I know it’s only the pre-season, but…

The Packers finally got their first pre-season game in last night at home under the ESPN Monday Night Football lights. Despite their 20-17 loss to the hapless Bengals, I came away from this game with a new confidence about the 2008 season for the mighty Pack.

Why you ask? Well, there are a couple reasons. First, obviously has to do with Aaron Rodgers. He immediately showed he was not going to be intimidated and came out firing. He was 9-15 for 117 yards with one TD and one interception in a little less than a quarter of playing time. His passes were on the mark throughout and his lone interception was due to his receiver, Chris Francies (no. 83, 2nd year, UTEP), not pulling in a perfect pass and letting it slip away and into the arms of Dexter Jackson. 

Rodgers proved he has a strong arm and can get tight passes in tight spaces for his receivers. Yes, it is the pre-season, but this might as well have been the Super Bowl for Rodgers after having to deal with all the mess surrounding Brett Favre the past several weeks. This in fact was Rodgers’ unofficial coming out party and was the most anxiously awaited pre-season game I can ever remember (not just because I’m a Packers’ fan, either).

No one will soon forget Rodgers’ 30-yard TD pass to James Jones to extend the lead to 10-0. No. 89 caught a nice on-the-money ball from Rodgers at around the 10-yard line, got knocked square in the jaw by a couple Bengals defenders sending Jones’ helmet into the air. Jones continued onward without his helmet into the endzone while the crowd absolutely went insane. It was truly an awesome play. Thanks to the handy DVR, I think I watched this play about 10 times. Even my two and four year old boys were jumping up and down and laughing/cheering as Jones kept getting lambasted over and over again, but continued to score each time.

Secondly, the defense looked great. While the first team ‘D’ was in, the Bengals couldn’t move the ball whatsoever and the young, talented unit, showed it should be ready for another solid season. When Rodgers and much of the first team defense left the game, they sat on the bench with a 10-0 first quarter lead. That was satisfying in my mind. Who cares if second and third teamers were outscored 20-7 over the final three plus quarters?

Judging by the standing ovation the team got last night, I can only imagine what Monday night at Lambeau Field under the lights will be like against the Vikes when the regular season opens up in a few weeks.

Favre: MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

Reports came out early this morning from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that Brett Favre and/or his agent has contacted the Green Bay Packers in regard to possibly returning for the 2008 season. As of this date, Favre is listed on the NFL’s reserve retired list, which means his contract which still has two years remaining on it, is not counting against the Pack’s salary cap this season (yet).

You see, all Favre has to do is to issue a letter to the Packers requesting reinstatement and GB management has two choices in response: welcome back Brett with open arms, or give him his packing papers (ie. release him and allow another team to pick him up if the interest is there).

Well, in case there’s any confusion, the Packers have been my favorite NFL team for many, many years. And, naturally, I – like any fan of a major sports team – strive to see my team do well and someday (hopefully) win another Super Bowl.

However, my stomach and emotions can’t take anymore drama year in and year out with Brett Favre doing this crap. He’s ‘threatened’ retirement basically at the end of the past three seasons and finally decided to official hang up his jersey this past winter. On top of that, a couple months ago, I had finally come to accept Aaron Rodgers (or Brian Brohm) will be the starter in Green Bay this year. What I don’t need now though is Brett Favre – who I might add is my favorte NFL player of all-time – becoming even more wishy washy in his ways. Basically I’d like to issue a four word statement now:

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, Brett!

Favre has several NFL records including wins (160), passing yards (61.655) and TD passes (442) along with his safe and secure consecutive starts streak of 253 games (and counting). Those records are probably pretty safe, at least for a while, pending how Peyton Manning’s career finishes out.

This morning, though, after hearing this news on Favre, I honestly pictured this argument between Brett and his wife:

“Honey if I hadn’t been so stupid and thrown that pathetic pass in overtime, we’d have beat the Giants and maybe even won the Super Bowl against the Patriots. I know I can still play. What if…”

“Brett, honey, it’s not all your fault. I’m glad you’re home.”

Now imagine this happening roughly every day for the past six months and you’ll realize why Brett’s wife finally said: “Honey you’re right! If you want to play again, PLAY already!! This is getting annoying!”

Hence the alleged phone call this week to the Packers organization. Seems like from everything I’m hearing, maybe the GB management is thinking kind of like me: “We’ve moved on Brett. Even though we’d love to have you come back, it may be more detrimental to this team, than helpful.”

Guess we’ll see.