The Favre Return, a Packer Fan’s Thoughts

There’s a lot of division amongst Packer fans right now, and it’s all thanks to the poor way Brett Favre’s retirement was handled from Packer management and the man himself. As soon as there was a rumor Favre might play for the Vikings, I circled the date the Packers would play the Vikings in Lambeau on the calendar. I knew it was going to be a big one.

The Packers, in the three weeks leading up to this match up played the Lions and Browns and got themselves feeling very confident. Overconfident. So it was a definite reality check to see the Vikings, a solid and mature football team, come in and trounce our behinds up and down our (home) field. Here are a few thoughts from one Packer fan:

Booing is a Classless Act
Sorry, but the one thing I always counted on was the class the Green Bay fans have. After seeing the fans boo Favre, a guy that put Green Bay on the map for 16 years, I couldn’t help but to think it left them looking very, very small.

Here’s what should have happened. The minute Favre returned to Green Bay he should have been applauded. He gave the team great years and led them like no quarterback had before. Stand and applaud. Then, stand and applaud even louder for the Green Bay Packers to beat the Vikings fair and square. Support your team. Booing made the fans look like sour losers even before the Packers got beat.

Packers Have Problems That Have Nothing to Do With Favre
Was Brett Favre really our problem on Sunday? Seriously? This game was just about “his revenge?” No. It showed even more clearly the problems the Packers have right now. Our offensive line can’t protect Rodgers, and more than that, Rodgers can’t scramble and come up with a thing even when they do. Rodgers looked every bit the rookie quarterback he really is. Don’t tell me about stats. Rodgers stats may be good, but he hasn’t shown himself to be a leader. The only stat that means anything right now is that he is the quarterback of a losing football team.

Favre Is Worth the Hype
Does Favre have a big ego? Is the hype really worth it? Who cares. You know what’s really important? Favre hit yet another record in his win against Green Bay. He had an outstanding game. He played like a mature, truly great quarterback. The “Favre haters” love to suck down negatively, but they miss one very important point: Favre really is that good.

Quit Comparing Favre to Rodgers
The issue of whether Brett Favre should have been replaced by Rodgers wasn’t about whether Rodgers was better than Favre. Who the heck ever believed that? Rodgers ISN’T better than Favre. The issue was timing. Rodgers was younger and “the future” of the team. But was it a good idea to replace Favre (and make no mistake, Thompson put pressure on Favre to leave) at that year? The year following the fact that the Packers were one game out of the Superbowl?

Thompson obviously believed it was. I’m not sure I agree. But one thing is sure, Rodgers can’t be compared to Favre. He isn’t Favre. NO ONE will ever be Favre. Rodgers has to create his own legacy, and right now, he’s got a long way before anyone can define him as a good replacement. That kind of definition takes years.

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