All summer long sports fan couldn't get the F word out of their minds. For two seasons the status of 40 year old quarterback Brett Favre was tormenting everyone. The Favre circus had taken over ESPN and high jacked the NFL. Brett's indecisiveness made coaches and teams wondering what to think and how to proceed.
After originally announcing his retirement with the Packers after the 2007 season, Favre was greeted with hostility when he attempted to return to the team, as Green Bay was looking to the future with Aaron Rodgers. Favre ultimately came back for a one- year stint with the NY Jets. He led them to a 10-6 record on the season, but failed to make the playoffs, only to retire again. Would Brett really end his great career losing four games in a row and failing to make the playoffs? This past offseason Favre had surgery on his injured shoulder and the buzz began again. Would Favre come out of retirement for a second time?
Favre continuously said he was content riding his tractor in Mississippi, but everyone knew a warrior like Brett Favre could not be taken serious and rumors about a comeback persisted. And then it finally happened. A week into training camp Favre decided to team up with Adrian Petersen and don the purple and gold of the Minnesota Vikings. At this point, fans and many in the media began criticizing his motives to come back. Did Brett wand to come back to get revenge against his old team the Packers? Or was it that Favre really just loves the game and cannot stay away from it?
Now after yet another stunning Monday night performance by Brett Favre, it is easy to see Brett's true motives and what all the fuss was about the past two summers. On Monday, Favre and the Vikings beat Green Bay 30-23, making Favre the first quarterback to defeat all 32 NFL teams. He also extended his NFL record streak of consecutive starts to 273.
All the drama Brett Favre has caused the past two off seasons may have tarnished his reputation. Packer fans that once adored him now use his jersey as a doormat. Others were tired of hearing his name every day, doubted his arm and age, and were wondering what all the fuss is about.
Well, if you watched Brett in action this past Monday night or against San Francisco the previous Sunday you know the answer to that question. Favre may have turned 40 today, but the competitive QB has a lot left in that arm and an even bigger heart. The video below is from the Minnesota versus San Francisco game last Sunday and may be one of the greatest endings to a game you see this season and in some time.
Brett Favre TD pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un3B7Og-FS0
A statistic that has been rather overlooked because of Favre's waffling about retiring is his consecutive start streak. Favre is an ironman himself and maybe called the Cal Ripken of the NFL, with a very impressive streak of 273 consecutive games started under center, despite his decision to retire twice. Not only is Favre an ironman and always manages to stay in the game when he is needed, but he even gets caught doing the little things for his team, like blocking downfield after a pass or run. The video below shows Brett making a pretty nasty hit on San Francisco's star Patrick Willis when he was blocking for Percy Harvin. Brett's block can be seen really quickly in the video at around 2 minutes and 14 seconds mark. Favre was also fined $10,000 by the league for an illegal chop block during his first preseason game in a Vikings uniform. Maybe he was trying to make a statement to his teammates or maybe it was just Favre going out and playing the game he loves.
Brett Favre Block on P. Willis 2:14 in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZOEvBGmdcQ
No matter how many times he retires or how old he is, Favre still has the same boyish enthusiasm every time he plays the game. It doesn't matter what team he is playing for or against, Favre is a competitor and wants to win every game. No wonder why the fans of Minnesota and New York welcomed him with such open arms. Even after all of this, I'm sure some Packers fans still wear the #4 jersey with pride and would invite Brett to Thanksgiving dinner at their house. The carousel each offseason does get crazy, but it is definitely worth all the fuss. Brett has good intentions and just wants to play the game he is great at until he really can't anymore.
Favre, Jordan, and many other great athletes that come out of retirement show us how hard it is for athletes to stay retired from the game they have played forever. Even without the financial considerations of playing again, these athletes are addicted to their sport and cannot get away from something that has been such a huge part of their life for so long. Although Brett's indecisiveness may have given fans who bought a #4 Favre Jets jersey last season and many others headaches, his dedication to the team and numbers clearly show he still has the desire and will continue to play the game he loves at the NFL level. And so does Minnesota's 5-0 record this season with him at the helm.
Chris Collinsworth best summed up the Favre situation after Monday night's game by saying, "you may get tired of the circus and saga surrounding Brett Favre, but you never get tired of watching him play."