The Brett Favre Circus Continues
If you are a sports fan you probably find yourself stricken with a wicked case of déjà vu right now. Sadly it isn’t a dream and we aren’t stuck in a day that keeps repeating a la Groundhog Day.
No, the truth is much more grim. Brett Favre is once again waffling on his retirement plans and appears to be intent on torturing the sports world with another summer of ‘will he or won’t he’ nonsense.
There had been murmurs of it for weeks, but it became official yesterday that Favre and Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress will meet at an “undisclosed location” to discuss the possibility of Favre coming back to spite the Green Bay Packers try and win another Super Bowl ring. Even though I dread having to read/watch a million (only a slight exaggeration) stories over the coming weeks about the situation, there are a few things that make it more interesting than Favre’s usual melodrama.
For starters, prior to going to the New York Jets last year Favre indicated interest in playing for the Vikings. Of course, with the Packers controlling his rights there was no way he was going to be lining up for a division rival. Still, the interest was mutual and neither side seems to mind ruining former starter Tavaris Jackson’s confidence.
What I find most compelling is Favre, who multiple times said he had no interest in playing, had his agent request his release several weeks ago. Why would a man content in retirement care which team held his rights? Was he lying about his intent to stay retired or are we to believe that he has had a recent change of heart?
Daytime TV drama aside, there is still the question of whether or not the 39-year-old Favre can play. After helping the Jets get off to an 8-3 start, Favre regressed as the season went on and looked completely out of sync (and breath) in the Jets final few games.
It is also difficult to believe he would risk further tarnishing his legacy by coming back and looking like an old Brett Favre instead of the old Brett Favre, but perhaps we are all underestimating how much bad blood there is between him and Packers general manager Ted Thomson.
For now all we are left with are questions. Will he come out of retirement? Will fans turn on him more than they already have? Will I lose my mind listening to up to the minute updates on ESPN? It is too early to tell, but the smart money is a resounding yes on all three.
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