What's a Packer Fan To Do?

Brett Favre in purple. Who could have imagined such a thing just two years ago?!

Many of us spent sixteen years rooting for the guy. We cheered for all the guys on the Packers' roster, of course, but he was different. For the others came and went, but he was always there. Even coaches and general managers came and went, but Brett was always there.

And it's not as though he was in a position that you might overlook or temporarily forget about. He wasn't the punter or a defensive player in the nickel package. He was the starting quarterback, for heaven's sake -- the undeniable and unmistakable face of the franchise.

After a while, we didn't just cheer for him because he was a Packer. We cheered for him because we loved him. We loved his boyishness, his gunslinger confidence, his legendary playfulness. We loved seeing him talk to the guys on the other team's defense and throw blocks for the occasional end around. We loved watching him run down the field gleefully after a long touchdown pass. We loved his exuberance as he tackled or potato-sacked teammates after scores.

And we loved him through the other stuff, too. The addiction. His father's death. His wife's cancer.

After Super Bowl XXXII, we may have hated John Elway, but deep inside we wanted that same thing for Brett. We wanted him to go out on top -- as a triumphant Packer, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

But then last spring and summer happened. Ugh. We still loved him, but we liked him a little less. And, mostly, we liked Ted Thompson a lot less.

We cheered for the Jets on the side during 2008. We were glad to see Brett pad his numbers. We wanted him to succeed, proving that Thompson was wrong to let him go.

But now what? The Jets were a harmless team to cheer for, and Brett's successes there didn't cost us anything as Packer fans. But what to do about Favre the Viking?

Every fall weekend for many years, I have rooted against the Minnesota Vikings. And every fall weekend for the past 17 of those years, I have rooted for Brett Favre. Now, on the weekends this fall, something's gotta give.