John C. Redfern  Senior Writer

Retired Packer legendary quarterback QB Brett Favre unretired again signing a two year $25 mm deal with the Vikings to be their starting quarterback.  Fans should circle Oct. 5th and Nov. 1st days for prime time Packer Nation events.  Today, Favre explained his decision in a historic day in sports this way:

I think guys know I’m in it for the right reasons. That’s because I still love to play. If you’re true Packer fans, you understand. Will it be different, sure it will. If you’re a true fan, you say you know what, he chose to continue playing, they chose to go in a different direction. It’s part of the business. He has to play somewhere if he wants to play. Once again, this is the perfect fit....When people start talking about my legacy, it’s mine. It’s what I think of it. The way I played the game, handled myself as leader…if I had it to do over again, I’d do it the same way [I really do. I don't think....]. I don't have to prove anything to anybody because what I've done. It's down in the books. I'm in it for the right reasons, and if people can't understand that, I'm sorry.

Management & Players Reaction:

1. Coach McCarthy: "I'm not surprised by it. I don't think anybody should be surprised by it.  I have no comment about it. We're a football team that's looking to improve. If he's going to play, that's obviously his choice."

1. LB Kampman: “He’s a special player.  It’s his 19th season, that’s phenomenal. From what I know about Brett, I don’t think he’d come back unless he felt like he could do it and do it well. I have no idea (if he’ll play at a high level). What I do know, he has always been a very special player, we’d all agree with that. This is something obviously he wants to do.”

2. LB Barnett: “Favre on a team makes a team better. Not just talking about physical capabilities, but leadership, having that aura, it’s great. We’ll be concerned with him when we see them. We have a great team here, a great quarterback here, great defense here, good running backs. Our focus is one game at a time. We’ll worry about that when it comes. If he wants to play, let him play, do whatever he wants to do. It’s not my concern.”

3. CB Woodson: “I wish him well. He plays for the Vikings, I don’t care what that means for them. Just another team.”

4. WR Driver: "He's a Hall of Famer.  But I don't think it's going to change who's on top of the division. That's our goal is to be on top of the (NFC) North, and we're not going backward for anyone. I know what we have over here, and that's a team that's going to win the NFC North and go to the Super Bowl."

Amusing Spotlight:

Top 10 reasons Brett Favre came out of retirement:

10.Blew savings on a two-day taco binge.
9. No reason to stay home every day now that Guiding Light has been canceled.
8. Worried Obama's death panels might try to take him out.
7. In this economy, someone offers a job, you grab it.
6. Wants to raise and then dash hopes of another city's fans.
5. Couldn't take another trip to Pottery Barn with his wife.
4. Lured by a lucrative contract and free jar of Icy Hot.
3. Concussions made me krazy!
2. Who could resist chance to spend glorious winter in Minnesota?
1. Oh oh, wait, he just retired again

PBB Reflections:

Understanding the human {sports} condition, sports journalists observed:

The most iconic quarterback of his generation, a player who mastered the most important and scrutinized position in sports while revitalizing the quaintest franchise in football, in two years maneuvered his way from the team that not too long ago regarded him as a deity to the team that not too long ago regarded him as Diablo. This doesn't happen, not with a player of this fame at a position of this importance in a rivalry of this intensity. This story is virtually unprecedented in NFL history. Yes, Johnny Unitas lamely wore a lightning bolt, and Joe Montana visited Kansas City, and Joe Namath took an LA vacation, but none of them signed with an arch-rival with the hopes of beating their old team twice on the way to the Super Bowl.

The objections to Favre returning are legion, and they’re legit. [Yet,] you play to play the game. The playing is the thing; the feel of a properly thrown ball; the crunch of really popping someone; the sheer amazing joy of being able to move with purpose and grace, perfectly aligned, and when it’s done just right your whole body is an instrument that brings forth a true and steady pitch. I have only one demand: like Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner, I want more life, f--ker. Surely Brett Favre wants, and deserves, the same.

So let's treasure this season, as it is our last opportunity to hear from our all-American, Wrangler-wearing icon before he shuffles into the Mississippi sunset. At least until late next May, and then early June, and mid-July.....

Former Packers WR Freeman explained the bad blood between iconic QB Favre & GM TT:

You look at Brett, the Packers told him No for the very first time in his life when he wanted to come back out of retirement. That drives a guy crazy. We as athletes don’t hear the word no too much. So when we do hear, No, you can’t come back, no there’s not another position on this roster for you, it hits that nerve.

Sports journalists acknowledge the issue:

Maybe it is personal. I'm sure he'd love to stick it to Packers management, but it's also business. If you're Favre, wouldn't you want to play for this team, in that West Coast offense, for that coach, in that division, for that kind of money? He'll start for a team that was favored to go long and far, even before he signed.

From the moment Brett Favre retired from the New York Jets, I was convinced he would eventually play for the Minnesota Vikings. His passion to play and stick it to the Packers [management] were enough motivation to get him to sign with the Vikings.

PBB Editorial Perspective:

As a rare fair & balanced editorial statement in the Packer nation, this amusing turn-of-events makes the 2009 NFL season to be very interesting.  Like the Packers players, I wish Brett well toward a happy ending of his career knowing the similar stories in NFL history. Yet, the Packers and I look forward to winning the NFC North division.  I hope people can enjoy Brett's return for another year without the pointless divided bickering in the Packer nation.  Legendary Brett is just human Brett.  The resolution of the very personal public rift between Packers management and Favre will have to wait until he retires and his number is retired. Sadly, both sides are at fault to allow it to come to this scenario dividing the Packer nation, but it must play out this way for us.