Brett Favre: Can We Ever “4”-give?
My wife and I left behind many possessions deemed “not worth the trouble to haul” before our move from Los Angeles to San Diego last month. One of the things she reclaimed from my box of junk destined for Goodwill was the Favre jersey I’ve had since I was a kid.
“Maybe our (still very hypothetical) children will want to wear it one day,” she shrugged as she tossed it in my direction. I looked at the article of clothing I used to sleep in on nights before games, thought for a second, and then crammed it into the box with our spices. I wasn’t ambivalent, just disaffected. The jersey made the move and now hangs in the back of my cluttered closet.
But as Lombardi as my witness, if Brett Favre comes out of retirement one more time, I’m burying the jersey.
It’s another offseason, and that means it’s time once again for Favre Watch: Part… I’ve lost count. Will he or won’t he? A couple of weeks ago, the Eagles were identified as potential suitors, with even Mike Vick tweeting his support. This week, it’s the Miami Dolphins, whose poor starting QB, Chad Henne, can’t even make it through a routine practice without being relentlessly booed by fans.
Favre’s agent keeps reiterating that he’s done, but this isn’t my first rodeo, Mr. Cook. “The Itch” will return, and I doubt very much that the old gunslinger possesses the impulse control not to scratch. The consecutive starts streak is over, so Brett’s in no rush to get to camp in time for the season’s first game. But mark my words, he will be back this year, for some team at some point, and that will be the last straw.
I hope I’m wrong, and not because I’m bitter or because I hold some kind of grudge. Rather, with every un-retirement, masseuse allegation, and Sterger text, Favre makes me feel worse and worse about myself – that I foolishly counted him as my hero for such a large percentage of my life. His rocket of a right arm was probably the closest thing to a religion that I’ve known, and now I feel like those poor chumps who sold everything they had because they were convinced that The Rapture was coming on May 21.
There are two things in my 30 years that I truly regret being witness to. The first was the silver screen version of “Sex and the City” (my wife owes me the 3-D re-releases of Star Wars Episodes IV-VI for that spectacle). The other was seeing Favre on the verge of another Super Bowl…with the Minnesota Vikings. At this point, I care as much about the presence of Favre’s #4 hanging in the rafters at Lambeau as I care about my own version hanging in the back of my closet.
I'm not sure if I'll ever forgive. Will you?
Barry Leis
4:11 pm on Friday, August 5, 2011
Green Bay's #4 should be given to the next punter. And if this year turns into a good statistical year for Rodgers, then #12 should be retired before #4 with or without 3 MVPs because like you --- I foolishly counted him as my hero for such a large percentage of my life.
Bob McBride
4:29 pm on Friday, August 5, 2011
Well, we forgave Vince for going to Washington. I can remember a lot of folks who were pretty upset about that at the time.
Remember what the Packers were prior to Favre's ascension to the position. Certainly others deserve credit as well, but he is and will forever be the face of the kind of Packer team that, at the time, many never thought they'd see again. If Rodgers is still hanging in there and bringing excitement to the game 8-10 years down the line, then maybe there will be a basis for comparison - but even he is a beneficiary of the Favre years.
Also remember some of the heroes of the past (Hornung being one rather prominent example) had their share of off-the-field controversies as well. We managed to get past theirs.
Time heals all wounds.
Cheryl Sanders
9:20 am on Saturday, August 6, 2011
Well said, Bob.
The prosser-cuter
5:32 pm on Friday, August 5, 2011
Brett Favre is more evil than WEAC! I would also give his number to the next free agent punter that came along!
Craig
5:49 pm on Friday, August 5, 2011
What would we have to forgive Favre for?
The Packers walked away from him- they decided it was time to use Rogers.
Favre was not ready to lie down and die, and asked to be traded to MN.
Instead they shipped him off to a figurative Siberia where he had a pretty decent run.
Then he went to the Queens. How many people have been told they are too old for the job, and the company wants to go another direction? I wouldn't like it if it had happened to me- I am sure Favre wanted to keep playing.
If I were Favre, and Green Bay called to retire my jersey #, I would not show up.
I'd wait for Canton, OH. In the meantime I would mow my lawn and count my millions.
Oh. One more thing. Reggie White was not hated when he left his team and came to Green Bay. Let's not forget he came here because of Favre. In fact, Favre deferred some of his salary so the Pack could get Reggie.
KMG
8:03 am on Saturday, August 6, 2011
Amen Craig! Could not have said it any better :)
Bewildered
9:02 am on Saturday, August 6, 2011
Actually, I'm from Philly and Reggie was hated when he left. But hey, we throw snowballs at Santa in Philly !
Craig
8:16 pm on Monday, August 8, 2011
Bewildered: I don't recall Reggie getting booed.
Didn't know you were from Philly- I am sorry.
:-)
Patrick Flynn
11:05 am on Monday, August 8, 2011
The better question... when will we forgive the Packer Organization for letting Favre go? Favre will always be #1. When it comes to Favre, there is nothing to forgive, It's the three stooges that I can't forgive.
The prosser-cuter
11:09 am on Monday, August 8, 2011
You mean the three stooges that won the superbowl? I seem to remember Favre retiring and holding the team hostage. He got what he deserved and wanted!
Craig
11:23 am on Monday, August 8, 2011
@Prosser: Those three stooges somehow managed to pull off a miracle. Charlie McCarthy, Ted (Deer in the Headlights) Thompson, and Murphy's Law have earned my forgiveness for what they did to Favre.
The same crap goes on in the Corporate world too. You get a little old, and the leadership wants new faces. If the CEO hires his son to take your place when you retire, I expect he will retire you early.
I will forgive, but I can't forget.
If Favre would decide to play again- I would wish him well- as long as he is playing with a team and not sexting.
The prosser-cuter
11:41 am on Monday, August 8, 2011
Favre wasn't worth the trouble anymore. He quit. Bottom line.
Badgerfanz
6:15 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Who cares about him he is old - tired and RETIRED.......Wisconsin Badgers are so much more fun to watch anyway!!!