When Brett Favre started his first NFL game, I was just starting 6th Grade. 12+ years later, I am 24 and on the verge of getting married.

Brett Favre has been following me through Middle School, High School, and College. Perhaps it is the other way around.

I saw Brett''s 3rd career start. It was October 18th, 1992, at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I made the 9 hour trip with my dad and grandparents, who knew an assistant on the Browns. It was a typical cold, overcast, ugly day in Cleveland, and it carried over to the Pack as they fell 17-6. As I recall, I was not too enamored with Brett yet; I cheered vigorously as my idol, the Majik Man, Don Majkowski, held for two successful Chris Jacke field goals. Since then, I have been to 17 Brett Favre games. He''s done pretty well to replace the Majik Man as far as football idols, although it was a thrill to meet Majkowski this past year.

It is almost like Brett''''s career maturization parallelled to my life. 1995 was Brett''s coming out party; league MVP, Division Title, 2 playoff wins...it was also my first year of High School. 1999 was his first year sober, a year in which he rededicated himself to the game; it was my first year of college.

My point is, Brett Favre means so much to everyone on such a personal and individualized level, it is hard not to equate his career to your life. He is a hero and everyone respects him, but for true Packer fans it goes so much further. The ride is going to continue for a 14th season, and I hope he has a few Super Bowls left in him. But with Brett, we have had 1 Super Bowl in 13 seasons, and that does not really matter; if Brett retired after the 96 season, and we went on to win 4 or 5 or 6 Super Bowls, it just would not be the same without Brett. He revived Green Bay, and perhaps even saved the Packers. Every Packer fan owes so much to him.

I have no idea how I could ever pay him back, but I hope the debt keeps mounting for a few more years.