Photo Courtesy of JSOnline

Photo Courtesy of JSOnline

More photos here.

So, the Badgers lost the Rose Bowl game, and while I’m really sad about that, I did enjoy seeing the Badger marching band at half time.  They are truly phenomenal.  

Bucky’s crew did the best they could.  Congrats to TCU.

Now on to the Packers winning against the Bears!

So the Packers lost to flippin’ Arizona, and let me tell you I am NOT PLEASED.  This game was good.  Edge-of-your-seat good.  Ninety-six points scored in this game, and a victory seemed tangible for the Green Bay Packers.  But we lost because of this little play picture above.  NOT ONE FLAG WAS THROWN.  Read more here.

Cardinals defensive back Michael Adams(notes) hit Rodgers and then facemasked him on the way down. Again, it drew no yellow laundry. You can see it in the picture above, and you can see it in the video here. It wasn’t glancing, incidental contact. That hand was on the facemask for awhile. Hands to a quarterback’s face are illegal, period, let alone grabbing his facemask and not letting go for a couple of seconds.

Ugh.  I’m still fuming.  But then this jackass on Twitter says:

The referee, Scott Green, stands behind the pocket and has to watch first for the loose ball. Once the ball is out, Green’s job is to watch ball for possession. He can’t watch the QB then. If he saw the facemask, it’d mean he wasn’t watching ball. It’s a quirky rule, but it’s the referee’s call — and the ref is charged with possession once the ball is loose.

SERIOUSLY?  ARE YOU JOKING?  UNBELIEVABLE.

I’m not saying the Packers played phenominally, because really, their defense didn’t show up to the game.  We have a good defense, but yesterday they were lacking.  Offensively, Rodgers got the job done when he had an opportunity, but it’s bullshit calls, or the lack of a call at all, that added to the Packers losing a game they should have won.

Yes, I’m still upset and depressed.  Yes, it’s only a game.  I know this.  I just get sick and tired of the referees and their inconsistency in making play calls.  I know the Packers have a lot of penalties (and stupid ones, too) under their belts, but last night was a major crock of shit.

I hope last nights refs get fired.  Canned. (I can dream. right?)

I’m gearing up for the Cowboys vs. Vikings game next weekend.  I love Brett Favre (and hate him.  I can do that, I’m a Green Bay Fan.  It’s allowed.) but I despise the Vikings.  I’m rooting for Romo all the way (plus, he’s a Wisconsin native.  It would be sacrilege not to cheer for him, even though I hate the Cowboys, too.)

Are we ready for more football?! Go Romo!

October 2007, the last Packers game I attended, in which Favre was QB.  The Pack played the Vikings and kicked their asses.  Never in a million years would I have imagined Brett in Purple.  Never.

I’m not surprised at all to hear that Favre is now officially a Viking.  He’s proven time and time again that he waits until training camp is over, and then decides he wants to play.  He doesn’t think he has to train with the team.  He thinks he’s God.

The worst part of all this crap is that I still love the guy.  There’s a bond between Favre and Packers fans.  It’s not something I can explain.  We love him like family, so perhaps that’s why we get so mad at his antics.  We just don’t understand his ego-mania.

As a diehard, loyal Packers fan, I’m just so…OVER IT.  But thank you all for e-mailing me about my thoughts.  What I really think is that the Packers should kick his ass.  Don’t kill him, just beat him up a bit.  Brett “the former Jet” Favre, Packer Legend, caves under that kind of pressure.

Football this fall will be very exciting, that’s for sure.  I’ll be watching every game (unless I’m in labor on football Sunday, which would just be cruel and unusual punishment)…

Rachel says to me, “You know, you’re turning into Dad.”

“What?  Don’t you mean to say that I’m turning into Mom?”

“Uh, no.  Mom doesn’t listen to the Brewers Radio Network in the car.  That’s Dad.  I’m surprised you’re listening to this station.”

“Yeah…well…you know.  I love the Brew Crew.”

“You’re gonna cry when baseball is over.  No more J.J. Hardy to crush on.”

“Nah…I’ve got Aaron Rodgers to keep me occupied through football season.”

“Dude.  Talk about eye candy.”

J.J. Hardy, my summertime boyfriend.  (Photo by adio_chick123.)

Aaron Rodgers, my other boyfriend. (Photo by S.Photos.)

Eye candy, indeed.  Too bad his good looks will be covered by a helmet.

With bated breath, I awaited the first pre-seaon Packers game.  Even though we didn’t win, this was an awesome game.  And Aaron Rodgers?  Definitely the right man for the QBJ (Quarter Back Job).  McCarthy made the right decision to place him in the starting position.

And because so many people have e-mailed me, wondering if I’m still mad at Favre, the answer is no.  I’m no mad at Broadway Brett.  I’m no longer disappointed in Jet Favre.  He’ll always be a Packer, and I’ll forever love and adore him.  I can’t throw 16 years away in the blink of an eye.

If anything, I’m mad at the NFL network for advertising an awesome football viewing package which would allow me to watch Jets games.  Freakin’ marketing snakes.  They know what they’re doing.  Sneaky petes.  All of you.

So, are you ready for some football?

Brett, is your ego that big that you can’t see past your own nose?  Have you forgotten how loyal your fans are?  Do you think it makes us happy to see you leave Green Bay?  Do you think we are eager to let you go?  It pains us to think about you, and #4, as a Jet.

