“I think he's a great quarterback, a great guy, a great leader. Would I like to hit him? Hell, yeah, I'd like to hit him. All these damn practices out here and they didn't let us hit him.” 

—Packers linebacker Nick Bar

They say addiction will lead to self-destructive behavior, rash decisions and a general disregard for those who love you most. So far all of these symptoms have rung true as Green Bay's once-celebrated quarterback, Brett Favre, has refused to give up the game despite personal injury and lack-luster performances.

In a brutal sequence of events over the last year-and-a-half, Brett Favre announced his retirement, then didn't, then left Green Bay for the Jets. And thank god he didn't play Green Bay last year... I was worried that the pure vitriol of him walking into Lambeau with a New York uniform might actually invoke a bolt of lightening striking him dead on the field.

Unfortunately for all, the saga continues and his football addiction has brought Brett back to the game AGAIN. And not just to a team in a different division, but to Green Bay's most hated rivals—The Minnesota Vikings. To add insult to injury, this all less than a month after Brett got in front of the cameras and claimed that he was done for good:

ESPN.com
July 28, 2009

Quarterback Brett Favre has informed Minnesota Vikings officials that he will remain retired, according to The Star Tribune. Coach Brad Childress confirmed the news to the Star Tribune, leaving the Vikings in an unexpected and awkward spot with training camp set to open Wednesday. The Vikings are now left to choose between Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels as their 2009 starter.

Of course, this is all being rationalized under the banner of Favre's love of football. He's just such a dedicated guy that even with every ligament in his body having been sewn back together, the gray-haired 39-year-old still wants to run around with the young kids.

I call bullsh*t. Brett is not just a great player who loves the sport, he was the most celebrated icon/leader of an entire generation and culture that lived and breathed Wisconsin football. For those who don't know, The Green Bay Packers are literally owned by the people of Wisconsin; they are a publicly held team with an annual stockholders meeting and a stadium in a small venue town that hasn't had a single empty seat in decades. I recall days when church as re-scheduled so not to conflict with the Sunday Packer's game. When you have your leader decide he no longer wants to be your leader and leaves to play his final days with your biggest rival, it doesn't do much for those fans who supported the man for over a decade. It's paramount to President Obama resigning and then moving to China to be Prime Minister.

Or perhaps a better metaphor: it's kinda like a big kick in the balls from your dad. 

It's a sad ending to such a great icon. I hope he gets pummeled in the Oct. 5th match against Green Bay and ends up siting out the rest of the season—and his player career.