As most of America probably knows, Brett Favre is a complete rumor-hoarding drama queen. So with him talking to the Minnesota Vikings (or ViQueens, as some Packer fans call them) about returning to play yet another season kind of makes sense.
After Green Bay's playoff loss two seasons ago, I wrote a piece on Favre, telling him to retire. This was while I was working in northern Wisconsin, in the heart of Favre country. Bloggers and media people alike linked my story to their blogs. I felt honored.
I also felt more respect for Favre at the time than ever before. At 38, he had one of his best seasons yet, guiding Green Bay to just a few plays from the Super Bowl. It was a year in which there were no major injuries and everything seemed to click. Favre eased up on his gunslinger mentality for nearly the entire season and looked like Elway and Montana did as their careers closed out.
Except for that last pass in Green and Gold -- you know, the weak duck he threw for an interception. I always kind of liked that. In fact, having him throw an interception to end his (possible) career, I thought, meant more than throwing a TD. After all, Favre also holds the record for career picks.
In my column, I wrote that Favre should hang it up -- for the glory of his legacy. For years it was uncertain what he would do with his future, but after the 2007-08 season, it seemed as though his journey would be complete.
Not everyone can win a championship in their last hoorah -- except for John Elway. Making it to one game away on a team that was young and stayed injury-free with solid defense doesn't happen often. The stars were aligned, the tank just ran out of fuel.
So what does Favre do? Retire. Then continues to say he is retired until training camp comes -- then he wants to play again, and be the star again.
That's when all respect was lost. For three months, his former backup QB, Mr. Aaron Rodgers, was told the team was his. Favre retired, now wanted to come back. Could Rodgers really lose his spot because of some old guy? I backed Ted Thompson with every word he said until the trade to New York was finalized.
Taking away the six-TD game against the Cardinals, Favre was not very good at all for the Jets last season. At the end, he downright stunk.
Then, after falling by the wayside and having the Jets miss the postseason (getting the coaching staff fired in the process while ruining the locker room in a way that made Terrell Owens laugh), Favre announces again that he is retiring. He is done.
Then the Jets trade up to draft Mark Sanchez as their future QB. What does Favre do? Demand his outright release. Brett, if you are retired, why do you need to be released?
Regardless, like all whiny brats who cause so much embarrassment to their parents in public just to get their way, Favre got his wish. Now Brad Childress, head coach of the Vikings, is in Mississippi eating a steak and corn on the cob with Brett. Favre wanted to be a Viking last year to stick it to Thompson because Favre's ego was challenged by football sensibility. Now with a chance to become a Viking, he has Childress come to him?
Brett, you're worth more than Bernie Madoff right now -- fly to Minnesota! That would send quite the message. Instead, like always, Brett is having a team cater to him. Word will come out that by the weekend Brett will be wearing No. 4 as soon as he arrives for camp in July.
Right after the first time a defender puts him on his butt, he will rip into the line. The first time Adrian Peterson doesn't take one of his seven handoffs from Favre to the house, Brett will complain about "All-Day" not even a decent football player.
When the Vikings miss the playoffs, and Brett finishes the season with 2,500 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 30 interception -- everything will be everyone else's fault. But those six wins -- those will be because of Brett.
Before we know it, at this time next year, Brett will be sitting at home in Mississippi, with Jerry Jones stopping down to see if Brett, a soon-to-be 41-year-old in 2010, will want to be the starting QB of the Cowboys when Romo doesn't win the 'Boys a championship.
It was sad at first, then it got comical. Now Brett can just go away. He has no more respect from me anymore, and his reputation with the football world may never be the same.
After Green Bay's playoff loss two seasons ago, I wrote a piece on Favre, telling him to retire. This was while I was working in northern Wisconsin, in the heart of Favre country. Bloggers and media people alike linked my story to their blogs. I felt honored.
I also felt more respect for Favre at the time than ever before. At 38, he had one of his best seasons yet, guiding Green Bay to just a few plays from the Super Bowl. It was a year in which there were no major injuries and everything seemed to click. Favre eased up on his gunslinger mentality for nearly the entire season and looked like Elway and Montana did as their careers closed out.
Except for that last pass in Green and Gold -- you know, the weak duck he threw for an interception. I always kind of liked that. In fact, having him throw an interception to end his (possible) career, I thought, meant more than throwing a TD. After all, Favre also holds the record for career picks.
In my column, I wrote that Favre should hang it up -- for the glory of his legacy. For years it was uncertain what he would do with his future, but after the 2007-08 season, it seemed as though his journey would be complete.
Not everyone can win a championship in their last hoorah -- except for John Elway. Making it to one game away on a team that was young and stayed injury-free with solid defense doesn't happen often. The stars were aligned, the tank just ran out of fuel.
So what does Favre do? Retire. Then continues to say he is retired until training camp comes -- then he wants to play again, and be the star again.
That's when all respect was lost. For three months, his former backup QB, Mr. Aaron Rodgers, was told the team was his. Favre retired, now wanted to come back. Could Rodgers really lose his spot because of some old guy? I backed Ted Thompson with every word he said until the trade to New York was finalized.
Taking away the six-TD game against the Cardinals, Favre was not very good at all for the Jets last season. At the end, he downright stunk.
Then, after falling by the wayside and having the Jets miss the postseason (getting the coaching staff fired in the process while ruining the locker room in a way that made Terrell Owens laugh), Favre announces again that he is retiring. He is done.
Then the Jets trade up to draft Mark Sanchez as their future QB. What does Favre do? Demand his outright release. Brett, if you are retired, why do you need to be released?
Regardless, like all whiny brats who cause so much embarrassment to their parents in public just to get their way, Favre got his wish. Now Brad Childress, head coach of the Vikings, is in Mississippi eating a steak and corn on the cob with Brett. Favre wanted to be a Viking last year to stick it to Thompson because Favre's ego was challenged by football sensibility. Now with a chance to become a Viking, he has Childress come to him?
Brett, you're worth more than Bernie Madoff right now -- fly to Minnesota! That would send quite the message. Instead, like always, Brett is having a team cater to him. Word will come out that by the weekend Brett will be wearing No. 4 as soon as he arrives for camp in July.
Right after the first time a defender puts him on his butt, he will rip into the line. The first time Adrian Peterson doesn't take one of his seven handoffs from Favre to the house, Brett will complain about "All-Day" not even a decent football player.
When the Vikings miss the playoffs, and Brett finishes the season with 2,500 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 30 interception -- everything will be everyone else's fault. But those six wins -- those will be because of Brett.
Before we know it, at this time next year, Brett will be sitting at home in Mississippi, with Jerry Jones stopping down to see if Brett, a soon-to-be 41-year-old in 2010, will want to be the starting QB of the Cowboys when Romo doesn't win the 'Boys a championship.
It was sad at first, then it got comical. Now Brett can just go away. He has no more respect from me anymore, and his reputation with the football world may never be the same.