You gave a conference.  You cried as you stated your retirement.  We were sad.  We shed tears right along with you.  We knew you were making a big mistake.  We grieved the loss of Our Favre as if you’d passed away (pun intended).  We missed you.  And then we got over ourselves and realized you made your decision after thinking long and hard about it.  We understood that you wished to have more time with Deanna and your daughters.

And just when we become okay with your decision, you pull a stunt that rocked the stadium.  The earthquake you caused can still be felt around the world.  Why?  Why have you decided to toss us aside?

I don’t blame the Packers adminstration for questioning your motives.  I’m not saying you’re old, but at your age, it’s hard to be 100% committed to football, especially as a Green Bay Packer, the greatest football organization of all time.

You’ve fucked us and we’re not happy.  I realize the Packers organization may have sounded skeptical about bringing you back, but how can you blame them?  After the way you “retired”, and seeing how emotional you were, they had every right to make sure you really wanted to play in Green Bay.

I don’t think you ever wanted to come back to Green Bay.  The Vikings sparked your interest (even though everyone in the NFL denies it) and when you couldn’t get your way, you threw a temper tantrum.  Are you three years old?

I loved you, Brett.  I still do.  But I’m disappointed.  I grew up watching you play.  I went to games at Lambeau FIeld and sat in awe, happy to see you in action. The magnitude of your star shines brightly, but I think that light has clouded your vision a little too much.

Were you really that upset that Coach McCarthy handed the starting position to Aaron Rodgers?  Was that too much to bear?  The kid stood in your shadow so long, you wanted to keep him there?

The volume of disappointment amongst Packers Fans is too great to even describe.  We were sick to our stomachs as we watched the disagreement unfold, tempers blazing.  But you don’t care.  You say it’s not about the emotional pain you were caused, yet you can’t let it go.  It’s not about football, is it?  It’s about proving a point?  What point are you trying to prove?  That you’re a big baby?

I looked up to you, Brett.  I don’t know if I do anymore.  Your legacy was our legacy, too, but the Packers will go on without you.  The Packers are more than Brett Favre and I wish I’d realized this long ago.

Good luck in New York.  I wish you all the best.  My love for you just may inspire me to watch a few Jets games, but my anger will take forever to dissipate.

And if I must confess, I hope the Packers travel the road to the Super Bowl, and win, without you.  Catty?  Yes.  But all is fair in love and football, right?

We thank you for all you’ve done in Green Bay, we just wish you could show some appreciation to the team and fans that love you so.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Three days after a conference call with Packers team officials in which quarterback Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked by letter for his unconditional contractual release, sources close to Favre and the team said.

The letter was sent by Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, via overnight mail on Thursday and arrived at the Packers facility Friday morning.

Cook, on behalf of Favre, expressed a desire to have an amicable parting, as the Packers have been reluctant to embrace his return. Favre announced his retirement in early March.

Brett…why?  Why would you want to leave your loyal fans behind?  Why would you ever want to leave the team that loves you so much?

I’m crying all over again.  Over football.  I’ve cried about football before, but this situation breaks my heart.

Coach McCarthy, I know the choice is yours, but I think the franchise needs to reinstate Favre.  If only to protect our interests.  And what about the retirement ceremony for Favre’s number 4?  Will this still go on if he is released from the Packers?

I’m just sick about this.

The beloved quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, my favorite football team, has said it’s “just time” and that he’s “mentally tired”.

From ESPN:

“If I felt like coming back — and Deanna [his wife] and I talked about this — the only way for me to be successful would be to win a Super Bowl. To go to the Super Bowl and lose, would almost be worse than anything else. Anything less than a Super Bowl win would be unsuccessful,” Favre said in the message.

“I know it shouldn’t feel unsuccessful, but the only way to come back and make that be the right decision would be to come back and win a Super Bowl. And honestly, the odds of that, they’re tough. Those are big shoes for me to fill, and I guess it was a challenge I wasn’t up for. “

From NFL on FOX:

The records Brett Favre takes with him into retirement include: touchdown passes (442), passing yards (61,655), attempts (8,758), completions (5,377) wins by a starting quarterback (160), consecutive starts by a quarterback (253, 275 if you include the playoff games) and most MVP awards (3).

Still, those numbers are woefully inadequate in measuring the man. His accomplishments as a quarterback might be quantifiable, but his virtues are not. There’s a reason Brett Favre is regarded as a kind of national treasure, that the affection directed his way violates all demographic suppositions, cutting across all the usual divides of race, class, sex and geography. The American People, a much-abused term, can agree on the subject of Favre’s overriding virtue: He defied time.

Seventeen years is a long time in football years. He’s broken several records and he will always be the greatest quarterback of all time. Farewell, Brett. We are sure as hell gonna miss you.

I’m still sad about it.  My first thought after waking up this morning, “…and then depression set in.”

I know it’s only a game, but it was important an important game.  It meant so much to the team, to the fans, to the coaches, to Brett Favre.

I can’t believe the season is really over.  The Super Bowl seems as though it will never arrive.  I keep thinking I’ll wake up from this bad dream and Brett Favre will lead the Packers to another victory over the New England Patriots.

Ah, but this is not the case.  Instead, Eli Manning and his Giants have a gigantic mountain called New England to climb.

Now…all I can think about is next season and whether or not Brett Favre will return to our team this fall.  My instincts tell me he will retire and my heart breaks at the thought.

This is what it means to be a true GBP fan I suppose.

Even though our team finished 13-3 overall, and the Packers have achieved so much season, it doesn’t make it any less painful to know that it’s all over this year.

Sigh.   I may need a little more grieving time.