I can't believe the Green Bay Packers are about to play a game without Brett Favre as their starting quarterback.

So much has happened in my life since Favre came off the bench against the Bengals, it boggles my mind. I have gone to school, started a band, moved to New York, done a Broadway tour, met my wife, who has blessed me with three beautiful girls, and have worked any number of mind-numbing day jobs, which have somehow afforded me the time and opportunity to start a Packer website with a good friend. In all that time, Brett Favre has been the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. It's incredible how much I never realized what an important stabilizing touchstone that was in my life until just now, reading about tonight's game being Aaron Rodgers' first professional start. I mean, no matter what went wrong in my world, or the world in general, Brett was still there. I've had his presence as my small piece of Gibraltar since I was 19 years old. I'm 35 now. That is just unbelievable. Think about where you were in September of 1992. Now think about all that you've done in your life between then and now. And all that time, Favre was there on your television wearing Green and Gold. Every single week of the fall and winter, for 16 years.

But the one true constant, of course, is change. And tonight, the Packers begin a new era. No one knows how Aaron Rodgers will play once the lights come on and the ball is snapped. I suspect he will play quite well. There will be mistakes and growing pains no doubt. But he has a great cast around him and one of the best offensive minds in the game on the sidelines calling the plays. I have no doubt he can take the Packers where they, and all of Packer Nation, want the team to go.

The only question that remains is this: Is tonight the start of the Aaron Rodgers Era? Or the Post-Brett Favre Era? I will enjoy finding out over the course of the next few seasons. It all starts tonight.

Go Pack Go.