Alternative headline:"So Favre away / Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore"
Alright, well I think I have to mention the Brett Favre un-retirement at least once on this blog. After all, for the second straight year, Favre's will-he-or-won't-he play-this-season antics have dominated the offseason.
And for good reason. In football nothing happens for like 6 months, aside from the draft. And for all the hoopla that goes into mock drafts and rookie workouts, it's really pretty insanely boring.
So while some desperately bored football junkies try to get their fix from the draft, Canadian football, and sometimes even baseball, let's be glad their is a man who can entertain for months at a time just by avoiding answering a yes or no question.
I'd argue that Brett Favre is not the good-natured southern-boy, tractor-drivin, Wrangler-wearing, indecisive honky that we're led to believe. In actuality, Brett Favre is the greatest showman in professional sports (sorry Ochocinco). Why? Because he has been able to lead Michael-Jordan-level unretirement excitement twice now (which realistically is more than Jordan, as his second comeback lacked the fanfare of the first). And I'll bet he's got another one in him.
Go ahead, roll your eyes. Comment (politely) that you're actually really sick of hearing about Favre and that you wish he'd just go away. I think you're either a liar or Packers fan, and I'll address each of you separately.
Those of you that are sick of him probably don't think he's all that good anymore. And compared to his MVP heyday, you're probably right. But he's still solid enough that more than one team would like to have him, and he's only a year and a half removed from the NFC championship game. Obviously he didn't repeat this success with the Jets, but there was more than Brett Favre wrong with that team.
And anyway, even if he does stink this year, won't it be fascinating to watch the meltdown (unless you're a Vikings fan)? I mean, what's coach Brad Childress going to do? Bench the most noteworthy player of the last 20 years? Good luck "Chilly" (as Brett's already calling him).
Regardless of his potential play, what's not to love about his offseason retirement musings? It's like a Hitchcock plot: full of unexpected twists and perfect timing (from an entertainment standpoint). Last year he picked the most boring moment in the entire NFL calendar to announce his desire to return to the Packers, and when they said they didn't want him, his pre-training camp showdown was legendary. He threatened to show up to training camp and "compete" for a starting spot, he contemplated accepting a two-year $20 million dollar package to NOT play football, and he ended up in New York where his new coach (actually younger than him!) made his newborn son's middle name Brett.
He upped the anty this year though. The Jets called his retirement bluff and just cut him. Brett was now free and could play for whomever would have him. This gave him tremendous negotiating power. After months of speculation, much of it driven by the Favre camp, and once all signs pointed toward Minneapolis (again during the most boring part of the offseason), he suddenly said he couldn't do it. Training camp was now underway, and it certainly looked like he wouldn't play this year, even after subtly hinting that he still possibly could.
Aha! Training camps winds down, and Brett Favre finally becomes a Viking after at least six months of speculation. Honestly, I'm pretty sure he just didn't want to practice. I won't fault him for this too much. After all, who reading this entry hasn't slacked off at work when possible before? And if you're reading this at work, I double my point.
So now we just have to wait and see if the grey-bearded Favre can do some serious damage with a pretty good Vikings team.
Now, Packer fans: I can understand why you'd be upset that your most beloved star is now playing for a division rival. But I'd like to point out that he wanted to come back to you and your coach and G.M. said no and traded him away. I think if you really appreciate the years of service and Superbowl victory he gave you, you should respect his desire to keep playing. But you can still root for the Vikings to lose!
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Seriously, are you not entertained!
As a side note, Vinny Testaverde played until he was 44. Brett turns 40 this season. Don't be surprised if he retires/untires a couple more times. I know I'll be hanging on every word. So long as they're during the offseason.
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