BRETT FAVRE! HOW COULD YOU?

This is a story I don't want to believe.

But I wouldn't be surprised if it is true.

When Brett Favre and the Packers had that nightmarish slow-motion parting back in July and August, it was clear that there was a lot of bitterness.

If it had to be, I wished it could have been less ugly. The Packers organization looked bad and Favre looked like anything but a team player. It really was a mess.

It was all so sad to me, this breakup between my Packers and my quarterback.

Things just got messier.

Jay Glazer writes:

This week Jets quarterback Brett Favre caused a significant stir in The Big D when he curiously pushed Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo into playing this week, or at least giving it a shot with a broken pinkie. Favre reportedly talked Romo into sucking it up to play, and rather than missing Sunday's game, he was listed as the No. 2 behind Brad Johnson.

It turns out the Cowboys aren't the only team this year the New York Jets signal caller has spent time talking to.

Several sources have told FOX Sports that Favre earlier this year phoned the Detroit Lions prior to their battle versus Favre's old team, the Green Bay Packers, and gave them a rundown of the nuances of what Green Bay does on offense. According to the sources, Favre actually spent over an hour on the phone with Lions coaches, who were connected with Favre by then-team president Matt Millen.

While the Lions still lost and the Packers and Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers played well, it's still baffling that the Packers legend would spend such a significant chunk of time giving tips to an opponent of his long-time franchise.

Other teams the Packers have played had also heard about the Favre coaching clinic with Detroit. In addition, there have been rumors that Favre has spoken to other teams giving them information, but most of those teams insist they have not heard from the famed gunslinger.

However, another team says it has had casual talks in the past with Favre and talked about some of what Green Bay does, but it was nowhere near the details he let loose to the Lions.

First off--

It's bothered me that Favre has never called Aaron Rodgers with any words of encouragement. He's yapping it up with Tony Romo about his broken pinkie finger, but he doesn't have any contact with Aaron. That's weird.

Aaron sustained a painful injury and he didn't get a pep talk from Favre. They were teammates. He was Favre's backup for three years! Nothing from Favre.

Injury or no injury, it would have been big of Favre to offer Aaron some words of support along the way, especially considering the pressure Favre's drama put on Aaron.

There's no disputing these allegations. It's a fact that the veteran quarterback hasn't talked to Aaron.

That move alone is classless on Favre's part.

In regard to the allegations about Favre initiating contact with the Lions to offer up information about about his former team's offense in an effort to undermine the Packers--

It's sickening; sickening but not out of the realm of possibility.

My opinion of Favre changed dramatically after he jetted off to New York and held that press conference with his new team.

At the time, I was still reeling from the fact that Favre would be playing for a team other than the Packers. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing him play in a jersey other than the green and gold.

After 17 years, I thought I knew something about Favre's character. It came as a surprise to me, a disappointment that he was willing to hurt his former teammates and all the Green Bay fans just to stick it to Ted Thompson.

...Favre did admit that his wish for a long time was to find his way onto the roster of either the Minnesota Vikings or the Chicago Bears, the Packers’ NFC North rivals. And it wasn’t because Favre likes the food in those two places.

“Maybe that was a little bit of vindictive nature, or whatever, competitive nature, whatever,” Favre said. “I think in the end, that was probably the wrong motive and I realized that was not going to happen.”

This was a different Favre. He was spiteful. His ego was inflated and on display.

This wasn't the team player I believed him to be.

Favre hates Thompson. OK. But is Favre so selfish and does he care so little for his former teammates and the Green Bay fans that he was willing to disregard the impact a move like going to the Vikings or the Bears would have had?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

[A] few sharp words were heard when Packers players were told that former quarterback Brett Favre, who was traded to the New York Jets, reportedly went out of his way to help the Detroit Lions prepare their defense for the Packers' offense leading up to their Week 2 game in Detroit.

"He contacted them?" cornerback Charles Woodson said with raised eyebrows. "I don't respect that. If they called him and he gives them information, that's one thing. But to seek a team out, because, you know, I guess you're trying to sabotage this team, you know I don't respect that. I know he's been the greatest player around here for a long time but there's no honor in that."

According to a story reported on Fox's pregame show and later at www.foxsports.com, Favre was put in contact with Lions defensive coaches by former Detroit general manager and CEO Matt Millen, who is friends with Favre. Then for the next 60 to 90 minutes, Favre gave a "dissertation, every single thing that the Green Bay Packers do on offense."

The Lions did not confirm or deny the report after their loss to the Houston Texans. Coach Rod Marinelli said he was aware of the report and said "no comment," when asked about it. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry also did not deny the report.

The report said there were rumors that Favre had given other teams information about the Packers' offense, as well.

Favre was not asked about the report after the Jets' overtime loss to the Raiders in Oakland. But Sports Illustrated writer Peter King said on NBC's pregame show that Favre texted him and said the report was "total B.S."

What does "no comment" tell you?

Refusing to talk suggests there's something to hide.

If the report about Favre and the Lions is not true, why wouldn't Marinelli and Barry dispel the rumors immediately?

It would be very simple for them to unequivocally deny the report.

And here we go again with the text messages. THAT'S total BS. Instead of text messaging Peter King, why doesn't Favre go on the record and clear his name?

I'm sure Greta Van Susteren would be glad to give Favre a forum to put the rumors to rest. Favre could tell the world.

But he's not and that's very telling.

Favre is really tarnishing his image as a Packer legend. His bitterness goes beyond bad blood with Thompson. It's spilling over on to the team and the fans and the storied history of the organization.

If the report is true, Favre's integrity as a player in the NFL and as a man can rightfully be questioned.

If the allegations are reality, I think the Packers should reconsider retiring Favre's number, at least for a long time. When Favre does retire, and that day is fast approaching, he shouldn't be honored by the very team he's actively trying to undermine.

There needs to be a lengthy cooling off period before that happens.

Although Favre broke no league rules if he blabbed to the Lions, he did break a bond with his former teammates and the fans.

I don't want to believe the rumors that Favre is capable of such vindictiveness. Unfortunately, his past behavior leads me to believe otherwise.

On the bright side--

The Packers trounced the Colts yesterday.

For the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, everything worked exactly according to plan. It was textbook efficiency at its finest.

Ball-control, turnover-free offense? Check.

Clingy pass coverage, stubbornness at the point of attack and adequate pressure without extensive blitzing on defense? Check.

Consistency and recklessness on special teams? Other than a missed field goal and a botched onside kick, that was a check, too.

Against the best that the Packers could offer, on a windy 60-degree late afternoon at Lambeau Field, not even the great Peyton Manning and the battle-hardened Indianapolis Colts stood a chance. When coach Tony Dungy's club played with uncharacteristic sloppiness, Green Bay won going away, 34-14.

"That's a good football team and we played a really solid game," tackle Mark Tauscher said. "We're playing a lot better than we were three, four weeks ago. That's what you're looking for."

Green Bay enters its bye week on a two-game winning streak after having lost three in a row. At 4-3, the Packers are tied with Chicago for first place in the NFC North and in a three-way tie for the seventh-best record in the NFC.

What a great win for the Packers!

Note to Favre: Football is a team sport.

Note to Peter King: Text Favre that football is a team sport.