I have been watching the Brett Favre saga unfold these last few days with mixed emotions. I was privileged to have watched a 16 year carerer from its start to its finish. My now grown son has a signed Favre football card he got when Brett was first traded to Green Bay on his Atlanta rookie card. I lived 5 blocks from the stadium and my son was one of the bike and ride era kids. Though he has many memories, Favre and White are some of the best.

I was at Lambeau in 92'' when he started his career and I was at Lambeau when I watched his last NFL pass be intercepeted on a cold January day aginst the Giants ending a Super Bowl berth. Though dissapointed that day, I also recognized that it was still a great day to have been a Packer Fan and to have been a part of that was ...well still a very good day.

I was emotional as I watched his farewell to all of us this past Spring. Who will ever forget the sincerity felt by all that day. 

We are now 1 week from training camp and the Packers and Brett are having a war with words. Brett wants to play again and the Packers are trying to move in new direction. I am now watching a very sad affair unfold on my TV screen. There are polls, interviews with third party people not affliated with sports, posturing by General Managers, no comments from head coaches. All of it with a media hype to further damage any chance of good future communications.

Here is my soloution for what its worth. This is from a blue collar, Packer ticket toteting, Brown County stadium tax paying citizen.

1. Have Ted and Brett agree to meet in a neutral zone. Undeclared to shut the media interferance out.
2. Ted needs to allow his pride to be put aside.
3. Brett ditto on the above.
4. Aaron Rodgers feelings or options cannot be part of the conversation. More on that later.
5. Understand that people change their minds all the time. We are talking about a 3 time MVP quarterback who came within 1 mistake in OT in the NFC Championship game changing his mind. This isn''t Jay Fiedler changing his mind.
6. Understand that Aaron Rodgers is a young unproven NFL quarterback. Though all signs indicate he has the tools to be a great one, his feelings or priority should not be part of this soloution.
7. Ask Brett point blank, face to face what his intentions for the team are. This si not about just Brett. This is about a team. Are his intentions self serving or for the team.
8. Come out of that meeting unified in a decision. If we need to part ways then do it with grace. If not then stop all this speculation.

These are the things that managers and leaders of teams and people do. They dont text message these emotional issues, they dont wait until vacations are complete to disscuss, they dont involve the media.

Egos are big in this league obviously. Ted Thompson unfourtunatly has a very big one. Brett Favre as well too. To me its ridicoulous that for the money all of these people make to be a professional, really means littlle whwn these tough issues arise. I can almost tolerate it from a player, but to tolerate it from management needs to be addressed. lpgassers