Brett Favre will have his name unveiled on the facade of Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night, becoming one of only six players in the Green Bay Packers’ storied history to have his number retired.
That’s sure to conjure up plenty of emotion in plenty of people. It will probably be a feel-good moment for most — the acknowledgement of a great career and the capper to a saga that divided Packer Nation.
But if you find yourself wanting more Brett Favre, you’re in luck. NFL Network is launching their new series, NFL Timeline, on Dec. 3 with a piece called Favre Returns. It’s not a highlight reel, but a retrospective of Favre’s last few years in Green Bay, the divorce and the reconciliation (if you want to call it that) with the Green Bay Packers.
It culminates with Favre’s induction into the Packers Hall of Fame and will also include footage of whatever happens on Thanksgiving.
We got an advance look at the piece and, as with most NFL Films stuff, it has great behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
I can also tell you it takes you through the full range of emotions.
From, “man, I really loved watching that guy play” to “what a despicable, selfish son of a bitch.”
Such as when he explains signing with the Vikings by saying this.
“I wanted to play for anyone who would play the Packers. Minnesota played them twice.”
Superb.
In the end, Favre says he always was and always will be a Packer, but that’s a convenient narrative.
For me, Brett Favre will always be the guy who stuck a knife in our backs. He was a great player for the Green Bay Packers, but, unlike some people, I will not ever be pretending he didn’t go play for the lowliest of the low Minnesota Vikings out of anything other than some misguided sense of retribution.
That will always be my lasting memory of Brett Favre.
In case you need a refresher course, check out Shawn’s three-part retelling of the Brett Favre saga here.
- The Brett Favre Saga: Prelude to Implosion
- The Brett Favre Saga: Jets, Lies and Videotape
- The Brett Favre Saga: The Darkness Before the Dawn
Finally, here’s the trailer for the episode.
Monty, it’s time for you to grow up. “Knife in the back.” LOL
What on earth is favre gonna do after the ceremony and there’s no reason to talk about him any more?? Im sure he will find a way to grab some attention.
We all know what he did towards the end of his career…and we know the part ol’ TT played as well. Brett didn’t want to be told he was done…greats often don’t … Think Montana, Farve and now Manning…just don’t know when to hang up the cleats and not be the center of someone’s attention. BUT… Farve brought a lot to a team that had been struggling which doesn’t even begin to explain the 80’s …. He was the franchise and we need to be thankful…. Show him how thankful we are and then move on…. This honor was enivitable just like the NFLHOF will be….So let’s get through it give him his due and move on!
Towards the end of his career? What about all the things during his career?
The part “ol TT” played, was the part that Bob Harlan hired him to do. That was running the Green Bay Packers for the present, and the future. TT may have his faults, but Brett Favre wasn’t one of them. If my memory serves me correctly, TT didn’t tell Favre he was done (like you insinuate), Favre retired. Don’t get it twisted.
Right on Pastordad
Right, lets honor the guy with class, like the example that he set. Popping pills, cheating on his wife who had cancer, refusing to teach an understudy, and plotting a scheme to play against the packers.
Favre had no bigger roll in the 90’s than holmgren, white, and wolf did.
Also lets take some time to bring him down as a player while were at it..
ALL of his records came from longevity.
One superbowl in 20 years?
Single handed cost more than a few big games.
Had his own locker room.
played on some GREAT teams (that were set up to win now, not drafted to be good years down the road)
This guy gets every benefit of doubt from fans,the media and the league.
Remember how tom brady gets suspended in “large part to his lack of cooperation in a league investigation”
Not long ago favre refused to cooperate with his own sexual harassment investigation..his punishment..50,000 fine
I agree Monty and Xlvordie. We will move on from Favre, but it’s always the last of his days that are freshest in our memories, including Stieger.
I love the forget and forgive crowd, what a bunch of pussies. It’s fine enough to honor him and market the shit out of him to increase the value of the team but i for one will be taking a piss at lambeau when they trot his sorry ass out.
Speak for yourself, don’t use “our.” That’s you and two guys from the internet you don’t even know.
