Favre deserves fans' respect

The last couple of months have been a roller coaster ride for Green Bay Packer fans like me. Of course, one man has contributed to our angst more than any other—as a result, the quarterback who used to be considered the savior of our franchise was roundly booed in his return trip to Lambeau field.

So, what are Packer fans supposed to think about the situation? At first glance, it's easy to see why a fan might don a number four jersey with "Judas" replacing "Favre" as the name on the back. Favre ditched the Packers for that team with the purple uniforms across the river.  What else needs to be said?

First off, sports fans have a memory comparable to that of a goldfish. How quickly we forget all the comeback victories, gutsy performances, and big plays—not to mention a Super Bowl victory—that Favre provided us with for 16 memorable seasons in Green Bay. His contributions to the Green Bay Packer franchise are immeasurable.

After all of that success, what was he supposed to do when he no longer felt welcome in Green Bay? He showed flashes of his old self in his season in New York, but Packers fans didn't show contempt as much as disbelief when they saw him in a Jets uniform. The contempt came when he made the move from New York to Minneapolis.

Yes, it's natural for a Packer fan to proclaim bitterness towards Favre. But that should take nothing away from what he's accomplished so far this year, even if it was in detriment to Green Bay's success. 

He's playing as well as he ever has, even as he's reached the age of 40. Boo him all you want—it obviously didn't affect his performance against the Packers. I'm not saying anyone should be switching allegiances because of Favre. Just stop and think for a minute next time you're about to call him "overrated" or "lucky." He's winning games, just like he did so many times for Green Bay. Why would we expect anything different?