Packers, White House, August 12

The Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl XLV Champions, are finally getting recognized for their achievement by the White House.

Charles Woodson vowed to visit, and now it's going to happen.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

President Barack Obama will host the Packers on Friday, Aug. 12 to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers announced.

“I’m really excited that we were able to find a date to visit the White House,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “The labor situation this spring made it a little challenging for us to set up a visit, but I think it is going to work out great. We’re very appreciative that President Obama invited us, and I’m thrilled that our players and coaches will get to enjoy this unique opportunity.”

I hope this invitation to the White House is followed by another one, after the Packers' Super Bowl XLVI victory.


_______________

Statement from the White House:

President Obama to Honor Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers at the White House

WASHINGTON--On Friday, August 12, President Obama will welcome the Super Bowl XLV Champion Green Bay Packers to the White House to honor the team and their Super Bowl victory. The President will also continue his tradition of honoring sports teams for their efforts both on and off the field by recognizing the efforts by the Packers to give back to their community as part of their visit.

Nick Barnett

Linebacker Nick Barnett is no longer a Packer.

From WBAY:

Among the first Packers to return to Lambeau Field Tuesday morning was Nick Barnett, but he might not be with the Packers for long.

Barnett was well aware that his fate in Green Bay would be determined shortly after the conclusion of the lockout. He and everybody else knew the handwriting was on the wall when both Desmond Bishop and Hawk received large, lucrative contract extensions in the last year.

Barnett did not wait long to find out what the team's plans were for him, being among the first to arrive when facilities opened at 9 A.M.

At that time he was keeping an open mind about his future in Green Bay.

"At this point, all I have heard has come from you guys and no one here. I'm sure they will talk to me or talk to my agent. I am just concentrating on being ready to play and not worry about rumors," he said before the meeting.

Less than an hour later, Barnett left. He did not stop to talk to reporters. He wrote on his Twitter account, "Just talked to Ted. Thanks for the great 8 years. Very blessed to be part of a great tradition and fans.

"Happy I was able to be here for the great (Super Bowl) XLV run. I will always keep a special place in my heart for this team and city."

Barnett says he was told the Packers will try to trade him, but if not, they will release him -- a move that will save the team about $5 million of salary cap space.

Nick Barnett is a class act, expressing thanks to the team and fans at what has to be a difficult time for him.

Packer fans owe Barnett thanks for his contributions to the team.

He won't be forgotten.

Best of luck in the next jungle!

Aaron Rodgers and Obama

Aaron Rodgers tweets:

Watching Obama on tv talking about the debt ceiling, hope he hasn't forgotten about the SB. Still waiting on the invite... #budgetcut??

Super Bowl champs - the Green Bay Packers!

I'm so happy the NFL mess is resolved.
______________________

Video of Charles Woodson's NFC Championship locker room speech here.

WHITE HOUSE!!!

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.

Aaron Rodgers: ESPY Award - Best NFL Player

Congratulations, Aaron Rodgers!

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Rodgers was the lone Packer to win an award despite several players making the trip. Rodgers, Matthews, Greg Jennings, A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop and Tramon Williams were all filmed in the crowd.

Rodgers won the Best NFL Player award, but that was announced during the “pregame” show on the red carpet and was not shown on stage. The Super Bowl MVP was also nominated for Best Male Athlete, but was beaten by Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Rodgers made his lone televised appearance on stage when he and entertainer Justin Timberlake, who made another Favre reference, to present the Best Male Collegiate Athlete award to BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette.

The Packers were also nominated for the Best Team honor, but were beaten out by the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

Singer Justin Timberlake (R) and Green Bay Packers NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers present an award at the 2011 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, California, July 13, 2011. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)

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.

Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Kimmel

Aaron Rodgers was Jimmy Kimmel's guest on Thursday night.

Aaron shows off his Super Bowl ring.

He tells a story about two photographers, speaking "European," having an altercation on the field before the Super Bowl coin toss.

Here's video:



It's great to be the reigning Super Bowl champs!

I love saying it: THE PACKERS WON THE SUPER BOWL!

Packers: Super Bowl Rings

There has been so much bitterness and divisiveness and general weirdness in Wisconsin for months and months now.

Instead of politics and protests and recalls, it's nice to recall the Packers' Super Bowl victory.

Yesterday was a celebration of that tremendous accomplishment. The team received their Super Bowl XLV championship rings.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"They wanted big and they wanted bling," Packers President Mark Murphy said. "We were successful in that."

