Brett Favre Stayed a Year Too Long
News today out of New York Jets camp is that Brett Favre has officially retired. As a huge Brett Favre fan over the years, not necessarily a Packers fan, the last 5 or 6 games of last season was painful to watch. Brett painted himself into a corner last year after the whole debacle of returning to Packer camp late, and then a media frenzy ensued, and low and behold he was a New York Jet. At day's end I doubt seriously that is where he wanted to end up, and end his stellar career at.
After taking the Packers to the NFC championship game in 2007, and losing in the final minutes to the eventual Super Bowl Champs New York Giants, he should have called it quits and went out after a banner year at age 38. It is always sad to legends like Favre, Namath (Rams) , Montana (Chiefs), and others try to recapture the magic after a hall of fame career by selling out to the highest bidder for 1 more run. It never pans out.
The fact remains he did take a team with 4 wins the year before and they ended up going 9-7 and had a chance at the playoffs, but were the Jets really better off? I hate to admit it, but no they were not. The fact Chad Pennington went to Miami, and took them from 1-15 to 11-5 and the playoffs as their starting QB is one argument. The play of RB Thomas Jones of the Jets was another reason for their success last year as well. The stories from disgruntled Jets players after the season about Favre getting the red carpet treatment, and him being aloof to players was also not good for the image and lasting impression of Brett Favre.
Some things about this great NFL quarterback are undeniable. He leaves the game with numerous records such as completions at 5,720, regular season wins at 169, Consecutive starts at 291 (which will never be broken by a QB), yards passing at 65,127, and career TD passes at 464. The one blemish is also he leads the NFL is interceptions at 310. He was a Super Bowl Winning quarterback and 3 time NFL MVP Winner, and a consistent Pro Bowl selection. There is not a quarterback playing today, that if given 70% of these numbers as a career for themselves, would turn it down.
In this writers opinion, Brett Favre is truly one of the "Last of the Mohicans", a true gamer who loved to win more than anything, and many times willed the Packers to victory through his improvised style and sheer determination. I saw him in Kansas City in 2007 throw 2 passes to win that game, KC being a team he had never beaten, that no other mortal man could have pulled off, a typical Brett Favre 4th quarter miracle, and there numerous of them. His performance after the death of his father on Monday Night Football is the stuff legends are made of. Brett Favre is a legend in my opinion, and will be the barometer that many are measured by in the future. He will be missed, even by his detractors.
All that being said, he did tarnish he legacy in 2008 with the Jets, and should have hung up the cleats in 2007. For us selfish Brett Favre fans, seeing him play 1 more year was at first wonderful, and at year's end, somewhat painful. Between now and when we see him for his speech in Canton Ohio as a first ballot Hall of Fame Winner, hopefully 2008 will be forgotten and he will be remembered for all the right reasons. As one of the best to ever play the game.
Tony George has one of the hottest handicapping sites on the Internet. Check it out at www.sportsaudioshows.com
