If Brett Favre Wants to Make Amends With the Packers, Let Him!

Three years ago, Brett Favre, like the rest of us, left me hanging.  Favre said he was retiring, he cried us a pail full of tears, and went on to leave the Packer organization as a surefire Hall of Famer with a guaranteed plaque looking over Lambeau Field.

As quickly as I could reflect on the good moments that we had all shared with Favre, though, he pulled a similar move to an NBA player that shall go unnamed - and took his talents to The Big Apple in the blink of an eye.

It was at that point in time when I originally thought the Packers organization was about to go down the tubes.  Green Bay had just lost their strongest warrior who had become a hero for every blue collar Wisconsinite, and while a dull and unpredictable time awaited as Rodgers took over the wheel, most Packer fans were thankful Favre at least granted them one Super Bowl victory.

But as time went on, that same soap opera scene became almost laughable.  When Favre's yo-yo attitude left the New York Jets mind boggled after a near playoff miss, I wrote it off as a last ditch attempt to soak up the spotlight.  Still, when Favre went one step further and signed with the Minnesota Vikings, I couldn't help but feel for the people who welcomed him 17 years ago.

I guess down the track, the Packers had the last laugh in the end.  Watching Favre fall helplessly onto his backside last season was as sweet as it comes for a team that was ravished by the Vikings the previous year, but when tempers flared on the sidelines between himself and coach Brad Childress, people began to realize 2009's NFC Championship contenders were in a world of trouble.

Sure enough, that trouble then translated into a Packers Super Bowl victory. A 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, to earn Rodgers a spot on "Ellen", and the man Favre played with, Donald Driver, his first ever ring.

However, aside from the fact that Rodgers has quickly tied Favre in the championship tally, even more news has begun to form in regards to Favre congratulating his former protege.  You'd think a belated "Nice job, kid" wouldn't be too difficult for a mature man in his early forties, but apparently extending the olive branch of peace is as far away as Guns N' Roses reuniting right now.

Am I surprised by this?

To be frank, not really.  I've always thought Favre has suffered from some kind of multiple personality disorder, as it appears he is capable of switching between the "Sweet, Mississippi ranch guy" to the "Grumpy, unenthusiastic old man" depending on the vibe reporters send.

Nevertheless, an anonymous tipster has tried to fend off criticizers of Favre's lackadaisical attitude following the Packers win.  Don't ask me who this mystery man is, because I'm unsure, but he does put forward a very telling argument.

"This is one of those situations where Brett can't win," Mr. X said. "If he calls Aaron it looks like he's grandstanding. If he doesn't, he seems like he's selfish and inconsiderate".

"I can tell you Brett wants to speak to Aaron. He really does and it's sincere. I don't know if they've spoken yet. I just know Brett wants to bury the hatchet."

The hatchet that is up for discussion is more than just a silly sideline feud.  No, it involves two Packer quarterbacks that basically despise each other, something that is relatively new to Green Bay's history books that replicate the thickness of a construction workers sandwich.

Don't get me wrong, though, Favre is no stranger to controversy.  In 1992 he willingly stepped in for the injured Don Majkowski, and although Packer fans didn't hiss or cuss like many others would, they did turn blue in the face at the thought of such a young quarterback taking over.

The same incident occurred in San Francisco, when Steve Young replaced Joe Montana.  Young wouldn't shake hands with Montana when the two met on the field, and although Rodgers and Favre have done so plenty of times, there is always an icy stare that is felt in the huddle of photographers twice a year.

Favre stayed in the starting role through to 2007, where he granted the Packers their third Super Bowl ring, and among other things, overcame his fathers death in 2003 to receive a warming applause from Raider Nation.

Yet at the same time, a stalemate has been reached that could easily puzzle some of the best psychiatrists.  When Rodgers was asked on Favre during Super Bowl media week, he dodged 18 simple questions like a sweaty politician.  Favre, well he did the same, only in Minnesota.

So what can Favre do to put an end to this situation?

Perhaps the better question is, does Favre really want to put an end to this mess at all?  For Favre, all of this so called "bitterness" only draws more attention during retirement, and we all know how much he craves the limelight.

But if there are a few solutions, the first one would be to remain quiet for a while.  Wait until August, the annual time when Favre returns from hibernation, then wheel out the circus and try to come to terms with Rodgers and the team.

Secondly, Favre must also choose which way he would like to go about making amends - the quiet way or the vocal way?  Text messages or a press conference?  He's become an expert on either option.

And finally, Favre may also benefit from attending a few games next season.  I wouldn't recommend he stand on the sidelines, but the image of Bart Starr on Super Bowl Sunday was heartwarming, something that Favre could take part in if he slowly made good with the Packers and their fans.

I've tossed and turned on this idea for the past two years.  I've read differing opinions, some who say the Packers should reunite with Favre, others who say they should part ways and shun him like some kind of rabid soccer hooligan.

Maybe the hardest slice of this story to swallow is the fact that Favre doesn't seem to care all that much about his Green Bay legacy.  Besides the fact that he hasn't spoken to Rodgers since the Packers clash with Minnesota in Week 11, he hasn't contacted general manager Ted Thompson for a single chat, leaving the chances of a classy Mercedes ride around Lambeau Field slim to nothing next year.

Either way you look at it, a huge question lays ahead.  Favre may never contact Rodgers, and we all know that Rodgers won't contact Favre, especially since he never bothered to return one of Rodgers' calls early in 2008.  But sooner or later No.4 will have to stop playing the bad cop, and revert to putting his legacy first sometime soon.

Who heard of two legends feuding on the same team?

That's right, no one, and it's fair to say Vince Lombardi would be ashamed.  Sooner or later something has to give, and that something is Favre's attitude.  Packer fans, if Favre wants to make amends, let him, it should be a worthwhile journey.