5 stages of grieving. Where are you?

[packinpatland]

I started out in tho "Wow, it's over" stage and quicky progressed into the "excitement for what's next stage". I don't get very attached to these guys. Favre is no different than Ahman Green to me.

That's tantamount to saying 'I'm really weird'.

[PackerBlues]

I started out in tho "Wow, it's over" stage and quicky progressed into the "excitement for what's next stage". I don't get very attached to these guys. Favre is no different than Ahman Green to me.

You go all goo goo with your love for Thompson, but Brett is just another guy to you. That is weird!

[RashanGary]

I'm glad I got to watch a legend and that I'll alwyas have the expereince to draw off when I look at football in the future because I really enjoy following it and anylizing it. Emotionally, I really don't have one iota of care for Favre playing another year or not. I didn't have one iota of care when they lost in the playoffs either. I just sort of went on to what was next. Huh, maybe I'm not a Packer fan as you guys define it.

[RashanGary]

I guess I see the qualities of building a team on a higher level than the qualities it takes to play QB. Favre's big arm is great and all, I just don't really judge people on their ablity to throw a ball.

I relate to Thompson though. I admit that I do have a little personal bias there. I woudldn't care if Thompson left, but I"d have a bad feeling about the future of the franchise if he left. Favre was at the end, so I look at him as very short term anyway.

[GBRulz]

I'm glad I got to watch a legend and that I'll alwyas have the expereince to draw off when I look at football in the future because I really enjoy following it and anylizing it. Emotionally, I really don't have one iota of care for Favre playing another year or not. I didn't have one iota of care when they lost in the playoffs either. I just sort of went on to what was next. Huh, maybe I'm not a Packer fan as you guys define it.

If you don't care whether or not we win a playoff game, you're right.... You're not a Packer fan.

[The Leaper]

Favre's big arm is great and all, I just don't really judge people on their ablity to throw a ball.

So I guess you view Jon Ryan as Favre's heir apparent then.

[GBRulz]

Favre's big arm is great and all, I just don't really judge people on their ablity to throw a ball.

So I guess you view Jon Ryan as Favre's heir apparent then.

Double bonus, because Ryan can tackle, too !

[Scott Campbell]

We were lucky to have him at all. Lions fans should be grieving. Bear fans should be grieving. Vikings fans should be grieving.

[Fritz]

6. Curious

There's a lot of talk from everyone but Brett himself... It'll be interesting to see what develops over the next 6 months.

This is where I'm at. I'm fine with his decision to retire...I just wish Favre had put a lot more effort into explaining his decision to the legion of fans who have supported him for 16 years, rather than just leaving more unanswered questions.

I heard audio this morning of Brett talking, and I paraphrase from memory, about only coming back for a chance to WIN a super bowl and that it, although not to others, would not be a succesful season for anything less. He doesn't feel the Packers are legitimate contenders to WIN the super bowl.

I just heard the clip without any setup. Was that from his message to Mort or did he come out and make a statement?

If this is his sentiment, to walk away and state that he could play but he doesn't feel his 13-3 team who got to the NFC Championship game has a shot at winning the super bowl, well that just doesn't set well with me as a fan. If a troll came on the forum yesterday and stated we don't have a team that can win the super bowl, they would have gotten ripped to shreds. Not sure if it comes off any better coming from Brett who has just taken his ball and went home.

I am in denial, myself.

Hey, Chet, I listened to that clip, and I took something different from that. My sense is that what Favre was trying to say is that anything less than a Super Bowl win would feel like a failure to him if he came back - and since that's not something anyone can guarantee (even with the incredible Mr. Moss the Pats couldn't win it), Favre would rather not risk the heartbreak of falling short.

The dude just seems tired. And so he says, too.

I also like very much what TT said - Favre is a 38 year old man. He's a grown up. He knows damn well that he would have been "the man" (as TT kinda put it) had he returned. So what business does TT or anyone have trying to finagle Favre into returning? The man is an adult - he doesn't need, nor does he deserve, someone assuming he needs his ego stroked to try to talk him into something. It was Favre's call. He needed the room to make it, and he did.

Packer Blues, I have to say I totally do not understand how you can rip TT so badly - no, the guy is not perfect. He has mishandled, in my estimation, a couple of situations. But to knock him around like he's had three losing seasons in a row borders on the ridiculous to me. It almost seems like you'd be happier to see the Pack fail this year, so you can say "I told you TT sucks," than to see them be successful.

[KYPack]

6. Curious

There's a lot of talk from everyone but Brett himself... It'll be interesting to see what develops over the next 6 months.

This is where I'm at. I'm fine with his decision to retire...I just wish Favre had put a lot more effort into explaining his decision to the legion of fans who have supported him for 16 years, rather than just leaving more unanswered questions.

