Favre Made the Right Decision

So it is now official. After my summer of anxiety and agony (where I had already mentally prepared myself to see someone not named John David Booty wear a purple #4 jersey), Brett came through for me and Packer fans alike one last time. He decided to stay retired!

Most of you know that I am a lifelong, die-hard Packer fan and grew up with Favre as my childhood hero. But I truly believe that this was the best football decision that Brett has ever made. His arm virtually fell off the last 5 games of last season and he just flat out did not play well. He was not going to make the Vikings immediate Super Bowl contenders. Two to three years ago, yes. This year, NO!

Regardless if the Vikings would have gotten Favre or not, they would have still started the year with the 3rd best starting QB in the division! Granted Favre probably would have been a step up from Tjack, or Rosenfels, adding him would have torn the locker room apart. I must say that the Vikings did not handle the situation very well at all, and now they need to pull themselves together as a team and move on from all this garbage.

It would have made for some great drama next season, but it is for the best. Thank you Brett for making the right decision. Now please try to enjoy your retirement like a normal player. Everybody knows what you are capable of. Everybody knows what you did 2 years ago in Green Bay. Everybody also knows what you did in New York last season.

Did you tarnish he tarnish his legacy? Yes he did. Should he have retired after the NFC Championship loss to the Giants? Probably. There is no denying that people will remember the whole retirement limbo that he's played at the end of his career. But for us true fans, we will look past it and remember the Brett pictured above.

Brett Favre is one of the greatest QBs of all-time and will go down like that. It's time that the old gunslinger realize that he has nothing to prove. Now let's hope we don't have to hear his name or see too much of him on ESPN until he steps up to the podium in Canton, OH!

Packers QB Controversy Prediction

Well you know that I love to say I TOLD YOU SO! My prediction is starting to come true. Last month I said that Favre would come back to an open competition and surely win the job. I stand by that prediction now.

When Brett Favre takes the field later today it will begin. I'm not sure how long it will take but it's gonna happen. Favre-mania will set back in Titletown as the only professional fan-owned team begins their quest for a world championship.

There is no doubt in my mind that Brett Favre will win the starting job. He went 13-3 last year and had arguably his best (2nd best in my mind) year of his career! To choose Rodgers to start over Favre would mean you are saying that you are certain that he can get you past Overtime in the NFC Championship. To start Rodgers over Favre would mean that you know he will get you to the Superbowl. I'm sorry Aaron, you're a good player and I think you could be great one day, but you will not start over Brett Favre. The last time that Favre missed a start Rodgers was 8 years old! I've had the feeling all along that Favre will start September 8th against the Minnesota Vikings in Lambeau.

This is going to suck for Rodgers and I hope that he doesn't make a big fuss, but if he does i certainly understand. As a Packer fan I'm slightly concerned about what this is going to do to the locker room, and what it has already. I'm sick of the Favre drama and as a huge Favre fan i've lost a bit of respect for Brett. But I know two things. I know that when I see him sling that ball opening game against the Vikings all will be forgotten. I also know that Brett Favre will be the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers in 2008.

A Bold Brett Favre Prediction

OK, so when you read this please do not be confused by what I'm about to say and what I said in one of last week's posts. What I said last week IN THIS POST was that I thought Brett should stay retired. I wanted him to save everyone the hastle, and avoid all of this hoopla.

What I'm about to say now is what I think is going to happen.... Brett Favre will start for the Green Bay Packers this year. That is my bold Brett Favre Prediction.

I think before nobody within the Packer's organization wanted Brett back or took him seriously at first. His long dreaded retirement had come and gone and the players, fans, and front office were just getting over it and were just getting ready to move on. But now that he's asked for his release and showed that this is not just a feeling, this comeback urge is for real and it's happening, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are trying to clean this mess up a bit.

Now, yesterday Packers' GM Ted Thompson came out and said that if the Packers will not release Brett (THANK GOD), and if he files for reinstatement he will become a regular member of the team, meaning that he will be competing in minicamp. Thompson made sure to stress that he'd be coming back and having to compete because Aaron Rodgers is still the starting QB.

Well obviously he's going to say this. THINK ABOUT IT! He can't just screw Aaron Rodgers over the minute that Brett wants back. He has to be politically correct and say this so he doesn't infuriate the future of the franchise. The fact of the matter is, that the minute that teammates, fans, and coaches see Brett out on the field they are gunna blow their load along with the rest of the state of Wisconsin. People love Brett Favre, once they remember that and see Brett making bullet passes and slinging it down the field the job will be his again.

