The Cockroach and Brett Favre: Same Species?

He's baaaackkkk. You know him. He believes the world cannot exist without him and some sports reporters agree.  He hides in little, dark corners while sending worker insects, like his mother or brother, to criticize the food source. Then, after greedily chomping down all the food in his original area, he tries to spread into other areas.

Green Bay Packer fans had a love affair with Brett Favre. Favre has a love affair with himself. Green Bay Packer fans are the owners of their team: the fans, by buying game tickets, watching TV games and supporting advertisers, and by giving money several times (outright donations, two stock sales, two stadium construction projects paid for by tax dollars.)

Packer fans loved Favre for his never-give-up attitude, his sliding out of the arms of  defenders, his throws from his knees. Packer fans loved Brett's father Big Irv Favre and Big Irv loved Packer fans. Packer fans made Favre one of the most beloved athletes in history. Packer fans were forgiving of Favre because they truly loved him. Throw six interceptions in a playoff game against the Rams? We still love you, Brett, we still support you even though you threw SIX INTERCEPTIONS in ONE playoff game. In fact, one of your records is most interceptions in playoff games. You had enough good teammates around you to get you to the playoffs but, in many of those games, you ended the playoff run with interceptions. You won 3 of your last 10 playoff games.

Packer fans paid a lot for Brett Favre. First, THEY PAID HIS SALARY. They made his jersey one of the all-time top sellers. They supported his charity efforts and allowed his career to be one in which he was always supported, sometimes rabidly, by Packer fans, even though Favre threw interceptions that ended Packer playoff games in numerous years.

Packer fans, like most sports fans, were fools. (And I count myself one of them.) Packer fans actually believed Favre was an every man.

After saying he was retiring in March, Favre has now said he wants to play again and has asked for his unconditional release from the Packers. Why retire in March and then ask for unconditional release from the Packers so you can play again?

The Cockroach factor: all cockroaches know they need to keep feeding at some trough and need to keep spreading out, while still hiding in the corner. Shame on you for sending your elderly mother out to criticize Packer management for not wanting you back when it was YOU who said you were retired. Shame on you and your agent for sending your mother Bonita Favre to criticize Packer management. Favre's mother, Bonita, told WITI-TV (a Milwaukee TV station) that Favre felt Thompson was less than enthusiastic about keeping him around for another year, something Favre's inner circle has expressed for some time, according to the TV station.

Brett Favre has given Packer fans a reason to get behind Aaron Rodgers. And a reason to beware of and understand cockroach mentality.

I wish the best for Bonita Favre and pray she won't have to stand in under center for Favre's next team while he hides in the corner because he is afraid to be stomped.

IF Favre, a man the Green Bay Packers made the first $100 million NFL player, believes Green Bay management didn't do enough to bring him back, why not publicly say so, instead of sending out your mother to do the dirty work?

Retiring Favre's jersey? Well, that was scheduled for the first Packer game of the season until Favre decided to enter the insect world. I suggest Packer management wait five years while Packer fans accumulate enough insecticide so they won't be contaminated.

Let's give Favre his release. Go forth and multiply, Brett.