Brett Favre: Philadelphia

He can't be serious!

Unretiring is a sickness with Brett Favre.

Someone stage an intervention. He needs to enter rehab for the affliction.



Eagles may want to sign Brett Favre; Vick would be ‘honored’

Folks, we're really sorry for this. We really are. But it's our duty to keep our Spidey-Senses up for NFL news, and we've caught wind of a … well, we're searching for the right word to describe it … rumor. Howard Eskin of 610 WIP Sports Radio in Philadelphia has it out there that the Eagles are interested in possibly procuring the services of ...

Br…

Bre…

Brett Fa…

Oh hell, we can't even write it.

...Right now, this is just Eskin's rumor, though he's fairly dialed in. The Eagles can't talk to free agents or draft picks, but there's nothing in the lockout rules we're aware of preventing them from talking to retired players. If Favre is interested in coming back to a team able to challenge for a Super Bowl, in a media hotbed, behind a vulnerable quarterback, which a staff he knows, and talented targets all over the place … well, there would be few better places for him to go.

Then, there's the intangible argument. The lockout has taken the attention of the NFL media through the spring and summer; very few people have made Favre the primary subject of their attention, and we all know how he reacts to that.

It's tempting to ask the owners and players to put some sort of "Anti-Favre" provision in the new CBA before the NFLPA signs off on it, but we suppose we'll have to see how this plays out.

...UPDATE: Here's Vick's take on the whole thing; he's pretty clearly setting the terms of such a deal by mentioning Favre as a 'backup.'

I can't wait for training camp to begin in Green Bay. I love the atmosphere.

I wonder if Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers would be "honored" to have Favre as his backup.

I crack myself up.

Seth Meyers Monologue, ESPYs (Video)

SETH MEYERS: The biggest story in football was the Green Bay Packers beating the Steelers 31-25 in the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers became the first team since 1962 to go an entire season without trailing more than 7 points, proving once and for all that not every statistic is interesting.

And finally, give it up for Aaron Rodgers!



Aaron Rodgers, who won the Super Bowl and finally got out of the shadow of Brett Favre, which we learned, thanks to cell phone technology, is not as big a shadow as we originally thought.

Brett Favre: Itch

I hoped we'd be spared the Brett Favre UN-retirement talk this year.

Alas, it was too much to hope for.

From NFL.com:

Almost time to fire up Favre Watch 2011? On one hand, says NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, yes. Then again, Brandt says, NFL teams might not be all that interested.

When asked about a possible return of Brett Favre to Minnesota during his live chat Tuesday, Brandt indicated that he believes the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns is indeed getting back that itch. The only catch is that, while the Vikings put on the full-court press to have Favre return last summer, Brandt doesn’t see Minnesota or any other team sending its private jet down to Hattiesburg, Miss., this summer.

“I do think Favre would be interested in talking to a team about returning,” Brandt said. “But I don’t see a team out there right now that would bring him back as a starter.”

Brandt noted that the Vikings need to get first-round draft pick Christian Ponder in the starting lineup as soon as possible, and Favre isn’t the right QB to be grooming — and giving way to — a young player.

“Brett is still a good quarterback, but I’d consider him a descending quarterback,” Brandt said. “It’s awfully hard for him to go to a team and be a backup. The Vikings must start Christian Ponder this season to get him some experience. And they’re not going to get Favre in there to babysit Ponder.”

After Favre's meltdown last year, on and off the field, wouldn't you think the guy would finally want to step out of the spotlight and stay out?

Favre is a joke.

The "itchy" Favre has made such awful choices.

I hope the reigning Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers retire Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers' jersey before Favre gets that honor.

Leno: Weiner Jokes, June 16

JAY LENO: Some good news: We will not be getting anymore junk mail from Congressman Anthony Weiner. Anthony Weiner announced today he is stepping down. I guess he finally realized he couldn't stick it out any longer.

So if you live in New York now, you're only left with one disgraced congressman representing you - Charles Rangel. So you only have the one disgraced guy.

Well, you know, he had to step down. You know, he sent those naked pictures of himself. And there were clues, there were clues. I think in his home life, too. Did you seen him when he stepped down today he was talking about his parents? Here, take a look.



It all starts at home.

The good news is they already found a replacement for Anthony Weiner. The bad news: It's Brett Favre. It doesn't stop!

Well, a new poll showed that 70 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view, unfavorable view of Anthony Weiner. To which Weiner said, 'Really? How about this view? Or this one?' A number of views.

Well, the evidence just kept mounting against him. It was unbelievable. You probably heard of this. A former porn star, an actress who exchanged e-mails with Weiner, held a press conference with her lawyer, Gloria Allred. Did you see this yesterday? And the porn star said that Weiner often steered the conversation toward sex.

You know, I don't want to defend the Congressman, but SHE'S A PORN STAR! What are you going to talk about? The debt ceiling? Hello? Maybe get a three way with Jenna Jameson on the crisis in Libya. Can we do that possibly?

And did you see this? Gloria Allred... she was reading Weiner's sex messages out loud. And, you know, typical lawyer, now she's trying to make a buck on it. Look at this:



Anyway, Anthony Weiner still has to send in an official letter of resignation. In fact, he asked today, 'Can I text the letter?' They said, 'No, no, just regular is fine.'

