In 1992, the Green Bay Packers were a moribund franchise desperately seeking a path out of NFL purgatory. The team�s new general manager, Ron Wolf, pitted his hopes for salvation on a hard-drinking backup quarterback from the Atlanta Falcons, acquired for the steep price of a first-round draft pick.

Sixteen years later, that trade stands as one of the greatest bargains in NFL history � and the man who was the subject of it, Brett Favre, stands as one of the league�s all-time greatest players. Truly lucky have we been in Wisconsin to witness such an amazing career, which reached its end (as all good things must) yesterday upon Mr. Favre�s retirement. Never again will we see someone quite like him.

With his combination of boyish enthusiasm, gunslinging attitude and unmatched competitive drive, Mr. Favre brought joy to the hearts of Wisconsin sports fans � and fear to defensive coordinators across the NFL. He amassed gaudy individual statistics. The NFL�s only three-time MVP, Mr. Favre became the league�s all-time league leader in touchdown passes and passing yardage. He started an astounding 275 consecutive games (including playoffs), by far the most ever for a quarterback.

Just as significantly, Mr. Favre brought glory back to Titletown. He became the NFL�s all-time winningest quarterback, posting but one losing season in his 16 campaigns in Green Bay. He won one Super Bowl and reached another. Through it all, he was the face of a franchise and a city � and quite arguably a state.

All Packers fans have a favorite Favre memory. Who can forget the ecstatic gunslinger racing down the field, helmet above his head, after connecting with Andre Rison on a touchdown bomb early in Super Bowl XXXI? Or the last-second heave to Sterling Sharpe for a touchdown to beat the Lions in the 1994 playoffs? Or the 99-yard touchdown toss to Robert Brooks in 1995, tying an NFL record? Or any of his throws on Monday Night Football against Oakland in 2003, coming just one day after his father passed away?

Mr. Favre improvised like no other quarterback in NFL history, making plays (like his underhand toss to Donald Lee against Seattle just this year) that no other signal caller would attempt. He overcame myriad injuries during his career yet never missed a start. Indeed, some of his best games � like his five-touchdown effort on a severely sprained ankle against the Bears in 1995 � came when nearly any other quarterback would be unable to leave the bench.

Perhaps best of all, Mr. Favre played with an infectious and unbridled enthusiasm. He played the game the way we all would like to play, if we were blessed with the physical prowess of a professional athlete. Football was always a game for Mr. Favre � a game that he just happened to be really good at.

Many of us in college have never witnessed another player start a game at quarterback for Green Bay. Frankly, we never cared to find out what such a world would be like. Farewell, Favre � watching the Packers will never be the same.