Let’s take a sec and think back. We’re gonna hop into my DeLorean, crank up the old Flux Capacitor, and go back to a time when a certain someone retired from professional football. I’ll do my best to give you all the abridged version, but I would be remised if I left out any key points.

Thanks to NFL.com, ESPN.com, and Gene Wojokowski for their up-to-date timelines of the Brett Favre/Green Bay Packer saga:

1/20/08, Packers lose NFC Championship Game

Thanks to an interception from Favre and a 47-yarad field goal by Lawrence Tynes, the Green Bay Packers’ season was over - and so was their dream of another trip to the Super Bowl.

3/06/08, Favre retires

Finally!! No more guessing games. We can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep easier knowing that we won’t have wonder if he’s retiring. He’s done. He’ll never come back unless it’s for “Old-Timer’s” Day or when the Packers retire his number.  At least that’s what we thought at the time. Then again, we were wrong.

On the other side of town, The Madden Cruiser had a dark, rainy cloud hovering over it as John Madden sat in a corner with tears in his eyes. He opened a bottle of red wine, lit some candles, listened to some Sade on his iPod and stared at a picture that reminded him of happier times. Madden fell asleep with tears on his pillow and realized that his “bro-mance” was no more.

The Month of April

Rumors begin to circulate of a comeback and Favre denies these rumors. Of course he would deny the rumors. What evil mastermind do you know would reveal their plans to the enemy? That’s like Cobra Commander sending a member of the Crimson Guard to G.I. Joe Headquarters with their plans to steal the B.E.T. Go get G.I. Joe the Movie for reference

So Favre’s Agent, Bus Cook, decides to play the role of Destro to Favre’s Cobra Commander, and got the ball rolling by contacting other teams to inquire about trading for Favre. You always send the “little man” to do the dirty work for the Kingpin.  

There was the possibility that Favre knew that the Packers were ready to move on without him and to make things easy for everybody, he gets traded to another team. That way, he continues to play and the Packers can go ahead with the Aaron Rogers era.

Then, during an interview, Favre says he might consider a comeback if the opportunity was presented to him. I guess he was just keeping his options open. By now, its evident Favre wants to come back.

6/20/08: Coach Mike McCarthy is told by Farve that he may want to play again

According to McCarthy, NFL.com reported that Favre told him (McCarthy), “You and Ted (Thompson) need to have a plan if I do come back. Either give me my helmet or give me my release.”

Hold up; you (Favre) just retired, the Packers have moved on with you in preparation for the season, they’re one month away from training camp, and you want to return to the team? Plus, you want to throw ultimatums around about your return. You, as we say on the block, are buggin’. 

The Months of July and August:

So much went down in the month of July; I really don’t have the time and patience to go through it all.  That’s why you have the links to the timelines from ESPN.com and NFL.com. Between the text messaging, the 10-year, $25 million contract offer and the reinstatement; everything went from bad to worse.

In all honesty, do we really need to see the timeline; this story has been following us throughout the entire off season. It’s now gotten to the point that we can recite the entire saga like it’s a bedtime story.

To make a long story short, once Favre was reinstated, he met with Coach McCarthy and it was decided that it was in the best interest for both sides to divorce. A day later, Favre was traded to the NY J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, and Green Bay gets a conditional Draft Pick that gets higher in rounds depending on Favre’s performance. For now, New York is celebrating.

This saga had more chapters than the Star Wars series - and finally, it’s done. We can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep easier knowing that Favre has a team and the Packers will move on. Wait a minute; I said the same thing about his retirement earlier, and look at how that turned out. Damn it!

Bottom line is this: both sides were right and wrong in their stances. Favre should have never retired if he felt he was going to have the urge to play again. He could do whatever he wants, but just because he has that right; it doesn’t mean its right. I commend him for not taking the 10-year, $25 million contract offer. Had he taken that contract, he would have looked like a sellout.  Remember, throughout this entire ordeal, Favre keep saying that all he wanted to do was “just play football.”

The Packers made their bed with Aaron Rogers and were ready to lie in it. They know this kid is no Favre, but they’re ready to move on and start fresh. They stood by their guy and that should give Rogers the confidence he needs to do well this season. Only time will tell if he’s ready for the big show.

At the same time, the Packers should have been upfront with Favre from start and told him that there was no room for return once he signed his papers for retirement. Considering the fact that he has “straddled the fence” for the past few years about his retirement, they could have added a clause that stated that if he did want to return to the team or football in general as a player, he would have to give some of his contract money back to the team.

That could have kept him away. Then again, it may have not, considering all he wanted to do is “just play football.”