Will Favre ever come back? Bigger question, why do we even care?

Admin on 08 2, 2009

Guest post by Adam H.

“Should I come back?” “Maybe.” “Will I come back?” “I don’t know.” “Do I want to play?” “Yes and no.” The vagaries here laid out could belong to none other then former Wisconsin hero Brett Favre. Favre has developed an uncanny way of managing his own press; he only answers his own questions. Even then nobody can record a straight answer from the conflicted quarterback. It’s now clear that Favre will be cutting grass as opposed to reading bedtime stories to Adrian Peterson. What is not clear is why we all cared in the first place.

Favre’s latest technique in his increasingly desperate attempt to stay relevant is to set deadlines at which point something of absolutely no interest will be announced. Recently ESPN reported that he would announce his final decision Friday, July 24th. What we got on that day, which has come and gone, was an announcement that his decision would be announced the following week. When we finally received word that Favre would not return the mania only increased. This is a man that broke down and cried at his first semi-retirement, do we really believe this is the last we will see of Favre in the NFL?

We all now that Favre cannot resist the spotlight, or the urge to play. All of these press conferences, semi-announcements, and teary eyed interviews we have endured over the past few years have nothing to do with Favre’s ultimate decision. Favre won’t play this season but his ego will still be battered every Sunday when he goes out to face his backyard rather than a front seven.

The bigger question surrounding this melodrama is why did we care at all? This is no longer a prolific quarterback. In the past five years he had one spectacular year with the Packers, and otherwise has been mediocre or even detrimental. Down the stretch for the Jets last year he single handedly lost them games, and his teammates turned on him quicker than Favre can turn one interception into three.

The two seasons prior to Favre’s final hurrah with the Packers he recorded paltry Quarterback Ratings of 70.9 and 72.7. Twice in the last four years he has led the league in interceptions, setting the all time single season record with 29 picks in 2005. The legend of Brett Favre will live forever, unfortunately for him his skill level has already severely declined. He may still have arm strength, but the Vikings would have needed him to be a game manager that minimized turnovers, and handed the ball off. That’s like asking George W. Bush to head up the English department at Harvard, it simply is not a good fit for the man.

Today’s Favre is not the man who led the Green and Gold for all those years. It’s not the same personality, nor the same athlete. The good ol’ boy has turned into just an old man, and the charm has turned into self pity. Favre is just beginning to realize that a new life awaits him. All that remains is to decide what he was chasing all those years, the game he loved or the attention he craved.