Who do I feel the worst for today?

Favre?

The Packers?

Aaron Rodgers?

The Jets?

No, it is none of the above. Here's why:

I don't feel bad for Favre. At all. I don't care what he says, he chose to retire. Blame Ted Thompson all you like, but Favre got up in that press conference and retired. He said he had "given all he had to the game", which makes us wonder why the Jets want him now, when he obviously has nothing left to give to the game.
When he retired, he had the respect of EVERY football player anywhere. And EVERY fan, regardless of their team. The man had played the game well. It was time for him, and us, to move on.
The single worst thing the Favre could have done, is exactly what he did: He made Packers fans angry at him. If he had stayed retired, then the Packer nation would have supported Rodgers. Favre has stripped Rodgers of that respect, and that was badly done. Badly done indeed. I have no respect for Favre at this moment. At all.

I don't feel bad for The Packers. They have put themselves in a horrible position. They absolutely must win. And they must win with Aaron Rodgers. And they must win well. And they must win immediately. And they must defend their choice from now until eternity. Packers fans will have a hard time forgiving.

I don't feel bad for Aaron Rodgers, although he would be a close second. He has no choice but to be better than Favre, and he has to do it immediately. The kid is never going to have a chance. If he is injured anytime in the next season, he will be called a wimp. If he throws an interception anytime in the next season, he will be hated by Packers fans everywhere. If he throws a touchdown anytime in the next season, his technique will be compared dis-favorably to Favre's. And all the kid wanted to do was to learn from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He's probably wishing he had gone anywhere but here.

I don't feel bad for the Jets. They're expecting too much. If he doesn't win immediately, then Packers fans will berate them for not treating Favre right, and Jets fans will berate them for giving away tons of money to an old quarterback. The Jets are an in impossible position.

So, who do I feel bad for?

Today, it's Chad Pennington. He never had a chance. He was cut immediately after the Jets signed Favre. He was traded to the Dolphins, and will be their starting quarterback. Week 1, he plays the Jets. He was loyal, and look where it got him.

Packers fans were loyal, and look where it got them.

Rodgers was loyal, and look where it got him.

And Favre, well, Favre was just an idiot, and look where it got him.






Here's looking forward to watching the Single Greatest Team Ever kick Favre's butt in week 2. Go New England Patriots. I love you guys so terribly much. Make me proud.

26 days until everything is right with the world again.