In The End, All Favre Does Is Unintentionally Kill the Packers Long-Term Future

Well, we all knew something had to give.  And the persistence of Brett Favre has given the Green Bay Packers no choice.  They must embrace him.

If you haven't heard, Commissioner Roger Goodell has reinstated the former MVP.  And the Packers have responded.  There is an open competition for a job they have already handed to Aaron Rodgers.

Now, if I am Aaron Rodgers, I am not very happy.  He watched Brett Favre retire, head coach Mike McCarthy state that he was the Packers' starting quarterback, and now listens as he has to compete to play.

Over the past month, a lot of Bleacher Report writers have claimed that Brett Favre has lied to them, that he should have made up his mind for sure before he retired.  And yes, maybe you are right.

But think about how Aaron Rodgers feels right now.  The Green Bay Packers lied to him.  He was the quarterback.  Everyone had his back.  Coaches told the media he was starter.  He felt as though there was nothing that anyone could do.  This was his opportunity.  And the Packers showed they would protect him by talking about deals for Brett Favre and giving him money to stay home.

But Favre still came back and the Packers' front office folded under pressure.  Now they go to their fourth year quarterback and tell him he has to beat Brett Favre if he wants to start.  Well, Aaron, get back on the bench.

Now I'm not saying he doesn't have a shot here, but we are talking about a very healthy Brett Favre who happens to hold almost every major quarterback record over a career.  The veterans know he will give them the best chance to win.

So now the Packers are immediate favorites in the NFC North again, linking the terms Green Bay and divisional champion together yet again.  And I'm sure Aaron Rodgers will be happy to be a part of such a great team and be mentored, again, by the great Brett Favre.

The Packers will be happy for now, but they have just sacrificed their long-term future.  When Brett Favre eventually does retire for good, which I would assume would be within the next season or two, Rodgers will surely be the starter.  But if he loses the job now, he will forever tag the Packers as liars and be a very calm, but still disgruntled, backup quarterback.

Rodgers' contract expires at the end of the 2009 season, so unless there is some serious dough involved, he may just give the Packers' front office a big "screw you" and look for a more enticing offer elsewhere.  I wouldn't blame him.  For he has learned a lesson: you might be first round material, but that doesn't mean you'll play at all.

He will forever have the tag as Favre's backup unless he can inherit this playoff contending team now.  If he must wait until the weapons are gone, or until the end of his contract, he will seriously hurt his chances of ever dumping that moniker.  If he does explore other options through free agency if this job is lost, you can bet there will only be cellar dwellers offering the contracts.  An unproven quarterback is just too risky for a contender unless they need a true #2 option at that position.

But what the Packers really wanted was for them to win with this team, right now.  And if Brett Favre is willing to take them there, they will be happy.

I am rooting 100% for Aaron Rodgers to win this job.  It could truly be his last real chance to win, and I'm not exaggerating.  What the Packers did is truly low, and I think less of them for it.