Aurora Celebrates 12 Years of Intelligence Leadership

An Anniversary Note from Arik Johnson, Founder, Aurora WDC:

"I'd like to share our sincere thanks for the ongoing loyalty of our customers, faith of our people, and commitment of our partners. You are truly great friends. It is because of you that Aurora so proudly commemorates its 12th year of intelligence leadership.

What began as a tiny contract research outfit back in 1995 continues today in its mission as a trusted intelligence advisor to its worldwide constituency of business partners and their enterprises. Following another year of growth - in size but, more importantly, in ideas - among Aurora's intelligence service groups, we look forward to continue delivering superior performance and outcomes for our diverse clientele around the world.

Upcoming in 2007, you'll meet new faces in new endeavors at the firm with original new solutions to age-old intelligence problems.

We hope you'll join us."

To learn more about Aurora's capabilities and philosophy, download our latest e-brochure to find out why some of the world's most respected enterprises choose Aurora WDC as their intelligence partner:

http://www.AuroraWDC.com/See-Clearly/Aurora-Intelligence.pdf

Because my company and I share a birthday - my 37th - so it is that I always seem to get my birthday present - that is, the good fortune to live my passion. Nonetheless, I got another birthday present last week with the news that Brett Favre is back for one more season with the Green Bay Packers:

Packers quarterback Brett Favre will be back in 2007. "Brett Favre informed me this morning that he plans to return for a 17th NFL season," General Manager Ted Thompson said. "The Packers are excited by his decision and look forward to a successful 2007 campaign." With Favre's return, the Packers hope to continue the success they were building at the end of 2006, when they finished the season with a four-game winning streak to reach the .500 mark at 8-8. "I am so excited about coming back," Favre told the Biloxi Sun Herald newspaper. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. "My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team."

Here's more background:

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Favre will return for his 17th NFL season, undeterred by his injuries and hoping to lead the Green Bay Packers back to the playoffs.

To Be Continued: Favre's
Chase of Some NFL Records

Most Career TD Passes
Dan Marino	420
Brett Favre	414
Most Career Wins As Starter
John Elway	148
Brett Favre	147
Dan Marino	147
Most Career Passing Yards
Dan Marino	61,361
Brett Favre	57,500
Most Career Interceptions
George Blanda	277
Brett Favre	273
Current Favre Record Streaks
237	Starts (reg. season)
15	3,000-yd. seasons
-- Compiled by ESPN Research

"I am so excited about coming back," the 37-year-old quarterback said Friday on the Web site of the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year, and that's encouraging."

Packers general manager Ted Thompson confirmed Favre had told the team he plans to return.

"He didn't tell me exactly why he wanted to come back, except in our conversations prior to the end of the season," he said. "He was having a good time, he liked the team."

Favre seemed to echo those comments to the newspaper in his home state.

"My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch," Favre said. "I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team."

Thompson said he was in a meeting Friday morning preparing for the draft when Favre called.

"He said something like, 'I think I'm going to give it another shot,''' said Thompson, who wasn't given a commitment beyond 2007.

Packers chairman and chief executive Bob Harlan said he already is receiving faxes from "delighted" Packers fans around the country.

"I think this helps our fans a great deal," Harlan said. "They could see the direction the team was going in last year, and with Brett coming back it's even better."

Harlan said that just like last year, he suspected Favre would return because he still can play at a high level.

Brett Favre

Quarterback Green Bay Packers Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat 613 343 3751 18 18 72.7

"I really did," Harlan said. "And people said, 'Why?' And I said he's just such a competitor."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the news was great for the league.

"He's obviously been an incredible performer for the NFL," said Goodell, in Miami for Sunday's Super Bowl.

Favre last left the field in an emotional scene in Chicago after leading the Packers to a victory to finish the season 8-8.

He has started 257 consecutive games including the playoffs, an NFL record for quarterbacks. Favre broke Dan Marino's record for career completions (4,967) in 2006 and is closing in on Marino's marks for career touchdown passes (420) and yards passing (61,361). Favre has 414 career touchdown passes and 57,500 yards passing.

As he has done in the past several offseasons, Favre returned to his home in Mississippi after the season to deliberate about his future. Last year, Favre waited until late April to tell the team he was returning.

Favre complained about nagging injuries and the drudgery of practice toward the end of last season, then choked back tears as he talked about missing the game and missing his teammates in a television interview immediately after the regular-season finale in Chicago -- leading many to believe he intended to retire.

Apparently, he couldn't resist one more chance to try to lead the Packers back to the playoffs after the Packers won their final four games and were in playoff contention until the final weekend of the regular season.

