Favre to Retire

It's finally happened. Brett Favre is hanging it up. I've posted many times over the years on this blog that it was time for Favre to go and for Rodgers to get his shot. Of course that was before last season when Favre again played like the great player he once was. On the one hand I'm a bit surprised he's retiring, with the Packers having come so close last year and looking to again be a contender next year. But on the other hand, what better way to go out than after one last bit of glory, taking his team to overtime in the NFC championship? A Super Bowl championship, a la Elway and Bettis, would certainly be better. But this is a close second.

The big question for the Packers, of course, is what now. Aaron Rodgers has been the heir apparent for a few years now. When he's had his chances to play, he's done well. He's also gotten hurt after each performance. Can he actually play back to back games without getting hurt? He's got a good unit around him, and no one else in the division looks ready to challenge the Packers. I'm not even sure there's another team in the division ready to content for 8-8. (Maybe the Lions, but they need to prove themselves first.) So as long as Rodgers can stay upright, the Packers should be OK. But it'll never be quite the same.