Thoughts on the Brett Favre trade to the New York Jets

In a move unlike any we have ever seen the Green Bay Packers traded Brett Favre. When you look at this, you have to move past the numbers and success. You cannot focus on the comparison between he and Aaron Rodgers, there is none. Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time; Aaron Rodgers has never started a game. But, this trade is about much more than numbers of success. This trade is about all that is wrong in sports.

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In a world of terrorism, war, divorce, and economic troubles sports are an outlet. A place we can all go to find something positive and good in even the darkest of times. We look to sports and athletes to remind us of pure joy and elation. There are no real consequences, especially not when compared with all of our “real” problems. Today those two worlds blurred a bit.

If there was one relationship we trusted in the world it was Favre and the Packers. The country boy from Mississippi and the community-owned team from small town Wisconsin. The man who led one of the great franchises in sports back from obscurity to the forefront of the NFL is now in a mega-market full of stars. The Packers are the purest entity in pro sports. A team owned by its fans, beloved like a college team in a world of billions and corporations this one little hamlet on Lake Michigan is the best pro sports can offer.

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Today though, a dark cloud hangs over Green Bay. The most beloved figure in the history of one of the NFL’s most historic franchises is gone. He did not retire or walk away, he was traded to the New York Jets. He was shown the door and sent to a faceless franchise in the nation’s largest city. There is no more opposite a place in all of pro sports than New York from Green Bay. Now, they will forever be linked, as Favre will retire a Jet.

I realize that Favre will always be a Packer. However, that legacy is diminished just a bit by this trade. He was one of the last true icons. Dan Marino walked away rather than play for another team than Miami. Cal Ripken Jr. never left Baltimore and Tony Gwynn never left San Diego. Brett Favre should never play for anybody but the Green Bay Packers. All the experts love to tell you how Joe Montana went to Kansas City and Joe Namath went to the Rams. It is just not the same.

No player in my lifetime has meant as much to a franchise as Favre has meant to the Green Bay Packers. There is no comparison between any other place in sports and Green Bay. No player was more important than Brett Favre to that place or to the NFL. I grew up a Packer fan and a Dolphin fan. I was graced with watching two of the best to ever play that position. When Favre retired I was saddened because the last sports hero of my youth had walked away. Today I am saddened because the last sports hero of my youth means a little less to me.

Favre did not do anything wrong, and maybe the Packers did not either. Together though, they have done something I never thought possible, they made Brett Favre’s legacy a little less special. As time goes by we will remember Favre as a Packer, but there will always be that small part of us inside that knows his career ended somewhere else. If nothing else that makes him a little less of a Packer, which cannot be a good thing for anybody.

By Brian Chmielewski
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Correspondent