Interesting reflection of true locker room sentiment i'm guessing.
In practical terms the more imporatant thing IMO was the fact that right around the time their losing streak started, Favre had convinced the coaches to "open up the offense". This guy's ego is unbelievable, essentially he contributed mightily to the coach's dismissal, even though it was the coaches faults were agreeing to the request. If they hadn't done as he'd asked, being benched might not have mattered as much.
Favre aloof in locker room, created resentment
If Brett Favre wants to play another year with the Jets, he'll have to work a lot harder to win over his teammates than he did this season.
"There was a lot of resentment in the room about him," a Jets player told Newsday yesterday. He requested anonymity because team owner Woody Johnson has stated publicly that Favre is welcome to return next season if he wants to. (Favre reportedly will take until the end of February to decide about returning.)
The 39-year-old quarterback is not as welcome with his teammates, according to this veteran. After the Jets traded for Favre Aug. 6, the sure Hall of Famer made no effort to ingratiate himself with the already assembled team, the veteran said. He said Favre spent most of his down time at the practice facility in an office specially designated for him near the equipment room, not with teammates in the locker room, even after the media departed.
"He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone," the player said. Asked to describe Favre in a word, he said: "Distant."
On Monday, Kerry Rhodes said: "If he's dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way ... and be here when we're here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us ... then I'm fine with it. But don't come back if it's going to be halfhearted or he doesn't want to put the time in with us."
A foxsports.com report Sunday said Favre wasn't happy being called out by Eric Mangini in front of the team, as the coach did with all of his players when they made mistakes. But the Jet who requested anonymity said that didn't seem to be the case.
"If he was hurt by that stuff, I'd be shocked, because Eric barely said anything to him," the player said. "Guys would be getting called out for missed assignments or blown coverages, and Brett would have three picks and no one would say a word." Mangini addressed the team for the last time Monday. The player said the former coach revealed a much different side than he showed before, telling players he'd been tough and aloof only to get the most out of them.
According to the player -- and he was backed by very supportive comments about Mangini from other Jets -- very few in the room thought Mangini deserved to be fired, and that the acquisition of Favre and his subsequent "me-first" attitude hurt the Jets more than anything.
"Eric," he said, "wasn't the reason we didn't make the playoffs."
