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For young Packers, it isn't personal

GREEN BAY — For fans of the Green Bay Packers, the prospect of facing Brett Favre in Vikings purple Monday night is filled with emotional angst. The media hype meter has reached—it's Favremageddon!

But the matchup is causing far less consternation for Packers players.

Of the 53 players on the Packers' roster, 21 joined the team after the 2007 season and never played with Favre. And while Favre remains close with veteran ex-teammates such as wide receiver Donald Driver, others who played with Favre for a year or two say they didn't really know him.

"There's a number of our players that have never even met Brett Favre," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Sure, players understand that Favre's presence Monday night in Minnesota adds even more juice and significant national interest to what already was a bitter division rivalry. But facing Favre just isn't anything personal to them.

"I only played with him for a couple of years," offensive lineman Daryn Colledge said. "Me and Brett's relationship wasn't exactly the tightest. He was an older guy, I was a younger guy and we hung in our own circles. For me, I've got a (Vikings) defense that I need to worry about, I've got a ton of Pro Bowlers I've got to face this weekend and might be playing a new position. So for me, I've got a lot more things to worry about than Brett."

If there's any extra incentive for the Packers, it's the chance to rally around Favre's replacement, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers bore the brunt of fan angst when the Packers decided not to take Favre back during training camp last year, to the point where he was booed during a scrimmage.

"Aaron, in my eyes, he wasn't treated the best," Packers receiver Greg Jennings said. "And it wasn't his fault. It

wasn't like he kicked Brett out of here. He was just the guy who was taking his spot. Unfortunately he didn't (get) welcomed by some. For some, he did. But there's definitely that drive to want to win it for him."

The Packers have been the NFL's youngest team for four straight years, and Favre turned 38 during his final season in Green Bay. Given the age disparity, Favre didn't spend much time hanging out with teammates off the field in his final years with the Packers.

Favre said this week that he still talks to Driver and a few other Green Bay veterans "once in a while."

"It won't be that weird," Driver said of playing against Favre. "I watched him on TV when he was wearing a Jets jersey, so it wasn't that weird. I don't think it will be a big issue. I think the biggest with us is that we know we have to play the Vikings. It's not just one guy."

Asked if he'd spoken with Rodgers recently, Favre said, "For what?"

But after being criticized by some New York Jets teammates for his aloof demeanor at the end of last season, Favre is making an effort to earn the Vikings' respect.

"He doesn't live in a vacuum," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "And I'm quite sure he probably knows what was said, what was written."

Childress said he wasn't aware of Favre's separate locker room in Green Bay, but said he isn't getting special treatment in Minnesota.

"His locker's right back by Adrian (Peterson)," Childress said. "He takes part in everything that goes on in that locker room."

"It won't be that weird," Driver said. "I watched him on TV when he was wearing a Jets jersey, so it wasn't that weird. I don't think it will be a big issue. I think the biggest with us is that we know we have to play the Vikings. It's not just one guy."