Dear Brett,
As the dust is finally settling on your first season with the Minnesota Vikings and with the hurt of my Packers loss finally starting to subside, I feel like I can finally write this to you with my thoughts fully collected.
A lot of things happened after the 2007 season that we, as fans, will never know. It's easy for us to play the blame game, when in reality there was probably some fault both ways. I don't think it's any secret that you didn't like the direction of the team and it's no secret that the front office was afraid that if you played much longer, their talented future Quarterback could slip away.
So you asked to be traded when the Packers finally welcomed you back and you successfully divided the once-united front that was the Packer fan base. After a rough year, many decided that letting you go was the wrong direction for the team.
Then, after your yearly retirement song and dance, you finally settled on playing for Minnesota, the team who many younger Packer fans hate more than long time rival, Chicago. It appears that revenge was a strong motive, but obviously that can't be proven. So for the sake of this letter, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, putting my suspicions aside. There was one thing that I have no doubt of, you knew the dynamic of the fans in Green Bay and you know what the feelings towards the Vikings who beat you so many times. That leads me to say this:
Whether or not you meant to hurt the Packer fans, you knew playing for the Vikings would do that.
Fine, you shouldn't have to base your life decisions on a bunch of people you've never met, no matter how much they idolize you. However, I couldn't believe how surprised you were when you got booed walking into Lambeau Field. Granted, I realize it must have been a weird feeling, in the same place that Matt Hasselbeck said you "are like the Queen of England here," to have the fans jeering you.
I don't know if you're going to play another year or not, I do know that I won't believe the first (or second or third) thing you say about it. But as far as your future with the Packers, it's hard to say. I don't know if the organization still has plans to retire your number.
I do know that your Super Bowl ring will always have a "G" ingrained in the side of it and we'll never be able to watch Super Bowl XXXI highlights without seeing you run off the field with your helmet raised high in the air.
But I also know that, as a fan, I would not not mention your name in the same breath as Tony Canadeo, Don Hutson, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, or Reggie White. Call me bitter, but your name will always conjure up images of you as a Viking. So I hope the Packer's hall-of-fame never officially inducts you and I hope that your number isn't retired. If those ever happen, don't be surprised if you get booed.
I hope that your life after football is a happy one and I wish the best to you and your family. But you're not a Packer.
-Ben
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5 comments:
Ben,
I know the fact that I am a Viking fan takes away some of my credibility (maybe all) in your eyes on this subject, but I do think Bretts decision to come out of retirement and play for the Minnesota Vikings was not an attempt to piss off packer nation, but more a chance to have "one more shot at glory"
I do not think you could logically make the argument that any other team in the NFL was a better fit for Favre then that Vikings. Even if he had to wear that purple uniform he despised for so many years, playing for the Vikings gave Brett a chance to have his best year statically as a quarterback ever.
While Brett certainly did not help the situation by changing his mind a few times, it also did not help to have ESPN on his nuts all summer long. Everything that happened was blown so up big and repeated so many times that it just escalated the situation. Making matters worse as far as his relations with the green and gold were concerned.
Also, take a look at what his comeback meant for the NFL, High ratings, a team that is typically in the bottom of the league for revenue jumped up to #3 in jersey sales for the year. Brett coming to Minnesota was good for the NFL, Since Brett has arrived I haven’t heard a word about the Vikings being moved to LA, maybe this is stretching it, but Brett might saved and intensified a great rivalry by (almost) single handily making people forget about moving the Vikings out of Minnesota.
While Saying Brett has saved the Vikings may come off as a crazy claim, I think we both can agree that his comeback no matter how hard it is for packer fans to watch has been good for the game of football. The NFC championship game had higher ratings then all of the previous championship round games, the Packers/Vikings Monday night game also had ratings off the charts. While it is sad to think that, that is what is important I think the reality is that is the sports world we live in today, it is about getting ratings, and media coverage. That is why I truly feel he will be back in Minnesota for another season next year.
I do completely agree with you on that aspect that there is not loyalty among many professional athletes these days, and that is something that is truly sad.
Perfect.
I would agree that he didn't try to piss off Packers fans, all I'm saying is that he knew he would... and his whole "I would think they'd be happy for me, because both the Packers and I have moved on" argument was bullshit and he knew it... either that or he was completely oblivious for 16 years.
I agree it was good for the NFL and for the Vikings. I hope your right that they stay in Minnesota now, but we'll see if they go back to being worried about blacking out playoff games when he's gone.. that'll be more telling. It would make it less fun to be a Packer fan to lose that rivalry.
I would also agree it intensified the rivalry, I've never hated Vikings more than I do now.
I blamed ESPN for being at his door for the last 5 years he was a Packer and making a story out of the non-story of his "retirement?" every year too. He knows what he's doing, he knew that he wanted to be a Viking but he didn't want to practice, as did Chilly, and they both insulted the rest of the team by outright lying about his return. If I was TJ or Rosenfels, I'd leave the Vikings first chance I got, they got screwed.
In the end, it was good for a lot, but my respect for Favre is gone.... and 16 years with the Packers is not enough to make up for playing for the Vikings. I still don't want to see him in the Packer hall of fame, or his name to line the stadium with the greats.
Wow, do you remember Reggie White being a Panther? Who was the last QB to lead us to a Super Bowl? WTF? Im so sick and tired of you dumbasses forgetting the 16 years of relevancy he brought to the Packers. He's gone, its sucks, it hurts, but he will always be a packer to me.
He was my hero for 16 years, but he decided he wanted to stick it to the Packers, and did whatever he had to do to get that chance. Good for him, but that means he's not a Packer.
Reggie White was a Panther, that's not the same as being a Viking. Brett was in good standing as a Jet and he could've gone to 28 teams and it would've been fine. He knew what going to the Vikings meant and decided to do it, he can go down in history as Minnesota's quarterback for all I care.
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