Brett Favre has finally called it a career, and this time it is for good. In fact, the official retirement papers are already being processed for by the NFL so you can rule out a comeback this time. While I was hoping that now that Favre has retired, Packers’ fans could once again come together, judging by the early comments I’ve read, that isn’t going to happen. I have to feel sorry for the Packers’ fans that hate Thompson. You have to root for your team to lose so they fire the GM. How wrong is that? I couldn’t root against the Packers to lose even if Obama was the GM. And besides, anybody who thinks 22 TDs and 22 picks is a good years has a screw loose. The Jets did win three more games than the Packers, but the Jets did have a consistent running game and real defense, unlike the Packers.
But all that to me is water under the bridge. In a few years nobody will remember Favre’s childish behavior in attempting to force his way back to the Packers after retiring last March. Like Joe Willy Nameth and Johnny Unitas before him, nobody thinks of those players as a Ram or Charger, so nobody will think of Brett as anything other than a Packer. That was pretty much proven in just the last 15 minutes when Favre’s retirement commandeered all of ten minutes to open the NFL Network’s Total Access show. Granted, more coverage came later but not like last year’s all day coverage. Many of comments I did hear was that it was a year too late, and that is a little sad. Even Favre admitted he could no longer throw the ball like he used to, which is saying a lot for Brett, who never let anyone believe he wasn’t still one of the best in league. We all saw it the last few years, a great three months, than a meltdown in December and January. The Packers never had that one other superstar to pick up the slack
Brett Favre was the most exciting player in the NFL for 17 years, thankfully 16 of those were in Green Bay. It only amounted to one championship, but there are much more good memories than bad, even with the excruciating playoff losses. Having a winning team every year is pretty damn nice. Favre had only one losing season in Green Bay and won nine games with the Jets last year. Not too shabby. Rodgers already has one losing season, I think it might be his last at least a few years, though. To think Rodgers could have the longevity of Favre is ridiculous. Give me ten years and I’ll be more than happy, and to be able to stick around that long means you are winning more games than you lose. After putting up the numbers Rodgers did last year and with the all-star defensive coaching staff put in place, Rodgers is set up for success, and I didn’t even mention the offensive weapons he already has.
I just wish fans could understand the decision to go with Rodgers was for the long-term future of the team, and now that Favre has retired after just one season with the Jets justifies that decision. You watch, given a little time, even Favre will admit that. In fact, he kind of did already today when he said “maybe I came back for the wrong reasons.” I admit he felt a lack of love from Ted Thompson, but like Thompson always says, the NFL is a big boys league and loyalty is just a word. Just ask Ray Lewis. Lewis was asked if he’d take less to play for the Ravens, the team he played for his entire career and the team that made him a superstar, Lewis simply said “I don’t play less, so I don’t take less.” So believe me, it works both ways.
I am really looking forward to next season and Packers’ fans should now be able to concentrate solely on their team again and I think they will actually be happy with what they find. I also hope the Packers’ family and Favre can put their differences aside and not rob the Packers’ fans of retiring Favre’s number next year. A word of advice though, don’t make it opening day.