After declaring last week that his on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again retirement was back on again, Brett Favre acknowledged that his popularity has taken a hit. But Favre says that if you got sick of Favre the last two offseasons, that means you never really loved him.Favre tells Peter King of SI.com that he knows he was a beloved figure after his great 2007 season in Green Bay, and that he's not so much anymore. But Favre says that just means the fans who said they loved him back then didn't really understand him:
"Well, then they really didn't love me in the first place,'' he said. "Whatever. Nothing I can do about it. This whole situation, if I had it to do all over again, there're a few things I'd do different. But wouldn't we all? I don't expect everyone to like what I've done the last two years. That's life.
"For people who'd question why I did this, I didn't do it for any other reason than to try to play football for a team [Minnesota] I really wanted to play for. It had nothing to do with revenge against the Packers. Nothing. It wasn't about getting back at [Green Bay GM] Ted Thompson. How much more clear can I make it?"
King describes Favre as sounding "down," "beat" and "depressed." It's kind of sad to think about this guy, who always had so much fun on the field, feeling that way in retirement. But it's even more sad that Favre thinks the fans in Green Bay never really loved him. The truth is, those fans did love Favre. Those fans worshiped Favre. And it's Favre's own actions over the last two summers that have led those fans to re-assess their opinions of Favre.Follow the NFL? Follow my NFL Twitter updates.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
8-03-2009 @ 10:43AM
mike said...
I loved Favre back then and I'm sick of him now, so I don't think he knows what he's talking about. He was the consummate teammate in the '90s but the last two years he's become the most self-absorbed player in football. Maybe when Favre is inducted in Canton I'll love him again, but it'll take time.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:16AM
dlpfrench said...
Hey Mike...do you live on another planet....GB wanted to put him out to pasture. Remember....and he wanted to play...so what do you do if you are a pro...you go where you can play. You are the typical clown GB fan.
8-04-2009 @ 1:02PM
vbjams said...
dlpfrench, you are an idiot.
Favre waffled on retirement for YEARS. the year before he first "retired", he held off on his decision so long that the Packers decided to take a QB in the first round. Then he was ticked because they took a QB.
He retired and unretired so many times because he's a primadonna and he needed everyone to beg him to play. His problem was that he didn't realize how much he was worshipped by Packers fans and the coaching staff!
When he wanted to "unretire", the Packers welcomed him back. They scheduled a press conference to celebrate his return. Then, days before the press conference, he changed his mind again.
Face it, he tried to force the Packers to release him so he could go to the Viqueens AS A TANTRUM! when the Packers traded him to the Jets (a team that he also screwed), he had to play or his bluff would have been called. He crapped out in NY, ending up in his release, then his opportunity to join the Queens (and stick it to Thompson) became a reality.
He decided to not play this year because he's scared that he can't pull it off. If he plays and sucks, Ted would be vindicated. By staying retired he can remain a victim.
Brett, I used to worship you as a player, but I guess we never really knew the child off the field. I will always remenber the great TEAM and your heroics (and disasters, too) as some of the best Packers history. Maybe in a few years when (if) you mature, you may come to your senses and apologize to Ted and the entire Packers Nation. We would welcome back our hero, but we don't want anything to do with the child.
I will always be a Packers fan and that means right now, I'm cheering for #12!
8-03-2009 @ 11:04AM
ladyredskins said...
Favre really loves himself and has absolutely no understanding of his behavior the past two years. Lord, he has issues and needs to address them. Favre needs to get over himself and just fade away. He is the one who ruined his reputation, not the fans or anyone else. His actions the past two years were selfish and egotistical. As I have said before he went out on top the first time and the second time on the bottom and the only one to blame is himself. He is the one who sounds like he has a score to settle with Green Bay. He needs to show some class and just be retired and enjoy it like other players have done. He is looking for sympathy and will not get it. Sorry Favre, no can do with the sympathy.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:22AM
Brendafortheboyz said...
You bet he has a score to settle with GB!!!! I was so hoping he would go to the Vikings so I could see him stomp GB twice a year lol That would have been sweet revenge....oh, I bad ;) What goes around comes around and that would have been a great lesson for teddy boy; however, it appears that Brett truly does not have that on his mind. I guess most people have not had to quit doing something that is so ingrained in their gut and can't realize the emotion that entails. Brett, be happy and blessed in whatever you do in your life. As a fanatical Cowboys fan, I will certainly miss watching you play!!! You are tops in my book and the naysayers do not have a grain of compassion.
Brenda
8-04-2009 @ 11:53AM
terrydeben said...
You are so right! He's the perpetual man-child who can't grasp the fact that there comes a time when an athelete can no longer perform at the same level. Grow up and get on with life!
8-03-2009 @ 11:22AM
DB said...
Favre's just one more jock who couldn't let go gracefully. I'm sure all that entitlement and money could make anyone behave erratically. He simply can't come to grips with the fact that it's not just all about him anymore.
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8-03-2009 @ 11:51AM
thetrutheh said...
favre is doing to his fans what he did to the packers. he has gone from hero to a whining disgrace. the sad part is when its time for him to go into the pro football hall of fame, all will be forgiven.
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8-04-2009 @ 11:11AM
Hugh said...
I agree. He's doing the same thing to his fans that he did to the Packers with this "You never really loved me anyway" bullcrap. I always admired Brett as a great player. It's unfortunate that I cannot view him in that same light as a man. Go relax on your farm, take care of your family, STFU, and wait for your HOF induction, Brett. Maybe by then everyone will forget what a jerk you've been over the last two years.
