And, as usual, fans are caught in the middle. Almost universally, they’ll support the player. Fans are far more interested in watching their favorites long past their primes than in retiring too soon. Jim Brown and Barry Sanders may set the standard for retiring on top, but they are as much criticized by parochial interests for retiring too soon.
Packer fans are predictably distraught. The thought of Favre not playing again is as distasteful to them as the thought that he could end up with one of their rivals. That’s why you hear the argument that the Packers are making a colossal mistake in seemingly not allowing Favre to return because by any measure, Favre is a better quarterback than Aaron Rogers. It’s an emotional argument, but it’s also incomplete because Rogers really hasn’t had any opportunity to establish himself and Favre is a Hall of Famer. It’s also an argument that looks back without any appreciation of what is to come.
The better question, but not necessarily the best question, is one that asks which quarterback gives the team the best chance to win the next game on the schedule. Even then, this doesn’t entirely resolve the matter because so much depends on the time frame. In other words, Favre may give the Packers the best chance to win the first game of the season, but is that true for the eighth game of the season? What about the 12th?
Favre may have proven to be the football equivalent of Bruce Willis’ character in “Unbreakable” thus far, but sooner or later the statistics will catch up with him. He will get hurt. If the Packers miss the opportunity in the interim to develop Rogers, a quarterback in whom they also have much invested their chance of winning later drops measurably.
That’s really the right question, isn’t it? What’s best overall for the franchise? Even fans complaining about the perceived unfair treatment of a multi-millionaire would concede that their loyalties ultimately run to the franchise first, the players second. If Favre ends up with the Minnesota Vikings, some fans may buy a purple Favre jersey out of spite, but I can pretty much guarantee you that in two years the Goodwill bins in and around Milwaukee would be filled with those same jerseys.
Article comments
1 - Dusty
Favre has shown himself to be nothing but selfish in this embarrassing saga. He retired; the Packers moved on. He has no right to be offended that they're not embracing his change of heart with open arms. The Packers can't afford to live in the past, and it's Favre's outspoken whining that will tarnish his legacy with the team, not the Packers' decision to move ahead with Rodgers.
2 - Marny
Later in life Matisse had his paint brush strapped to his crippled arthritic hand to paint.And still later he cut out colored paper shapes he made into collages, staying engaged in his art and life until the end. His work of this period has a child-like purity, clarity and joy--the poetic justice of an unruly heart. A true artist will always find expression--there is no when to say when. Athletes aren't so lucky but can still re-invent themselves if the will is there--and certainly Brett has the means and time to do so. I know I'm talking apples and oranges--but who isn't challenged? Your logic and pragmatism are not lost on me. My point is that real life is made up of more than just the bottom line. Whether you're on top of the skyscraper corporate pile being accountable or independently plucking daisies at the bottom of the heap wearing rose-colored glasses--at the end of the day--be it late into the night--everyone needs a soft place to fall. And there is more comfort to be had in a bed of rose petals than wrapped in a blanket of cynicism. Be it big business or big ideas, would'nt you agree we are all in service to something? And isn't sacrifice a common denominator in everyone's lives? Giving up is for when you're dead.
3 - Dustin
Brett Favre is the best QB ever he has the records every QB wants to have how can you not bring him back and he had one of his best years last year. Yes Rodgers is good but really he is not even close to what brett is come on please now he made one mistake in that last game and the corner was sitting on that rout so he would of got it anyways brett should be pissed about the packers not bringing him back