TAKE A BACK SEAT

Packers Host Bears as Favre and Starr Return Home

If it seems like the Packers just played a couple days ago it’s because they did. Fresh off a sound beating of the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings the Packers hit the second leg of their NFC North tour when they host the improving Chicago Bears Thanksgiving night. While the game itself is important the focus of the game will be the halftime retiring of and long overdue induction of Brett Favre’s number into the Packers Ring of Honor.

Joining Favre will be the two other QB’s that have defined a legacy of greatness. Aaron Rodgers will be there in uniform but for this magical moment the two Packer greats will be joined by Bart Starr, the QB of the Lombardi era who led the Packers to 5 NFL Championships as well as the first 2 Super Bowl wins.

In the history of the NFL it is a daunting task to come up with 3 better QB’s that played for a franchise. Starr connects Favre and Rodgers to the very history of the Packers. Favre along with Reggie White was largely responsible in resurrecting the fallen Packers. The post- Lombardi years did not find the Packers among the discussion of Super Bowl contenders. After his retirement Starr tried his hand at coaching and found little success.

Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf engineered the deal with the Atlanta Falcons to swap a 1^st round pick for a 2^nd round backup QB when he dealt for Favre. Favre had done little to impress the Falcons then coach Jerry Glanville and in fact did his best to be the class clown much to Glanville’s ire. As Glanville tells the story upon showing up Favre said “Sorry, coach… there was a train wreck” Glanville coolly replied “Son, you are a train wreck”.

Some will dwell on Favre’s less than graceful exit from the Packers. Favre’s ego is even bigger than his right arm and in his day Favre was unmatched in throwing the football. He was also unmatched in his ability to be the center of a media storm almost daily. While there was acrimony and bitterness and rightfully so when Favre departed in a trade with the New York Jets Favre’s move to Minneapolis to suit up for the hated Vikings was almost more than Packer fans could bear.

A turning point for Packer fans may have been Favre’s last playoff game when he was beaten and battered by the Bountygate New Orleans Saints who were hell bent on not just beating the Vikings but beating Favre into a pulp. Even those who felt betrayed by the man who for over a decade, a Super Bowl win and 3 MVP awards and was the very face of the franchise began to feel some of the anger dissipate. To b fair Favre’s own petulance drove that anger towards him.

Favre’s country boy “Aw, shucks” demeanor made it feel as if he was one of ‘us’. His penchant for hijinks and an unabashed love of playing football struck a resonant chord that rang in the hearts of not just Packer fans but fans of the NFL. During Favre’s heyday he and Warren Sapp were bitter rivals. Early on the now famous head butting in-your-face- heated argument the two had helped to cement Favre’s legend as a teammate once described Favre as being “…a linebacker’s mentality in the quarterback’s position.” Even Favre’s opponents marveled at Favre’s toughness and along the way hated rivals like Sapp became respected colleagues. It would not be out of place for Favre to help up a defender who had just flattened him with a “Nice hit” comment.

 

Favre being Favre was never better than when Mike Holmgren took over the Packers fortunes. Holmgren was a former teacher and he inherited the class clown. But Holmgren recognized Favre’s talent though Favre’s sometimes reckless, sometimes careless and oft time maddening freewheeling style. Fans of NFL Films still get a laugh hearing a miked up Holmgren on the sidelines during one of Favre’s’ impromptu performances saying, then yelling “Throw it away, throw it away, throw it away… what the hell is he doing? Does he even know the play?” Then Holmgren would call for a backup to QB coach Andy Reid. “Put the other guy in” Holmgren said. He repeated himself and nodded as if he was still trying to convince himself.

But after Holmgren’s short term Favre-induced migraine passed he thought better of it and decided that the two of them – Favre and Holmgren – would be joined at the hip. Either we win together or lose together but you’re my guy and we’re in this together.

Favre also ended up abusing prescription painkillers and did a stint in rehab. Favre was so amiable, so likeable, so talented and yet so flawed we couldn’t help but root for him. He was everyman and we were him living vicariously thought his exploits. When he was bad he was awful. In a playoff loss to the Rams that saw Favre throw 5 ugly interceptions when a reporter asked about the five picks Favre being Favre replied ”Five? Hell, I thought it was six. I probably could have thrown a couple more.”

But when Favre was good he was ridiculously good. Out of this world good. It was these moments that separated him from us. The day after his father, the uber tough Big Irv Favre passed away Favre responded with a career best 400 yard, 4 TD game. That game in Oakland against then Raiders, the Raiders of Al Davis and the intimidation and tough guys and the famous Black Hole in the stands of fans illustrated exactly how Favre was perceived outside of Green Bay. As Favre entered the field the normally raucous and rowdy Raider fan base cheered him. An opponent. In Oakland. Being cheered? And rooted for? Favre earned the respect of not just his teammates and the Packer fans but by his opponents and the fans of those opponents.

Brett Favre rightfully belongs in the Ring of Honor with his number retired. He will certainly be a mortal lock as a first ballot hall of Famer. Favre’s return to Green Bay was must see TV over the summer. It set the table for a Thanksgiving day celebration and giving thanks for Favre being our guy, our QB is what will be on the menu Thursday night. Good or bad, right or wrong, TD or interception, Packer or Viking Favre is and always will be a study in diametric opposites. What we hate in him is why we love him and why we can so quickly relate to him.

Welcome home, Brett… and thanks.

Oh and there is the little matter of a football game being played. The vastly improving Chi9ago Bears will be in town and have somehow resurrected their season. After opening the season 2 – 5 and losing their season opener to the Packers the bears have since gone 2 – 1 and should have beaten the Peyton Manning-less Broncos last week. John Fox has begun to put his stamp on the young Bears and their defensive group has experienced addition by subtraction.

When DE Jared Allen and LB Jon Bostic were dealt away the Bears suddenly looked like a dumpster fire and were looking for a high draft pick. Somehow the moves have not just strengthened the Bears off season prospects in the draft but the team has responded by playing better. Highly regarded first round WR Kevin White began the season injured but has steadily worked his way back to the field. It will come none too soon for beleaguered QB Jay Cutler who has felt nothing but heat in the Windy City.

Cutler is Cutler’s own worst enemy. His penchant for ill time s picks is legion and his sometimes sullen demeanor grate the last nerve of Bear fans. When Cutler is on he is a good. He has a big arm but dfar too often gambles and loses. The Packers have had Cutlers number for some time and there is no reason to think otherwise.

With the train finally getting back on the track the Packers will keep rolling. Look for Rodgers to have a big game. With the watchful eyes of Bart Starr and Brett Favre the equally talented Rodgers is not lost on the drama of the moment.

 

 

 

 

 GREEN BAY 31  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chicago 13