Green Bay Packers

These are the happy-go-lucky Green Bay Packers. Their ageless leader, Brett Favre, is a gunslinger who just looks like he’s having fun out there. (You’re obligated to say these things when you mention Favre, I think. Later I’ll make sure I say “backyard football.”) No one hates Brett Favre, the team’s got an obvious appeal and a few Notre Dame connections. I’ve been a fan of kicker Mason Crosby since his days at Colorado. Brett Favre always has a smile on his face (another obligation).

In the past decade or so, the phrase “tainted his legacy” has become popular, and every dude on ESPN used it to talk about Brett Favre in the off-season. Except Emmitt Smith. Emmitt has no idea who Brett Favre is.

I can’t imagine how much contentment Favre must take from shutting all those dudes up. Favre’s improbable season is unmatched – this would be like Jordan leading the 2003 Wizards into the finals. It is also the exact opposite of what Roger Clemens did in 2007.

Favre broke so many records in 2007 that Fox started inventing new ones for him. The guy at the Fox stats department either doesn’t get paid enough or gets paid way too much – I can’t decide yet. But this weekend, Favre set a record for consecutive Saturday playoff games with a touchdown pass over 25 yards in the first half at home or something equally ridiculous.

Dude definitely gets paid too much.

Thing is, Favre’s not out there to break records. He just plays the game like it's backyard football, enjoys every moment, and tries to win games for his team.

Go Pack.