For the life of me, I can not understand why so much of the national press vehemently lambasted Brett Favre for doing essentially the same thing as Roger Clemens. Think about it and ask yourself, what's the big diffrerence?

Clemens is a future Hall of Famer, considering whether to play one more season. He's won a championship and would like another to top off his legacy.

Favre is another future Hall of Famer who is also considering playing one last season -- if he has a shot at another title.

So why did the media piss and moan about Favre's pursuit while giving Clemens a reletive free ride? You don't see writers in Texas ripping Clemens for holding not one, but FOUR teams hostage with his own version of "will he stay or will he go."

A closer look at just who had a problem with Favre's indecision might be instructive. Aside from a few contrarians, who doesn't want Brett Favre to play for the Packers this fall? Given the alternative -- an untested 2nd year mystery -- if Favre showed up on Opening Day and wanted to play QB, you'd say no?

So why did we see that flurry of "Favre has to make a decision" stories? Blame it on the media. The people who cover the Green Bay Packers are sick and tired of Favre's constant retirement threats. Moreover, they're mad as heck and they don't want to have to take it anymore.

Truth be told, I've sat in press boxes with most of these people and I can sympathise. They'd all rather cover pro football and not feel tethered to the attendant celebrity worship of No. 4.

Trouble is, unlike Barry Bonds, no one else is in a real hurry to see Favre leave the stage. Face it, guys and gals. Until he himself decides, the Wisconsin media will have to keep supplying us with Brett Favre stories.

As for my own opinion of Favre, it's a two-part question:

a) does Favre still deserve to play QB for Green Bay, and

b) does Favre help the Pack by sticking around?

To answer the former, let me answer by stating the obvious; Brett Favre doesn't own us a thing. He doesn't me anything and he doesn't owe you anything.

Favre doesn't owe anything to the Packers, the fans, the media or pro football in general. He's done that much for the franchise and the game.

On the other hand, whether Favre can help this year's model of the Pack is debatable. Timid Teddy Thompson (call him, Triple T) is busy rebuilding the team in the Steelers/Bears image -- get a bunch of big-time play-makers on defense and find just enough offense to win games.

This last draft brought two much needed studs to the miserable linebacking corps, but that won't help Favre much. Darryn Colledge might become an All-Star someday, but this fall he will be a rookie from Boise State on a very young offensive line that could have problems protecting the QB.

In a way, it's sad that Favre can't pull off a Clemens and play for a contender this season. Of course, football doesn't work that way. Can you even imagine Favre suggesting that he could win a Super Bowl for the Cowboys? Or even the Bears?! The fans would scream bloody murder.

If Triple T (and the Wisconsin media) are "stuck" with Favre, we fans will still be rewarded with history. One more season of greatness should be cherished and not sullied. The real reward for the Packers might be Aaron Rodgers getting another year to learn how to be an NFL QB.

In this case, I'd say, the future can wait.