Wednesday, Jul. 16, 2008
Retired athletes, like Favre, need to stay that way
Heads up Brett Favre fans.
You may want to close your eyes or put your fingers in your ears and start singing to yourself because I’m about to tell you why your hero is spoiled, arrogant, needy and just plain selfish.
For those of you who may not particularly care for the Green Bay Packers former quarterback, feel free to keep reading without restriction.
But first, let’s recap a bit, shall we?
On March 6, Favre announced his retirement and tearfully walked away from the game he has played with boyish enthusiasm for 17 seasons with three years and $39 million left on his contract.
He sat in front of hordes of media members and said he was done with football; that he thought about it and talked it over with his family and enough was enough.
He even went on to say that he knew he could still play but didn’t think he wanted to.
"I’ve given everything I possibly can give to [the Packers], to the game of football, and I don’t think I’ve got anything left to give, and that’s it," he said.
Fast forward four short months later.
Earlier this month, reports began to surface that sources within Favre’s "camp" were hinting around the fact he may want to return.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Favre’s brother, Scott, was interviewed by WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee and said that Brett has a "50-50 chance" of playing next season. He also said that Brett was staying in shape and that if the Packers didn’t want him, someone else would.
"I don’t see why not; I’m sure plenty of other teams would want him," he said. "If the Packers decide it’s time to move on, it’s time for Brett to move on, if that’s the case."
Adding fuel to the fire, Favre’s mother, Bonita, told WITI-TV that Favre felt that Packers President Ted Thompson hasn’t wanted him around for the past couple years.
"You know it’s just been bits and pieces throughout the last couple of years, things that would come up, and it just didn’t seem like they went out of their way to keep him," she said. "It was kind of like, 'You’re done.’"
Let’s stop there.
What does she mean "it just didn’t seem like they went out of their way to keep him?"
He has a signed contract, how much "out of their way" do the Packers have to go?
I’ve got to be honest, if Favre has to hear how grateful Green Bay is that he has played for them before deciding whether or not to return for another season, that’s neediness friends. Plain and simple.
Plus, it’s arrogant. It’s as if Favre is saying he’s too good to just come back and play, he has to be convinced that you in fact realize his greatness.
If he was unsigned, that would be different but when you have time left on a deal you agreed to, I don’t think an organization has to do anything extra for you to honor it.
But, I digress.
Shortly after mom and sibling spoke to the media, Favre supposedly sent Thompson a text message informing him he’d like to return.
Thompson, who was on vacation, said the two would speak when he got back, which was last week. On July 8, a conference call with Favre, his agent James Cook, McCarthy and Thompson took place and sources said it didn’t look favorable that a return to the Packers was unlikely.
On Friday, Favre officially sent a letter asking for his unconditional release. As they should, the Packers refused.
As with any story, there are always two sides. Up until Thompson’s return, most had only heard Favre’s, or rather his family’s.
Now, we know that Favre had, once again, held the Packers in limbo.
ESPN reported that Thompson said shortly after Favre’s March 6 announcement, Favre asked if he could return to the team.
At that point, Thompson and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy were open to the idea and had actually set a date to meet with Favre and discuss it.
Then, Thompson said, Favre cancelled the meeting telling Thompson and McCarthy he wanted to stay retired.
It was then that the team decided to move forward and name Aaron Rodgers their starting QB for the 2009 season.
At this point, if Favre does come back, it would be selfish of him to simply expect to pick up right where he left off.
After all, the Packers drafted players at the NFL Draft based on the needs of the team without Favre.
Now, just because he wants to come back, all that is supposed to be meaningless? Packers’ management should just take him back because he changed his mind? Give in to him like a spoiled child who throws a tantrum at Wal-Mart?
Sorry, Brett, not in my book.
You had your glory, you won your Super Bowl and you made your decision, live with it.
Keep in mind also that Favre isn’t looking to be traded. He wants to be released so he can choose where he plays.
Thompson and the Packers aren’t about to let that happen. Nor should they.
I’ll grant you this; Favre isn’t alone in wanting to return after he called it quits.
Remember Michael Jordan? Arguably the best basketball player in the history of the game?
He retired and wanted to come back but Jerry Krause and the Chicago Bulls had pretty much the same reaction the Packers are having with Favre now.
Thanks but no thanks.
Jordan then did what some thought was unthinkable — he played somewhere else.
Wasn’t it Charlotte?
Anyone remember how that worked out?
Didn’t think so.
Some of you may be saying, "Well, Roger Clemens has retired a couple of times and come back and done pretty well, why can’t Favre?"
I’ll tell you why.
Because with Clemens there was never any doubt he was returning because of the big paycheck not because he loved the game of baseball so much.
To me, it’s sad that a legend like Favre has decided to go this route. All it does is tarnish his legacy and prove to the rest of the world that athletes can’t act like adults.
It makes me wonder if that boyish enthusiasm Favre plays the game with really isn’t confined to just the field. Maybe he really is just like that kid in Wal-Mart waiting for his mom to finally get him what he wants.
Whatever the reason, I have some friendly advice for Favre.
Enjoy your retirement.
Enjoy your family.
Enjoy knowing you went out at the top of your game.
Stop holding the Packers, an organization you said you truly love, hostage year after year. Let them, and yourself, move on.
If you don’t, you may be the one who is passed by.
Print
E-Mail
