Two weeks ago, Brett Favre sent the football world into a 50 yard spiral over an alleged text message stating, “This is it”.? He’d had enough.? Like Detective Murtaugh, Brett appeared to finally look himself in the mirror and decided he was too old for this s*#t.? That lasted all of 2 weeks.? It was as inevitable as Scott Boras taking a #1 overall pick’s negotiation down to the last second of the deadline or LaGarrette Blount throwing a summer right hook.? 40 year old, Favre is embarking on his final “This Is It” Tour.
Unlike M.J., Brett Favre will make it to the NFL’s much anticipated season opener between Minnesota and New Orleans– unless Conrad Murray moonlights as a Vikings trainer.? All it took was Brad Childress assembling a diplomatic envoy to retrieve him.
The Vikings have experience with wooing Hall of Fame caliber signal callers out of the retirement home.? Besides Daunte Culpepper, they haven’t drafted and developed a quarterback organically within the organization since Fran Tarkenton.
In the mid 90’s, Minnesota traded for an aging Warren Moon and in 1999, came a play short of going to Super Bowl with Randall Cunningham, whom they’d pulled from the depths of retirement.? A year later they nearly lured Dan Marino out of retirement. Did I mention Archie Manning retiring with Minnesota in ’84?? In the last 30 years, the Vikings have had more celebrity guest stars under center than a season of Entoturage.? Could it be destiny that Tom Brady’s contract expires after this season and the Patriots are haggling over his contract like two homeless men over a sweater?
What I don’t quite understand is the vitriol directed at Favre.? From the media’s perspective, his standoff gives Wilbon, Kornheiser and Le Batard something to debate during the dog days of summer besides whether the Knicks can orchestrate another unlikely super trio.? From an outsiders perspective, can you fault a 40 year old quarterback coming off ankle surgery for avoiding the rigors of training camp?
I will admit, I was never a supporter of Favre in Green Bay, but somehow these days I find myself having to defend Brett Favre.? Secondly, Favre has maintained the same stance since he limped off the field in January.? He didn’t ACTUALLY retire this time.? But like Pavlovian dogs, we all slurped up the invisible controversy.??? Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter what you think or how annoyed you are.? His teammates appear to respect and admire him.
As a leader, Favre is what a coach once told me, the face his team needs to see.? If the Vikings had their choice of Steve Young, Montana or Marino I would fault Minnesota for chasing Favre.? But they don’t.? They’re second options are Sage “Helicopter” Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson who holds a career sub-60 completion percentage and has yet to throw for 2,000 yards in a season.? Knute Rockne trusted his quarterbacks to throw more.
Watching Tedy Bruschi and Antonio Pierce sanctimoniously rail against the Vikings, wag their fingers and pound their fists on ESPN’s analyst desk for knocking at Favre’s door was nauseating.?? Does it matter if they had to woo Favre to return?? At 40 years old, he’s earned the respect your elders treatment.
At some point, we’ve forgotten football is entertainment.? ESPN covering Favre’s flight to Minnesota wasn’t preventing the network from covering a hostage crisis or covering a missing child.? At the most we missed out on an extra Phillies highlight. You’ll live.? Secondly, there’s no guarantee Favre can replicate the success of 2009.
In the 24 hours since his first official press conference, Percy Harvin has collapsed from severe migraines and internal strife between Favre and Childress has again risen to the surface like a corpse, no one wanted to find.? For years, insiders have speculated the Vikings should relocate to Los Angeles.? I now second that notion.? Hollywood deserves this drama.? I just hope Brett Favre returns to join the team by then.
