Packers Nation breathed a huge sigh of relief when Brett Favre finally ended his consecutive starts streak last night.

But why? It's not like Favre or the Vikings are a threat to the playoff chances of the Packers this season.

No, fans are just angry, jealous and betrayed. Most of us now take pleasure in seeing Favre upset. Some of us are rooting for injury, or worse.

Which begs the question, when all is said and done, have the scales finally tipped? Is Favre the hero now Favre the villain?

Has the ol' gunslinger done more bad than good to Green Bay fans during his long, storied and convoluted career?

I fear the answer is yes.

Obviously, Favre brought the Packers a Super Bowl, and I'll never forget one minute of that game. For a three-or-so-year span, concluding with the loss in the "other" Super Bowl, Favre made us so proud. I get goosebumps thinking about those 1996 games that were so magical.

Favre made us so proud, in fact, that we allowed ourselves to ignore alleged indiscretions like:

• An addiction to painkillers that clearly affected his performance (remember that Tampa Bay game?)
• An addiction to booze that wasn't really reported, but we all knew was there -- and much later than was acknowledged
• An addiction to the fairer sex that was never, ever reported until it was caught in pictures

And most of all:

• An inability to win big games when it mattered

For all the miracles like his performance against the Raiders after his father died, we ignored those playoff games against the Giants, Eagles, Falcons and Rams. All those years that Favre, mostly alone, knocked the Packers out of the playoffs.

While the rest of the country respected his durability but laughed at his ill-advised season-ending interceptions, we gave No. 4 a free pass, each and every time.

"It's just Brett being Brett," we'd say, reminding ourselves where we'd be without him.

You know, out of the playoffs. Just like we were with Favre at the helm.

Then Favre retired and unretired, and Favre fans (including this author) called for Ted Thompson's head when he wasn't welcomed back with open arms. We even cheered for him when he was on the Jets.

Then Favre called up the Lions and told them how to beat the Packers. The scales began to tip.

But then Favre joined the Vikings, primarily to spite his old team, and by extension, his most loyal fans. The scales tipped further, and he decimated Green Bay last year. He took pride in punishing us.

Then he retired and unretired again. Then the whole unpleasant business came to light with Jenn Sterger. Packers fans, at least the ones who could think clearly, had to ask themselves if they were really surprised. I know I was not.

The only thing Favre did to tip the scales back in the other direction was to destroy the Vikings from within this season. So, in a way, he's still helping the Packers, although now it's not on purpose.

Above all else, Favre was selfish. It is the common thread that ran through all the good (the streak) and the bad (the retirements) that he did. All athletes are egomaniacal; they wouldn't be good athletes if they didn't believe in their ability beyond a doubt ... but most have a strong sense of team.

As people, we lost respect for him when he put himself above the team. As Packers fans, we have every right to be upset with his decision to take his legendary status to one of our biggest rivals to spite Ted and make us collateral damage. That will be hard to repair.

I'm sure someday, Packers fans will rise to their feet to retire his number at Lambeau Field, but irreparable damage has been done. It pains us to say it, but Favre is a creepy, petty, self-centered old man -- and other than the gray hair, it wasn't any different 15 years ago.

Time gains perspective, and while his successor, Aaron Rodgers, isn't playing the "role model" card, it's looking like he's a much more stand-up guy.

Which means nothing on the field, mind you.

But for the many amazing things Brett Favre did for the Packers, his transgressions now outweigh his accomplishments. Packers fans, as blindly loyal as we may be, know football -- which is why, for so many reasons, we're all aching for Favre to get back on his tractor and ride into the sunset.

It'll be a long time, if ever, until we're ready to see him again.