At the risk of blowing this column into smithereens almost before it begins, allow me to reprise a quote from an interview former Green Bay Packers tight end Mark Chmura gave a few years ago.

Speaking of Brett Favre, Chmura said, "He's selfish. He's very selfish."

Mental telepathy is not necessary for me to realize what a lot of you are thinking at this point. You're thinking, "That's just brilliant, Jackel. Quote someone who once went on trial for sexual assault to make a point about one of the greatest icons in the history of professional sports."

Personally, I reacted to Chmura's harsh words with raised eyebrows at the time. But what we have seen from

Favre lately has validated words that may have otherwise been relegated to the sour grapes file (apparently, the close relationship these two once had was strained beyond repair when Favre made little or no effort to support Chmura during his trial).

Until Favre left Packers general manager Ted Thompson to figuratively fend for himself at the North Pole with only a pair or Bermuda shorts by taking his ridiculous waffling to new lows, I thought Sterling Sharpe would endure as the most selfish player in the history of this franchise. When Sharpe timed a contract holdout for the week prior to the Packers' 1994 season opener, he moved to the head of the line of me-first ignoramuses.

And then Favre shoved Sharpe out of the way with yet another act of his traveling Drama Queen Show. Someone who could have been transitioning into a graceful retirement as a beloved, legendary icon is instead leaving a state feeling betrayed, backing an illustrious franchise into a corner and shamelessly throwing a maddeningly underappreciated general manager under the bus.

Until he finally submitted to an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren Monday, Favre didn't even have the decency to speak for himself, choosing instead to allow ESPN's Chris Mortenson to be his mouthpiece. In other words, someone who epitomized guts in the face of the most imposing athletes in the NFL for 16 seasons didn't even have enough guts to explain himself.

While Favre went into damage control during his interview, you could watch a marathon demolition derby with drivers wearing blindfolds and not see more damage than Favre has done to his reputation in the last week.

Look, it's a free country. If I want to continue chasing down kids for interviews after high school events for another 20 years, that's my business. And if Favre wants to slam shut the ideal retirement window and instead revive melancholic images of Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform or Johnny Unitas in San Diego Chargers colors, that's his business.

But this is far more grotesque than even that lame duck of Favre's that died in the frigid air of Lambeau Field last January and dropped into the hands of the New York Giants' Corey Webster.

When the Packers were forced to cover themselves last week during this most unfortunate firestorm by revealing they welcomed Favre back in March after he reneged on his retirement only to see him backtrack once again (gee, imagine that), this was a proud franchise clearly backed on its heels. And when Thompson was put into a position of relating how gut-wrenching this whole experience was for him, this was a general manager who was basically pleading for mercy for a crime he did not commit.

And where was Favre during all of this? Ask Mortenson. Or Favre's brother. Or mother. Or agent.

So how should the Packers react? By trying to maximize the price for Favre's deteriorating skills and unloading him on some AFC team. There is absolutely no reason to keep him, unless the Packers want to see their season collapse from the weight of Favre's incredible selfishness by Labor Day.

What are the other options? Favre isn't going to be amenable to accepting Thompson's condition for returning, which is serving as Aaron Rodgers' backup, so that's not even worth wasting any conjecture. But I can't resist speculating the tidal wave of divisiveness there would be the first time Rodgers falters with Favre lurking in the shadows.

Likewise, Thompson cannot release Favre - something Favre was egotistical and naïve enough to ask for. Because wouldn't it be just like Favre to try and show up Thompson by returning to Lambeau Field in the colors of the Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings?

And that leaves us with Favre returning as the starter, which so many fans still want. Well, for anyone who wants to sing your "Favre is God" nonsense, here's my take:

To refute your case, I present to you for Exhibit A Favre's birth certificate, which says he will turn 39 this October. My e-mail address is at the end of this column. I will be happy to respond to any of you who enlighten me with all the quarterbacks in the past quarter century who have taken their teams to the promised land at that age.

For Exhibit B, I present Favre's cumulative passer ratings during the final five games of the 2006 and '07 seasons. In 2006, it was 62.22. In 2007, it was 73.25. Furthermore, Favre had 10 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in those 10 games.

Do those numbers reflect someone who still has the ability to gear up for the stretch run and take a team to the Super Bowl?

No, they reflect just another athlete who is succumbing to the one pass rush no quarterback has ever escaped - the passing of time.

And for Exhibit C, I present Rodgers' contract, which expires after the 2009 season. If the Packers were foolish enough to kow-tow to Favre's latest whimsy, could anyone possibly blame Rodgers for walking away in disgust and becoming the quarterback Thompson believes he will be for some other team?

In this era of unparalleled limelight and unprecedented paychecks, messy retirements are becoming the norm. In Favre's case, not only has it been messy, it's been classless.

Brett, you coulda made us proud forever. Instead, just go away. Please.

Peter Jackel is a reporter for The Journal Times. You can reach him by calling (262) 634-3322, Ext. 323 or by e-mailing him at: peter.jackel@lee.net