No one expected these two guys to show up at the same place at the same time -- maybe ever -- but there they were, former Packers quarterback Brett Favre and the player who took his job five years ago, Aaron Rodgers.
Though the two never had a very warm relationship in their three seasons together with the Packers -- and certainly haven't had one since Favre retired, unretired and was forced out of Green Bay in 2008 -- Favre and Rodgers presented the Comeback Player of the Year award together during the NFL honors show in New Orleans.
Prior to Peyton Manning being named the winner of the award, Favre and Rodgers had a funny, albeit staged, back-and-forth.
Favre: "You know, Aaron, everyone loves it when a great player makes a comeback."
Rodgers: "Yeah, but not always. Some people wish great players would just retire and stay retired."
Favre: "Good to see you, too, Aaron."
Then, the two almost hugged. First, Favre made a step closer to an embrace and Rodgers hesitated, then they reversed roles. No hug ended up being exchanged as both laughed.
"That was awkward," Rodgers said.
As Manning began his speech, he summed up the reunion of Green Bay legends in a light-hearted -- yet sincere -- manner.
"It sure is great to see the two of them up here together," Manning said on stage. "It's great for football.
"I feel pretty confident me and Andrew Luck will be up here presenting this award one day together."
Last offseason, in a somewhat similar situation to what happened in Green Bay in 2008, the Indianapolis Colts decided to part ways with the veteran Manning, who has four NFL MVP awards to Favre's three, and begin anew with the young quarterback, No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.
Follow Paul Imig on Twitter