And to make matters worse, new photos surfaced this week showing Anthony Weiner in a bra and pantyhose. Did you hear about his? Apparently, these cross-dressing photos were taken back in college.

You know, if we could put him in a French maid outfit and hook him up with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it would be the greatest joke day in the history of America.

Leno: More Weiner Jokes

DEMOCRAT Anthony Weiner is still starring in Jay Leno's monologue.

Brett Favre, Eliot Spitzer, and Bill Clinton are also playing roles.

Jokes from Thursday's Tonight Show:

JAY LENO: It was so hot in Washington, everyone was sitting around in their underwear like Congressman Weiner. He finally felt at home.

Oh man, that story! Oh, please! This is the story that just won't go away. It gets worse and worse. You've probably seen this. It now seems there's a picture going around the Internet of Congressman Weiner's naked penis. And you can tell it's him because it looks just like him, you know? You know, if he was bald. I mean, you can see the resemblance.

Let me tell you how graphic this picture is. Even Brett Favre won't return his calls now. That's how bad... it's terrible.

You know, I mean, I don't understand taking... how many photos of his crotch did he take? You know, I don't have any photos of my crotch. I mean, I've got a couple of oil paintings, some sketches, sure, a couple of charcoals, but I mean, you know, I don't, really... No, it's awful.

See, I don't understand the way Washington works. Now explain this to me: We are not allowed to see bin Laden's death photo because it's too explicit; but our Congressman's penis, that's fine.

Well, the latest news is that Congressman Weiner's wife is pregnant. I'll tell you how creepy this is: When his wife first called to tell him she was pregnant, he said, 'Uh, who is this?'

Well, you know who married Weiner and his wife? Bill Clinton. In fact, Weiner called Bill Clinton and apologized. See that's when you know you have a problem, OK, when your sexual behavior has offended Bill Clinton. That's where you just go, 'OK, time to draw the line.'

Well, more and more people are now calling for Anthony Weiner to resign. But it's not all bad news. Eliot Spitzer said if Weiner does resign, he can join him on his show and they'll call it 'Weiner Spitzer.'

How many people feel he should resign?

(Audience applauds)

How many people feel he's doing a good job and this has nothing to do with his job?

(Little audience applause)

Interesting, interesting.

Now, as I said, Weiner is adamant now about not resigning. In fact, CNN caught up with him today on the streets and they talked to him. Here, take... here's the interview:

(Clip of actual CNN video, followed by video with CNN audio)



I don't want to see that member of Congress, OK? Thank you.

WeinerGate

UPDATE, June 8, 2011: Gawker posts the DEMOCRAT Weiner photo.
________________

UPDATE, June 6, 2011: DEMOCRAT Weiner says with certitude the photo is of his crotch.

Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York said today he has engaged in "several inappropriate" electronic relationships with six women over three years, and that he publicly lied about a photo of himself sent over Twitter to a college student in Seattle over a week ago.

"I take full responsibility for my actions," Weiner said. "The picture was of me, and I sent it."

DEMOCRAT Weiner is a liar.

He addressed the media repeatedly about the photo and he lied repeatedly.

Because of the cover-up and the lies, I think DEMOCRAT Weiner should resign immediately.
_________________

UPDATE, June 1, 2011: DEMOCRAT Weiner "can't say with ceritude" if the photo is of him.

Yeah, right.
_________________

Why doesn't DEMOCRAT U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner want an investigation into the alleged hacking of his Twitter account?



Weird, in a Brett Favre sort of way.

Vote Changes in Statewide Recounts

The MacIver Institute offers this chart of "Vote Changes in Statewide Recounts in the United States Since 1980 and Margin in Prosser v. Kloppenburg 2011."



What is JoAnne Kloppenburg thinking?

She and her union allies certainly can't think this joke of a recount is going to endear the Leftists' agenda to Wisconsin taxpayers.

What a massive waste of resources!

This recount is so outrageous that the classless Kloppenburg joins Brett Favre in becoming a verb.

For example, the verb "favre":

When lead character Cleveland Brown, a baseball star when he was in high school, gives his retired #9 jersey to his son, Cleveland Jr., the elder Cleveland takes a shot at Brett Favre.

CLEVELAND BROWN JR.: Wow! Number 9! I thought when you left they retired it for good.

CLEVELAND BROWN: I'm Brett Favre-ing it, except I'm not being a public jag off about it.

It took Favre years to become a verb, going in and out of retirement repeatedly.

Kloppenburg managed to achieve that level of notoriety in just weeks. Quite an accomplishment.

David Witthoft: The End of the Favre Era

David Witthoft (Photo/AP)


On March 6, 2008, Brett Favre held a press conference, tearfully announcing his retirement from the Green Bay Packers.

Favre commented, "As they say, all good things must come to an end."

True.

Twelve-year-old David Witthoft came to the same conclusion. It was a great run, but now it's over.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Finally, David Witthoft shunned his Brett Favre jersey for the first time in 1,581 days.

The Ridgefield, Conn. boy, 12, wore the No. 4 jersey every day since receiving it as a gift for Christmas in 2003. David's father, Chuck Witthoft, said Monday that his son's last day wearing the jersey was April 23 — his 12th birthday.

It's amazing that David could wear the same jersey all those years.

It must have been large on him when he first got it.

1,581 days -- That's quite a record.

