The Packers saw a legend depart and we watched a team that played in the championship game the year before lose five heartbreaking contests by a total of 16 points in a midseason tailspin. No, we're not talking about the current Packers' descent into mediocrity but a Packers squad that played an eerily similar season 40 years ago.

Longtime Packers fans remember that the 1968 Packers lost or tied numerous games, with perhaps the biggest kick in the gut losing to the Chicago Bears on an obscure free kick to end the game. (There has not been a free kick in the NFL since.) The migration of Vince Lombardi to the front office cast a shadow on the team as large as the one from a certain Jets quarterback. To complete the irony, the Vikings ended up winning the Central Division that year with a middling 8-6 record in a similarly weak division.

Certain coaches or players come along once in a while who are able to elevate and lift the entire team to pull out tight victories instead of crushing losses. The loss of Brett Favre, like Lombardi 40 years ago, is a reminder that the intangibles of leadership are greater than the sum of talent. When legends Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi departed in the late '40s and late '60s, respectively, we endured decades of losing Football.

Hopefully Ted Thompson gets off the pile of money he is sitting on to bring in a leader along the lines of Reggie White, so we don't repeat the past.

Chuck Olsen

Hartland

Holmgren is not wanted in Green Bay

Anyone who wants Mike Holmgren as general manager clearly has no knowledge of Football.

He failed miserably as coach/GM in Seattle until he was stripped of the GM job. Ted Thompson became player personnel director and, miraculously, the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl.

What has Seattle done since Thompson left? Geez, three victories this year!

The Packers have lost six games by four points or fewer this year. That is poor coaching, not personnel moves. Bob Sanders needs a pink slip and Mike McCarthy needs play-calling help at the end of games.

Mark Roznik

Delafield

Brewers should get a 'shoe' contract

Any chance the Brewers will be taking a look at Iraqi reporter and shoe-thrower Muntadhar al-Zeidi? I would guess his velocity and control is much better than Jeff Suppan's.

Jim O'Brien

Racine

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