Viking Favre

Tonight, Brett Favre takes his first snaps as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

I'm not sure how I feel about that above sentence. On one hand, I'm a huge Favre fan and thrilled to see him playing again, even if it is a preseason game. On the other hand, I'm also a Green Bay Packers fan and a bit disappointed to see him donning the purple of the hated Vikings.

(Okay, those of you who know me are surely saying about now, "I thought you were a Browns fan!" Yes, I am. They are my first NFL love. However, when they took their three-year hiatus from the league thanks to (insert derogatory word here) Art Modell, I turned to the Packers to be my rental team. They will always hold a place my football-loving heart for those three years, 1996 - 1998.)

Anyway, back on topic. Having cheered on the Packers, and only the Packers, for several seasons, I became a die-hard Favre fan. In fact, he is one of my top two favorite NFL players of all time. He has nearly every major quarterback record. However, my favorite of all his records is the NFL games played streak. Proof that, unlike many of his QB brethren, Favre is tough as nails.

I have a respect and admiration for Favre. Although I don't appreciate his infamous retire, unretire routine, I still love watching him play the game of football. I am thrilled he will do this for a 19th season.

Still, I can not get over the fact that he is playing for the enemy. One part of me wants to boo and ridicule him. Another part wants to cheer him and hope he can go out on top, with a Super Bowl title (that is, of course, unless the Browns find a way to win the Super Bowl this year!). I believe most Packer fans feel this way.

Last year was different. After retiring, following the 2007 season, Favre changed course in early Summer, 2008. He decided he wanted him back. The Packers organization decided it did not want him. Favre went to the Jets. The Jets are hardly a rival. Besides, the Packers brass came off as the bad guy in that situation. He was still the lovable hero for the Green Bay faithful.

This year is different. This time, he twice said he was finished. Okay, great! We'll forget that disappointing season in New York and think of you squarely as a Packer. Can't do that so much now that you're a Viking, Brett. You have let down Packers Nation.

So, whether to boo Brett or cheer Brett? Well, I think I will continue to cheer Brett, but hope he continues to lose at the Metrodome - the one place he struggled to win while with the Packers. Now it's his home field. Good luck Brett - hope the Vikes lose.