Only Moment Alone

Ok, I’ve now changed the title for the third time (now, back to the original) and even though it seems a bit harsh, and it even though it is a generalization, it may hold some truth. Brett Favre, the face of the NFL, and the heart and soul of the entire state of Wisconsin is starting to get on everyone’s last nerve. First everyone across the country was annoyed at the whole “will he retire?, won’t he retire?” routine after every season in recent memory, including some pretty crappy seasons by Favre standards and by Packer standards. Year after year, he came back. Then after a pretty great and definitely memorable season by both Favre and the Packers, Brett shocked everyone with his heartfelt, tearful retirement announcement.

After I got over the surprise of Favre retiring after a season that ended one game from the Super Bowl (with a ton of young, likeable talent emerging for another run this year), I moved on. I just moved on. I said fine, if he’s done, then let him be done and let’s move on to the Aaron Rodgers era. But then questions started surfacing because Favre was refusing to close the door on a comeback completely. Everyone started to get annoyed again. Fast forward to now, where Brett has announced that he wants to come back, and has created this whole soap opera situation with the Packers, and annoyance is now turning to people outright loathing Favre, and I say that in the nicest way possible.

I mean, I was a huge fan. I loved watching him play. Heck, I wrote a book report about him in grade school. Or maybe it was junior high. Either way, that’s like one of the highest honors, right? The point is that when your biggest fans (like me) are starting to think you are a complete idiot, you might be doing something stupid.

Let me point out the obvious: If he still wanted to play, then he never should have retired! C’mon, ESPN had the montages and the teary retirement footage running for two days straight back in March. I recorded it! It was history. He was finally done. Over. Retired. This is what he said in that retirement press conference:

“I’ve given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football, and I don’t think I’ve got anything left to give, and that’s it. I know I can play, but I don’t think I want to. And that’s really what it comes down to. Fishing for different answers and what ifs and will he come back and things like that, what matters is it’s been a great career for me, and it’s over. As hard as that is for me to say, it’s over.”

Packer fans were forced to move on. Aaron Rodgers was finally in the drivers seat and the organization could focus on the draft. Now what, is the organization supposed to welcome him back right before training camp? Here is a time-line of the off-season saga.

Things are starting to get ugly. Brett Favre asked for his unconditional release. The Packers haven’t granted that yet and are apparentely firmly sticking with Aaron Rodgers for now. Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy have publicly stated that they would welcome Favre back, but only as a back-up. Public sentiment seems to be split in Green Bay, with some fans holding rallies at the stadium for Favre’s return, some are creating websites, many fans blaming coach Mike McCarthy and manager Ted Thompson, and others focusing the blame on Favre for his conniving ways. Now Monday and Tuesday Favre was on Fox News pleading his case:

“I was told playing in Green Bay was not an option,” Favre told Fox. “Later, it was ‘we can’t imagine you playing anywhere else…where does that leave me?

In last night’s interview on Fox, Favre mentioned showing up at training camp just to call the Packers bluff. He also seemed to understand the potential damage he was causing by admitting that he felt “a little bit” bad for Aaron Rodgers and also stating that management’s legacy could be ‘in jeopardy.’ How considerate. Whatever happens, I can answer Favre’s question of “where does that leave me?”

There are only four options that will likely play out of this situation — NONE OF THEM ARE 100% GOOD, and one of them is 100% BAD.

Option 1: Brett Favre wins out, the Packers welcome him back, shuffle Aaron Rodgers back to the bench and Favre is still the starting quarterback. Sounds great except for the fact that Rodgers is in his last contract year and was supposed to be the quarterback of the future. No way Rodgers would resign with the Packers after they did this to him. So, you get one, two?, more years from Favre at the expense of 10 years from Aaron Rodgers. I think you sort of have to do it if you are the Packers, even if it isn’t the best long-term decision and even though it royally sucks for Rodgers.

Option 2: Brett Favre comes back, but the Packers decide they have turned the page already and stick with Rodgers and in turn stubbornly refuse to release Favre. So, Favre sits the bench and takes his salary. This would likely never happen because Brett has said that he wouldn’t return if he wasn’t the starter. As an aside, with either option, if Favre does come back, the Packers have more than enough room to handle his $12+ million salary.

Option 3: The Packers release or trade Favre and he joins with some other team, like the Buccaneers or Panthers, or God forbid, the Bears or Vikings. This would do huge harm to the Brett Favre legacy in the minds of many Packer fans and might even kill it completely. Or maybe Packer fans actually love him so much, they would continue to cheer for him and then after he finally retires, they will pretend Favre’s sports adultery never happened. Any way you slice it, this option totally sucks and Packers management would be insane to release Favre. Also, regardless of what happens, Green Bay management is going to take a PR hit.

Option 4: Favre remains retired. Maybe, Brett and the organization have a meeting where Brett is refreshed on all of his reasons for retiring in the first place and it results in his just going back to Mississippi and shutting up. After how outspoken he has been lately, I don’t see this happening, but Tuesday night he did hint at it. If it did happen, however, we could just remember his final season and retirement as they currently stand, and forget that he so annoyingly was trying to ruin all of the goodwill he had built up in an entire career in one dreadful summer of regretting his decision.

Most recently, the Green Bay Post-Gazette has reported that Favre may petition commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement. That means the Packers would be forced to add him to the roster or release, and it may speed up the resolution to this whole process. Many are describing this situation as a long and drawn out divorce. Most people, like me, would rather not be forced to choose sides between their favorite player and their favorite team.

Photo 1: Cory Dellenbach | Associated Press
Photo 2: Ron Kuenstler | Associated Press