Witthoft conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.

Time passes. Kids grow. Adults grow older. There's nothing you can do about it.

David couldn't wear it forever.

Witthoft first gained national attention three years ago, and attended his first Packers game in December. He's also planning to attend the Sept. 8 game when the Packers retire Favre's No. 4.

His mother, Carolyn, had washed the jersey every other day and mended it when needed.

Carolyn Witthoft is the ultimate iron woman.

It's not easy to keep a jersey clean and mended and wearable daily for five years.

I guess it was fitting for David to end his Favre jersey streak on his 12th birthday. He's not the little boy he was when he got the jersey for Christmas in 2003; and Favre has retired.

It was time for David to retire the jersey.

All good things must come to an end.

Brett Favre and David Letterman

Last night, Brett Favre was a guest on Late Show with David Letterman.

I think his appearance had something to do with the promotion of the new Madden '09 Xbox 360 game. Favre is on the cover.

Letterman and Favre talked about the NFC Championship game. It was weird. It seemed like ancient history.

Of course, it was retirement talk that generated more questions than answers about Favre's future.

From the Wausau Daily Herald:

Brett Favre repeated today that he has retired from pro football but admitted to TV host David Letterman that as the Packers’ training camp gets close, “something’s bound to happen.”

Dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and a tan blazer for a taping of CBS' "Late Show" to be broadcast tonight, Favre was evasive when Letterman asked what he meant by the comment.

“I don’t know,” Favre said. “Did I just say that?”

“You just said ‘something’s bound to happen,’ so this makes me think you’re not retired,” Letterman said.

“Butterflies, so – I don’t know, something’s bound to happen,” Favre said.

When Favre said he wouldn’t miss minicamps, Letterman asked him if he would be interested in playing if adjustments could be made for his summer training schedule.

“Can you get that worked (out)?” Favre asked.

“Yes, yes, I can. I can take care of that,” Letterman replied, and the audience laughed and applauded.

But the conversation then focused on Favre’s successor Aaron Rodgers (“I think he’ll do well:” Favre) and the impact of Favre’s retirement on Green Bay.

“But you, you’re not only the heart and soul of football, but my God, what have you, you’ve turned that town upside down,” Letterman said. “What is Green Bay doing? I heard they’re shutting down the town. I heard they’re closing up and they’re moving to Michigan.”

Letterman asked Favre about signing the retirement form.

Favre said he still hadn't signed it. He said he believed the only reason to sign it is so he gets a severance check.

Although he was a bit wishy washy in his remarks, Favre definitely said he is retired.

At this point, if he plays in the NFL, he'll have to come out of retirement.

Then again, technically, I guess he's not officially retired because he hasn't signed the form.

I really don't get why he hasn't done that.
_______________

CBS video is available here.
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Packers Blog has video and the interview transcript.

Brett Favre Welcomes Pope Benedict to America

From 620 WTMJ:

The Pope... [will] hear from Milwaukee's top two Catholic leaders and Wisconsin's most legendary Catholic athlete while he's in [Washington, D.C.]

"There's just a sense of excitement," said Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who will join a U.S. Catholic delegation in meeting with Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow in Washington, D.C.

"He's like the earthly sign of unity in the Church. It's like your recognizing an old friend, it's like your recognizing the father of your family, the Holy Father."

Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba will also join the Pontiff on Thursday as part of an interfaith discussion in Washington with Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other religious leaders.

Along with one Brett Favre.

The legendary Packers quarterback is not showing up in Washington D.C. to meet with the pontiff, but Favre, who's Catholic has taped a message for the Pontiff's Thursday Mass at Nationals Park in D.C.

According to Packer News, "A number of American Catholics, including Favre, have taped 15-minute segments welcoming the pope to the United States. They'll be shown on a large video screen at the stadium."

That's quite an honor.

This is even more of an honor:

Ever get a good opportunity at a bad time? That's what happened to Brett and Deanna Favre in the days before Favre announced his retirement from the Packers.

The Packers' chaplain, the Rev. James Baraniak, called the Favres at their Mississippi home to invite to Pope Benedict XVI's Mass in Washington, D.C., next month, according to a report by Jeff Kurowski of The Compass, the newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. The papal advance team had invited the Favres and Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

Baraniak had a little trouble reaching the Favres. When he finally spoke to Deanna, she apologized, saying it was "an intense time," and that they weren't taking all their calls. Now we know why.

"When I shared with her the proposal, she said if it was entirely up to her, she would give me an answer immediately, but she had to talk to Brett. 'You know that husband of mine,' she said," Baraniak told Kurowski.

If only my husband had been the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers for sixteen seasons and won a Super Bowl I bet the papal advance team would have invited us to the Mass.

Oh, well.

I'm just one in a billion.

Brett Favre: Out of Retirement?

There is no question that Brett Favre loves to play football.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Would Brett Favre come out of retirement to play again?

In his latest public comments, the star quarterback said he's retired for now but also that he "very well could be enticed" to return to Green Bay under the right circumstances.

"I guess my best response would be, right now no," Favre told the Sun-Herald in Biloxi, Miss., when asked if he's coming back. He spoke to sportswriter Al Jones, who is working with him on a book foreword.

But Favre conceded he might have a tough decision to make if, say, Green Bay called and asked him to come back because of team injuries.

