NFL NEWS

Rodgers honored to have moment with Favre, Starr

The Sports Xchange

November 25, 2015 at 11:31 am.

Nov 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks on following the game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Rodgers hopes to get a moment with Starr and Favre, possibly before the nationally televised game. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ only regret about what is shaping up to be an electric Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field is that he will have to skip the celebration.

The Packers will hold a ceremony at halftime of their game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Thursday to honor Brett Favre. The iconic quarterback will have his name and retired No. 4 added to the north facade inside the stadium.

Only five other numbers have been retired by the team. One of those is the No. 15 worn by Green Bay’s first legendary quarterback, Bart Starr, who is scheduled to be at the game as well after he had been in declining health at his home in Alabama.

“It’s great for the Packers,” Rodgers said Tuesday of having the Packers’ three most famous quarterbacks at the same event. “We (the current players) won’t see the halftime festivities, but it will be a great day for all Packer fans.”

Rodgers hopes to get a moment with Starr and Favre, possibly before the nationally televised game.

“Bart’s been such a great encouragement to me since I was drafted here (in 2005), and I really have appreciated all of our conversations over the years with him and his lovely wife (Cherry),” Rodgers said. “It’s always fun being around him because he’s such a positive, encouraging person. It’ll be great to see him.”

Rodgers also won’t mind seeing Favre after many years have passed since the latter’s bitter divorce from the team in summer 2008, which opened the door for Rodgers to lead the offense after three seasons as a first-round backup.

“It does feel like a long time ago,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s been a good, proper healing process for everybody. Kind of starting with us on stage at the (NFL) Honors (show in February this year), getting to share some laughs together, and just going from there. It’s the right thing to do, and it’ll be exciting for him and Packer fans (Thursday) and great to see him going into the Hall of Fame next offseason.”

Favre is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A total group of 25 semifinalists was announced Tuesday by the Canton, Ohio, shrine. Fifteen finalists will be announced in January and voting will culminate on Feb. 6, the day before Super 50 is played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame inductions will be in August.

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