The deal is none of these people knew when it was time to hang it up. Quit. Retire. Stay divorced. Stop making bad movies. Put out to pasture. Fish or cut bait. You get the idea.
Like you, I have enjoyed watching #4 since his gunslinger days at Southern Miss. Who didn't remember his heroic victory of Alabama during the 1990 season? This game was only a few weeks after his near fatal automobile accident. Twenty years in the pros. Most consecutive starts for a quarterback. Three-time MVP. Two-time Super Bowl Champ. Holder of numerous NFL quarterback records. I could go on and on with his superlatives.
The sure bet first ballot Hall of Famer still has tons of arms strength. Knows the offense better than most coaches. Threw six touches in one game last year for the Jets. Jumping around and playing like he was a junior in high school. However, since 2002, Fav-ruh has been publicly contemplating retirement from pro football.
Is it time for Favre to join the rest of us on the sidelines? Is he a selfish, spoiled, rich athlete who cannot live without the spotlight? Doubt it. Is he a proud warrior who wants to keep on doing something he had been doing for more than twenty-five years? More likely.
Every year we listen to the press conferences. He's retiring. Then we hear he's coming back. Next, he's retiring again. Retirement doesn't last long before he announces he's coming back. He just cannot make up his mind. Not everyone can go out while on top like John Elway. I'm sure his body aches. He has a torn right rotator cuff. There are probably other injuries he's dealing with that we will never know about. I hate that he's turning into "Rent-A-Brett" as he joins his fourth pro team this week. (Falcons, Packers, Jets and now the Vikings.) Are they making the movie sequel to Something About Mary?
In his defense though there must still be that burning desire to compete. Testing his skills against the best. Showing he still can succeed. The Vikings must think he's able. They are paying him $25 mil. for two years. He will sell lots of tickets everywhere he plays. I'm glad he's playing. Any 40 year old who can rocket a forty yarder on a rope has my attention. Particularly when Urlacker and Co. are steamrolling to take care of him. Percy Harvin, Adrien Peterson and mates must be really excited to have such a legend leading their team. Sage will be the backup and Tarvaris is getting shipped out.
I cannot wait for that early October Monday Night game in the Metrodome against the Packers. I heard the average nose bleeds ticket for that game on Stub Hub is selling right now more than $345. Yowzah! I just hope they don't overuse him like the Jets did last year. With other weapons in the backfield, most notably Peterson and Harvin, the Vikings would be wise to treat the season like a marathon rather than a sprint. Only so many throws left in that arm.
Ready for some football,
The Sports Guy
