Packers are ready for Favre

GREEN BAY, WIS. — Brett Favre and Ted Thompson bumped heads from Day 1 in Green Bay.

Actually, it was Day 68 of Thompson's reign as Packers general manager.

The date was April 23, 2005. The Packers had the 24th pick in the draft after losing to the Vikings 31-17 in an NFC wild-card game at Lambeau Field on Jan. 9, 2005, five days before Thompson was hired.

Favre wanted the first round draft pick to be someone who could help him win another Super Bowl. Thompson drafted Favre's heir apparent, Aaron Rodgers, whose contribution was to be ready when the Favre era ended, at least in Green Bay.

That wasn't the last time Thompson and his future Hall of Fame quarterback would disagree.

Favre wanted the Packers to re-sign veteran guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle in 2005. Thompson let both free agents walk as he executed a youth movement along the offensive line.

In 2006, Favre wanted Thompson to hire his buddy Steve Mariucci as head coach. Thompson hired a relative unknown in Mike McCarthy, who never had been a head coach before.

In 2007, Favre wanted the team to trade for Randy Moss. Thompson stuck with the team's conservative approach to acquiring veterans, particularly on offense. Moss went to New England.

We all know how the end came in 2008. Favre announced his retirement. The Packers moved on with Rodgers. Favre changed his mind. After an uncomfortable stretch of he-said, he-said, the Packers traded Favre to the Jets. A year later, the Jets released him, he waffled, finally signed with the Vikings and, well, here we are.

Only one more day and Favre will face the Packers with a will to go 4-0 and a side grudge to settle with Thompson at the Metrodome on "Monday Night Football."

Thompson comes to town with the youngest team in the league for the fourth consecutive season. But that's somewhat deceptive. Although the Packers roster averages 25.7 years of age and 3.8 years of experience, Thompson has maintained experience at key positions, especially on defense.

Nowhere is that more evident than at cornerback, where 34-year-old Al Harris and 32-year-old Charles Woodson have a combined 24 years of NFL experience. Ironically, the quarterback who couldn't talk Thompson into adding a veteran on offense will tangle with Woodson, the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September and still Thompson's marquee free-agent acquisition (from 2006).

Favre has only one interception this season, coming last week against San Francisco. The Packers defense is tied for the league lead in interceptions (seven) and takeaways (nine).

Who has the advantage? Favre or the defenders who were teammates of his just two years ago?

"I don't know about him having the advantage toward us," linebacker Nick Barnett said. "We had a whole different [defensive scheme] when he was here."

The Packers switched to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Dom Capers this year. They blitz more often and they play more zone coverage, which allows defenders more time to watch the quarterback.

"We're familiar with Brett, but I think anybody who follows the NFL and has been alive for the last 19 years is familiar with Brett Favre," Barnett said. "He'll take risks. He took risks when he was here. Sometimes, it was an interception. Sometimes, it was a game-winning touchdown. We just have to be in position and ready to take advantage when he decides to take one of those risks."

Woodson is tied for the league lead in interceptions (three). Harris has one. So does safety Nick Collins, who said the Packers aren't even focusing specifically on Favre this week.

"There's no advantage one way or the other because Brett is not their entire team," Collins said. "They got a lot of playmakers that make them go. They got Adrian Peterson. They got Percy Harvin. Brett is not the key guy who makes them the so-called 'Powerhouse of the North.' Brett is just a guy."

Outside linebacker Aaron Kampman said the Packers are like most teams in that their priority is Peterson.

"Yeah, Brett playing us is unique, and we all know what happened and the circumstances around him leaving," Kampman said. "But it's just a football game we're preparing for. And not to take anything away from Brett Favre, but I think any team that looks at the Minnesota Vikings looks at Adrian Peterson first."