Feuding Teammates
Thomas Jones wasn't amused by Brett Favre's three-interception game in the regular-season finale. During a radio interview recently, the Jets rusher said Favre should have pulled himself out of the game. Click through to see more teammate feuds in sports history.
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The frustration over a lost season seems to be boiling over in Cleveland. Browns quarterback Brady Quinn was reportedly punched in the face by teammate Shaun Smith last week, following a heated exchange of words in the team's locker room.
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In the wake of a report two weeks ago that Terrell Owens was purposely sabotaging his situation in Dallas because of Tony Romo's relationship with tight end Jason Witten, left, a second report leaks out claiming that Owens and Witten had a heated exchange in the Cowboys locker room and had to be separated.
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After Stephon Marbury of the Knicks reportedly refused to play in a game in November, Quentin Richardson said he no longer considered him a teammate. Marbury responded by saying his teammates "left him out for dead."
Darren Hauck, AP
Browns running back Jamal Lewis was fuming after Cleveland lost to the Broncos 34-30 on November 6. Lewis even took some not-so-thinly-veiled shots at his teammates, saying "This is the NFL, you can't call it quits until the game is over ... but it looks to me like some people called it quits before that."
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
As the Mariners' miserable season came to a close, a clubhouse insider reported that one particular player wanted to "knock out" Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle's highest profile player. "It got to a point early on when I thought they were going to get together and go after him," said the source.
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Apparently not everyone was a big fan of "Manny being Manny" in Beantown. According to former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling, left, Manny Ramirez's "level of disrespect to teammates and people was unfathomable."
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Prince Fielder, center, had to be held down by teammates after a duguout altercation in August between him and pitcher Manny Parra. While the Brewers wouldn't say what caused the scuffle, the incident raised tensions in the Milwaukee clubhouse.
Al Behrman, AP
Rays teammates Dioner Navarro, left, and Matt Garza had a heated exchange on the mound during a loss to the Rangers in June. TV cameras later caught Navarro and Garza shoving each other in the dugout.
ESPN
Mets closer Billy Wagner, left, isn't afraid to point a finger when the going gets tough. After a loss against the Nationals, Wagner looked in the direction of Carlos Delgado's locker and lashed out with profanities.
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In reality, the Jets performed well enough to win the division but Favre's Favre-ness played a nontrivial role in the team's 1-4 finish and another offseason of organization-wide introspection.
And unlike Green Bay, where Favre could go Natural Born Killers on his way to work and the locals would just assume the victims had it coming, Jets fans tend to be more cynical. Teammates too, apparently. Running back Thomas Jones, one of the quietest, most respected players in the locker room, took some not-so-subtle jabs and Favre during a Wednesday radio appearance:
"We're a team and we win together ... but at the same time, you can't turn the ball over and expect to win ... The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. I mean, that's just reality. If I were to sit here and say, 'Oh, man, it's okay,' that's not reality." ...As the New York Daily News' Rich Cimini writes, Favre played the last few weeks of the season with a torn bicep muscle that will require surgery, but as Jones pointed out: if you're hurt -- and more importantly, hurting the team -- you shouldn't even be on the field.
"If somebody is not playing well, they need to come out of the game ... 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." ...
"You're playing to win, you're playing for the Super Bowl. That's what you do all this work for ... So when you get to the wire and somebody is just giving the game up, I mean, it's just not (fair)."
But it gets worse: Favre's other teammates aren't that jazzed about him, either, and it had more to do with his off-field persona than his on-field shortcomings (although I suspect that didn't help):
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.So, unofficially, Favre has exactly one supporter in the organization: the owner. I have no idea how this ends up, but given that guys are turning down the chance to interview for the vacant head coaching position because of a certain 39-year-old quarterback, I'd think that Favre wouldn't be back in '09.
"He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone," the player said. Asked to describe Favre in a word, he said: "Distant."
Last offseason, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy made that mistake and spent the rest of the year living down the decision to trade him. Thing is, they were right to unload Favre on the first willing sucker and give the job to Aaron Rodgers. It seems that everybody but Woody Johnson thinks the Jets should do the same.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 29)
1-01-2009 @ 1:38PM
jvsiii3 said...
Ryan,
Am I not getting the context of nontrivial?
Farve was a major contributor in the Jets not winning the division after going 8-3. They abandoned the play action by going to an empty backfield shotgun set after almost every first drive because that's the way he likes it. He had 3 turnovers in the last game alone that helped the Dolphins seal the win. He was pissed that he was "called out" on his interceptions. They completely catered the offense to his style.
Nice pre-game huddle speech before the last game. "If we win, we win. If we don't, we don't. Love you guys." It was like a "whatever." Was that a "whatever" whatever? Or a "screw you" whatever.
And yes I do know what nontrivial means.
Reply
1-01-2009 @ 2:07PM
ryan said...
jvsiii3,
I meant nontrivial in the "Brett Favre played a significant role in keeping the Jets out of the postseason" sense. So we agree.
1-02-2009 @ 5:39PM
EB said...
Thomas Jones is an unprofessional punk crybaby to say anything about Favre to the media. Jones had his best season ever this year with Favre at the helm. He has already been on 5 teams in his career (mostly average at best) and by the way he "stands" by his teammates, I'm sure it will be more soon. Favre played witht he Packers longer than Jones' whole career will last. He needs to show some respect for a true legend of the game. Favre has played through injuries his whole career and does not quit his team because of an injury. It would be a coache's decision to pull him in that situation and maybe thats why he got fired. Bottom Line: Farve is the best quarterback to ever play the game (records do the talking) and Jones will only be remembered as the player that direspected Favre.
