|
Green
Bay Speaks
Entire
city surveyed; wants Favre back, but should he start?
July 13, 2008 (9:25
PM CDT)
An overwhelming majority of Green Bay residents want Brett Favre
to stay with the Packers this upcoming season but not necessarily as
the starting quarterback, according to an extensive survey
commissioned by a Chicago
communications company.
Seventy-four percent of those responding
Sunday to a telephone survey of Green Bay
residents said the Packers should retain their contractual rights to
Favre, and not trade him. Thirty-three percent said he should be the
starting quarterback.
The poll was commissioned by Serafin &
Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based communications firm founded and
headed by Thom M.
Serafin. It was conducted by “We Ask America,”
a division of XPS, a national firm that specializes in large
participation polls and surveys.
Other than the 33 percent who want Favre
to start, 19 percent said they want him to return to the club as
back-up quarterback and 15 percent prefer him in a role as
player/coach. Only 17 percent of those responding to the poll said
Packer management should trade Favre.
Favre stunned the Packers and the football
world last week when it was revealed he wanted to return to the
Packers, even though he bid adieu in a tearful farewell after last
season. His decision threw Packers management into crisis mode, and
management still faces a potential public relations fiasco.
The Packers have said that Aaron Rodgers
is their starting quarterback next season; but have refused to grant
Favre’s request that he be released contractually. If Favre was
released by the club, he would be able to strike a new deal with any
other team, even the Minnesota
Vikings or Chicago
Bears, bitter Central Division rivals of the Packers.
Of those responding to the survey, 55
percent said they will feel betrayed if Brett Favre won the Super
Bowl with a team other than the Packers. Eighteen percent said it
would make no difference to them.
Favre has played 16 years as a starter for
the Packers and led the team to the NFC Championship game last
season. He is a sure Hall-of-Famer.
After several ambiguous statements, Packer
General Manager Ted Thompson said on Saturday that the Packers will
allow Favre back, but in a role yet to be determined.
“I agree with Ted Thompson that this
is a gut wrenching situation for the organization and the
fans,” said Serafin. “The poll results clearly indicate
that. Nearly 75 percent
want Brett to remain with the Packers; but they are split on whether
or not he should start.
“These results are much more
meaningful than a poll, which takes a sample of opinion. Every
telephone number listed in the Green Bay
white pages was called, and more than 21,000 people picked up the
phone. “
“We Ask America”
conducted the survey by telephoning everyone listed in the white
pages of the Green Bay
phone book between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Of the 49,721 calls
that were made, 21,377 answered the phone and 9,995 took the survey,
46 percent of those who answered.
According to Greg Durham, of We Ask America,
that is an exceptionally high response in a telephone survey, and the
margin of error is virtually nil.
“Everytime you see this type of
heavy response to a survey, it is a clear indication that the beliefs
being expressed are deeply held,” said Durham.
“It also is an indication that the Green Bay
Packers and Brett Favre are considered to be a big part of the fabric
of that community.”
Among the
specialties of Serafin & Associations is crisis communications,
but Serafin had a more personal reason for commissioning the poll. He
is a Packers
shareholder and a Favre fan. Read
the full results.
|