I heard audio this morning of Brett talking, and I paraphrase from memory, about only coming back for a chance to WIN a super bowl and that it, although not to others, would not be a succesful season for anything less. He doesn't feel the Packers are legitimate contenders to WIN the super bowl.

I just heard the clip without any setup. Was that from his message to Mort or did he come out and make a statement?

If this is his sentiment, to walk away and state that he could play but he doesn't feel his 13-3 team who got to the NFC Championship game has a shot at winning the super bowl, well that just doesn't set well with me as a fan. If a troll came on the forum yesterday and stated we don't have a team that can win the super bowl, they would have gotten ripped to shreds. Not sure if it comes off any better coming from Brett who has just taken his ball and went home.

I am in denial, myself.

Hey, Chet, I listened to that clip, and I took something different from that. My sense is that what Favre was trying to say is that anything less than a Super Bowl win would feel like a failure to him if he came back - and since that's not something anyone can guarantee (even with the incredible Mr. Moss the Pats couldn't win it), Favre would rather not risk the heartbreak of falling short.

The dude just seems tired. And so he says, too.

I also like very much what TT said - Favre is a 38 year old man. He's a grown up. He knows damn well that he would have been "the man" (as TT kinda put it) had he returned. So what business does TT or anyone have trying to finagle Favre into returning? The man is an adult - he doesn't need, nor does he deserve, someone assuming he needs his ego stroked to try to talk him into something. It was Favre's call. He needed the room to make it, and he did.

Packer Blues, I have to say I totally do not understand how you can rip TT so badly - no, the guy is not perfect. He has mishandled, in my estimation, a couple of situations. But to knock him around like he's had three losing seasons in a row borders on the ridiculous to me. It almost seems like you'd be happier to see the Pack fail this year, so you can say "I told you TT sucks," than to see them be successful.

That was my interpretation of the Favre clip, too, Fritz. From that audio take, I also got a sense of his burnout. The way he said anything less than a Super Bowl win would feel like a failure to him if he came back, he just sounded like the weight of the world was on him and he wanted it off.

The guy needs some breathing room.

[PackerBlues]

Packer Blues, I have to say I totally do not understand how you can rip TT so badly - no, the guy is not perfect. He has mishandled, in my estimation, a couple of situations. But to knock him around like he's had three losing seasons in a row borders on the ridiculous to me. It almost seems like you'd be happier to see the Pack fail this year, so you can say "I told you TT sucks," than to see them be successful.

1. Denial - "this can't be happening"
2. Anger - "why now?"
3. Bargaining - "give me one more season, and you can leave"
4. Depression - "i can't turn the tv on"
5. Acceptance - "i'm okay"

I am stuck at anger Fritz. You know I am not going to be pissed at Favre, Thompson just happens to be my outlet. A lot of other people seem to be at the bargaining stage, trying to convince themselves that Favre may be back. It is going to take some time for me to "accept" this with out the bitterness I am feeling right now.

Like I have said before, these forums are a great place to vent. Don't take it personal.

[Fritz]

Agreed. And I am offering up my lawn for him to cut. He can bring his tractor to Michigan. I'm willing to help out.

[RIPackerFan]

I was on the way to Canada when I heard (my wife called me after my sister (in WI) called her) - I was on the tarmac when I heard.

I was expecting this. I really thought that he came back last year as a big FU to all his critics - to show he could still play the game better than most other QBs and he proved that.

Now all that was left was a SB - and frankly, the odds aren't that great - even if we got Moss and Samual and Fonseca and traded for Taylor - we probably would only have a 35% chance to win it all - too many variables (such as a team getting hot at the right time, i.e. the Giants).

Anyway, even though I was expecting it - I am still pretty depressed. I understand the reasoning, appreciate all that he's done, but I can't believe he won't be there to start. Also, I am around his age - and while my sports heros start to retire (Favre, soon - Shaq) - I start to realize I am getting older. While they were out there, I could always convince myself that hey - if they can do it, so can I. Now that the retirements have started, I am starting to subconsciensely feel my age.

I guess I will eventually get to acceptance, but for a while, I will stay depressed.

[Lurker64]

I got to stage 4 pretty quickly. I can't listen to Sports radio or read any sports websites other than this one. At least I'm rediscovering a lot of my old albums.

[MJZiggy]

I'm at stage 5. I had some quiet time last night to sit and, well, just sit. I loved watching Brett play, but after the joy he gave us, retiring by any means, for whatever reason is his right. He paid his dues and doesn't owe us anything.

That said, there's been something on my mind and this is more directed at the MSM who should know better:

BRETT FAVRE IS NOT DEAD!!! STOP TALKING ABOUT HIM IN THE PAST TENSE!!!

I just watched that NFL films piece (thanks PIPL for posting it) and it drove me nuts. He still loves to laugh and joke and can still throw the ball. He just doesn't do it professionally any more. Drive me freakin' nuts!!!