Former Packer tight end Mark Chmura is in the news again, and though senior prom is right around the corner, he isn't making headlines for creating splashes in a hot tub full of 17-year old girls this time. After a five-year hiatus from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chmura has picked a new target, his best buddy while still with the Packers, Brett Favre.
The duo, who (along with Frank Winters) made up 66.7 percent of the Three Amigos,\ who used to run amok throughout the Green Bay area, now appear more distant than ever after Chmura's comments Sunday morning on WAUK-AM (1510), on the ""Miller Lite Football Show,"" which he co-hosted with Craig Karmazin.
In short, Chmura is critical of Favre for the indecision on his pending retirement, saying Favre is selfish and hypocritical. He also claimed Favre did not make contact between the time Chmura was accused of sexual assault in April 2000 and his acquittal at trial 10 months later in February 2001.
""People who don't think that it's all about him are fooling themselves,"" said Chmura, referring to Favre's plan to return next year. ""With a quote like, ‘What are they going to do, cut me?' It's all about him.""
Favre made that quip amongst a series of collectively cocky one-liners a little over a week ago at his home in Mississippi.
The Packers responded with an ultimatum, requesting a decision by last Saturday, which did little to produce any concrete answers.
While many Packers fans took it in stride and saw the situation as a whole, Chmura sensed arrogance from the three-time NFL MVP.
""These quotes are [Favre essentially saying] ‘I am better than the game. I will make my decision when I want, and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy aren't going to tell me what to do,'"" Chmura said, referring to the Packers' general manager and coach, respectively.
""It's OK to think it, but you can't say stuff like that,"" Chmura said. ""That's this guy's mind-set.""
Chmura also said that if Favre returned, it would be for the money.
""He had the other quote in the newspaper saying if he comes back this is definitely his last year,"" Chmura said. ""Well, the Packers aren't going to the Super Bowl. They aren't close to the Super Bowl. I think if they keep going in the direction they are, they can go 8-8, 9-7. Why come back? Why, if not for the money?""
For anyone familiar with the Green Bay franchise, or the game of football in general, it has never been about the money for Favre. Though Vicodin can get a bit expensive, I have to believe Favre could survive without a few extra million dollars for one more year of football.
Chmura continued, sounding as if he were testifying to keep himself out of harm's way.
""There are fans out there who could find out that Brett Favre could run over 14 puppies and they still wouldn't care,"" Chmura said. ""These people would think he was still the greatest thing since sliced bread.""
The unfortunate puppies are about the only truth in Chmura's comments. Favre is arrogant to an extent, but rightfully so. Calling him selfish and claiming his is competing solely for the money is completely false.
And if you read into the situation as a whole, the Packers, mainly Thompson, aren't waiting by the phone with their fingers crossed. In fact, the Green Bay brass doesn't seem to even want Favre to return next season, and they certainly won't bend over backward to bring him back.
The focus until training camp opens should be getting second-year quarterback and first round draft pick from a year ago Aaron Rodgers ready to play in the NFL. Leave Favre alone in Mississippi. Let him fish, hunt and play golf as much as he wants without putting a camera in front of his face demanding answers every time he sets foot in public.
His decision has no bearing on the Packer's draft later this month nor on the team's ability to sign free agents with the generous cap-room they have right now.
In the meantime, get Charles Woodson in a Packers uniform and get Rodgers some reps with the No. 1 offense. And some advice for the fans: Don't buy into the words of the 2001 Catholic Memorial Prom King.
I'll do my part by keeping those 14 puppies out of Mississippi, and hopefully, come the start of camp, out of Green Bay as well.
Jon is a senior majoring in English and journalism. He can be reached for comment at jrmcnamara@wisc.edu.\
