He may have done for burgundy Cadillac Escalades what O.J. did for white Ford Bronco’s, but unless you’re a Jets fan, that’s about the only positive to come out of this fiasco as it comes to a merciful end.
Sure, we get to watch Brett Favre for one more season. But do you really think it’s going to be the same Favre we’ve spent nearly two decades admiring? Not a chance. You will never look at Favre the same way, and it will have nothing to do with the jersey on his back, or the numbers indicative of the date on his birth certificate. Favre put himself ahead of his team this summer. When was the last time you admired that?
It all began with a text message that Favre sent to Packers GM Ted Thompson a month ago to say he wanted to come back. A text message? Is this the NFL or a booty call? The mere fact that Favre thought he could toy with the Packers four months after the season ended and one month before camp was sheer arrogance, so good for the Packers for playing hardball from start to finish. And good for the Packers for trading him to a team that won four games last year. Careful what you wish for, Brett.
Favre also leaves a pair of careers in his wake.
If Aaron Rodgers has the mental stamina to endure this, he may one day join Favre in the Hall of Fame. But I doubt it. The jury was out on Rodgers before, and he’s no further ahead now. Every snap, every pass, and every pick will not only be compared to the old Favre, he’ll be put under a microscope alongside the new Favre of the New York Jets. “What if” will be the order of the day, week, month and season for this poor kid. Good luck to Aaron.
And then there’s Chad Pennington, who has likely played his last game for the Jets, but perhaps needed a fresh start anyway. But this is not the end to his career in New York that he deserved. Without Brett Favre, he still has a job with the Jets. Not that it should have mattered to Favre in any way shape, or form, but he’s another victim in his selfish flip-flop.
Favre is not the first athlete that’s had a tough time coming to grips with retirement. They all do. And most of them get over it. The ones that don’t were clearly too self-centred and wrapped up in their careers to appreciate all that surrounded them outside of the game they played. Newsflash for Brett – we’ve all got careers.
Maybe Favre just loves football too much. Then again, maybe Brett Favre loves Brett Favre a little too much.