Look, I don't know Tiffany the jeweler from Tiffany the singer, so I'll have to take Woodson's word for it when he said, "It's the best ring I've ever seen and I'm not saying it because it's our night. It's an incredible ring."

For the record, I'll quote from the Packers' official release on the monstrosity, even if it does read like a game-show announcer talking about what's behind Door No. 3.

"The crest of the ring features the Green Bay "G" logo crest in 18-karat yellow gold placed on a green stone tablet. Thirteen diamonds are embedded in the logo, each one representing the team's NFL-record 13 championships. The iconic logo is illuminated by round, brilliant-cut diamonds and four marquis-cut diamonds representing the Packers' four Super Bowl triumphs. Surrounding the crest are 92 diamonds which recognize the 92-year history of Green Bay Packers football."

...It's made of platinum, with 18-karat gold. It's got 3.35 carats of diamonds, for all you Kardashian followers out there.

As for the cost, the Packers are standing behind the company line: They say the NFL "pays for up to 150 rings at $5,000 per ring. Further information about the rings was not disclosed."

...[T]he players who got one had their names and numbers engraved. Their numbers were circled, just like on the Green Bay jerseys from the 1929 championship season. The ring also has an engraving of the Lombardi Trophy and Lambeau Field.

The ring has the scores of all four postseason games and the number "1" flanked by the words, "Mind, Goal, Purpose, Heart."

That's pretty cool, because those were Woodson's words to the team just before the Packers took the field against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game.

The Packers deserved to have those words inscribed as much as Woodson deserved to win his first championship.

"It's all about getting the ring," Woodson said. "This seals the deal."

Green Bay Packers' Donald Driver shows off his Super Bowl ring, Thursday, June. 16, 2011, after the Packers ring ceremony at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Super Bowl football championship game Feb. 6. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Very nice.


Video.

Vince Lombardi: 98

Vince Lombardi was born 98 years ago today.

Aaron Rodgers: First Pitch, Miller Park

On Thursday afternoon, Aaron Rodgers went to Twitter to share his plans for Thursday evening:

Check me out on the mound tonight @millerpark and also support the crew

Here's Rodgers on the mound:



Green Bay Packers NFL football quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, June 9, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Here's Rodgers and Ryan Braun during batting practice:


Green Bay Packers football quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun speak during batting practice before their baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, June 9, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

From the Associated Press, via the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers threw out the first pitch at Miller Park before the Milwaukee Brewers took on the New York Mets on Thursday night.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback wore a No. 12 Brewers jersey and toss a perfect pitch to good friend, Ryan Braun.

Rodgers declined to speak to reporters, but the Packers will receive their Super Bowl rings in a private ceremony next Thursday.

Although Rodgers didn't talk to reporters, he was in the booth with Bill Schroeder and Brian Anderson.

From OnMilwaukee:

Rodgers declined the opportunity to talk to reporters but did stop by the FS Wisconsin booth in the fourth inning. Brewers play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson asked whether or not Rodgers had any plans to organize team workouts during the ongoing NFL lockout.

"We're going to put something together here because it looks like it's going to go a little bit longer, so it's going to be important for us to get together," Rodgers told Anderson, adding that he would discuss the matter with teammate Charles Woodson at an upcoming charity event.

"If this lockout persists, we're going to get together. Guys have gotten some great work individually, some have gotten together in groups of two or three," Rodgers said. "There's a lot of guys kind of in the same area working out, but at some point we're going to have to get together."

Jason Wilde writes:

His arm looked to be in good shape Thursday night, when he threw a strike to his good friend Ryan Braun, the Brewers’ all-star left fielder.

“I wanted to throw a four-seamer. When I pitched in high school, I threw a two-seamer. But I had a little too much movement,” Rodgers said. “I haven't pitched in forever, and I was super nervous. I didn't want to bounce it to Braun. He said he wasn't wearing a cup.”

Rodgers said he played a lot of baseball as a kid but didn’t play his first three years of high school before returning to the game as a senior.

“I was actually a pretty good pitcher for a while, then took a break my freshman, sophomore and junior year of high school and played football. That didn't work out, so I decided to play baseball my senior year and was a pitcher and a below-average hitter,” Rodgers said. “You never know about these (radar) guns, but I was told that I hit the low 90s, and I like to run with that. In about 10 years, I'll be saying 95.”

Rodgers said he and Braun became friends “a couple years ago” after he came to a game and met Braun.

