FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Gosh, I can't believe that's it's been six months since I've blogged here. Life's been hectic, crazy, slightly insane. I've been spending the past six months working, shuttling back and forth between doctors' offices and physical therapy, and trying to maintain a house and raise a teenager.

It sure hasn't been boring.

Lots of things have happened in the sports world since I last blogged here. The Giants won the Super Bowl, Ohio State didn't win the National Championship, Brett Favre retired, the Celtics won the NBA Finals, the Cubs have spent the season (thus far) firmly entrenched in first place, Brett Favre unretired...

...and it was Mr. Favre that got me itching to blog again.

I am a Bears fan. Most of you already know that, but I say it in the spirit of full disclosure. Ever since I was old enough to hold a football (which was fairly young), I have been taught that the Green Bay Packers are the enemy. Sundays during football season were spent cheering for the Bears and the team that the Packers were playing. So my point is this--I've seen Brett Favre play. A lot. And as much as I enjoy the Bears/Packers rivalry, as orange and blue as my blood runs, I've got to say that I wish Brett Favre had come to Chicago all those years ago. He's a hell of a quarterback, and he's had a hell of a run. But it's time for him to hang up his cleats.

For the past five years the Brett Favre Retirement Drum as started beating round about mid-season.

"Will he or won't he?" "He's not gonna retire until he wins another Super Bowl." "He's not gonna retire after a bad season like this." "He's not gonna retire after a good season like this." You get the point.

I've always fallen on Brett's side. Hey, this is Brett Favre we are talking about. I always thought that if he could physically perform, and he still had that passion, that little boy enthusiasm, then Green Bay would be NUTS to move him down the string, and Brett would be nuts to leave.

But as endearing as that little boy enthusiasm is, it can also be maddening. Brett himself has said many times that he loves the game, and he feels like he can still play, but he hates the business end of the NFL. He hates training camp, he hates practices, he hates film study, he hates meetings. Quite frankly, who can blame him? As a result, he goes back and forth on the retirement decision.

Well, as much as I understand Brett's position, I also understand the Packers' position. It's not really fair to the team to waffle so much. The 'off-season' (now, that's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one) is spent honing the offense based on the QB. The QB is bonding with his O-Line, learning how to be the leader of the team, making the team his team. And in this particular situation, Aaron Rodgers already has his hands full. Can you imagine following Brett Favre into the 1st string position? The pressure has got to be intense. Imagine waiting five years--five years!--and finally hearing those words: "I am officially retiring." Then imagine mentally shifting into that leadership position, doing the work to tweak the offense and keep the team competitive, getting ready to finally, finally, get your own shot, and then two weeks before training camp, having your world implode because the old guy got bored?

I've got to say, if I was in Aaron Rodger's position, and the team didn't back me, I'm not sure I'd be sticking around when my contract was up.

Brett, I can only imagine that this has got to be hard, man. You obviously love the game. But coming back now just isn't right for anyone. You've altered your relationship with the front office, with the coaching staff, with the players. The locker room isn't going to be the same. It's not going to be the same, man. You are going to be battling these demons all season.

You had a great run. No need to jump the shark.