News, notes & quotes from CBS Sports' "The NFL Today" with James Brown, Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason for Week 1 on September 7
Exclusive interview with New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre; and opinions on should Shawn Merriman play highlight show
•Dan Marino's exclusive interview with New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre
Marino: In your heart, when did you know you wanted to come back and play? Favre: I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to retire. People said why did you? At that time, based on what they wanted me to give them, which was an answer, which was fair, I wasn't totally committed. I can't think of too many guys who say in March, 'Hey, let's go. Let's start it up again.' March, April, May -- I'm like, don't even call me. That's where I was. So when did I really know? I don't know the exact time but with each day that passed, there was a lot more, 'Boy, I think I want to play,' than there was, 'I don't know.' So with each day it was growing that I felt like I wanted to play.
Marino: Looking back do you think Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson and the Green Bay organization handled your situation the right way? Favre: There's been a lot of he-said, she-said, and going back and forth. People can believe what they want. I know to a certain degree I put them in a tough position. But the way things -- at least from my end -- the way they handled some of those things, things that were said, how they went about it was wrong. I'm not here to say I was completely right, they are completely wrong. I did retire. They moved on. But I am entitled to change my mind. Right or wrong, I am entitled to it, and they knew that that was coming way before it got out public to everyone else. We had been talking about that and how to resolve it without it being a big mess. That's what I was trying to do. It turned out to be a big mess.
Marino: Do you think some day you'll be able to restore the relationship with the Green Bay organization? Favre: I've never been one to hold a grudge. It obviously got ugly and people started taking sides, and I never thought that would happen in Green Bay, especially with me involved. But, you know how it is, after a while people forget. They win the first game, everyone's happy and they forget and say, 'Can you believe that Favre situation?'
Marino: When you knew you were going to be a Jet, what's the first thing that came to your mind? Favre: What the hell am I doing? And I mean that in a positive way, if I can spin it that way. The odds obviously are stacked against me. Outside looking in, you go, 'Okay, the Jets are going to be good now, they got Brett.' We all know that's not the case. You still have to play.
•Reaction to Favre situation
Cowher: I agree with Brett Favre. He deserved the right to change his mind. Green Bay should have invited him back, put him under greater scrutiny and say, 'If you're not into this, we're going to go with Aaron Rodgers.' If that was the situation, then you put it back on him…Green Bay is a better football team with Brett Favre as quarterback more than they are without him.
Sharpe: They put this plan in motion when they drafted Aaron Rodgers. You don't take a quarterback in the first round with anticipation of him not playing ever…They were trying to tell Brett Favre, 'Brett, you need to move in a different direction.' And the waffling back and forth really didn't help his situation.
Boomer: I'm very skeptical. At 39, there's only been one quarterback of significance that started all 16 games and took his team to the playoffs and that was Phil Simms. He only knows 75% of the playbook? I'm more skeptical than ever that this is going to be a success.
• "Football Face-off" with Marino, Cowher, Sharpe and Boomer
(On whether Shawn Merriman is making the right career decision by playing with a torn LCL and ACL in his left knee
Marino: He went to see five doctors; one of them was his team doctor. He saw four other doctors so he has made an educated decision to play. So I think he should. If you're Norv Turner and he's (Merriman) going to play at a high level and not going to hurt the team, play him. Maybe play him on a limited basis. He's one of the best pass rushers in the league.
Boomer: All five opinions said he should have the surgery and that he should not put himself in further danger. I know that he's 24-years-old and he thinks he's invincible, but he will not be the same player with that knee because he will be trying to defend himself as he goes on.
Marino: The fact still remains that he's making an educated decision…If he plays limited and he plays at a certain level, if he gets hurt he's going to have to have surgery anyway.
(On whether the Bengals should have given in to Chad Johnson's demands and traded him in the off-season)
Cowher: Well "Ocho Cinco" and his disruptive and explosive manners that have taken place the last couple of years, if I were the Cincinnati Bengals and I had a chance to better my team and acquire a Washington Redskins first-round choice, then I would make that trade in a heartbeat.
Sharpe: I'm not going to let a disgruntled player dictate whether or not he goes or comes. Even if they could've gotten a first round pick, what kind of player are you going to get with that kind of production with the number 22 pick? Chad Johnson averages 92 catches, 1,375 yards and eight touchdowns. If you get a defensive player, he's going to have to get you 10-12 sacks. There's nobody in this year's draft that can give you that type of production.
Cowher: A first round draft pick gives me four to five years of productive play at a position that I need. I'd make that trade because Chad Johnson isn't what he was. Let's base it on what he is right now.
(On how effective quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will be without playing in the preseason)
Marino: First of all, these guys have won four Super Bowls between them. As far as them being ready to play, I think the thing is really can you take a hit? It's that first feeling of taking a hit, the timing in the pocket. Both these guys will be fine.
(On whether you agree with the two-game suspension of Carolina WR Steve Smith for sucker-punching his teammate Ken Lucas in practice)
Boomer: Steve Smith should be playing. He should have been fined a half million dollars and that half million dollars should have gone right into the pocket of his teammate Ken Lucas. This is an internal thing and I know why they're suspending him, it's conduct detrimental to the team, but they are playing the San Diego Chargers. They need him desperately. They are a much worse football team because he is not playing.
Sharpe: But this is the second time he's done this. He sucker-punched a guy in the meeting room. If it's a fair fight, and you know the guy is going to hit you, fine, but one guy was on a knee and the other guy was in film study and he hits him in his eye. John Fox did the right thing by suspending the guy. Sometimes you got to cut your nose off to spite your face.
•SUPER BOWL XLIII PICKS
BOOMER ESIASON: New Orleans vs. New England
SHANNON SHARPE: Minnesota vs. Jacksonville
DAN MARINO: Dallas vs. New England
BILL COWHER: New York Giants vs. Indianapolis
