to criticized by Jets

Ageless Favre goes from Packers pedestal to criticized by Jets
January 4 Camden Courier-Post Columnist Geoff Mosher

"Maybe Brett Favre should have stayed retired, or just stayed away from New York City.

In Green Bay, Favre could do no wrong. He wasn't just a football icon, he was immortal. Still is.

Packers players didn't dare criticize Favre, even during the lean years of 2005-2006, when Green Bay went 12-20 and missed the postseason two consecutive seasons.

In New York, the royal treatment vanished faster than the Jets' postseason aspirations after they started 8-3 and lost four of their last five games.

Reports from Newsday on Long Island described Favre as a polarizing figure who alienated himself from teammates, spending most of his time at team headquarters confined to a special office.

Running back Thomas Jones, the team's most consistent offensive weapon throughout the season, told a New York City radio station that Favre should have been benched.

Bothered by a bum shoulder, Favre threw just two touchdown passes compared with eight interceptions in the team's last four games.

"If somebody is not playing well, they need to come out of the game," Jones said last week in an interview with WHTZ-FM (97.1).

"You're jeopardizing the whole team because you're having a bad day. To me, that's not fair to everybody else. You're not the only one on the team."

Jets owner Woody Johnson, who saw the financial upside to having Favre be the face of his team, is pushing Favre to come back for another season -- which would be his 18th.

But once again, Favre is contemplating retirement. Without the bulletproof vest anymore, you have to wonder if Favre should finally call it quits -- and stick with it this time.

Around the NFL• Steve Spagnuolo is the hot coaching candidate, but don't be surprised if Baltimore's Rex Ryan gets a head coaching gig first. Ryan's pedigree with the 3-4 defense is significant: The Browns and Jets each have 3-4 defense personnel.

• Edgerrin James, who wanted out of Arizona when he lost his starting job earlier this year, rushed for 100 yards in the season finale on 14 carries and is the Cards' top option again. Still, the Cardinals' next loss will likely be James' last game for Arizona. Look for the Cards to find a running back in free agency, like the Giants' free-agent-to-be Derrick Ward."Link