Home on leave, now a Warrant Officer, Jim was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan when he died in a snowmobile accident the night of Dec. 22, 2008. Up against the holiday break, I called the Brewers for a favor. I asked if copies of the video were available, as many of Jim's family and friends could not attend the ball game. It was very late in the day and with Christmas Eve the next day, it would take a miracle. Within two hours, I received a call from Deron Anderson, the Brewers' director of audio and video production, informing me that copies of the video were available for pickup. Mr. Anderson left the DVDs at Miller Park Security, as the Brewers' offices were closed and would not re-open until Jan. 5.

Win or lose, the Brewers are an impressive team. On a cold December night, at home with his children and on vacation, Mr. Anderson went back to work and helped to honor a hero.

Thank you.

Paul Scozzafave

Writing for friends and family of WO1 James W. Romlein

Watertown

Spend some of that loot, Packers

It's time for Ted Thompson to start spending some of the Packers' money on some players who can guide our young players. Our available money needs to be used to give Greg Jennings a contract and sign one of the big free agents.

Julius Peppers, Albert Haynesworth and Terrell Suggs could all be available in the off-season and we need to sign at least one of these guys to shore up our defense.

Imagine what our pass rush could be with Peppers and Aaron Kampman on the outside and Cullen Jenkins on the inside.

If we have the youngest roster in the NFL yet again in 2009, Thompson should be fired Week 1.

Kyle Knipple

Milwaukee

Favre decision still the wrong one

Interesting article last Sunday by Bob McGinn about the Packers' Aaron Rodgers-Brett Favre decision.

Did he mean the Aaron Rodgers who failed to win any of the seven close games this season? That was a successful choice over a quarterback who led a new team in a new system to three more victories while other rookies were leading their teams into the playoffs? Does he honestly think they have a chance to be successful for years to come?

McGinn has no idea how the Packers would have done with Favre at quarterback this season. He can't say it would have played out even worse in Green Bay anymore than I can say Favre would have won all seven of those close games.

I am putting it in writing here that the Packers will not make the playoffs for at least five more years. Ted Thompson has done irrevocable damage to the proud Green Bay franchise.

Forget his stupid draft picks, his lack of ability to evaluate players, his stubbornness about not obtaining talented free agents. Thompson's mishandling of Favre from the moment Thompson arrived in Green Bay has forever embarrassed and tainted the Packers.

13-3 and one game away from the Super Bowl does not happen without Favre, and he did it despite the incompetence of Thompson and Mike McCarthy.

Al Vick

Menomonee Falls

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