It isn't a mystery that people view Brett Favre in different ways. You have the ones that fawn over him like he invented Duct tape, others that enjoyed him as a Packer but don't really have an opinion of him now, and those, like myself, who think he was an incredible football player at times but maybe didn't always come through in the "good person" category. I just know that, as opposed to what my colleague Jay Mariotti pointed out on Friday, I don't think Favre's legacy is in danger of becoming tarnished; to me, it already is tarnished.
Let me begin by telling you this. Truth: I have never met Favre. Truth: I have never chatted with Favre. Truth: I couldn't tell you his favorite song or if he really wears Wranglers when playing pick-up ball with his buddies or if he drinks Natural Light when plowing his acres and acres of land. I just know how myself, and a lot of people my age, feel about the Gunslinger.
And that is as follows: Yes, at times, Favre has been super-human. The guy has played a lot of football, he hardly sits out a play, and he enjoys the game more than I will probably ever enjoy anything in my life. But that isn't the point. The point is that Favre decided at one point in his career that he was bigger than the game, and put himself on a pedestal reserved for, I don't know, the Pope Mobile and Barack Obama.
Favre would two-step his way into retirement before twirling back into the spotlight of the NFL. His retirement would be "the" headline on ESPN from January until September for a few years in a row, and while most remembered him for what he did, my age group remembered him for what he didn't do, which is retire in good standing.
The way Favre treated Green Bay is shameful. He retired, only to crawl back to the team after everyone had put their trust in a patient, young quarterback. As I've said many times, the Packers should be extremely thankful that Aaron Rodgers was their backup, because any other talented young quarterback probably couldn't have dealt with this so humbly.
Favre went to a team that struggled in 2007, and made them relevant again in 2008 only to crush their hopes (and Patriots fans) in the waning hours of the season. You can't fault him for that. He's 39, and he has been hit more than a side mirror in Manhattan, yet he still wants to be out there. The thing is, this song and dance has been played out and everyone, including faithful columnists like Mariotti who stood by his side even when they knew he was wrong, has to be getting a little sick of it.
While I agree that he needs to retire, I think that the "tarnished legacy" thing happened a year ago, when his un-retirement became the lead story in the NFL.
A lot of people probably still love Brett, and if you scroll through the comments in an hour or so, you'll find that out. I will never fault a person for sticking by his side. I just know that his Super Bowl win was back when I was in fifth grade, and for most of my adult life all I've been hearing about is "What will Favre do next?"
Hopefully, in 2009, that answer is simple. He will finally just say goodbye.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-26-2009 @ 7:25PM
Mr.G said...
I agree with Shanes opinion completely.Favre's ego is about the size of Jupiter and he acts it out like a teenage girl.He does pretend that he's somehow above the game and above his own teammates.He is still hell bent to play this "will I play or won't I" game as long as anybody is willing to listen to it and report it.As far as I'm concerned his legacy is already down the toilet and I could care less if he ever plays again or not.
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1-26-2009 @ 8:51PM
jon said...
I beleive Favre is a real mental mess. To have presented himself to be so strong for so long and then anguish over a simple decision a clear decision makes him appear to be pathetic. He last was a member of a championship team twelve years ago. He threw a lot of balls and threw a lot of interceptions. He was a decent player and tough a different kind of player but he does not belong in the top five ever and maybe not even the top ten.
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1-26-2009 @ 9:52PM
ladyredskins said...
This article hits it on the head perfectly. Favre should have stayed retired and hopefully he will retire and stay retired this time around. I don't think any team would touch him after this year anyway.
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2-06-2009 @ 9:02PM
Smokey$ Palace said...
how can any redskin talk about anybody considering what just happend this year that was pathetic.
1-26-2009 @ 10:44PM
Murph said...
please see my comments on Jays Blog..
P.s. BRAVO !
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1-26-2009 @ 10:36PM
snajar0822 said...