"It would be hard to pass up, I guess," he said. "But three months from now, say that presents itself, I may say, 'You know what, I'm so glad I made that decision. I feel very comfortable in what I'm doing and my decision.'

"Yeah, I can probably be up there doing that and playing, but again, I don't know. It's only speculating. I think the world of that team. I had a lot of fun, not only this year, but over my career. Those guys I played with this past year, a lot of young guys, a lot of fun."

Saying that his Packers replacement, Aaron Rodgers, has "fallen into a great situation," Favre added: "And if that opportunity presented itself and they did call, it would be tempting. And I very well could be enticed to do it."

I wish Aaron Rodgers a healthy season, but he is rather injury prone.

It would be wild to have Favre come out of retirement to fill in for him if he suffered an injury.

I don't think too much should be made out of Favre's comments. When asked to speculate on returning to play for Green Bay, Favre said he would not, but that he would find it tempting.

That's exactly what I'd expect him to say. I'd be surprised if he said there is no way under any circumstances he'd want to play the game ever again.

He was asked to speculate on how he'd react to a hypothetical situation. He gave a response. No big whoop.

I'm not expecting the Packers' plans to retire Favre's number to be postponed over this.

I don't think Favre will be the Barbra Streisand of the NFL.

Last Thursday, The Times reported that Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, has put out feelers to other teams to gauge their interest in trading for the three-time MVP, whose rights still belong to the Packers. The story added that there was no indication Favre knew Cook had done so. Cook denied the report.

NFL sources provided the Cook information on the condition of anonymity to protect their relationships around the league. Additionally, the NFL maintains strict anti-tampering rules that ban teams from approaching players who are under contract elsewhere.

On the subject of not turning in his retirement papers to the league, Favre said: "So at some point, Bus told me this too. 'OK, you send your papers in today. You send one in tomorrow that says you're un-retired. So it's no big deal.' "

Favre went on to tell Jones that he wouldn't want to return if he wasn't in shape.

"It would be hard to go up there at 38," he said. "It was hard to stay in shape. I say that, I worked out and I worked out hard. Week in and week out, I was just drained ...

"But to think that if they called me in October and told me, 'Hey, we need you this week.' That would be hard. I'm sure mentally, I would be refreshed. I'd be away from it for a long time. But mentally vs. physically, the last thing I'd want to do is go up and it's, 'Oh this is great and all that stuff, and me be excited and then just flop.

"You just can't show up and play."

Stay tuned for more Favre rumors.

Retiring Brett Favre's Number

This was a given. Brett Favre's Green Bay Packer No. 4 will be retired.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers have had preliminary discussions with recently retired quarterback Brett Favre about retiring his number during the upcoming season, team spokesman Aaron Popkey confirmed Wednesday.

Popkey said the team and Favre will choose a game for the retirement ceremony after the NFL regular season schedule is released. Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy first discussed the team's plans to retire Favre's number in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In announcing his retirement earlier this month, Favre talked about disappearing from public life and said he wasn't sure how much he would remain involved with the team.

"Will I watch games? I'm sure I will," Favre said. "Will I be involved? I always made the joke about being here for the honorary coin toss. Well, that time may come. So I may be back for something like that. But as far as giving advice, I don't think that will happen."

The Packers have retired five uniform numbers: Tony Canadeo's No.3, Don Hutson's No. 14, Bart Starr's No. 15, Ray Nitschke's No. 66 and Reggie White's No. 92.

I was there when Reggie White's number was retired.

That was very poignant because Reggie had passed away relatively recently and so unexpectedly. Although his wife and two children were there, the fact that Reggie was not was heartbreaking. It was a celebration but tinged with loss. There were all those wonderful memories of Reggie's career in Green Bay but they were unavoidably mixed with a palpable sadness.

When Favre's number is retired, I expect the mood to be more celebratory.

I hope the Packers choose to honor Favre during a regular Sunday afternoon game and not during a prime time broadcast.

I wouldn't want national TV hype to get in the way of the honor of being only the sixth number in the Packers' storied history to be retired.

I think it's fitting for the occasion to be primarily a Green Bay moment between Favre and the fans, not an NFL spectacle.

Laura Ingraham Spins her Brett Favre Bash Fest

Packer fans and Brett Favre fans and people with hearts let Laura Ingraham know that they disagreed with her take on Brett Favre's emotional retirement press conference.

Last Friday, Ingraham mercilessly mocked Favre for crying.

On her show Monday, Ingraham said that they had received a lot of e-mail. She speculated that her comments must have ended up on a fan message board.

Ingraham said, "A lot of people are really upset."

Again, she claimed that her discussion was more general and that she really wasn't talking about Favre specifically but the trend of men crying in public. If that was her intent, to make such general comments, she failed miserably.

She reminded listeners today that she repeatedly said Favre was a great guy. Fine. That didn't give her license to be so venomous.

Doing some lame CYA, Ingraham said once more, "It's not about Brett Favre."

That, of course, is pure BS.

Her attack was most certainly about Favre. She belittled him for showing his emotions, incessantly referring to his "blubbering."

Ingraham said, "All these years and I didn't know there was a woman quarterback in the NFL."

She played clip after clip of Favre breaking down. She took calls about Favre, allowing people to pile on.

