Green Bay goes from 14-1 to 25-1 to win Super Bowl after QB's departure

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Respect for Brett Favre was paid in generous amounts Tuesday after the 38-year-old quarterback retired from the NFL.

As Favre's place in history was being debated, oddsmakers were acting quickly to disrespect his former team, the Green Bay Packers, and the quarterback who will replace him, Aaron Rodgers.

The Las Vegas Hilton adjusted the Packers' odds to win the Super Bowl from 14-1 to 25-1 after Favre's surprise retirement.

"This team will have a difficult time without Favre," Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "I think the Packers will struggle to make the playoffs without him."

Green Bay went 13-3 last season and entered the playoffs as the NFC's No. 2 seed. The Packers blew out Seattle in the postseason before losing in overtime to the New York Giants in the NFC title game at Lambeau Field.

The last pass of Favre's career was an interception that led to the Giants' winning field goal. But with Green Bay so close to the Super Bowl, expectations were for Favre to return for an 18th season.

Favre had one of his best seasons in 2007, passing for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns with a career-high completion percentage of 66.5.

Rodgers, a former first-round draft pick, has played in seven games in three years. His next NFL start will be his first.

Rodgers showed positive signs when he relieved Favre in the Packers' 37-27 loss at Dallas on Nov. 29. Rodgers completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown against the Cowboys.

But history suggests Green Bay will have a lot of trouble replacing a legendary quarterback.

Dallas, Denver, Miami and San Francisco have not reached the Super Bowl since the retirements of quarterbacks Troy Aikman, John Elway, Dan Marino and Steve Young.

"With the exception of Favre, the Packers were really a young team. Now they lose all of Favre's experience," Kornegay said. "It's unfortunate because they had a really good team surrounding Favre."

Favre was a gambler in his style of play, and he made the Packers one of the league's most popular teams at sports books.

"He was fun to watch. He was kind of like a playground quarterback making those unorthodox throws," Kornegay said. "It's a day of mourning in Green Bay. Yesterday, it was just cold. Now the people there are sad and cold."

At the Hilton, the New England Patriots are 7-2 favorites to win Super Bowl XLIII, followed by Dallas, Indianapolis and San Diego at 6-1. The Giants are getting 20-1 odds to repeat.