Favre has led the Packers to 10 postseason appearances, six division titles, three NFC Championship games, two Super Bowls and one championship following the 1996 season.

Favre was acquired in a trade by former Packers general manager Ron Wolf after one season as a backup in Atlanta in 1991. He completed his first NFL pass -- to himself -- on Sept. 13, 1992, catching a deflection and losing 7 yards.

The following week, he replaced injured starter Don Majkowski in the third quarter and led the Packers to a come-from-behind 24-23 victory over Cincinnati.

Favre started in place of Majkowski on Sept. 27, 1992, beginning the streak he often has called his biggest personal accomplishment. The 237-game regular-season streak is nearly six seasons ahead of the Colts' Peyton Manning at 144.

Favre's accomplishments include winning three league MVP awards -- he shared 1997 honors with Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders -- and throwing two touchdown passes in a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in the 1997 Super Bowl to give the Packers their first championship in 29 years. Earlier in that championship season, Favre spent time in the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kan., battling an addiction to painkillers.

Favre led the Packers back to the Super Bowl the following season, but they lost to Elway's Denver Broncos 31-24.

And, USATODAY.com has perhaps the best tribute:

FAVRE IN PHOTOS A Green Bay legend: Look back on the Brett Favre's Hall of Fame career as Packers quarterback

Favre coming back for a 17th NFL season

swapContent('firstHeader','applyHeader');

By Mike Vandermause, Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY, Wis. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is returning for the 2007 season, and the team's top officials are thrilled to hear the news.

Favre, 37, broke the news Friday morning in an exclusive interview with Al Jones of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald.

"I am so excited about coming back," he told Jones. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team."

SPORTS SCOPE: Favre confirms from kitchen via NFL Network

Packers chairman and chief executive officer Bob Harlan had a gut feeling Favre would return and he said Friday it was great news for the organization.

"This is a big plus," said Harlan, who learned the Favre news from a reporter. "We went from 4-12 to 8-8 and we took a big step and the team stayed together. We're making strides. It's a young team with a lot of potential. To get your leader back would be huge."

Favre also told General Manager Ted Thompson of his decision Friday.

"The Packers are excited by his decision and look forward to a successful 2007 campaign," Thompson said in a press release issued by the team.

The timing of Favre's announcement is a plus for the Packers, according to Harlan, because they will go into free agency knowing they don't need a veteran quarterback on the roster.

"That's huge because I've always felt you've got to give Ted and (coach) Mike (McCarthy) a chance to go out and look at veteran quarterbacks who might be available this offseason," Harlan said. "That's vitally important."

Harlan believes Favre is still one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, and one day will hold a special place in Packers history.

"People have always said Don Hutson is the greatest player we've ever had, but Brett may jump into that spot as things go along," Harlan said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the news was great for the league."He's obviously been an incredible performer for the NFL," said Goodell, in Miami for Sunday's Super Bowl.

Favre became the Packers' starting quarterback three games into the 1992 season and hasn't since missed a start, playing in an NFL-record 237 consecutive regular-season games.

He broke Dan Marino's record for career completions (4,967) in 2006 and is closing in on Marino's marks for career touchdown passes (420) and yards passing (61,361).

Favre also has won a record three NFL most valuable player awards. He led the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997, then led them back to the Super Bowl a year later.

Favre last left the field in an emotional scene in Chicago after leading the Packers to a victory over the Bears to finish the season 8-8.

As he has done in the past several offseasons, he returned to his home in Mississippi after the season to deliberate about his future. Last year, Favre waited until late April to tell the team he was returning.

Favre complained about nagging injuries and the drudgery of practice toward the end of last season, then choked back tears as he talked about missing the game and missing his teammates in a television interview immediately after the season finale in Chicago leading many to believe that he intended to retire.

But he apparently couldn't resist one more chance to try to lead the Packers back to the playoffs after a season in which a Packers team that wasn't expected to do much won its final four games and was in playoff contention until the final weekend of the regular season.

Favre, who was traded to Green Bay after one season as a backup in Atlanta in 1991, has had just one losing season in his career as a starter.

Favre was acquired in a trade by former Packers general manager Ron Wolf after one season as a backup in Atlanta in 1991. He completed his first NFL pass to himself on Sept. 13, 1992, catching a deflection and losing seven yards.

The following week, he replaced injured starter Don Majkowski in the third quarter and led the Packers to a come-from-behind 24-23 victory over Cincinnati.

He started in place of Majkowski on Sept. 27, 1992, beginning the streak he has often called his biggest personal accomplishment. The 237-game regular season streak is nearly six seasons ahead of the Colts' Peyton Manning at 144.