Free Write Friday: Will They Still Love Me In Green Bay?

Adam Jackson steps in and gives us a Free Write for today. One of my favorite people in Eau Claire to talk sports with, and he does a great job with a look at Favre's legacy in Green Bay. Enjoy

A little over a week has passed since the Green Bay Packer’s Super Bowl XLV victory. I feel that enough time has passed from celebrating for a discussion about the reigning Super Bowl champs and that one guy who used to be the Packer’s quarterback. I really want to know how Brett Favre will be viewed from now on among Packers fans and the organization. The reason I bring this up is that the Packers just won the Super Bowl, three seasons removed from the “Favre Saga”, quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, in Favre’s last season, and just a season removed from a Favre interception in the NFC Championship game and a potential game winning kick by Ryan Longwell from playing in a Super Bowl.

Brett Favre was considered almost godlike among Packers fans for the better half of almost two decades. It seemed like pretty much everyone in the great state of Wisconsin owned a number four jersey. Even when on vacation or out of the state a person would ask you where you are from and reply Wisconsin, the next thing mentioned from that inquiring person would be a statement that included his name. An example would be “Oh, you must be a huge Packers fan. That Brett Favre is a hell of a quarterback.” The man was synonymous with the state and its citizens. Over his tenure as the Pack’s qb, he became Wisconsin’s adopted son.

Then on March 4, 2008, Favre said he was done with football for good and held a tear-filled retirement speech a few days later in the Lambeau Field Atrium. The rest is history. His first unretirement created a rift among Packers fans and “Favre fans.” It even caused people to tell Aaron Rodgers during training camp that they hated him, he sucks, and things of that nature. Favre was quickly traded to the New York Jets ending his time with the Packers organization. The Jets had a collapse at the end of the season that cost them a playoff berth and the Packers missed the playoffs. During that first season A.F. (after Favre) fans at Lambeau still wore Packers and Jets Favre jersey’s. The state even bought broadcasting rights with the Jets so people in Wisconsin could still watch “their favorite quarterback.” Then the second retirement came. Again, this lasted only a few short months. He came back and signed with the hated Minnesota Vikings.

This time though it was becoming quite obvious what Favre’s true motivations and colors were. A me-first and a my way or the highway kind of guy. This turned people against him and revealed to everyone that maybe this guy actually is just a jackass. Signing with the Vikings also didn’t help, but that’s an obvious point to anyone who follows the NFL. Playing for the Jets, we Packer fans could handle, but the Vikings!? It was all sorts of wrong on so many levels. Anyway, his legacy in Green Bay took a major blow during this time. However, Favre somehow managed to pull a “He did WHAT!!??” type of season, which was by some standards his best statistically and brought the Vikes within a game of going to a Super Bowl and ol’ Brett could ride out into the sunset like he always wanted too (finishing with a Super Bowl win was something Favre became obsessed with after losing Super Bowl XXXII to John Elway and the Denver Broncos). His performance for that season kept him in the good graces of some faithful remaining Favre fans/Packers fans, even though he was playing for the fucking VIKINGS! (Which we all knew was a total “F-YOU” directed towards Ted Thompson and some Packers fans interpreted it as an “F-YOU” to them as well). But hey, the Vikings didn’t go to the Super Bowl so life was good, and we could stick it to Vikings fans again about not winning when it matters the most, plus a Favre interception joke was warranted.

This last season was quite different though. Favre took a huge hit in the eyes of Packers fans both figuratively and literally. This season was full of bad news of Favre that Packers fans knew of, but liked to keep in the dark; such as the “sexting” and voicemails left to Jenn Sterger (Favre’s womanizing in the Green Bay-Appleton area was no secret among fans for most of the 1990’s), the accusations from two Jets massage therapists, and the terrible showing that was Favre’s performance this year. He took hard hitting hits and for once was not able to shake them off. During this time, Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers (who was still being booed during this summer’s Family Night scrimmage mind you) and the Packers were struggling to make a push to make the playoffs after talks of the Super Bowl earlier in the summer. Well, A-Rodg proved that he is one of the elite quarterbacks in this league, the Packers made the playoffs and WON THE WHOLE FREAKING THNG! Who would ever think that Favre’s last season in the league the Packer’s would win it all and he wasn’t the qb!? This Super Bowl win happened pretty soon after he left and it also puts to rest all of the Favre related questions and comparisons to Rodgers.

So, what is his legacy in Green Bay as of now? Packers President Mark Murphy said after the SB victory that Favre was welcome back and that they will have some things to discuss concerning retiring his number 4 and such. Great public relations move and now the ball is in Favre’s court. This means that he will always have a legacy among the organization, but what about the fans? Will they stand and cheer when his number four is put on the façade of Lambeau next to guys like Reggie White and Bart Starr, or will they turn their backs? It was always a question of when Favre is no longer a Packer, “what will it be like for the next qb and how long will it take to win another Super Bowl?” That question was answered, and rather quickly. Also, A-Rodg has shown through his actions and answers to the media that he is a man of class, something that was revealed to be lacking in Favre’s life this last year. Only time will tell how Brett Favre will now be remembered among Packers fans. He can only hope that it is a positive one, because in a way, he deserves it. I’m positive since February 6, Favre pondered the question “will they still love me in Green Bay?” while breaking up a beaver dam on his Mississippi property. I guess only time will tell.

