Goodbye, Brett

Let it be known – I grew up apart of ‘Sconnie Nation. I am biased and unfit to have a rational opinion on this matter. I should not be allowed to speak my mind about this – but I must.

Green Bay will never be the same. Ever.

Every era in Green Bay has its figure. Lambaeu, Lombari, Starr, Holmgren, and now Favre. This is nothing new to old timers in the cheer state. They have seen this before, but this time it is different. Favre left, came back, and left again, for another team.

To be honest, I have spent the last few days trying to wrap my brain around the idea that #4 will not be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. I tossed and turned at night. I was caught day dreaming multiple times in statistics when I should be learning multiple regressions. I even – only for a brief moment – shed a tear.

It’s like losing your favorite uncle because he smoked himself to death. As a kid you looked up to him, as a young adult he was the one who brought you to the strip clubs and gave you the excitement you couldn’t find anywhere else, and as you aged it seemed like he never did. You knew the day would come – you just never thought it would be this soon. And the sad part is – he did it to himself.

Granted Brett Favre isn’t dead but he may as well be to Sconnie Nation.

The man that gave Sconnie Nation the thrill of their lives, gave them a reason to cheer, laugh, cry and a reason to skip church on Sunday is gone. It’s sad really.

Now, Aaron Rodgers is left as the abandoned son. His mentor is gone. His friend is gone. And now it’s his turn to carry the family name. He isn’t as funny. He isn’t as dependable. He isn’t as down-south. He isn’t as “Brett Favre” as Brett Favre.

That’s tough on a kid.

Unless he is the pinnacle of perfection and unless he completes every pass this season and has 40 touchdowns through the air and 10 on the ground there will always be whispers – Brett would have made that play. Brett could have thrown that ball. Brett would have called an audible at the line. He could have seen it coming, they’ll say.

But that’s what Sconnie Nation wants. Scoonie Nation wants it’s favorite uncle back.

Don’t worry America, his aura will metamorphose right in front of everyone’s eyes. Just like that favorite uncle. Pretty soon there will be stories about the time Brett threw a football at a coconut so hard it broke it in half. Or the time Brett out ran three defenders – all cornerbacks – to the corner of the end zone. Or that time he pump faked left and came back and threw right and sent a laser, no more than six feet off the ground, 40 yards down the field to Donald Driver for a game winning touchdown. With two defensive tackles hanging all over him. In overtime. On the road. To get the Packers into the playoffs. Against the Bears.

It’s coming.

Poor Aaron Rodgers will have to live in the shadows. It’s going to be tough. No one is going to sing his praises. No one will be there to put him on their shoulders. He will be expected to carry the load, and then some.

In the past, When Green Bay’s great leaders left, it was on the wings of flames into the heavens. At least that’s how it’s told. Lombardi didn’t leave – Scottie beamed him out. Bart Starr left, sure, but he came back to coach. Holmgren might be the only anomaly, he left because of greed.

But as Brett Favre leaves the Packers, it feels more like a family member is gone. A day every one saw coming. It was as unstoppable as tomorrow but they are still left with a hole in their hearts and left out-of-sorts trying to pick up the pieces.

Banking on the young kid to pick up where Brett left off..

Sconnie Nation will miss you Brett Favre, it won’t be the same without you.