Remember this, future super star athletes. Never say never.
Brett Favre has changed his mind, again. And although sports fans everywhere can
understand number four’s reluctance to leave the gridiron behind it is still
very strange to watch him flip flopping like an NBA star or a politician.
Boo hoo, Brett is feeling unwanted.
This
entire soap opera is Brett’s doing. It has caused his fans to question his
motives and his loyalty to the Pack. It might do real damage to number four’s
legacy. Favre has always been thought of as stand up guy, company man. A man who
lived to play the game he has played since he was a little boy.
But now he has taken on the persona of a disgruntled employee with a little
drama queen thrown in for good measure.
No one forced him to retire, despite his protests to the contrary. He has been
toying with the idea for the last few seasons.
Brett Favre still has game, but the Packers are ready to move on and give their
young quarterback a chance. Brett knew this, he wasn’t blind sided. Other super
stars have been discarded by their teams; Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are prime
examples of that.
Brett
gave Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren an interview in which he presented his point
of view.
“I am
guilty of retiring early and there is a reason for that,” Favre said, according
to an excerpt provided to The Associated Press before Monday’s Van Susteren
broadcast. “And the major issue is 'Why did he retire?,' and 'He asked for a
release because he doesn't want to play in Green Bay.' That's not true. And I
hope people are hearing this and saying 'OK, that clears it up.”
According to Van Susteren, who spoke to the AP by telephone Monday afternoon,
Favre said he was “never fully committed” to retiring and felt pressured by the
Packers to make a decision, a notion Packers general manager Ted Thompson and
coach Mike McCarthy tried to dispel in an interview with the AP on Saturday.
Pressured to retire? Doesn’t Brett have a mind of his own? Hasn’t he considered
the options? If Brett wants to play then he can return to Green Bay as the
back-up to Aaron Rodgers and wait for the new quarterback to stumble. But Brett
wants to be the starter. If that doesn’t fly then he wants to select the teams
he wants to be traded to.
There is no doubt that Brett Favre can still throw a football. He looked pretty
good last season as he led the Packers to a division title. But Old Man Time
waits for no one and the business end of the game demands he step aside.
Athletes don’t like to lose and they have been wired to feel powerful and
omnipotent. Their egos are huge, out of necessity; it is how they survive the
brutal business of professional sports.
But the business end of the Packers requires they develop their future players.
Brett is not their future, he is their past.
Brett, it’s time to move over and look for a new career, step aside and hold the
clipboard in Title Town, or to take your guts and glory mentality to another
team.
Yes, Packer fans. It’s time to tear the Number 4 off those Cheeseheads and bid
adieu to number four.
Nothing says loyalty like a clumsy and contentious departure.
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This
entire soap opera is Brett’s doing. It has caused his fans to question his
motives and his loyalty to the Pack. It might do real damage to number four’s
legacy. Favre has always been thought of as stand up guy, company man. A man who
lived to play the game he has played since he was a little boy.