The Day The Packers Thrived
Seeing Brett Favre on the cover of SI got me to thinking – what would’ve happened had he not hastily retired in 2008? The ol’
pervert gunslinger gave general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy the perfect opening to turn the team over to Aaron Rodgers. But would they’ve had the cojones to make that move had Favre not opened the door? Or would the incredible career of No. 12 be taking place in another city?
We’ll never know the answer to that question, but my gut tells me Favre did the Packers a humongous favor a little over seven years ago. While Thompson and McCarthy were clearly ready to see what their talented young quarterback could do, they clearly weren’t ready to alienate an entire fan base by forcing Favre out – especially following one of his finest regular seasons. And had No. 4 played for Green Bay in 2008, chances are Thompson would’ve been forced to trade Rodgers after the season, since he was not only growing increasingly impatient, but he was also entering the final year of his contract.
As much as I still resent Favre for what he did to the franchise in the summer of ’08, I guess I have to also give thanks to Jenn Sterger’s biggest fan. His “retirement” – as brief and as ill-thought out as it was – allowed the Packers to give the keys to the car to Rodgers, who has driven it like Jimmie Johnson for the past eight seasons.
OK, so now I know how to keep myself from dry heaving when Favre is feted by the Packers on Thanksgiving night. I’ll simply make believe he’s being honored for the unintentionally unselfish thing he did on March 4, 2008. After all, it wound up being the best thing he did for the franchise since leading it to a Super Bowl win over a decade earlier.
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