MILWAUKEE — One of the more enduring quotes about a well-known Cheeser was made about a half-century ago, when William Fulbright had this to say about Joseph McCarthy:

"The junior senator from Wisconsin, by his reckless charges, has so preyed upon the fears and hatreds and prejudices of the American people that he has started a prairie fire which neither he nor anyone else may be able to control."

Although there are no legitimate parallels to be drawn between Cold War politics and football, it's doubtless the quote about Brett Favre in the New York Daily News from the other day has evoked emotion, spread those metaphorical fires and similarly will stand the test of time.

"Favre can't stand Green Bay," an NFL source was quoted as saying. "He wants to play Green Bay and say, 'I told you so.' His bitterness is creating this. I think he's calling Minnesota. I think Minnesota is talking about this as we speak. You haven't heard the end of Favre. No way. He is bionic. As long as somebody will let him in, he will play."

Now, any right-thinking person would immediately draw a distinction between the franchise and the people who currently run it. It's Ted Thompson and perhaps selected others Favre can't stand, not the Packers in general. There are enough Thompson haters among the faithful almost willing to grant Favre dispensation on crossing enemy lines, but how are you supposed to feel if Favre eventually shows up in Winter Park?

It's hard to come up with a historical comparable, other than Babe Ruth at Favre's age, stomping out of the New York office because Jacob Ruppert wouldn't let him manage the Yankees. But Ruth took his faded act to the other league and the benign Boston Braves.

Even if Chicago had not traded for Jay Cutler, Favre would select Minnesota for his revenge platform a million times over because he knows better than anyone that there is no team reviled more by Packer Nation, Bears included, than the Vikings.

So if you're an innocent fan about to be caught in the crossfire of this everlasting tragicomedy, what are you to think? A cue from another well-known McCarthy might be a sensible starting point.

"If Brett wants to play football, he should play football," Mike McCarthy said last week. "That's really my stance on it. If he still wants to play, he should take advantage of his opportunities."

A reasonable person could draw certain inferences from the coach's high-road position. As in, Bring it on .

Because, really, what's changed about Favre in 18 years? He's still compulsive, driven, obsessive, hypercompetitive, egocentric and indecisive, the American Hamlet who won't take off the pads until someone forcibly yanks them from his shoulders because he's not sure what to do with the second half of his life. Which is fine, even if a purple jersey must be removed first.

Above all, he is a highly paid entertainer, not a societal icon. As such, the events of the last year have been most beneficial in stripping away mythology.

So, yes, Favre should be a football player for as long as he can and for whomever he can, regardless of his motives or the long-term effects on his legacy in Green Bay. If you're a Packers fan or a Vikings fan or a Thompson detractor or a Thompson advocate, there is only one healthy way to look at this continuing saga that could wear you down were it actually consequential:

Bring it on.