She had a poll about Favre on her website, posing the question: "Did Brett Favre embarrass himself by crying at his retirement press conference?"

How wrong of us to get the impression that her comments were about Favre!

Yeah, right. She continues to misrepresent what she said and did on her show.

It was really ugly.

Today, Ingraham said, "Boy, they like Brett Favre."

That's true. I don't think she was prepared for the response to her remarks.

She ended her show by playing a clip from her appearance on O'Reilly Friday night. It was of O'Reilly saying that he will not cry when he retires.

Ingraham said that although she hates being cold, she was going to force herself go to Green Bay and see a Packer game at Lambeau. (Note to Laura: It can be hotter than hell at the games very early in the season. Some games are on clear, crisp, beautiful autumn afternoons.)

She said that she'd cheer for Brett Favre even though he's not playing anymore.

Ingraham made that conciliatory move after stating that she has "gottten the rage going" from the Packer fans.

Ingraham said that she had her cheesehead on.

Sure she does. I get the feeling she's wallowing in all the attention directed her way, even though it hasn't been positive. I think she believes that any attention is good attention.

It's not.

The Favre Connection

Sean Gregory of TIME examines the relationship between Brett Favre, Wisconsinites, and our Packers.

He writes:

It's not that I didn't believe; I just needed to see it for myself. And there it was, bobbling square on the church windowsill. Before this year's NFC Championship Game between Brett Favre's Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants, I traveled to Green Bay to try to capture the singular bond between Favre, the legendary quarterback who announced his retirement on March 4, and the NFL's company town, where Packer football is more than a Sunday pastime. Driving along Packerland Drive in the -7°F (-22°C) chill, I pulled into the parking lot of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, to glean some insight into whether football really is religion in Green Bay and Favre the heavenly Father. I sat in the office of an avuncular pastor, Steve Witte, who shared some concerns that fans had called a reverse on their priorities. There were the shuffled services and the canceled choir practices to accommodate Packer kickoff times. But Pastor Witte knows whence he serves. On his sill stood two sacred bobbleheads: one of Martin Luther, the other of Brett Favre.

We'll probably never see this relationship in pro sports again. Big-league teams aren't owned by the community, as the Packers are, and don't play in small market towns like Green Bay, an icy industrial city of 100,000 nestled in northeast Wisconsin. Big-league quarterbacks don't throw like Brett Favre — for 275 straight games (including the playoffs) over 16 years, an all-time record 61,655 yds. He threw it hard and threw it wild — a record 288 career interceptions — through searing pain, prescription drug and alcohol addiction, deaths in the family. We'll never forget Monday Night Football, 2003, 399 yds. on the day after his dad died, a memorial of spirals.

Big-league players and tiny towns don't bear-hug each other the way Favre and Green Bay did. On the field, Favre gave Green Bay thrills, chills and a Super Bowl. Off the field, his foundation helped disadvantaged kids in the place where he worked and in his home state of Mississippi. Post-Katrina, groups of Green Bay volunteers have trekked down to Favre's hometown of Kiln to assist in the rebuilding effort there. "For a boy from the South, he was one of us," says Jo-Ann Mikulsky, 55, a Green Bay homemaker. "He was our quarterback. He gave us all the leadership you can ask for."

After Gregory gives some specific examples of fans and their allegiance to Favre, he concludes:

Sure, it could all pass as creepy at times. But in today's sports world, in which athletes are harder to admire, you have to envy the connection between Cheeseheads and Favre. Football, and sports, are worse off now that he's gone. And though the Giants had a riveting run to the championship, I wish I could have soaked up Green Bay on a night that Favre led the Packers to a Super Bowl. I mean, is anyone less deserving of a more horrid final moment than Favre? His last fling sailed right into the hands of Giants cornerback Corey Webster, setting up New York's shocking win.

Long after that game was over, past midnight, I wandered over to a Green Bay sports bar, expecting tears on tap. But you never would have known the Packers had lost: fans in Favre jerseys were drinking, dancing, carrying on. Green Bay can accept a loss. "Titletown" bid goodbye to the great Bart Starr once; it will move on without Favre. It'll be odd though. "I can't imagine the Packers without him," said Olson, the nice lady from church who has been following the team for 76 years. "Can you?"

What strikes me about Gregory's piece is that he definitely is on the outside looking in. It's difficult to understand if you weren't born with green and gold blood.

Gregory ventured into Packerland to see for himself if what they say about Titletown is true. He needed to be convinced that this wasn't a fairy tale, the great NFL myth.

Although he professed belief, I think at first he doubted. Then he saw and believed. Then he admits to being somewhat creeped out. In the end, he is envious.

He should be.

Laura Ingraham Mocks Brett Favre's Tears

Syndicated talk show host Laura Ingraham has this poll on her site.

It's a harmless enough question, albeit an outdated one. Didn't we get past the point long ago when men's tears were considered a sign of weakness?

The issue: Did Brett Favre embarrass himself by crying in public?

If Ingraham wants to put up such a goofy poll question, that's her prerogative. That's not the problem.

It was her discussion of Brett Favre's tears at his press conference announcing his retirement that was stunningly insensitive. Even the bumper music mocked Favre.

Some quotes from the beginning of Ingraham's March 7 show:

"All these years and I didn't know there was a woman quarterback in the NFL."

"That's a great message for young boys. Get up there and act like a girl."

