Several years ago, the Green Bay Packers were moving into scoring position during the third period of play. Bret Favre, quarterback for the Packers was sacked hard and suffered a concussion. He lay on the ground for several minutes while the trainers and coaches administered help. The broadcast cut away for a round of commercials and when the game came back on, Favre was being helped to the bench. The camera's stayed on him and he looked woozy and incoherent.
The backup, Pederson went in for Favre. A play was run and the camera's cut back to Favre on the sidelines standing by the coach talking to him. Another play went by and now it was 4th down and 5 yards from the 30 yard line. The packers went into their huddle and then Favre came running onto the field waiving Pederson to the bench. The crowd cheered. Favre went under center, barked the signals and then proceeded to throw a TD pass. The crowd cheered. Players including Favre celebrated. All was good in packerland.....
Until, the next series when the Packer offense took the field, Favre was absent. Apparently, and this is the story, head coach Sherman said he wasn't informed that Favre suffered a concussion and did not realize he was not cleared to return to the game by the medical staff. So, he sent Favre back in to run the team.
What's the big deal, no harm no foul, Favre added to his mystique and everything is all well. Except that someone, meaning Sherman or the medical staff made a huge blunder and let Favre return putting not only his career in danger, but his very life. Favre returned to the game less than two minutes after suffering a concussion.
If Favre during that one last play would have been sacked again, or even knocked down, he could have sustained another concussion and ended his career or life. And for what?
This is where things get cloudy, the for what reason.....
One may speculate that Favre had a current streak going with a TD pass in consecutive games and was only several games behind legend Dan Marino, the former Miami Dolphin. Up until that point, Favre did not have a TD pass and after he threw one, he did not return to the game again.
Another reason may be that the Packers are 1-3 and are playing the Titans on Monday night, another 1-3 club. This game is national TV, big revenue, big money, ratings, when a large audience tunes in. With two teams going South and last in their divisions, who's going to tune in except Packer and Titan fans plus the standard general crowd who loves all football.
Unless, however, there was some sort of intrigue, some hook to lure the crowd to the game. What better way to attract a crowd than playing the controversy of Favre returning to the game in spite of not being cleared by the medical staff? People would tune in for that for sure. Many game day analysts will be making their pay on this subject Sunday.
Does this smell like a conspiracy? You betcha it does.
Favre gets hurt, returns to the game despite not being cleared by the medical staff and throws a TD pass keeping his streak alive for Monday night. Favre is listed as questionable as of today but the backup QB, Pederson has been put on injured reserve and is gone for the season.
Now who's going to start for the Packers? The untested third string QB, or the newly required QB who came via the trade of corner Mckenzie?
Or will Favre keep yet another streak alive and trot out Monday night and play and keep that streak, most consecutive starts, alive as well?
Fans would have to tune in Monday to find out. Just what the NFL wants us to do......
LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
