Alf is my hero

Team president Mark Murphy made this cryptic comment: "We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage."

Not Favre's advantage.
Digital Soapbox
Their advantage.

Well, look: The double standard by which the Packers and other organizations operate, when it comes to their most valued employees, isn't always fair. In some ways, it stinks. But such is life. And in this situation, a messy one caused by Favre when he prematurely retired in March, the Packers are doing him a disservice.

Favre hasn't earned respect the last few weeks, but the Packers should show him some anyway.

Why? Because he's Brett Favre. Because, in case you forgot, he has done a lot for Green Bay and the Packers. And because they don't have anyone better at quarterback. Until he proves otherwise, or until someone better comes along, Favre still is the company superstar.

The Packers have mishandled this situation a lot worse than Favre did the football against the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. Let's get this straight: He must fight for the quarterback job? Favre never lost the job, and Aaron Rodgers hasn't done anything to win it. Favre is coming off a solid year, NFC title game aside. Rodgers has collected money for nothing. Ask his teammates whom they'd rather have taking snaps. Even better: Ask the rest of the NFL whom they would rather see taking snaps.

By declaring an open competition, the Packers guaranteed themselves a zoo after every practice and every game. Each pass and interception will be doubly scrutinized, and if Rodgers is "declared" the winner, when he throws an interception, chaos surely will follow.

That's not only unfair to Favre, it's unfair to Rodgers. His chance will come soon enough, but not as long as Favre is around.

The Packers should either show Favre the respect he has earned for almost two decades or show him the door, even if that means sending him to Minnesota or Chicago. Anything is acceptable except the status quo, which helps no one, least of all us.

We'd like to see this go away fast, faster than do the Packers and Favre.