"At some point I thought the authorities were gonna come take him away."

"It was a non-stop blubber fest."

"Brett Favre wanted to remind all of you that this was a sacrificial moment."

"There's just something unseemly about it."

"I've heard enough crying from men over ridiculous things."

What a compassionate woman!

Ingraham's sidekick Tom also weighed in:

"It was just this self-indulgent 'Me fest.'"

"I think he's embarrassing his teammates. They have to be recoiling... They must be so thankful he's not coming back."

What a sweetheart!

Ingraham doesn't have a problem with women crying in public, but she definitely has a problem with Favre, this man of steel, showing his emotions. Her remarks were cruel and seemed extremely sexist to me.

It was OK with her when Ellen DeGeneres cried on her show over Iggy the puppy.

But a man crying in public? No.

Ingraham mocked Favre for breaking down and crying. She called his press conference a "sob fest." I've never heard anyone say "blubbering" so many times in such a short span.

Byron York, her regular Friday guest, also was merciless. So were most of the callers.

Most female callers said that Favre's behavior was way over the top.

Caller after caller said, "No blubbering" for men.

Ingraham compared Favre's breakdown to Judge Larry Seidlin's tears during the custody hearing for Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, a ridiculous comparison.

She belittled Favre's masculinity.

It was positively sickening the way she talked about Favre's "blubbering."

Ingraham and York can't handle the "man hug," the "man purse," and men's tears.

About Favre's tears, York said, "It was pretty pathetic, wasn't it?"

Barb, a caller from Milwaukee, did her best to defend Favre. Ingraham wouldn't give an inch.

York said, "Favre was a masculine figure. This could be what he's remembered for."

How classless!

I highly doubt that Favre will be remembered for his press conference.

About an hour into her show, Ingraham acknowledged that she had opened up a "can of worms." She was loving it. Earlier she said, "I'm having fun with this."

She gets her jollies at the expense of others, when they're at their most vulnerable?

That's not a pretty side of Ingraham.

One idiotic male caller said Favre was in his 40s. Yeah, he's obviously a real football fan. Ingraham wasn't bright enough to correct him.

One caller complained about Favre saying it wasn't about the money. They didn't buy that.

One male caller said his first reaction was to laugh. Then he said he got angry, that Favre was so privileged he had no right to fall apart.

A female caller said that when she first heard the unidentified crying clip, she thought it was Bill Clinton and she was waiting to hear what latest offense he was sobbing about.

Ingraham said that she didn't want to hear from any "Cheeseheads" because they couldn't be objective.

She read an e-mail about Favre being a "girlie man" and being pouty when a play didn't go his way.


Ingraham yapped on and on about Favre not bowing out with the grace that Ronald Reagan did. She said Favre was no Lou Gehrig and no John Wayne.

She kept asking what would Reagan do?

She even played Reagan's goodbye address as an example of the right way to leave.

How lame!

The Constitution prevented Reagan from staying on as president. He had no choice. Reagan's goodbye required no self-evaluation, no measuring of abilities past and present to determine whether to go on. Favre was choosing to walk away, a much more difficult thing.

All of that's beside the point. Brett Favre is his own person. He's not Reagan or Gehrig or Wayne.

The comparisons aren't valid.

By the end of the show, Ingraham was backing off slightly. That probably had something to do with being bombarded with e-mails defending Favre.

You don't have to be a Packer fan or a Brett Favre fan to relate to what he was experiencing as he announced his retirement.

We can all understand what it's like to say goodbye, to come to terms with the fact that good things do come to an end. We aren't immortal. Time moves on. We can't turn back the clock.

I think what bothered me most about her cruelty was that Favre wasn't posturing. It wasn't an act. His emotion was sincere.

I've heard Ingraham cry on the air. Apparently, that's acceptable. No mocking allowed during her very real, human moments.

Bad move, Laura. Very bad move.
___________________

Ingraham will be talking about Brett Favre's tears tonight on The O'Reilly Factor.
___________________

UPDATE:

Ingraham had very little to say about Favre on O'Reilly.

O'Reilly: What is your beef with Brett Favre?

Ingraham: I merely brought up this issue where big, strong men... break down blubbering for 20 minutes.

I mean, the sobs just never stopped... kind of funny.

It's not about Brett Favre. He's a wonderful person.

If it's not about Brett Favre, then why did she go on and on about how Favre acted at his retirement press conference? Why did she play clip after clip of Favre breaking down? Why did she put up a poll on her website about Favre?

It was, indeed, about Favre.

Ingraham is trying to put a very nice spin on what she did on her show, as if people are getting bent out of shape over nothing. She's pretending she wasn't being cruel when she was.

She claims that she was speaking about the larger "cultural phenomenon" of men publicly crying.

Whatever. That doesn't change the fact that she brutally attacked Favre as she examined this "cultural phenomenon."

Brett Favre Press Conference

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre gets choked up as he talks about his retirement Thursday March 6, 2008 during a news conference at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

This was so painful.

Brett Favre began:

"Seems like just yesterday we were here."

"I am officially retiring from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers."

"I promised I wouldn't get emotional..."

"It's never easy."

"You know it's funny. I've watched hundreds of players retire, and you wonder what it would be like..."

"God has blessed me with so many great things -- ability, wonderful family."