“I'm a fan of Wisconsin sports. This is home for me nine months out of the year. I pull for the Brewers and Bucks and Marquette basketball and Wisconsin basketball and UWM basketball,” Rodgers said. “So it's been fun to pull for them and get to know Ryan. He's a California guy like myself. We're two weeks apart. He's two weeks older than I am, and we've really become good friends."

I like the loyalty to Wisconsin exhibited by both Rodgers and Braun.

Here's audio of Rodgers in the booth:



He was nervous to throw out the first pitch?

Super Bowl XLV MVP nervous?

Rodgers is so poised that it's hard to imagine him being nervous about anything, but I understand.

Think of Obama's performance on the mound. Disaster.

Al Harris, Super Bowl Ring

This makes me happy.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The agent for former Packers cornerback Al Harris confirmed Thursday night that Harris would receive a Super Bowl XLV ring.

Team president Mark Murphy, answering a question from a fan during a stop in Eau Claire on the team's Tailgate Tour, indicated Harris would get a ring, according to a report in the Green Bay Press-Gazette. But he did not elaborate and there was no official confirmation from the team.

However, Harris' agent, Jack Bechta said in a story on National Football Post, of which he is a founder, that Harris "has been told that he would get a ring."

Harris did not play for the Packers last year, but he was on the physically unable to perform list for nine weeks while trying to come back from a devastating knee injury suffered during the 2009 season. Harris was allowed to practice during the final three weeks before the team decided he was not ready to play.

…Soon after being released, Harris paid for an advertisement in the Journal Sentinel thanking fans for their support during his seven-plus seasons with the Packers.

…Many fans were wondering whether Harris would receive the ring he desperately wanted, but it wasn't until Thursday that Murphy let the cat out of the bag.

“I would expect nothing less of the Packers organization," Bechta said. "Al was one of their dedicated warriors for many years and over half of the Super Bowl season.”

Al Harris is a class act.

He deserves that Super Bowl ring.

Greg Jennings: Parody "Broken Leg" Video

Greg Jennings and his family star in a parody of this YouTube hit:

*Warning: Explicit and offensive language*



Here's the Jennings family parody:



Greg Jennings put the team on his back!

Nicole Jennings - one of the hardest hitting wives in the league!

Such a beautiful family!

Ryan Braun, Aaron Rodgers, and Wisconsin

Ryan Braun said he wanted to spend his entire career as a Milwaukee Brewer.

He will. At least that's the plan.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The all-star outfielder still had four years remaining beyond the 2011 season on an eight-year, $45 million extension signed after his rookie season, so there certainly was no rush to do another deal. But when a 27-year-old player on Braun's career path says he wants to stay with the club into the next decade, you have to listen.

"Especially a player of his stature, and a player who grew up in southern California," said Attanasio. "It was a very big idea and an enormous commitment. We had to get our heads around that."

Both sides did so, leading to the announcement Thursday that Braun and the club had agreed to a five-year extension worth $105 million, a historic deal in many ways. The extension, which runs from 2016 though 2020, also includes a mutual option for 2021 worth up to $20 million with a $4 million buyout.

As further proof that Braun wants to be a career Brewer, a no-trade provision was included in the deal. To help the club stay competitive and have the financial wherewithal to sign other players, Braun agreed to defer an unspecified amount of the money.

...Braun, whose $45 million extension signed in 2008 already was the biggest contract in franchise history, said there were many reasons for wanting to make the commitment at this early stage of his career. Chief among them, he said, was the tremendous support of Brewers fans.

"I'm proud to be a Milwaukee Brewer, I really am," he said. "I'm going to be for the next 10 years. It's an exciting day for me, my family, the organization. It's like being part of a family.

"It's truly special to me to come to work here every day, and I'm excited about being able to do that for the next 10 years. Thanks to the fans - that was the single biggest reason I wanted to stay here. To be in one of the smallest media markets in baseball and to have 3 million people to come watch us every year is incredibly special.

"The more time we spend in other cities, the more we recognize how special it is here. The fans are the single biggest factor. I'm excited, man, truly excited to be able to say I'm a Milwaukee Brewer from this point forward."

Ryan Braun isn't the only athlete on a Wisconsin team wanting to make his career here.

Aaron Rodgers tweets congratulations to his friend:

Really happy for my buddy braun getting locked up for the next 10 years. Great guy and great player. Hope we are both in WI till then

Rodgers then goes on to say that he wants to retire as a Packer:

I wanna retire as a packer then live in CA RT @G_Caruana1 @AaronRodgers12 do you want to play in cali? Or just go back after your retired?

Sounds good to me!

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.
_______________

Packers Blog has video and the interview transcript.

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.