Re: 2009 Green Bay Packers - NFC North the 3-4 way
Chicago is Green Bay's biggest rival mainly because of the geographical proximity to Green Bay and Milwaukee. There is also 30 years of pre-merger history between the two teams.
The vikings are nothing more than an object of hatred (kind of like the cowboys). The vikings are hated on a level far greater than Chicago.
Merger was when... late 60s? That makes it around 45-50 years of pre-merger history for the Packers and Bears.
I think a lot of people my age (30) consider Minnesota to be a bigger rival. It likely stems from the fact that since 1990 or so (roughly) the Packers have owned the Bears. It's hard to have a real intense rivalry in a series that has been quite lopsided. On the other hand, the Green Bay-Minnesota series has been much closer over that span and offers far more by way of storylines. To a lot of us in the 30 and under crowd Minnesota has always been far more of a threat which is probably why we "hate" the Vikings' more than we do the Bears.
That said, I know POYB is without a doubt the biggest Bears' hater on the planet.
On its own merits, Bears are #1, Vikings are a close second. But the competitiveness has been enough to put the Vikes on top of our list as of late. (Ironic considering that for the last decade, its mostly been the Packers and Bears on top of our division) And that sums it up as well as it could.
As a Minnesota native, I have to admit that although I hate Chicago sports fans with a passion- Vikings fans are really a pain in the *** to be around. Especially when you're a big white dork and the only Packer fan in 7th grade. I still consider the Bears our biggest rival, but man oh man do I hate Vikes fans.
As for his vendetta with TT. I'll say this. How would the Packers have been if Randy Moss wore the Green & Gold? Favre at the helm with Moss, Jennings, and Driver to throw to? I think 2007 would have ended differently. A 4th round pick, I know I don't value draft picks like TT (but who does), but geebus a 4th round pick was worth the gamble.
It's not very reasonable to consider what Randy Moss became in NE when you think about why TT didn't pull that trade. Randy Moss in Minny and Oakland was a top notch talent, but also one that would take plays off (which really helps a defense to telegraph what's going on), and was a big locker-room liability. Basically a lazy version of Ochocinco or TO. Obviously, he turned himself around in New England, and hindsight is 20/20. But without knowing that ahead of time, what would make you want to pull for that trade?
And this is ignoring the fact that, while management certainly needs input from the coaching staff and (to a considerably lesser extent) its veterans, personnel decisions are to be made by management. Plain and simple, that ain't Favre's job. (See also: Mariucci, Wahle, and Rivera)