Maybe Farve should have stayed retired. The fact still remains he is still one of the best QBs that ever played. He was one win away from the playoffs which is farher than the Jets have been in recent years. Just because he held on longer than he should is not a reason to forget all he has done. Ask Joe Namath after winning the Super Bowl what did he ever do? Win any playoff games? He took the Jets to the playoffs the next year and lost and the playoffs never saw Joe again!
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1-27-2009 @ 7:58AM
Brody said...
"He was one win away from the playoffs which is farher than the Jets have been in recent years."
Really? They were in the playoffs just two years ago. In the four years before Favre, the Jets had been to the playoffs twice.
1-27-2009 @ 12:56AM
Redskins0492 said...
I'm just glad that Green Bay no longer has Favre. They were a mess this season.
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1-27-2009 @ 3:07AM
IFDUNDA said...
alright dude this whole will he, wont he s#$% is started by you lowlife "reporters". How many times has Favre himself brought it up? None. Second, yeah he retired then unretired. Have you ever made a life altering decision then changed your mind a few weeks or months later? Just because he's in the public eye does that mean he loses all his rights as a human being? I cant stand reporters like yourself who run your mouth about Favre. I could go on and on but its obvious you dont know what youre talking or have any knowledge of football so it would be like talking to my wall.
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1-27-2009 @ 6:55AM
vince said...
Does anyone else feel like taking a dump after reading this? Just curious...
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1-27-2009 @ 4:44PM
Arthur said...
you sir are a moron!!! favre is one of if not the toughest football players ever, i could go through the list of things he played with but i dont have all day. i dont see any problem with a guy playing as long as he wants , if a team wants him then good for him,he obviously can still play,just because you want him to retire gracefully or whatever doesnt make you right!! he is the greatest football player ever period!
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1-28-2009 @ 9:33AM
Bob said...
For me the primary question regarding Favre's behavior is intent--is it an ego issue to where he just doesn't care how badly he hampers his teams' plans for the future, or is he genuinely incapable of reaching a decision of this magnitude? The facts are very clear: he is a rare talent, and has been a tremendous QB and leader (at least with GB), he loves to play football, and for whatever reasons, he has been making it extremely difficult for his teams to make key personnel and strategy decisions because he is indecisive. Somehow, Brett Favre needs to come to the realization that his position is far too vital to continue dragging out his retirement plans--either decide to go another year now, or face the facts that it's time to move on. I don't pretend to know which direction is right for HIM; I just know that, regardless of motive, he's being unfair to a lot of players and management every time he waits until the next season is far too close.
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1-30-2009 @ 2:51PM
John said...
This is just one more know-it-all reporter who has all the answers. He doesn't want Favre, but half of the football team owner would love to have him. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy didn't want him around two years ago, let alone last year. The claimed he wasn't good enough for Green Bay, but did everything posible to keep him from an apposing team. If he is all washed up, why not let him go to Minnesota? I'll tell you why - because he is too good!
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2-01-2009 @ 11:38AM
spor1004 said...
WHATEVER FAVRE DECIDES TO DO I WISH HIM WELL. HE MADE FOOTBALL FUN TO WATCH AND EXCITING BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME. WISH WE COULD WATCH HIM FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS.....
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2-01-2009 @ 1:24PM
Welcome Hoffs said...
Shane,
Your lack of historical perspective is appalling. This is typical of “your generation“ of sports writers who write in a factual vacuum as if any sporting activity before 1996 might as well have been 1886.
Mays, Unitas, Ali, Namath, Jordan… (Note you might want to goggle search these names. Hint… look under sports…) The list goes on. All of these legends put the sports world through (oops thought of another... Magic Johnson) the "will he/won't he" Retire/Un-retire dilemma! Guess what? There was a BIG world of sports before the year 2000. How about writing an article that shows that you did some real research/homework? Not something that you banged out on your Blackberry in the back of a cab going up-town. You’re just lucky that Howard Cosell isn’t alive today, because he would do to this article what Foreman did to Frazier in ’72! Oh yeah…just to let you know … They were boxers…!
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