Yes, Aaron Rodgers is probably ready now. And yes, I do think he is going to be a good NFL QB. But you have to think that the Packers would be out of their mind to trade arguably the best QB of all-time coming off arguably his best season for him! You can't really think that he'll start over last year's sportsman of the year? To let Aaron Rodgers start and have Favre sitting on the bench would have to mean that McCarthy and Thompson are dead positive that Rodgers can get the team further than Brett. That Rodgers can get the team to the Superbowl because Brett came about as close as you can come last season.

This whole ordeal is going to take a while to play out but that is my prediction for now. I really think Brett will start week 1, against the Minnesota Vikings. I also know that when that happens, I will be reminded immediately again why he's my favorite player of all-time, why he's one of the all-time greats, and why I love to watch him play!

Brett Favre Should Stay Retired

Most readers know that I am about as big of a Favre fan as there is. But upon hearing the news about Favre's apparent "itch" to come back I've started to worry a little.

I feel like that his retirement was something that I and Packers fans alike much feared. The retirement came and went and I think I'm ready to move on. The team is ready to move on, and the NFL is ready to move on. I understand he has the "itch" to play and his family is supporting it, but I think he should stay retired.

I know it must be hard because he is an extreme competitor, and can still play the game at a very high level, but he should stick to his guns and remain retired. I don't believe there is any way that Favre would ever suit up for another team.

I am very interested and nervous to see what will happen with this as training camp approaches. Yes, he's a reckless competitor, but he's also very smart and i think he knows that while he wants to come back, and could come back, he shouldn't come back. I will support him 100% if he does return but I don't want him to. I think it's time to move on to the Aaron Rodgers era. We all know what kind of person and player Favre is. And we all knew that he would eventually get "the itch". It's only natural.

I predict Favre will definitely be in Lambeau Field on September 8 for Green Bay’s first regular season game. However, it will merely be for the retirement of his jersey number.

That's all I've got on this matter for now. Have a great Fourth of July!

One Last Letter to Brett

It's not like I've never been called a homer before, so here's one last homer post for Brett.

Dear Brett,
I want to thank you. Throughout my entire football life you've been the starting QB of my favorite team since I can remember (it all started when I was only 4). Growing up my Dad and I rarely missed a Packers' game and my love for the Packers essential stems from my love of watching you play the game. You were so fun to watch and you played the game like it should be played, like a little kid who's having fun. You've always been my favorite player growing up, having to defend my fandom to all the Vikings fans at school. But it didn't bother me, because I knew that they'd never win a Super Bowl anyways. You've always been my favorite player and you always will be.

I admire you and view you as a great role model. You've been through so much and overcome so much both on the field and off. Whether it's starting your career as a 7th string QB, leading USM to a come-from-behind victory in your first game on a hangover, coming back only 6 weeks after a near fatal car accident and major surgery that removed 30 inches of your intestines when doctors told you that you may never play again, overcoming an addiction to pain killers afterwards, playing an awe-inspiring game just a day after the passing of your father, playing an entire season with a broken thumb on your throwing hand, and standing by Dianna through her bout with breast cancer. I don't care what anybody says I think you're a role model in every sense of the word.

I could go on and on about the on field records but I know them all and so does most everybody else. There is no doubt in my mind that you a first ballot hall-of-famer and the 2nd best QB to ever play the game (behind only Montana). You gave me a reason to love the game and you brought my father and I together on Sundays. I'll never forget the years we spent screaming our lungs out for each TD and INT, always hanging in the balance on your every move.

It was ultimately your decision Brett and I respect it. Last year was an amazing run and I'm proud of you for coming back. It would have been a lot easier to hang it up 4-12. I realize that it had to end sometime, but it's going to be really weird to see anybody else start a game at QB for the Pack. I've been a fan my entire life (since I can remember) and I can't ever remember seeing anybody other than you start a game for my beloved Packers. Regardless what number lines up behind center next September, I will be wearing my #4 jersey. And while I somehow doubt that this is definitely the end of the line, I have to treat it like it is, just in case. I'll never forget "The Gunslinger".

Thank You,
Joe Laszewski