There was a little talk about the Packers retiring Brett Favre's number. I think retiring numbers is a disservice to the player. When Dale Earnhardt died, I was angry at the thought of another driving rolling around in that #3. Then when I seen a #3 on Nationwide or elsewhere it made me think of Earnhardt. In other words, it brought back some memories.

Retiring numbers is stupid.

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I can see both sides. I agree when it is overdone it is stupid. The Bears can't issue unique numbers in training camp they have so many retired. Then comes the question is it retired or not? #18 was retired by the Broncos but Peyton wanted it and now it is unretired. When Peyton goes what happens? If you retire it again it looks like you retired it for him.

I was as big a Reggie White fan as there was, but I don't know how I feel about retiring his number. Sure he was instrumental in that Super Bowl run, but lots of players were.

Retire Favre's number? Again I was his biggest supporter when he was here. If he had retired ONCE, gracefully, I might feel differently. But I'd rather treat it like Hornungs number, just keep it in reserve.

If jersey retirement is reserved for special first ballot HOF players who played their entire career with the team AND stood out in other ways, it is kinda cool. Since LBs can't wear #66 now anyway, I'm cool with hanging that Jersey on the wall rather than issuing it to an O-lineman.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be cool 25 years from now to have a promising young starting QB throwing the lights out wearing #4, or #15... You could turn to your grandkids and tell them "that was Favre's/Starr's old number!" Or how cool would it be to have a dominant DE ringing up sacks again wearing #92. I think it would be awesome!

It matters not to me.. retiring a number or not.. it is rather meaningless overall, IMO.

As for Favre.. as far as I am concerned.. it has passed. Give a crap less if some view him as a traitor.. he was still a treat to watch play the game. Just time to close the book and move on.. that is anyone still holding onto it. especially Brett himself.

At the end of the day.. regardless if his number is retired or not.. wouldn't change that I can still remember some of the plays he was involved in like yesterday.

Do I need anymore than that? I don't. Need something to "honor" them.. put them on the ring of honor in addition to the Hall of Fame. If they need more than that.. they are candy ass ego maniacs.. lol.

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I think retiring the number for 10 years ... sufficient. I just don't see the value in saying no one can ever wear #1 because Earl wore it 90 years ago!!

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There are not that many special players. And there is no guarantee how good/great a player will be when he signs with the team. When GB selected Rodgers they knew he would be good but not this good. SF thought Alex Smith would be good. They were wrong. Ryan Leaf was considered by most to be a franchise QB. Long before that next great player gets the jersey you will see a dozen journeyman players put it on. You will end up telling your grandkids that a Favre/Starr/Rodgers or someone else truly great use to wear it. Now they have this schmoe wearing it.

I myself don't get too excited about retired numbers. It is a nice honor and all but it is not paramount. How many jersey's do you retire? How many numbers do you put into the ring? How many statues do you stick outside the stadium? There has to be a limit somewhere.

St Louis was one of the first teams to put up a statue for a former player. Stan Musial. Now you can go to almost any stadium and see a couple. St Lou now has about 10 more smaller statues to players. It is just not as special as it once was.

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The more I think about it, I agree it is stupid to out and out retire numbers. The NFL officially discourages it. Keep some special, yes. They could be used during camp or if you think after camp that the guy is the second coming let him keep it. They gave out Curly's number this spring but they were in a jam. It was that or Brent's or Hornung's. All other QB legal numbers were taken or retired. I'm assuming that if Matt Brown makes the practice squad they will make him change his number.

Something similar happened with Don Majkowski. He came into camp with #5, but when learning of Paul Hornung requested #7.

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I like that with all of Green Bay's incredible history, we have a few numbers that we felt the need to retire. I think I struggle more with numbers being "taken out of service" than numbers being retired. The numbers 1 and 5 not being available to players, but also not being "officially retired" is something I don't care for. If you want a number to be off limits to future players, I say have a ceremony to make it so, and go ahead and place said number with the others above the north endzone.

 

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