Oh, what a night!
Hypnotizing, mesmerizing me.
She was everything I dreamed she'd be.
Sweet surrender, what a night!

I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder
Spinnin' my head around and taking my body under.
Oh, what a night!

Oh, I. I got a funny feeling when she walked
In the room and I,
As I recall it ended much too soon.

Oh, what a night.
Why'd it take so long to see the light?
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right.
What a lady, what a night!

"Oh What A Night" -- Frankie Valli

Could there have been a better opening script to the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay? Can we start calling it an "era" already? How long does a Packers fan have to wait to claim vindication?

Screw it. I'm declaring victory right now for the Packers organization. It is certainly possible that Aaron Rodgers will produce poor stretches of play this season and beyond. It is also possible he'll get hurt again and prove to be a porcelain doll compared to Brett Favre.

But, the kid can play. That debate is over. His performance in a 24-19 defeat of Minnesota was a victory for the concept of having a plan and sticking to it.

The three most relieved men in the building on Monday night -- behind Rodgers himself, of course -- were Ted Thompson, Mark Murphy and Mike McCarthy.

To have Rodgers show so well, to win the game, and to do it all knowing that Favre was safely tucked away in another conference was like hitting a straight flush.

Imagine the nerve it took to take the stance they did: "We love you Brett, but we've moved on." Admire, too, the perfect public relations touch and steady hand they showed in walking the game to a rather neat conclusion.

In short, this is how a good football organization rolls. To have this front office in Green Bay right now, without the overbearing presence of a single, mega-millionaire owner is a blessing for which most of you Packers fans have no real appreciation.

Ask any fan of the Raiders, Redskins, Cardinals or Bengals how it feels to watch ineptitude in slow motion on an annualized basis.

In fact, just rewind your TiVo to the point in the game where cameras caught Zygi Wilf, owner of the rival Vikings sitting oddly alone in what looked like a penalty box of a "luxury suite." There he was, looking like a patient cuckoo clock salesman from Copenhagen waiting for an appointment.

Would that guy inspire confidence in you as a fan? Sure, he just spent scads of money on a defensive end with a drinking problem, and a wide receiver that proved to be a one trick pony in Chicago. But is anybody worried about the impending "Vikings Era" in the NFC North? With Elmo's "Mr. Noodle" look-alike on the sideline and a crazy-legs, Mike Vick wanna-be under center?

Please.

The Packers managed Favre's unseemly quarterback sneak out of town better than they'll ever be given credit for. The full picture has yet to be revealed, but much of it is now coming into focus.

Favre clearly wanted to play; he just didn't want to have to come back to Green Bay to do it. Favre clearly wanted to stay in the Division, but he let his own ego override that desire once it was clear Thompson and Co. simply wouldn't allow it.

Watch Favre closely now in New York. He doesn't look like a man thrilled with a final chance at glory. He still looks angry and condescending about how it all played out. I think he STILL can't believe the Packers "did this" to him.

Somebody call me when you actually see him during an interview looking genuinely happy.

He's been busy pre-loading excuses into the media hopper, stating explicitly how hard it is to learn the Mangini system. He didn't even wait a week to start drawing his favorite plays in the dirt, reportedly telling the Jets offense on several occasions last week to "run the same thing."

Nice. Way to put your full effort into this thing, Brett.

He even says the right things -- "I'm honored to be named captain of this team" - while doing the exact opposite - like violating dress code by wearing jeans and a t-shirt on the team plane.

This night, however, belonged to quiet, steady, football competence. The Packers brain trust believed in Aaron Rodgers with 100 percent of their professional acumen. They allowed their plan to unwind on their terms and schedule, not anybody else's.

The result was plain, obvious, and joyful to watch.

And yes, let's get to the unpleasant part of this column. I was one of the chattering idiots in the media who said that Thompson and McCarthy needed to eat some humble pie and bring The Diva back with open arms.

I'm an idiot. They know how to run their football team.

Somebody, please hand me that cream pie.