Brett Favre has always managed to make the inconceivable look easy.

He possessed the legendary arm that completed throws no one else would dream of attempting. He struggled with painkillers, alcohol and partying — usually a road to disaster — but the public embraced him more for it. He was down to earth. He was a little kid playing a grown man’s game. He was any and all clich?s that describe what is pure about football. Oh yeah, and that little matter of setting the consecutive starts and touchdown record can go on his list of achievements as well.

But Favre is headed for his most impressive accomplishment yet: completely alienating a fan base willing to overlook almost all the legend’s flaws.

No other player in the history of the game was given the benefit of the doubt more often than No. 4.

He set the career interceptions record. Who cares? It was all a part of that old school gunslinger mentality.

He toyed with the team for four years about retiring? After all he has given to the franchise, he should be allowed to finish his career on his terms.

He posted a 3-7 record in his last 10 playoff games? Well, he won the MVP award three years in a row and led the Packers to two Super Bowl’s during the’90s!

Everything was in place for Favre to ride off on his lawnmower into the sunset. He could either finish his career going 13-3 in his final season (far more graceful than most great QBs), or he could come back and try to lead a talented team back to the Super Bowl, a la John Elway. Either option was a dignified end for the most beloved athlete Wisconsin has ever embraced.

But then the evil emperor, general manager Ted Thompson, asked Favre to (gasp, blasphemy!) make a timely decision about his retirement. Thompson did, after all, have that little task about managing the franchise’s future.

We all know what Favre “decided.” He “retired.” Wisconsin rang out in a collective toast to the most important sportsman of the past 20 years. ESPN nearly exploded with Favre clips and highlights. There is no comparable analogy for what this day meant to a born-and-raised Packer fan.

And the fans started to move on. Rodgers was accepted, if not embraced, by the Packer-backers. Favre’s number was to be retired in a grand ceremony before the first game on Monday night. All was at peace, and Favre would take his place as the greatest Packer in the history of the game.

Instead of sticking to that route, however, Favre has been systematically breaking down 16 years of adoration and goodwill from Packer fans, in a little over four months time.

He created a mess when he returned from “retirement.” Instead of accepting the consequences of his actions, Favre put up an indignant front and asked for a release citing an irreparable relationship with management, specifically Ted Thompson. Favre essentially forced people to choose if they were Packer fans, or Favre fans.

He lost some support.

He badly misplayed his hand when he took shots at Thompson. Favre criticized the general manager for not resigning guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, and for not considering his friend, Steve Mariucci, for the head coach position. Whale and Rivera have struggled mightily ever since leaving the Packers, and Mariucci can’t get a job in the NFL. To the logical fan, Thompson made the right call on all of those decisions.

And Favre lost some more support.

Then Favre held the organization hostage with his, “Will he/won’t he show up for training camp shtick?” The starting-quarterback to-be Aaron Rodgers was placed in a no-win situation, and some fans felt sympathy for him.

Favre lost a little more support.

After the trade to the Jets, Packer fans hoped that the dust finally settled. It may be awkward and uncomfortable, but they could support both the Packers and Favre without having to root against the other (if they weren’t sick of Favre already).

This week, though, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Favre called the Lions before the Packer’s game in week two and talked to the Lions about the Packer’s offensive schemes.

Favre has vehemently denied the report, claiming that then-Lions GM Matt Millen called him about a hunting trip, and they briefly talked about football.

Glazer, however, continues to stick to his story.

“I stand by my story 1,000 percent,” Glazer told the Associated Press. “I guess Brett and I will just agree to disagree on certain things. The way I do my work, I don’t go on what just one person told me. I investigated this fully and for quite some time. I spoke with several sources, and when I go with something, I make sure it’s dead-on. I think my track record speaks for itself.”

There is quite a bit of middle ground between what Glazer reported and what Favre claims is true. Five months ago, Glazer would have been ridiculed by Packer nation for such a preposterous claim. Now, the skepticism falls toward Brett.

While we will never truly know what Favre said to Millen, the fact remains that the accusation of betrayal strikes another blow to Packers fans’ hearts.

Favre has always made the inconceivable seem easy. When he retired it was inconceivable Packer fans would ever turn on him. Will Favre shock us once again?

Michael is a junior majoring in journalism. Think Favre can do know wrong? He can be reached at [email protected].