Going Favre Beyond the Call of Duty

I complained several months ago that Brett Favre needed to add some new wrinkles to his offseason playbook. In that post, I posited that "Favre-watch" is one of the most interesting things to happen in the otherwise dull and football-less offseason. So far this offseason had been a bust for one of football's greatest entertainers, and needless to say we here at Dank Game were dissapointed. Well maybe Brett reads Dank Game, because in the last couple of weeks he came through in a big way!

The difficulty with this offseason was that Brett was still under contract with the Minnesota Vikings, the only team he was at all likely to play for in 2010. Unlike in 2008, when the Packers made it clear they were hoping he stayed retired, or in 2009 when the Jets drafted a first round rookie quarterback and a new head coach, Favre couldn't cook up interest based on where he'd play. And the sole notion of if he'll play is an old storyline now. He's been reliving it for about six straight years.

But if you thought Favre was done keeping us guessing, you were dead wrong.

It all started in April, at the Vikings voluntary mini-camp. No, of course Favre wasn't there - he doesn't even come to most of the mandatory team activities anymore. But according to ProFootBallTalk.com (via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune) each player who did show up found a fresh pair of Wranglers in their lockers from Brett himself. Still no word on what a bunch of young black dudes are going to do with Dad jeans.

Unfortunately Favre watch froze for a little while after Wrangler-gate, but the NBA playoffs kept us Dank Gamers engaged.

The next big sign that Favre was going to play came in June, when he had "minor" ankle surgery. The ankle had become his biggest excuse not to come back after he injured it against the Saints in the NFC Championship game. Now, surgery pretty clearly points to Favre coming back, but this is where the old man's flair for drama again flared up. According to ProFootballTalk, his surgeon, the renowned Dr. James Andrew, went on the record stating that Brett hadn't made up his mind. This was the only way a path to retirement could seem credible after elective surgery. Although certainly not Favre's most entertaining move, he managed to keep the drama alive.

But Favre learned something from this episode: the drama has become more credible and more exciting when other people around him are breaking the news. So in mid-July his agent, Bus Cook, stirred the pot with an interesting quote in Men's Journal, designed to make it look like he really doesn't know if Favre will play (via PFT):

Brett talked to goddamned Ed Werder at ESPN, says he needs ankle surgery. Now why did he do that?" Cook asked. "I've got [Brad] Childress calling. I've got reporters calling all damn morning. Goddammit, why does he have to be such a goddamned drama queen? Play, don't play, goddamn, people are getting sick of it. I'm getting sick of it!

Why does he have to talk to these people? What good does it do? Ed Werder at ESPN! What's he ever done for anybody other than say, 'Look, look, Mommy, I got this first, ain't I special?' You got problems with surgery, talk to your wife. Why talk to goddamned Ed Werder?

Pretty wild stuff. Agents don't usually bad mouth their own players!

Here's where Favre might have screwed up though. The media and fans clearly wanted confirmation of whether or not he planned to play. And they found it, when Deanna Favre renewed her membership to a health club in Minnesota last week. Even NFL.com posted that bit of gossip. Why would the Favres spend any time in Minneapolis if Brett weren't playing. Favre could not have been happy after an entire offseason of his antics were potentially jeopardized.

Favre blew the whole thing wide open today when a report surfaced that he began telling Vikings team officials he will not be returning for his 20th season. Conveniently, Minnesota's training camp began just days ago, so this news doesn't exactly give the Vikings many options. Well, you'd think if anyone was aware of such an annoucement, head coach Brad Childress, who has visited Favre in Mississippi several times in the past few months, would be the guy. However "Chilly," as Brett calls him, denied knowledge of such a statement from Camp Favre. Also denying having personally heard from Favre were his teammates, many of who according to this PFT article, still expect to see him back. Lastly, even "family sources" claimed that Favre has not actually made up his mind either way.

So what to make of this latest Favre brouhaha? Well, one place to look is the pocket book. Favre is due to make $13 million this season, but it's an uncapped year. So unlike in the past, there's no barrier to the maximum contract Favre could take on, even with the Vikings having one of the higher payrolls in the NFL. And unsurprisingly, the Vikings are reported to be willing to give Favre both more time and money.

I for once am going to take a less cynical view. I think Favre simply wants us to enjoy the offseason. He figures we have nothing better to do than check in on his 40-year old ass, and he's not totally wrong. He also seems to have a knack for pushing the drama to its climax at the best possibly time. Last week the story was all about getting first round draft picks under contract. So he bid his time until he knew he could get maximum coverage and maximum drama.

Most people, including myself believe Brett Favre will play football in 2010. But the uncertainty is certainly making the prospect more entertaining.