Quarterback controversey bubbling with selection of Brohm

If Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson was looking to make a statement about his team's quarterback situation heading into next season, he definitely made it on Saturday during day one of the 2008 NFL Draft. But at what cost? Following Brett Favre's abrupt and somewhat controversial retirement on March 4, Packers fans have been in dire need of closure to Favre Era, which ran from 1992-2007. The questions surrounding his retirement have been nonstop from both fans and media alike. Did Favre retire because of Green Bay not trading for wide receiver Randy Moss? Was it because we didn't love him enough? Or was it because of the loss to New York? The only answer Favre has supplied is: "I'm tired," which apparently translates to "I'm not sure either," given his actions over the past two months. Intentionally or unintentionally, Favre continued to stir the pot following his retirement announcement. During interviews with his local newspaper and on national television, he hinted at possibilities of a return given the right circumstances. Granted, Favre has never been known as a great public speaker and has openly admitted to having butterflies when talking about the subject, but seeing that he has yet to file retirement papers with the league office, there were questions aplenty looming about Favre's future with the Packers heading into Saturday's draft. Thompson wasted little time in giving his response to Favre's wayward actions. Like always, Thompson's actions spoke louder than his soft-spoken words, as Green Bay used one of its three second-round draft choices to take Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm. While it instantly builds stability at quarterback behind Favre's heir-apparent, Aaron Rodgers, it also creates a quarterback controversy given Brohm's pedigree. It also raises questions about the Packers' faith in Rodgers despite the fact he's never started an NFL game. Three years ago, Rodgers was slated to be a top-10 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft following a brilliant career at the University of California. His name was even tossed around as a possibility to be the first overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers. However, San Francisco went with University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith and Rodgers began to free-fall down draft boards before settling in the lap of the Green Bay Packers with the No. 24 pick. Instead of being in the spotlight, Rodgers found himself holding a clipboard for three seasons behind Favre. Following Favre's retirement, Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy was quick to state the Aaron Rodgers Era was about to begin in Green Bay. On Saturday, the same situation that brought Rodgers to the Packers may have cost him that security. Brohm was a candidate to be a top-10 selection at the beginning of his college season last fall. Unfortunately, like Rodgers, circumstance threw Brohm into the depths of the second round, where the Packers selected him with the No. 56 pick. This type of action from Thompson is nothing new, as he is notorious for drafting players based on best overall value rather than the team's actual needs. However, it puts even more pressure on Rodgers to perform in his first season as a starter. While competition has its pros and cons, the Packers need to be careful not to alienate their starting quarterback before he's started a single game. Rodgers has had a fair share of injuries during the past two years, suffering a broken foot in 2006 and a hamstring injury in 2007. But he hasn't suffered an injury serious enough to question his reliability or arm strength. The team will talk your ear off about depth and getting a stable backup behind Rodgers, but with the exception of Rodgers' selection in 2005, Brohm is the highest quarterback the Packers have drafted since Rich Campbell in 1981. Whatever way you want to spin the Packers decision to draft Brohm, one thing was made clear on Saturday: The Brett Favre Era, for all intents and purposes, is over. With one quick phone call, Thompson made it clear that he is moving on without Favre and was not in the mood to play games. However, almost instantaneously, he started the franchise's first actual quarterback controversy in 16 years. The Packers have options now. But Rodgers now has to deal with Brohm's 6-foot-3, 232 pound frame casting a shadow over him both literately and figuratively.