I am now going to do something that I never thought I would: Defend Green Bay Packer fans.  No, this isn't a case of "Stockholm Syndrome", this is an honest appraisal of a group of people who are being wronged in large part by the national media who retains their love affair with Favre.

In his latest waste of words, Fox sports columnist Alex Marvez, who must have to fight Peter King for the right to lick Farve's boots, agrees with the Hillbilly who recently said Packer fans need to get over it.  Marvez, you may recall, is the guy who was blowing the trumpet the day after the Vikings defeated the Packers on October 5th saying the results "embarrassed the Packers and GM Ted Thompson" which in and of itself is a perception that is national, not local in scope. 

So why is it the Green Bay fan base isn't over Favre yet?  Here are some reasons:

• For 16 years, Favre was the face of the franchise.  Before Favre came to Green Bay, the last glory years celebrated by people in Northeastern Wisconsin came with a victory in Super Bowl II.  Favre was more popular during his Packer career than anyone in Green Bay football history with the exception of Vince Lombardi.  He was more popular in Wisconsin than then Governor Tommy Thompson.
• After a disappointing 2006 season, Favre's chief enabler, coach Mike Sherman was shown the door.  He is replaced by Mike McCarthy, a man with a plan and with specific ideas of running an offense.  Favre is not amused and considers not playing for him.
• Favre threatens to retire. Hands wring. Teeth gnash.  GM Ted Thompson and McCarthy beg and plead and plead and beg and even travel down to Mississippi to meet with Favre.  Favre finally decides to come back right before training camp, leading the Packers to the NFC championship game.  The game ends for the Packers on a Favre interception against the Giants.  Favre "retires" in March, holding a tearful news conference.  People in Green bay believe him, looking forward to honoring his Packer career in the fall and retiring his number 4.  But,  not so fast my friends.  Favre suddenly decides that he wants to play and demands a trade to division rival Minnesota where he can run an offense he likes.  Thompson has other ideas and ships him to the Jets.
• Favre's season with the Jets ends in similar fashion to the way his Packers career ended.  In the final game of the season, where a Jets win would get them in the playoffs, Favre's final pass is picked off and their done.  Favre retires for a second time, this time claiming he means it.
• Favre un-retires for a second time, this time making sure he's a free agent and soon after the start of training camp, he signs with division rival Minnesota. 

So, why have the people of Wisconsin not gotten over Brett Favre?  Because he lied to them. Over and over again.  And then, he went and signed a contract with their bitter rivals, the Vikings.  I was shocked to learn when I moved here that Packer fans don't hate the Bears half as much as they hate the Vikings.  How do you get over someone you worshiped for sixteen years that lied to you?  That misled you?  That told you one thing and then did another?  Shouldn't that make you angry? Hell hath no fury like a scorned sports fan.

Brett Favre manipulated the Packers into trading him and then manipulated the system a year later to sign with Minnesota.  Packers fans have every right to feel cheated and lied to because they were. 

All this crap about Ted Thompson wanting this to happen is just that, crap.  When Thompson and McCarthy were duped into thinking that Favre was really done and wasn't ever coming back,  they moved on, rewriting their offense to suit the talents of their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.  When Favre wanted back in at the start of training camp, Thompson and McCarthy declined in fairness to the team, who, unlike Favre, had worked hard in the off season to prepare for 2008.  Thompson sent Favre to the Jets for practically nothing, primarily because the league and the NFLPA demanded he do so.  While some see Thompson as the man who let Favre go, others see him as the man who had enough and refused to enable Favre. 

I think a fan of any team would be upset with a beloved player who was less than truthful with them.  It's one thing when a team doesn't re-sign a player and he moves on (except in Cleveland where they still inexplicably boo Jim Thome).  Joe Montana was let go by the 49ers.  Heck, even the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky.  These were all situations where the player didn't want to leave, but was asked to by the team.  The Packers never asked Brett Favre to leave, he retired.  Then he changed his mind.  And with it, he changed his standing in Wisconsin forever.