Start spreading the news, he's leaving today.  And the reaction to the Brett Favre retirement news is fast, furious and fascinating.

Among people I've talked to locally, they are almost relieved by the news.  As much as they love the Hillbilly and what he's done for the Packers, they are getting tired of the little games he plays every year.  Two years ago, the guy practically held the state hostage while he tried to decide what he was going to do.  Don't get me wrong, they're sad, but they have a sense of understanding about it as well.

But there is more to this story.  A lot more. 

Could Favre have played another year?  No question.  Then why retire?  Because he was tired of being pushed by Packers management, which is the biggest single difference between now and 2006. 

In 2006, the Packers came off a losing season.  They had just fired their head coach.  They hired an unknown coordinator as their new head coach.  Their GM was taking it from all sides because he wanted to rebuild through the draft, not through free agents.  Javon Walker was traded for nothing.  At that point, Favre was one angry Hillbilly, feeling like he was under appreciated.   So he made  Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy sweat until he decided to say he was coming back.  Which was after mini-camp and into June.

The difference now is that Thompson and McCarthy hold all the cards.  Thompson is being lauded as a smart GM and McCarthy is a hot, young coach with a long term extension.  Both of these guys will admit that having Favre is better than not having him, but they also believe they can win without him.  And in the NFC North, that's not too hard considering your competition.

So when Thompson put the screws to Favre regarding his future, Favre decided he was unloved and blinked first.  What he didn't count on is Thompson saying "Okay, if that's the way you want it. . ."

There are many things I will always hold against Brett Favre, but the biggest may be had he done this ten days earlier maybe the Packers would have signed Rex Grossman.  Nah, that would be too many good things happening in my life.

• Can't Stop the Bleeding scores it like this.  It looks like Thompson called Favre's bluff.

• Meanwhile, our hero and role model presents an interesting scenario for Bears fans.  That's why he's our hero and role model.  BTW, his comments on Dave Wannstedt are priceless.  No wonder we love the guy.
  

• On the humor front, those wacky boys a KSK are all over the story.  First, how will Peter King deal with the loss and later finally accepting it.