How do you like me now?

• Lance & Billy

Lance & Billy

Talk about it

Remember Toby Keith’s No. 1 country hit from 2000, “How Do You Like Me Now?”

I will wager that this is, or at least should be, the favorite song of Ted Thompson, general manager of the Green Bay Packers.

With respect to Mr. Keith, this is how Thompson might write it. You all know the song, so sing along.

We owe it to the fans to be

the best we can so listen to me

when I tell you it was time to move on,

We love this team who can really play,

The green and gold from Green Bay,

but one of them decided it was time to be gone,

I only wanted to make the team better

but the wrath of the fans came my way,

the threats came by phone and they came in by letter

I did my job, listen to me say, how do you like me now?

How do you like me now

We won the Super Bowl

I let some players leave us

Because don’t you know

We had a guy named Rodgers

Who could really throw the ball

Welcome to the neighborhood,

How do you like me now?

I love my job and I do it well

Even though you put my family through hell.

The boos and the jeers were sometimes too loud.

Again last year we were the best

This year we hope to pass the test

The greatest fans in the world are very proud.

When Brett got back on that plane to go back home

It was his choice, it wasn’t mine

I knew he would end up in the Twin City dome

But you know, I think Mr. Rodgers will do just fine.

How do you like me now?

How do you like me now,

We won the Super Bowl,

I let some players leave us

Because don’t you know

We had a guy named Rodgers

Who could really throw the ball

Welcome to the neighborhood

How do you like me now?

Everyone in the world thought Thompson was nuts when Brett Favre got back on the plane that fateful day in Green Bay to head to Mississippi. Did he have another year or two in him? Probably, but after three years as a backup and heading off a request to be traded, the Packers decided to place their future in Aaron Rodgers. Was there a lack of respect from both parties? We’ll never know what was said behind closed doors.

If you are an avid football fan, you remember or have learned from history that it is very rare for a player to play his entire career with one team. (Favre played for Atlanta in 1991, throwing four passes with no completions and two interceptions.) That is why teams have general managers who make those tough decisions deciding when a player’s best days are behind him.

Joe Montana finished his career in Kansas City. Joe Namath finished with the L.A. Rams and Johnny Unitas ended his career with the Chargers. Most fans probably think that the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets and the Baltimore Colts were the only team for whom these two Hall of Famers played.

Hind sight is always 20/20. Favre chose not to compete for the starting quarterback position with the Packers with the younger Rodgers. Maybe Brett realized he could not win the job. If Thompson felt the Packers would have been better off in the long term with Favre, you can rest assured he would have stayed in Green Bay. I think things have worked out very well for the Packers, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Rodgers.

Was Favre forced out as some believe? Maybe, but show me a coach or GM that knowingly does not want the team on the court or field that will give the franchise the best opportunity to win, and I will show you someone who should relinquish his position.

I loved watching Favre play football. The Boyle family was in attendance in Green Bay when he replaced an injured Don Majkowski against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third game of the 1992 season. Favre had played the second half against Tampa the week before.

We saw a lot of history in person and on television from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. For his love and passion of the game, his incredible skill level, his durability and ability to play through injury, all football fans, not just Packer fans, should thank him.

Without apology, I thank Favre for allowing me to be thrilled and amazed at what I saw. As my favorite sports announcer of all time, the late Jack Buck, said, “I don’t believe what I just saw.”

Superlatives were common while watching him play.

I want to thank Thompson and apologize for the millions of fans and the print and electronic media who thought he was nuts, crazy, daffy, off his rocker, stupid or an idiot. Obviously, he knew what he was doing.

He would have every right to go around and ask, “How do you like me now? Now that I’m on my way. Do you still think I’m crazy standing here today? (Wearing my big old Super Bowl ring.)”

My apologies to Toby Keith and to any country music lovers for the hatchet job I did with one of the greatest songs ever written.

Opinions and/or story ideas can be e-mailed to dleigh1273@aol.com or wgranlund@centurytel.net

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