What everyone's talking about

Allow me to introduce this...blog. Basically, I'm just going to use this blog to vent about sports, music, or whatever else is going through my mind. I like to think my opinion differs from most, particularly public figures, so maybe every once in awhile I'll say something interesting. I'll update any time I feel like venting and have a few extra minutes.

Anyway, the number one story in sports right now seems to be retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and his desire to return to the NFL. Most recently, Favre (or his agent) wrote a letter to the Packers asking for his release. As a lifelong Packer fan, I have this to say to Brett: Fuck you!

You read right. I appreciate everything Favre has done for the organization. Ron Wolf, Mike Holmgren and Favre are equally responsible for reviving the Packers. In addition, the longevity of Favre's career is nothing short of amazing. However, that doesn't give him the right to do what he's doing now.

It was difficult not to become emotional when watching Favre's retirement announcement. He really sounded like he was finished, and like he had thought long and hard about his decision. If he wasn't 100 % sure he wanted to retire, he shouldn't have announced his retirement! When Favre went public with his decision, the Packers began to move on. I am certain that if he had told Packers General Manager Ted Thompson he needed more time before deciding whether to return, he would have been given more time.

If Favre had been with the Packers for the entire offseason, the team would have been better off with Favre on the team. This was a team that nearly played in the Super Bowl last season. Unfortunately for them, he was "retired" for four months and the Packers had no choice but to move on with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback.

Rodgers is the most unfortunate part of this story. He waited patiently backing up Favre for three seasons, and I'm sure he benefited from watching Favre play, even if Favre wasn't attempting to mentor him as the Packers' "quarterback of the future." In limited game experience, Rodgers has displayed a strong arm and solid leadership skills. This isn't to say Rodgers is going to be a successful NFL starter, or that the Packers would not be better off with Favre as their quarterback. However, it isn't fair to Rodgers or the Packers for Favre to decide in June (according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, although the story wasn't broken until early July) that he wants to return.

I don't want to see Brett Favre playing for another team, and I don't think Brett Favre wants to play for another team. Favre brought the Packers back to the Super Bowl, and lasted through the rebuilding of the franchise after that. Through his leadership, the Packers were one of the best teams in the NFL last season. If the Packers think it's in their best interests (i.e. if they think they are equipped to make a Super Bowl run) to bring Favre back, they should do it. It doesn't look like that is going to happen, though.

The Packers are being unfairly vilified for hesitating to let Favre return. They aren't completely without blame—the way they handled Favre's inquiries about a possible return was downright disrespectful—but Favre essentially gave the team permission to move on when he retired. It is presumptuous of Favre to expect the team to expect the Packers to welcome him back, especially considering Aaron Rodgers' situation.