It has to be tough for the humble, hard working people of Green Bay, Wisconsin. This is a town of a meager 100,000 people. Of those 100,000 people, nearly 70% of them watched the one blue collar employee, who clocked in for work every day for 16 years without missing a shift, show up in a purple uniform and shut the 'Green Bay Packing Company' down.
Brett Favre is no longer one of them. He's no longer the automatic "Employee of the Month" September through January. Brett Favre is more like that big shot corporate executive from New York City who flies into some small market to announce that the factory is about to close. On Sunday, Favre took center stage and told 72,000 fans this isn't personal, this is all about business. The business of winning football games. If you are under performing, you will be stomped on by your competition. That's exactly what happened to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. It was a hostile takeover by their neighbors across the border.
For any organization to succeed, it needs strong leadership. Brett Favre on Sunday showed why at the age of 40, the Minnesota Vikings wanted him to be their CEO on the field. The ability to perform on the big stage, under pressure, is the trait of a winner. This past summer, the Minnesota Vikings quietly posted an ad which stated, "CEO Needed. Must Know How To Win." Well, once Brett Favre's resume landed on Vikings coach Brad Childress' desk, the interview process was over....job filled. Tavaris Jackson, "we'll keep your resume on file for 6 months, should the position re-open again."
The Packers, on the other, decided to promote from within. They wanted to go in a younger direction and decided the CEO-in-waiting, Aaron Rodgers, was ready for the large corner office with the great view. The only problem is, when they hired him, his resume said: "2005-2007: Held Clip Board." Sure, Aaron Rodgers watched how a great CEO performed from a far. However, leadership isn't as easy as watching and mimicking. More often than not, you just either have it, or you don't.
The Packers, under Rodgers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season. The shareholders of the Green Bay Packers are starting to get restless. If this football factory doesn't start producing winning seasons soon, you can bet there will be some personnel changes.
The famous business author/motivator Dale Carnegie once said, "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." Brett Favre returned to the blue collar town where he developed his work ethic. His stay was short, his mission accomplished and he had tons of fun doing it.
ARod is NOT what's wrong with the Packers. He is better than most NFL QB's. Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, a place GB is not producing results. While GB is not the best team around, it is better than they have played. Poor play calling and personnel moves are hurting them too. Favre plays very well. However, even he admits the obvious - MN's offensive line is very good to him. MN's defensive line is playing well too. That wins ball games, not Favre alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree he is not the problem. However, even as Troy Aikman said a few times yesterday, Rodgers needs to have better footwork and instict to stop out of the pocket. Some of those sacks are because he doesn't have the instincts. He's a quality QB....just hasn't won a big game yet.
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