8-03-2009 @ 1:59PM
steve said...
have you ever seen a guy that was clearly going down as a legend F-UP his exit as badly as favre?
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8-04-2009 @ 2:05PM
dl0060 said...
Yeah,, I can think of another great that became a washout... Joe Montana... should've stayed in SF and retired a hero... moved to KC... became a big zero!
8-10-2009 @ 6:58PM
sandy stephens said...
People are so twisted in their minds nowadays. Talk is cheap and i am beginning to believe the fans have no class anymore. Maybe they just like the football players that are always in trouble and play when they feel like it. Brett Favre is to football as Cal Ripkin is to baseball. As i said above talk is cheap and great players like Brett Favre got the job done game after game after game.It makes me want to stop watching all professional sports. Most are completely in it for the money,where as players like Favre really enjoy doing what they do and do it with class.
Sandy Stephens ...Baltimore,Md
8-03-2009 @ 2:16PM
Jim said...
Sorry, Brett. I've always loved the GAME more than any one player, including you, your Highness. When you put yourself ahead of your team, and the game overall, yeah, I lost any love I had for ya. It was clear that you loved yourself more than your fans, your teammates or the game that you played.
I thought Brett is supposed to be turning 40, but this whining sounds more like he's 14. What is wrong with this guy? Why can't he grow up, move on and let bygones be bygones? Comments like his show just how little regard he truly had for his fans. Oh well, Brett's irrelevant now.
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8-03-2009 @ 3:41PM
leoganz said...
For the Vikings to have hired Farve would have been the same as Patton capturing Rommel and putting him to work. Even an ex-cheesehead is always an enemy of the Vikings
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8-03-2009 @ 4:26PM
Herb Nelson said...
I will give you the last two years have been painful, but I do believe he just wanted to play. If Ted didn't want him then go where they do. No hard feelings. Let it go.
Thanks, Brett for the memories. There were many..Was a hell of a lot more exciting than the previous 30 years before you got here.
Packer forever..
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8-03-2009 @ 7:25PM
Woolbutt said...
Brett Favre was one of the best ever Q Bs. You A****S that now attack him are just Jealous.
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8-03-2009 @ 8:11PM
marktmurphy5 said...
Note to Brett: Just be quiet for a few months. Decline all interviews, don't answer questions, don't let your agent answer questions, don't be an analyst. Kick back, work out with/help coach the local kids, do a commercial here and there, fish, hunt, charity golf, whatever. And remember two things; first, no one in the media is "a friend". Two, sign an iron clad non-disclosure agreement before talking with any teams next time.
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8-12-2009 @ 4:35AM
DubChub said...
bingo. For me, it was the Majik Man, and then there was Brett Favre. IMO, it must be difficult to let go of a love for something you cannot live without [the game]. The choices that must be made, with fact that we'll never know, should not be judged as critically. Simply because we don't know the whole story.
On the other hand... NEVER Minnesota. NEVER Chicago.... I mean, your a Packer man. But, if that's what you want, and if you just can't give up your dreams, GOOD! The realization of age or performance level mean NOTHING. What these people are ignoring is the fact that you get to live in a realm of which mostly everyone (or at least the readers and respondents of this article) admire or idolize. Surely, neither Robin Yount nor Michael Schumacher (nor the fore mentioned athletes) celebrated personally with their retirement knowing that they would be left with "nothing" but commercial advertisements, commentary, and/or interviews; retirement is a state of mind. Of course people are superficial, tending to overreact at the decisions you make. It just is not what everyone else would chose to do if they were in your shoes.
Personally, I do not like or give celebrities much attention. And UNTIL this whole deal, Brett Favre seemed to be much less of a "celebrity" to me than TO or Deon Sanders. After hundreds of issues of Packers Plus and thousands of dollars spent on Season Ticket, it was easy to envision a man who just loved the game. It wasn't until the media blew Brett's CHOICE out of proportion, that the celebrity status started to rise.
However, even through this ordeal, it is possible that the only thing that has changed here is our perception of Brett. It must be tough dealing with all these corporate weasels.
In all, Brett (not that he might actually take the time to read this), if you want to play ball, PLAY BALL. Play with all your heart, which is something that it seems your fans have forgotten. If you choose to play for the vikings, so be it. It is your choice. Know that there are is a core group of Packer fans (purists) that are sad to see you go, sad to see you play in MN but, happy that you are unwilling to succumb to the age factor.
Come on guys, even if his stats are only slightly above that of an average quarterback, his skills and experience supersede that of most in the league.
What is everyone so afraid of? It's time to stop acting like your fantasy league somehow give you stake in the actual franchise. If you really want to follow the media, try MSNBC or CNN, they feed you more useful "crap" than you'll ever know how to utilize.
-Steve
8-03-2009 @ 9:17PM
Vinsane said...
Brett, I understand you. You are a whore for attention -OR- you have intertwined your personal worth into your job performance so tightly that you cannot objectively tell when to walk away. Neither is particularly attractive at your age.
I also will bet you surround yourself with a team of sycophants so far up your arse they know what you had for breakfast. No one tells you straight what you need to hear.
I loved rooting for you when you played, you embodied the joy and passion that we all want to see from our pro athletes. That seems so long ago now.
Now Joe Montana and Michael Jordan think you hung around too long.
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8-04-2009 @ 11:04AM
Ray-n-Jean said...
The Great Joe In My Opinion Has a right to speak about Brett.
But let us not forget Micheal Jordan done the same shit with the Bulls so he has no right to speak out about any one or any sport.
along with Joe Brett was and always will be One of the greatest QB's To ever play the game because they loved playing. Not because they classified the game a way to get rich.