LJWorld.com weblogs The Dividing Line
Posted
by Matt Tait
August 19, 2009 at 8 a.m.
Favre comeback sends wrong message
I could hardly believe it when I first heard it, but in this odd universe that Brett Favre calls reality, I guess it made sense.
For the second time in as many seasons, the former Green Bay legend has unretired and signed with a new team.
Last year it was the New York Jets, and, hey, that seemed all right because the Jets still wore green and didn’t have much to do with the Packers.
This year, it’s the Minnesota Vikings and, Favre fan or not, Packers fan or not, it just seems a little strange.
For the sake of making this story relate to my world, I tried to imagine how something like this might happen at Lawrence High or Free State.
Truthfully, I first tried to imagine what it would have been like if my favorite quarterback of all-time, Denver Broncos great John Elway, would have gone and played for the Raiders but quickly stopped that nonsense when I realized that Elway would have never done that.
Anyway, back to the high school beat.
Favre unretiring — again — is the equivalent of Brandon McAnderson still running the ball at Lawrence High or Ryan Murphy still lining up under center at Free State. It might seem great for the two local high school teams to still have two of the greatest players who ever suited up in the programs, but at the same time it probably would seem a little weird. For starters, both are in their 20s by now and, secondly, many people — even fans of both teams — would have to worry a little about these guys if they were having that much trouble getting through high school.
I realize that analogy is a bit of stretch, but so is Favre playing for the Vikings.
I’m not against Favre continuing to play. It’s his body, his legacy, his passion. If he — or any player for that matter — still feels like he can play at a high enough level to make it worth while, then so be it. And if there are teams out there willing to take him, more power to them both.
My main concern comes with the timing of all of this and the message that it sends. Not only to the youth of America but also to the younger players in the National Football League.
Brett Favre is a legend. Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play this game. But Brett Favre has not been with the Vikings all summer through training camp, offseason training activities and voluntary and/or involuntary weight-lifting and workout sessions. He has not bled and sacrificed, perspired and puked. And for that, he’s not worthy of this opportunity.
As with most things, there’s seems to be a right way and a wrong way to go about things in the game of football. For 16 years in Green Bay, Favre went about his football business in the most right way any fan of the game could ever hope for. But now, in the twilight of the offseason during back-to-back years, he’s gone about nearly everything else the wrong way.
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Comments
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meggers (anonymous) says…
"And if there are teams out there willing to take him, more power to them both."
You're right- more power to both Favre and the Vikings.
"My main concern comes with the timing of all of this and the message that it sends. Not only to the youth of America but also to the younger players in the National Football League."
I think it sends the message that it's never too late to realize your dreams, and that the love of a sport is far more valuable than the tunnel vision 'my team only' approach. Not that a healthy rivalry isn't fun and exciting- it is. I just think that one can and should respect a talented player, no matter what team they happen to play for. Of course, I didn't hold it against Roy when he went back to North Carolina, either.
Personally, I find it refreshing that Favre jumped the shark in the most unpredictable way imaginable. My only point of criticism of him is the bizarre indecision surrounding his retirement, and that's pretty minor compared to some of the idiotic stunts so many other pro-football players pull.
d_prowess (anonymous) says…
The timing of his return is interesting. Not from a "what message does that send to kids" standpoint, but more of a how well will he perform. Bill Belichick mentioned on the radio today that they have completed 25% of their practices for the whole year at this point! So Farve has missed a lot, especially given that he was not part of this team last year and so has no relationships to build on.
But even after all that, I am extremely happy the Vikings play the Chiefs on Friday so I will get to see Farve in action!
JS82 (anonymous) says…
Farve is an egomaniac who can't be out of the spotlight. He hates training camp and this whole thing was staged to make sure he missed it.
His main issue is getting back at the Packers for dumping him. No matter what he says revenge is his motivation and he wants nothing more than to beat the Packers and win the division to prove to them that they were wrong for letting him go.
His legacy in Green Bay is trashed and I guess he really doesn't care.
d_prowess (anonymous) says…
Why is his legacy trashed in Green Bay? They didn't want him. Sure he has struggled with his future after the Packers, but I can't judge him since I don't know what that is like.
I really don't get why Green Bay fans are so angry with him. He was a great QB for them... He won them a Super Bowl... They decided that he was no longer their best chance to win and moved on. None of what has happened after that should change his history in Green Bay. Really, I think those angry in Green Bay are just being selfish. They wanted to feel good by having Farve ride off in the sunset after they no longer wanted him. They don't like the idea of him playing for someone else.
gsxr600 (anonymous) says…
He's Brett Favre. He's worthy of any opportunity.
srj (anonymous) says…
No idea why Green Bay should be mad at him, Aaron Rogers is a better QB then Farve at this time.
And don't get me started of the Chiefs. Everything I have read, they are worse then I thought. They have to bring in dead meat WR's because the current ones can't catch, Bowe had to be demoted to third team to make a point, and the talk of Croyle starting over Cassell is just bad news.
oscarfactor (anonymous) says…
Favre will destroy the Vikings season just as he destroyed the Jets season last year.
AreUNorml (anonymous) says…
letting your kids idolize a sports star sends a bad message. who cares what Brett does. his legacy would have meant more if he had stayed retired the first time.
OklahomaJayhawk (anonymous) says…
I actually see both points of view. But as a Vikings fan since 1976, I want to see the Vikings do whatever they can to get and win a Super Bowl. I see it as a win win situation, if he stays healthy the Vikings go deep in the playoffs, if they tank then there is a whole crop of good QB's coming out in the draft next year.