-Adam 

Finally, Aaron Rodgers Is Wisconsin's Son

I know you have probably read everything on Aaron Rodgers in the last three days, but let me provide you with my own personal spin on a guy who sixty-five percent of the fanbase didn't want as their quarterback in 2008. According to Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV said people were still booing Aaron during the family night scrimmage in 2010. I wish Rodgers would have thrown a football into the stands like Maximus did with his sword yelling "Are you not entertained?!" But that's not Rodgers' personality. 


I am not trying to rewrite the Ted Thompson post from earlier, but to sum it up, the guy took a lot of unnecessary shit. Rodgers never shouted at people, called out these fans, or anything like that. A-Rod went about his business and acted like a complete professional. In my opinion, there aren't a lot of quarterbacks who could of handle the pressure Rodgers faced. There have been countless examples of players taking over for a legend after they retire and fall flat on their face. Not only did Rodgers do that, but he dealt with Brett Favre's desire to comeback was something he shrugged it off like an annoying pest. 



Once life began after Favre started people's criticism of Rodgers became so unbelievably picky. After multiple late game struggles in his first starting season, some gave him the title of not being able to win close games after struggling to comeback.  No one remembers how bad the defense was that year. The next year the new title for Rodgers became he couldn't win playoff games after losing 51-45 fumbling to Karlos Dansby at the end of the game. Remind you, this is one game of proof. Despite that these people believed it was the proof they needed to show he didn't have this supposed clutch gene. By the end of this year, he flashed another title...World Champion.  


Rodgers put together one of the best postseasons by a quarterback. He went into hellacious Philadelphia where number 4 couldn't win in the playoffs, he handled the dome atmosphere by dissecting Atlanta like Dr. Gregory House, did just enough to beat the hated Chicago Bears, and finished it off by beating Pittsburgh, the supposed best defense in National Football League. Even before the playoff appearance, people began to accept Rodgers as one of their own.


While sports figures shouldn't be the go-to role models for children, Aaron Rodgers should be next in line after his father/mother/brother/sister.  He carries himself with a swagger instead of being a robot (cough Peyton, Albert, cough), he keeps a chip on his shoulder no matter how big he gets, and he never dissed any of his doubters. Unlike his predecessor Mr. Favre who drank too much, womanize beyond his limits, and had a pain addiction, Rodgers carries himself in such a better manner.  My favorite thing I saw from Rodgers this week was when someone tweeted him about not using the social media giant Twitter during the season... 


" I have a strong desire to be great. Gotta stay focused."  


Keep it up Aaron, now 100 percent of Green Bay's fan base and others around the nation are behind you 


-Charlie.

Best Packers Memory

For one of my classes I had to do a short statement on what my favorite Packer memory is. What's better than the Favre's game after his father Irvin passed away?

Here goes:

In my life there have been some good memories and bad memories of Wisconsin’s beloved Green Bay Packers. My first memory of the Green Bay Packers is the loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the 1995 (season) NFC Championship game. That would be considered a negative memory. I don’t remember the score exactly but I know it was a tough loss.


Then shortly after that, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI over Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots. That is one of the better memories but not the best.

Obviously, I could take the easy route and call last weekend’s victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game (I don't really remember the score of that game either because of reasons I can not disclose) a great memory, but that is not the best in my opinion.

My favorite memory of the Green Bay Packers was Brett Favre’s game was in the 2003 season in which Brett Favre played the day after his father Irvin passed away. The Packers went on the road to face my Oakland Raiders and there was controversy about whether or not Favre would play. Well, he did start and he played probably the best game I’ve ever seen played personally. He had four touchdown passes in the first half and ended up with a nearly perfect passer rating of 154.9.

Even if it was against my favorite team, that was easily best performance I’ve ever seen from anyone in any sport. Just the sheer emotion of Favre and the way he performed in lieu of his father’s death made it a great memory.

-Mitch

What Should Brett Favre Do?

This is pretty damn funny and I have been seeing it a lot of Facebook from people so I gotta post it.  I love it, the guy doesn't look like Favre at all, but he nails the voice.  "Do you want to see my Danny Woodhead?"

Daily Debate: When Does Favre Get His Number Retired?

Mitch texted me this Daily Debate so I am not sure why he didn't post it, but I will do it instead for him before I head to off to sell office supplies like my name is Dwight Schrute.  Brett Favre, now that he is retired and I feel confident saying that, when will the Green Bay Packers retire his number?

I personally feel it will be in about 3-5 years.  To get into the Pro Hall of Fame, it's a five year wait period. We can all agree that Favre's numbers make him a first ballot Hall of Famer.  I believe the Packers will want to do it before his HOF speech at Canton in 2016. I just hope that Ted Thompson and Favre do not carry over their grudge for years to come.  Do it in three years against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau.  I would like to see that.

-Charlie.

I didn't do it because I forgot about it Chuck. Fuck me, right? 


Anyway, I don't think it will be next year either. The Packers front office is going to wait a while for the fans' wounds to heal from his last two years with Minnesota. The time will come soon though. I give it 2-3 years.

-Mitch


No question here that we all think his number is going to be retired at Lambeau Field right? Right? Can you see a scenario where they actually don't because Brett is unwilling to come back when Ted Thompson is still making genius personnel moves? I think I can. At first I was looking to agree with Chuck, however, I believe it would be the season after he gets into Canton, not before.  But, I can also see this thing dragging out to the 7-10 year range. There is just so much ego on the side of Favre that we never know what his next move will be. He could end up in the front office of the Vikings or Bears for all we know. Then I'd say, "Absolutely Hell No" to retiring Favre's number.

-Pat