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By Steve Czaban Special to OnMilwaukee.com E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Steve Czaban

Published Aug. 6, 2008 at 5:26 a.m.

Tags: packers, favre, thompson, mike mccarthy

It's not me, it's you.

That's the unmistakable message Brett Favre has sent to the Packers. The time to deny it is over. At some point after last year's painful loss in the NFC Championship game, Favre decided in his own mind that he was simply done being a Packer.

The how, the why, the reasons he constructed for it to all make sense only to him.

At least now we know.

All the retirement tears, all the psycho-babble with Greta, all the posturing leading up to training camp with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy -- we know now.

It was all just a show.

Did he have it planned out exactly? Probably not. I'm sure there was plenty of Favre's patented improvisation in there. But he's finally at the square on the chessboard he wanted to occupy all along.

The Packers door slammed shut. The chance to play for somebody else remains alive.

Why not just ask for a trade?

Because that would have been charged to his football legacy credit card of goodwill. Better to stick Thompson and McCarthy for the tab. Make them look like fools.

I'm Brett Favre. Don't you get it?

Like a lot of athletes, Brett Favre once again confirmed that the fawning adoration of the fans is a one-way street. Packers fans' worship of Favre was always unhealthy, and now I'm sure many of you feel a little bit stupid for erecting shrines to a man who could so casually toss you under his lawn mower just to slip out of town.

Years from now, when your kids are asking "Why did Brett Favre leave the Packers, Daddy?" you'll hummina, hummina trying to find an answer that is vaguely coherent.

"Well son, it's all because Ted Thompson didn't interview Steve Mariucci. Or ... well, something else. I'm not sure, exactly."

What do you do now if you are the Packers?

Trade his ass, that's what. And do it quickly. If you don't get more than a mid-round pick, fine. If you have to send him to the Vikings, go ahead.

The biggest assumption in this whole saga that has gone mostly unchallenged is the notion that Favre will be "plug-n-play" wherever he lands.

Oh, really? In a month? With almost lesser-skilled receivers?

There's an assumption that Favre won't revert to his interception-prone ways of two years ago. Last year's incredible numbers may well have just been a convergence of McCarthy's constant harping on Favre not to wing it all the time and the emergence of Driver, Jennings, et. al.

Since when are Packers fans afraid of the Minnesota Vikings? Other than a season or two of torment with Randy Moss at full power, in what significant games have the Vikings ever broken the Packers hearts?

Let Favre put on his the purple No. 4 jersey. Let Favre cram his way through August with Brad Childress. Let Favre do interviews in Minnesota with every TV station, newspaper, and blogger in sight. Let Favre try to get instant chemistry with Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian. Hey, at least he'll be familiar with all the things Robert Ferguson can't do.

Then let him roll into Lambeau Field on opening weekend. Retire his Packers jersey in grand fashion, without a trace of bitterness.

Then beat his ass. And don't look back.

11 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by very_lived on Aug. 7, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (report)

Truly a sad day in Green Bay. I would like to congratulate the Green Bay Packers on one of the most ridiculous moves in NFL history. After the events of the past few months, I've come to the conclusion that Ted Thompson has attended a Matt Millen seminar. Green Bay has traded a legend for a crappy draft pick. What is even sadder is the fact that the Packers have confidence in Aaron Rodgers, an inadequate third year 'rookie'. Here's your laugh of the day, Aaron Rodgers' favorite movie is Princess Bride. Thats what the Green Bay Packers have come to---a team that puts there confidence in a unstable, crappy quarterback with intentions of looking like Jesus. Watch for the next move from the Packers---Kordell Stewart is in flight to Green Bay...he will now be Aaron's backup/companion/roomate....I hope they enjoy watching Princess Bride together. Sincerely, I hope the Packers go 0-16.

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Posted by more_cowbell on Aug. 6, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (report)

How is Brett going to mow his lawn when he retires? I picture him standing in the Garage struggling to make a decision. Ridding mower? no push mower, no riding mower, no push mower. Oh crap I better ask Deanna she'll know what I should do. It was great having you as QB Brett, no wait you stunk, no wait you were great, oh hell now I'm doing it!! For now I'll miss him but check back with me in a few weeks and I may have changed my mind.

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Posted by bg on Aug. 6, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (report)

OK, clearly Favre is at fault in starting this whole mess by belatedly deciding not to retire. The Packers wanted him to make his decision before the draft which is a perfectly reasonable request and to say he was rushed is garbage - any team in the league would've asked the same thing of him. That said, the Packers need to forget all that and make decisions in the present. Losing Favre was a huge loss, though we knew it was coming sooner or later. Now you have the chance to bring him back for a year, maybe two? You have to decide whether having him on the team this year gives you a better shot at the playoffs than not having him on the team. I think we all know the answer to that. And don't try to rationalize trading him with that garbage about building for the future or whatever. This is the NFL. Ever since the dawn of free agency the present is all that matters. And how many head coaches even spend 10 years with the same team anymore? If Aaron Rodgers ever does get good, the odds of him still playing for the Pack and being coached by Mike McCarthy 5 years from now are slim. Don't kid yourself. This isn't a Montana/Young situation. They aren't thinking about the future, just their own egos. Now I don't let Favre totally off the hook here. His waffling is essentially the cause to all this, but the NFL is a business and whether you like the guy or not, you have to appreciate the fact that he'll win you games. He may not like the management either, but you know when he's out on the field he'll give it his all. Besides, there are much bigger pain in the a$$ players the packers could be dealing with and have dealt with who don't perform half as well as Favre has. Give the guy a little respect.

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Posted by RobG on Aug. 6, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (report)

Mr. Czaban, I listen to you every morning on Bob & Brian, and let me tell you, everytime you comment on the Farve situation, whether its at 102.9 or here at OMC, its like your taking the words out of my mouth. I was the biggest Farve Fan, but now like you said, let us kick his ass wherever he goes, and really show him that it really isn't all about him.

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Posted by daneye01 on Aug. 6, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (report)

I was a huge Favre fan. Thanks for the memories. I'm a bigger Packers fan and I'm on the train and hope nothing but the best for Aaron R. and the boys. Favre didn't want to go where this train was going and still doesn't so be it. And as for that burns' comment...are you crazy? You don't bite the hand that feeds you. You obviously never saw that the Packers Org. was bigger than just one person. Have fun cheering for your new Tampa team since you would rather side with the one person that didn't get his way instead of the mission and goal of a local team.

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