1-01-2009 @ 10:42PM
tim said...
your joking right, favre was the reason they didny make the playoffs, how about getting sacked 11 times in the final 4 games, you think that might have something to do with his performance, how about the defense, who cant stop nobody, favre's the reason, i dont think so
1-02-2009 @ 5:26PM
ken said...
The Jets sucky defense which lost five games wasn't Favre's fault.
The Jets sucky play calling wasn't Favre's fault.
The Jets inability to keep other teams to low scores was not Favre's fault.
Seems to me New Yorkers are stupid - they screwed up Wall Street - they got hooked by Madoff, and they blame Favre for a mediocre team that doubled its victory total-
East Coast New Yorkers - eat crow - yo0ur team sucked and would've sucked a lot more if Favre hadn't saved your sorry team for several games. Get a life, get a defense, and get a good coach - then keep whining as you always do - you still suck!
1-03-2009 @ 12:48PM
mills` said...
The Jets would be 0-16 if it wasn't for Brett. TJ finally became a desent back - again because the defenses had to play pass much more with the master back there.
1-02-2009 @ 5:33PM
Clinton said...
This is not a hindsight opinion. From the start I said Farve should have stayed retired. His ego would not allow him to do so. What other player in their right mind would have turned down millions not to play than to accept the money he did to go out and get bruised up all during the season. Farve was not the savior for the Jets. The decision to sign him was an attempt to become par with the Patriots. After the loss of Brady the Jets still couldn't pull it off and the Patriots almost did.
1-02-2009 @ 6:25PM
Horst said...
Favre really blew it, overall. He retired with fame, fortune, and good health. Then, he made a fool of himself by immediately returning to the game, and mishandling things with his new team. If he leaves now, this one bad year, and his end-of-career lapse in judgment will dog him forever. Once retired, STAY retired.
1-02-2009 @ 6:52PM
Jack said...
I like reading peoples reaction to negative comments about players clearly disappointed in their own performance and when the goat is found everybody cast all the blame and fault on that one man.How many players does it take to play this game? As you look at opinions you can clearly see those who have played and those who think Game Boy is the real thing. Anybody that plays this game for the money has lost before they ever started.
1-02-2009 @ 7:43PM
Irene said...
Since I am from Wisconsin and earlier times with Favre were great...........now, it is get out of here from the Packers and Jets should do the same.
1-02-2009 @ 8:26PM
bj said...
Brett needs his vicodin, hes old and wilted and all washed up and he got just what he deserved coming out of retirement, so instead of taking several weeks to stretch your crap out just retire and go away. packers lost because they suck
1-02-2009 @ 11:25PM
jvsiii3 said...
And it was NOT all Brett's fault:
False. I don’t call 24 turnovers from “one player in 53″ the best they can do. The Jets took the ball away 30 times in 2008, that was good enough for fourth in the league. How many times did they give it away? 31, good enough for fourth worst in the league. Of those 31 giveaways, Favre threw 22 INTs and lost two fumbles, so that’s 24/31 giveaways for which Favre was directly responsible.
He didn't cause 7 turnovers this year. Thank god.
1-03-2009 @ 6:13AM
Kel said...
This is to Tim... Wouldn't the sacks be more the fault of the line for not keeping the defense from getting to the QB? Just a crazy thought!
1-03-2009 @ 11:44AM
Dave said...
I've watched Brett his whole career, ups and downs. What I did notice with the Jets is the difference in the recievers he's used to. I didn't see a whole lot of going the extra mile to catch a pass that wasn't "laid in the numbers". What happened to making diving catches and not sit and watch the other team catch your ball. I'm not making excuses for all the picks, but common, Brett was used to high caliber recievers and being able to throw a questionable pass and have it go for big yards. The Jets need to look at the overall scope of things, not just one man. Brett will always be the best. Now stop crying and make a difference.
1-15-2009 @ 12:25AM
DARREN said...
come on man!!!! favre aint the only problem there look jones didnt run the ball receivers not gettin open hey i would throw the ball too!!got to try to make somethin happen better throwin the ball gettin int doesnt really matter cause you was goin to punt anyway!!play calls horrible!! dont hate favre hate the play callen and receivers not gettin open and jones not runnin the ball!!play calls horrible !!just remember what difference it make about his game speech!! playin just for a winn hey he screwed the pats i applaude him lol remember he is goin to be in the hall of fame rest of team is anot!!!
1-01-2009 @ 2:02PM
Wil Jenkins said...
Wow...I must be the only person who is a brett favre fan in the world anymore.
Lets see...with Brett Favre the packers go 13-3 in 07...without him they finish 5-11 in 08...Hmmm
In 07 the Jets finish under .250, acquire Favre in the offseason and finish .500 in 08.If the Jets get rid of Favre this offseason or he retires, the Jets will undoubtly be right back to .250 and last in the AFC East.
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1-01-2009 @ 10:17PM
Randy said...
I'm a lifetime Packer fan and they did not lose because Favre was'nt there,Rodgers was terrific. They had the lead at the end alot and the defense could'nt stop anyone!! Your a moron and Favre(thanks for the good years)is washed up.
1-02-2009 @ 5:12PM
Linda said...
YOU SAID IT!!! FARVE RULES!!!! HE JUST NEEDS TO RETIRE!!!
1-02-2009 @ 3:48PM
abby said...
I agree 100%!
1-02-2009 @ 11:38PM
Luana said...
I agree. And I'll add that Brett is so smart that he quickly saw how the defense shifted and adjusted the play after the snap. But the Jets teammates were not that smart. Brett cannot carry the whole team. Thomas Jones is NO Jerry Rice. On or off the field.