... Brett Favre, that is, that is bothering me.
Is he seriously considering coming back just four months after his tearful departure from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL?
If he is, he's putting the Packers, and himself in a very difficult position.
The Packers have prepared Aaron Rodgers to be Favre's replacement since they drafted him in 2005. He annually has lived through the "will Brett or won't Brett" return talk. This past offseason, Coach Mike McCarthy has tailored his offense to Rodgers' strengths during minicamps, "optional" team activities and one-on-one study.
Should Favre return to the Packers, one could assume that Rodgers will opt to leave (to put it politely) when his rookie contract expires after the 2009 season. A Favre return also would cost the Packers $12 million in salary. ... And there is no guarantee he can replicate his performance of a season ago, which statistically was among his three-best, and victory-wise tied for his best. So there is a great deal of risk for the Packers.
What about Favre? His indecisiveness has dampened some Packers fans' enthusiasm about him. Granted, a large majority would welcome him back with open arms, but his annual flirtations with leaving the game have some fans scratching their cheeseheads. ... In addition to injury, which seems ridiculous to write about a man who didn't miss a game in 16 seasons, Favre faces the prospect of the team not meeting the lofty expectations it would face should he return. Anything less than a Super Bowl would not be satisfactory. ... Then there is family. Favre's stated desire has been to spend more time with his daughters and wife, a cancer survivor.
One more thing. While Favre's body clock might be telling him it's time for training camp, what I heard last spring was, "I am mentally fatigued and not willing to go through the weekly preparation for opponents and deal with the pressure that comes with playing in the fishbowl known as Green Bay." Favre was clear that physically he felt fine. That obviously hasn't changed.
So what's next? Only Favre knows.
Come back, lead the Packers to a Super Bowl, and all of this is moot. Come back and not get there while basically holding the door open for Rodgers to leave creates a problem. Come back with another team, say the quarterback-needy Vikings or Bears, and it might be a nearly unpardonable sin in Packerland. ... Or stay retired and let things run their course.
Favre's place in Packers history is secure, but the final chapter might provide some interesting reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment