Packer fans in purple haze

Justice can be hard to find in this cruel world, especially if you are digging around NFL stadiums on a Sunday afternoon.
Just ask any virtuous Green Bay fan who crowded into hallowed Lambeau Field yesterday.

When Brett Favre started his interesting road to retirement two seasons ago, he broke the hearts of Packer-backers everywhere. But he was certainly forgiven.
When he exited that road and landed as the quarterback of the hated Vikings this past summer, he did the unforgivable.

So there would be hell to pay, that was all there was to it.

The Packer Nation circled the date on their calendars when their once-favorite son would return, and then gathered 'round to bear witness to his beating.

Of course, they are still waiting.

With the Green Bay faithful expecting their team to dole out justice, Favre instead showed no conscience and delivered rockets to wide-open Vikings all over the joint. While the Green Bay faithful waited for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to take his place as the second-coming, the Viking defense showed no mercy and unceremoniously planted him in the Lambeau sod.

When it was finally over, the scoreboard read: Vikings 38, Green Bay 26.

If the disillusioned Green Bay fans learned anything at all yesterday, it's this: If you are looking for justice you'd best try a court, because in the NFL, baby, might still makes right.


Now onto a sampling of what the nation's sportswriters and columnists are saying about their football teams across every NFL city, because in the Grill Room we love the newspaper business, even if it hates itself.


(4) Minnesota 38
(14) Green Bay 26

• Gambling Vikings now running the table thanks to draft picks.
• Packers can't corral Favre, and that takes talent.

(9) Baltimore 30
(6) Denver 7

• Ravens back where they belong by putting Broncos where they should be.
  
• Broncos forget to put on game-faces for Halloween.

(13) Houston 31
(22) Buffalo 10

• These Texans lasso victories not excuses.
• Bills offense is nothing to shout about.
  

(18) Chicago 30
(27) Cleveland 6

• Bears neither good nor bad against the ugly Browns.
• If anger were a tool maybe Browns could fix this mess.
  

(15) Dallas 38
(23) Seattle 17

• Cowboys season goes forward with a look back at Philly.
• After another frightful loss, Seattle goes mad.
  

(32) St. Louis 17
(29) Detroit 10

• Rams win! Enough said.
• Detroit reclaims title as biggest loser.
  

(2) Indianapolis 18
(17) San Francisco 14

• Addai, not Manning, throws 49ers for a loss.
• At least things are becoming clear under center for 49ers.
  

(7) Philadelphia 40
(12) N.Y. Giants 17

• Giants knocked cold thanks to all those punches the Eagles landed...
• ...and now this embarrassing team doesn't even remember what it used to be.
  

(19) Miami 30
(20) N.Y. Jets 25

• Dolphins hit Jets right where it hurts -- in their big mouths...
• ...while Ryan's big ego swallows all common sense.
  

(16) San Diego 24
(26) Oakland 16

• Chargers kill QB, then time, and hold on for win.
• Isn't it time Davis dumped his Cable?
  

(30) Tennessee 30
(21) Jacksonville 13

• With first win, Titans are finally feeling Young again.
• Jaguars still blowing hot and cold.
  

(24) Carolina 34
(8) Arizona 21

• Jake comes up with a game he can believe in.
• When did Cards' pass game become so offensive?
  

(*) denotes NFL 100-proof ranking

Favre returns, jury awaits

Even though Brett Favre's return to Green Bay Sunday mercifully puts an end to what seems like 107 weeks of uber-hype, aren't you at least a little curious to see how it all plays out?

Don't you wonder how the salt-of-the-earth folks in Wisconsin will treat the man they once crowned their prince and savior? Because for all the good Favre did in Green Bay during his 16-year reign, is it possible he undid all of it, with his embarrassing, stuttering departure two years ago?

Understand that Green Bay was an NFL wasteland after the glory days of Vince Lombardi in the '60s. Between 1969 and 1991 the Packers had exactly five winning seasons, and appeared in the playoffs only twice.

Really, growing up and watching the once-great team's demise was a crime -- even if you weren't an ardent Packer-backer. Green Bay was the iconic team during the NFL's sonic rise in the 1960s.

The Packers represented all that was good about the sport, what with Lombardi manning the sidelines in his grey trench coat and fedora, a quarterback named Starr in command under center, and a Golden Boy named Paul Hornung running in the wake of the vaunted Packers' sweep.

Of course, all of this took place on the hallowed frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, under the gaze of their hearty fans, who breathed steam from behind their woolen ski masks, while supporting their team through the ice and cold.

The team's protracted fall in the '70s and '80s was like an endless Wisconsin winter.

Then Brett Favre arrived on the scene in 1992, like some comet.
Green Bay promptly rolled to a 9-7 record that year, and was on its way to becoming one of the dominant teams of the '90s.

The Packers ascent back to the top of the football world was complete when they won Super Bowl XXXI over Bill Parcells' Patriots.
The team promptly returned to the big game the very next year, when John Elway's somersault finally eclipsed all of those Favre-led Lambeau leaps, and pretty much ended Green Bay's short-lived, but welcome dominance.

Really, credit for Green Bay's turnaround should probably go first to general manager Ron Wolf, who in 1992 had the good sense to hire Mike Holmgren to lead the team. Holmgren then had the good sense to acquire Favre to run his offense.
And all three of them had the good sense to lasso the menacing Minister of Defense, Reggie White, the very next year, to form the final cornerstone of their mini-dynasty.

But, make no mistake about it, Favre was the seminal figure in Green Bay during this period of prosperity. No. 4 brought Green Bay back from the depths and to their rightful place on top of the NFL's burgeoning landscape. He never missed a game under center, and never lost the importance of what it meant to be Title Town's chosen son.

And when he thought he just couldn't hold the throne any longer, tears were shed, and he stepped down.

Then he didn't, and that's when the trouble started.
Favre's well-chronicled transition out of Green Bay was neither quick, quiet, nor classy.

After a rotten year with the Jets, Favre did it again and retired. And then he undid it again this summer, when he decided to give it another try with Green Bay rival, Minnesota.

When Favre trots onto Lambeau Field in a Vikings jersey Sunday, we'll find out if his legacy in Green Bay has been damaged beyond repair.

It's only fair that the Green Bay faithful decide this. And hopefully once and for all.