"I'd like to thank the Packers for giving me an opportunity as well. I hope that every penny they spent on me they know was money well spent."

"It was never about the money or fame or records."

"It was never my accomplishments. It was our accomplishments."

"It was never about me."

"I know I can play, but I don't think I want to. And that's what it comes down to."

"I will wonder if I made the wrong decision."

"I just don't think I can give anything else."

"As I look back on my career, no regrets. No regrets whatsoever."

"I can't leaved without saying thank you to the fans. When I laughed and my family laughed, they laughed. When I cried, they cried."

"I hope everyone knows how special this is. I truly appreciate the opportunity. As they say, all good things must come to an end."

Brett thanked God. He thanked the Packers. He thanked his family. He thanked the fans.

God, family, and Packers.

Thank you, Brett.

No dry eyes here.

All Favre, All the Time

You'd never know that there were significant developments in the 2008 presidential race yesterday by sampling Wisconsin media.

To say that Brett Favre is dominating the news is an understatement.

There are special sections in newspapers, retrospectives, media websites packed with all things Favre, and hours of TV and radio time being devoted to Favre's retirement. Local reporters scurried down to Mississippi.

It's Favre-mania.

That stuff is driven by a desire for ratings and sales, but the emotions fueling it are sincere.

It's understandable why people want to talk about it and want to watch coverage. I don't expect it to subside much until Favre speaks. He should address the fans and soon. He owes us that.

Personally, I'm having trouble handling the saturation coverage. It's screwing up my attempts at denial.

Since 1992, if there was a Packer game, Favre was on the field. It's difficult to remember a time when I didn't know how to pronounce his name.

Children born when he came to Green Bay are now driving and considering college plans.

Favre was part of our lives for a generation. Letting go isn't easy. We literally haven't experienced a single Packer game without Favre on the field in the past 16 years.

The response to Favre's departure, the outpouring of appreciation and love for the guy, is understandable.

Favre has been the Packers' quarterback longer than Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president and he was president forever!

Question: Does Aaron Rodgers have what it takes to be Harry Truman?

God willing.

Brett Favre Retires

(Photo/Benny Sieu)

I think now I know what it feels like to be tased.

What a jolt! Complete electroshock!

It's over.

Zap!

Biloxi paper: Packers quarterback Brett Favre is retiring

The Brett Favre era apparently is over.

The man who has been the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback for all but three games of the last 16 seasons, the only quarterback an entire generation of Packers fans has known is retiring.

Favre’s brother, Scott, told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald’s Al Jones, who is close to the Favre family, that Brett is retiring.

Jones also reported that Brett Favre has told Packers coach Mike McCarthy that he’s retiring.

Fox Sports also reported Favre’s retirement, but did not cite any sources for its report.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen that Favre told McCarthy of his decision on Monday night. Cook also said there no plans at this time for Favre to hold a press conference.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Quarterback Brett Favre told Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy Monday night that he was going to retire.

But his agent, James (Bus) Cook, told me a few minutes ago that he believes Favre wants to play another year and didn't get the sense that the Packers wanted him back all that badly.

"It's my opinion," Cook said of the Packers' lack of interest. "I know he wants to play one more year. I do not know much conversation there was (between Favre and the Packers) and I don't think anyone forced him to make that decision. But I don't know that anyone tried to talk him out of it."

Cook said that Favre feels physically and mentally capable of playing at least one more year.

"I think he wanted to play," Cook said. " I think he's still got it. He knows he's still got it. I think he felt he could play one more year. I don't know if they told him they really wanted him to play. That's just the feeling I got."

Cook was asked whether he thought Favre could be talked into returning: "I don't know," he said.

It's hard not to connect the timing of Brett's retirement with the announcement yesterday that Randy Moss signed with New England, "settling on a three-year, $27 million deal that included a $12 million signing bonus as part of a total of $15 million in guarantees."

I don't want to believe that's why Favre retired today. I would hate the Favre era to end on a sour note.

This comes as such a shock. I didn't think it was going to happen now. After such a spectacular season, I thought we'd see Brett back playing at Lambeau. Never again.

When a quarterback is 38 years old, I suppose it shouldn't be a shock to learn that he's not coming back for another season. But it is.

It's a reminder that time doesn't stand still. It moves too fast.







I feel very, very old right now. Very old and very sad. I'm genuinely sad.

Should news of the retirement of Brett Favre stir thoughts of mortality? It does for me.

This is weird, life without Brett. Get used to it.

I'm telling myself to get a grip and have a "Thanks for the memories" sort of attitude. Remember the good times. What great memories!

I think that's why this is so tough. It's because those good times were so good.


(Photo/Journal Sentinel)
__________________

STATEMENT FROM PACKERS GENERAL MANAGER TED THOMPSON:

Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that.

The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever. Brett's many accomplishments on the field are legendary. He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated.

The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history.

The Packers' Almost Storybook Season

Bart Starr talks with Brett Favre prior to the game. (Photo/AP)


Do you believe in miracles?

I do.

When the season began, the thought of the 2007 Packers being a contender to make it to the Super Bowl was a dream, as in it would take a miracle for that to happen.

But after trouncing the Seahawks, we had good reason to believe that the Packers were going to make it to the Super Bowl this year.

I was still believing it when the NFC championship game went into overtime.

