YOU OWE ME A BEER.

The Lambeau Leap did not spring fully formed from a Ray Nitschke hit.

It was freezing in Green Bay the day after Christmas and Packers defensive back LeRoy Butler knew the Raiders wouldn't dare throw anything big.

Late in the game, with a 1993 playoff berth on the line, Butler got in the way of a swing pass from the Raiders' Vince Evans to Randy Jordan and forced a fumble.

Packers defensive end Reggie White grabbed the frozen stone and lumbered for the end zone. But White's eyes grew huge at the sight of Raiders mauler Steve Wisniewski coming, so he heaved the ball laterally to Butler.

The thrill of taking Green Bay to its first playoff appearance in over a decade overcame Butler and he had 25 yards to the end zone to think of a way to celebrate. He scanned the crowd and eyed a Packers fan in the huddle of green and gold Eskimos.

"I point to this guy in the stands," Butler said. "And I'm going to jump. But this guy had a beer in his hand. You can see he's trying to make a decision. Does he catch LeRoy Butler? Or does he drink his beer and let me hit my head on this frozen wall?

"I jump up. He threw his beer away. And as he grabbed me, he yelled in my ear:

"YOU OWE ME A BEER!"

The Lambeau Leap was born.

Touchdown-scoring Packers have been baptized in suds ever since.

Over the last 18 years, the Lambeau Leap has been incorporated into video games, tolerated by NFL celebration rules and embraced by anyone who puts on the G helmet.

Veterans score for style points, rookies look forward to their first leaps and wannabes around the NFL try blatant imitations.

Apparently a leaping player must be back on the field or headed for the bench before the teams line up for the conversion.

A few rookies did get to make their first Lambeau Leaps last night, as the Packers held off a late Saint charge to win the season opener.  Their stop of a Viking charge led by Brett Favre last year might have been emotionally satisfying, but a win over a Lombardi Trophy winner (in the 2009-2010 season) with a Lombardi on the coaching staff is also meritorious.

Thursday Night Football, however, is no better an idea for the National Football League than it is for the Mid-American Conference.