For those of us over the age of 16 and who have been Packer fans for 30 plus years (and who don’t have wood in our head), Favre and that team were fantastic.
That guy left everything on the field, like few players before or after him. He was part of, and led, one of the great renaissances in sports history.
Sometimes, it’s OK to just keep your mouth shut and honor men that have done great things. You’ll seem less small.
The bigger story is Bart Starr, the greatest Packer QB ever, is probably making his LAST return to Green Bay.
There we go. That’s the tone to take here. Deepsky has the final note on this for me.
I’ll second that deepsky.
tequila I also will be strategically timing my bathroom break for that moment
Favre with the Vikings is like your best friend and your wife fucked but you stay together for the kids.
Blah blah blah, whine whine whine…. We’re all aware of what Favre did and how difficult he can be. Does that mean we need to be eternally bitter and commit the rest of our lives to being a bunch of masochists? Every time Favre’s name is mentioned you can guarantee that one of these curmudgeons is going to rear their fucking head and start bitching endlessly. At least around here anyway. It’s like I should start taking over/ under bets on how soon and how many will show up. Don’t like Favre? Good for you. I think he did some pretty stupid shit as well. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stress myself out holding on to some childish grudge over some man who I’ve never even met just because he chose to play for another football team when his feelings were hurt when his current team didn’t want him anymore. Now I have to listen to all of these butthole fans whine about how Brett hurt their feelings. Apparently emotional intelligence doesn’t exist in sports. Having to listen to this non stop whining is almost more frustrating than the fact that Favre went to the Vikings in the first place. I don’t give a shit how right either side is, just shut the fuck up already.
You have only one thing right cheese..”shut the fuck up” now apply it please
Its one thing to let it go and be done with it.
Its another to year after year have a special event or find a new way to honor the guy and bring him back to relevance.
Truth is favre hasnt been back to green bay for anything other than occasions dedicated to him. How about if he showed up on his own to root on the pack? Maybe that would help his image.
Aww, Boo-hoo. Brett wont come to Packer games on his own. Maybe people should whine about it non stop for the next eight years straight until everyone offs themselves from listening to this bullshit so much. I’m pretty sure the Packers have more important things to worry about than whether Favre comes to visit in his free time or not. If Brett doesn’t care about his image then why the hell should I?
They don’t have special events for him year after year. This is the only year the Packers have had events for Favre and it’s because they want to do it before he goes into the NFL Hall of Fame. This IS the let it go and be done with it moment. After that, he may never come to Lambeau again. At least until the current regime is gone. Or maybe he will. Who knows, who cares. That’s HIS PROBLEM. I’m not going to make myself miserable forever just because Favre doesn’t act the way that I think he should.
torn on how to handle this…
Great memories, but that shit he pulled at the end was heartbreaking….
Agreed Bart had huge class compared to Burt…
Doesn’t Favre still own a Steakhouse Restaurant in GB?
I understand and can actually appreciate your points..
however you seem to enjoy arguing about it which confuses me since your complaining about people not letting it go.
Also you might not believe it after my rant but I have let it go. Could care less about the dude. Until people feel the need to talk him up. Then I feel certain facts need to be pointed out. He isnt and wasn’t the “good ole boy” some seem to remember.
Love him or hate him or somewhere in between, there is no denying his legendary impact on the game was not only felt by Packer nation but by the entire league itself. He owned up to most of his mistakes and his youthful exuberance and dedication to playing the next game was and is unmatched.
Wow, Vj, you have really nailed it. Great post. “Exuberance and dedication” especially on target. I think we could honestly add “courage, guts, and a fierce competitor.” I wonder how many concussions the guy played through, how many injuries, and how much pain? Leadership? Off the charts.
Thank you for bringing some intelligence and real perspective into this maelstrom of puerile whining.
hey – where’s the guy who always comments about the petition he was flinging around to not have Favre’s number retired? i was just thinking – the day is for him.
is that guy the real jeff ircink? was he ever seen standing next to you while flinging those petitions around?