While the Packers didn't become the NFC champions, and they won't be on their way to play in Super Bowl XLII, what they accomplished this season was incredible.

There's no denying that.

The game yesterday was such a roller coaster. I'm exhausted. And I would be lying to say that I'm not terribly disappointed with its outcome.

Of course, I'm disappointed.

I thought there would be a dramatic Packer victory, an exciting ending to the hard-fought game, just like in the Ice Bowl.

It didn't happen.

Not to be Pollyanna about it, but I think it's appropriate to focus on all the good that did happen this season and all that can happen next year.

Mike McCarthy, Brett Favre, and the team were great, especially last week. Everything was clicking.

Now, because the team didn't play nearly as well as in the game against the Giants, they've suddenly morphed into unprepared, sloppy, no talent, losers.

Angry "fans" are calling for Favre to retire.

I didn't hear anyone doing that after the Seahawks game.

Those knee-jerk reactions are irrational, utterly ridiculous.

I don't have a problem with rational critiques of the Packers' performance. I do have a problem with reactions that seem grounded in bipolar disorders.

Bottom line:

----The Packers are capable of playing much better than they did against the Giants. Letting a trip to the Super Bowl get away is a bitter loss.

----The Packers had a dramatically better season and performed dramatically better than anyone expected. It's not a stretch to call it miraculous.

----A 14-4 record and taking the NFC championship game into overtime is an enormous accomplishment.

I, for one, am grateful to the team and the entire Packer organization for their hard work and dedication that made this fantastic season a reality.

And in spite of how it ended, I will remember it as being fantastic rather than failed.

YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!

Brett Favre throws a snowball at teammate Donald Driver to celebrate a touchdown in the third quarter. (Photo/Rick Wood)


I AM SO HAPPY!

Green Bay -- Fans in the National Football League's smallest city aren't easily fooled. They know a Super Bowl contender when they see one.

They saw one on a snowy Saturday at Lambeau Field.

Bursting into the Super Bowl conversation with their finest performance of the season, the Green Bay Packers destroyed the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20, in the NFC divisional playoffs.

"We've been feeling like we can go to the Super Bowl," cornerback Al Harris said. "Not to sound cocky, not at all. But we work hard, we really do. And we're very well-coached."

I'm feeling like we can go to the Super Bowl.

You gotta believe!

Green Bay -- Brett Favre somehow spun free from the Seahawks' clutches and stumbled ahead in the snow. Ever the gambler, he flipped a wobbly, underhanded pass that he had no business trying, let alone completing. "That's right!" he shouted. Sure was, for Favre and the NFC championship-bound Green Bay Packers.

With Lambeau Field looking like a snow globe, Favre frolicked in the flurries, throwing three touchdown passes as the Packers beat Seattle 42-20 Saturday, the highest-scoring postseason game in Green Bay history.

This must have been the scene the 38-year-old three-time NFL MVP imagined when he decided to postpone retirement and try for another Super Bowl ring.

"It does make you appreciate it," Favre said. "We could be 3-13 next year. Who knows? So enjoy it and try to get the most out of it."

Ryan Grant made history, too, recovering from two fumbles that put the Packers down 14-0 after only four minutes. He set a team postseason record by running for 201 yards, and scored three times. After its early slips, Green Bay scored touchdowns on six straight possessions.

"I appreciate everyone sticking with it, staying with me," Grant said.

...The Packers reached the NFC title game for the first time since the 1997 season, and the largest crowd ever at Lambeau partied. Favre and favorite receiver Donald Driver started the celebration early, tossing snowballs at each other.

Favre tied his personal best for TD strikes in a postseason game, twice hitting Greg Jennings.

Favre extended his own record by throwing a touchdown pass in his 17th straight postseason game. But his most memorable effort was the crazy toss to Donald Lee that set up another score right before halftime.

"I'm not quite as nimble as I once was," Favre said.

..."When we were down 14-0, I have to admit I was not very optimistic," Favre said.

"I thought, 'Oh boy, this ain't too good,'" he said. "This is the exact game I didn't want to be in."

At that point, it seemed as if only a Lambeau leap of faith would bring back Green Bay. But when the snow started to pile up, so did the points for the Packers.

It was 14-all after the first quarter, and Green Bay led 28-17 at halftime.

Favre joined Joe Montana as the lone players to pass for more than 5,000 yards in the postseason. Earlier this week, Favre admitted he was disappointed that he hadn't performed better in some playoff games — in fact, he had lost four of his previous five, throwing 13 interceptions in that span.

This time, he was the Favre of old. And once he started to connect, there was no stopping him.

...Coach Mike McCarthy won in his first postseason game, leading the NFL's youngest team to the next round.


Mike McCarthy greets Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren at the end of the Green Bay Packers- Seattle Seahawks game. (Photo/Rick Wood)

I love that photo.

It remains to be seen whether coach Mike Holmgren will return to the Seahawks next season. At 59, the coach who once guided Favre and the Packers to the Super Bowl title has recently dropped hints he might retire.

If he does, his final game will have come just a block or two from Holmgren Way, the street the city named in his honor.

The Packers will be in the NFC Championship Game!

It's a Cinderella story.

It's a dream.

It's destiny.

It's a miracle.

Whatever you want to call it, it's good.

IT IS SO GOOD!



Packers 42
Seahawks 20