Brett Favre: good for Madden ‘09, but not your fantasy team

Summertime. Janis Joplin said it best, “Summertime; child, the living’s easy.” One of the only things I don’t enjoy about summer is being in that lull between hockey and football seasons. Sure I love to watch surfing, soccer, UFC, and some baseball (mainly when it involves division rivals); but, with the exception of baseball, these aren’t regularly scheduled like hockey and football are. And to be honest, baseball does little to satisfy my appetite for watching grown men crush each other’s skulls in on a week-to-week basis. What I find even more interesting is once the NBA finals are over, end of June/beginning of July, the sports journalists are itching for some decent stories. Baseball isn’t the greatest provider of entertaining news–see, “performance enhancing drugs” or “A-Rod’s fling of the week”. They tried with the first week of NHL free agency/hockey draft, but nothing overly controversial happened–for example, the Pens may have lost some valuable players (Jarkko Rutuu, Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone) in free agency, but it’s not like Evgeni Malkin refused his $43.5 mil, 5-year extension.  So as the ESPN sports journalists find themselves in their own type of lull (well, at least until the Olympics start), they once again bring up an oh-so-familiar topic that they have a knack of focusing on every year about this time–will he or won’t he?

Amid all of the speculation surrounding one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks my generation has had the priviledge of watching, I feel compelled to offer some insight apart from what the ratings-invested, sports media is reporting. A comment I received from an ESPN friend (thank you pgath) is really what pushed me to set the record straight. Not only am I a “Packerbacking Cheesehead”, I am also one of the biggest Brett Favre fans the state of Maryland has ever seen–if not THE biggest Favre fan (which, admittedly, in “Hog Country” is not really a difficult feat). Realistically, I should be one of those wishing for his return to once again grace the hardened field of the Frozen Tundra–his sanctuary. I should be one of those football fans who are buying into this mumbo jumbo as if it were legit reporting. I should be one of the homers looking up his projected worth as a starter vs backup in fantasy football. But I’m not. Why? Because I’m smarter than the 89.867% of sports readers who “know” he’s returning.

1. He told Coach McCarthy he has an “itch” to play.

I’m sure Bradshaw, Unitas, Elway, Marino, and Montana all got the itch to play after they retired too. When you’re used to preparing yourself physically and mentally to lead your team in the upcoming football season (which is not only your job, but will also inevitably define who you are and what you’re worth) for so many years, it’s difficult to just stop. No one has an easy time stopping what they enjoy doing, and Favre is no exception. Not to mention, the way Packer fans have embraced him and the way the NFL has embraced him is hard to ignore. Part of it’s ego I’m sure–if you’re considered “god-like” you don’t want to end up being ”a thing of the past”. And with training camp just around the corner, I’d be offended if he had absolutely no desire to play another season in Green Bay.

2. He texted Ted Thompson.

And? What was Thompson’s response? He was on vacation and they’d talk later. If Favre was returning, wouldn’t they have some sort of conference call or something immediately? For one thing, I’m not entirely sure Thompson wants Favre back. [While he'd be crazy to favor Aaron Rodgers in place of Favre, just hear me out. 1. It's a gamble--is it certain Favre will have the kind of season that he did last year? Is it certain he won't get hurt (which, in his older age, is likely) at some point and be out for the season anyway? 2. All that the fans, team, and city went through when Favre retired--Thompson doesn't seem eager to reverse all of that just to endure it all again later.] For another thing, Favre needs to sign his retirement papers and still workout those last minute details before training camp on July 28. Sure he has his agent for this kind of thing, but the Packers organization isn’t known for talking through their agents anyway. Not to mention, I have a feeling Favre will be invested in some way in the goings on of the Packers. If for nothing else, to offer occasional advice to new players.

3. Brett always holds Green Bay “hostage” during the month of July and ends up playing.

Yes, but this year he actually held a press conference and officially retired. The media turns this into a “hostage”-type situation year after year; heightening the intensity and drama for ratings purposes. All because baseball (which is the only other thing to write about during the month of July) isn’t exciting to report on until the playoffs.

4. He hasn’t signed his retirement papers.

Many retired athletes don’t sign their retirement papers right away. MANY. It’s called initially having better things to do. Like endorsements.

5. He said when he retired that he could still play.

He could, but that doesn’t mean he would. I can drive my car into a tree, but that doesn’t mean I will. It’s not like he had a career-ending injury. And Coach McCarthy’s offense doesn’t require Favre to throw the bombs like he did in the good-old days. It’s much more QB-friendly given the fact that it relies more on the YAC than it does on the arm of the QB.

6. There are two years still left on his contract.

And? Given the fact that he took a pay cut a few seasons ago to acquire/afford more talent means that 2 years on his contract is not comparable to 2 years on Tom Brady’s contract or 2 years on Peyton Manning’s contract. Plus, the team doesn’t consist of a number of Randy Moss/T.O.-type players who’s salaries are insanely demanding. Not to mention the amount of revenue accrued from the fans. The Packers organization has money, and they can afford those 2 years.

7. It’s not impossible to unretire. Plus, he’s going to the Dolphins. Or maybe even the Vikings.

It’s not impossible, but it’s not entirely respectable. Favre is too classy. He cares too much about his family, the team, the fans, the sport to unretire. But, for the sake of humoring this question, if he did unretire, he would stay with the Packers. No question. If he played for any other team, the fans would castrate Ted Thompson.

8. The fans are the ones who own shares in the team. And the fans (aka owners) want Favre, not Rodgers, next season.

Yes, but the fans have moved on enough to refrain from demanding a return by Favre (who are we to demand anything from him anyway?). Not to mention, we’ve all embraced the fact that it’ll be another building year in Green Bay. However, I don’t think Rodgers will do terrible. And our newbies last season proved that our youngins have talent and know what they’re doing. Inexperience is a thing of the past. Now, if we could only get that pesky defense upgraded…

9. He said he’d come back if Rodgers got hurt.

Well, he certainly has proven his status as a knight-in-shining- armor after leading the Pack into many 4th-Quarter/last-minute/come-from-behind victories. But I wouldn’t count on it. He said that high on emotion (he had just said he was retiring) and before we got Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn (that’s 2 back-up QBs).

10. Favre isn’t denouncing the rumors of a possible return.

Isn’t Madden ‘09 coming out soon? Marketing people–it’s got his mug on the cover lest ye forgot. He may be a simple boy from Mississippi, but he ain’t stupid. Not to mention, if I were him, I wouldn’t even acknowledge the media with a response. He doesn’t owe anyone anything. Just because players have unretired in the past and the media is turning this into something with all of their speculation–that doesn’t mean he has to respond to it. Nor should he. When the Olympics start, this will all be old news anyway.

Back in April (after the whole “itching” comment leaked in March), Favre was quoted as saying, ”There are always second thoughts, but that’s not saying I am coming back…It might be nice to dream about it, but no.” On a side note: I love #4 to death, and it’ll be weird not seeing him play, but I wouldn’t want him to come back. He went out after a fantastic season with dignity and class. I want him to be remembered for this past season and not some ill-attempted, come-back season. He’ll be missed, but missed with nothing short of positive memories.

So, before you add him as a contender for a coveted QB spot on your fantasy team, keep in mind that ESPN just wants to boost their ratings, and you’re stupid if you honestly think he’s unretiring (you probably shouldn’t play fantasy football to begin with if you’re that stupid). If any of you readers out there would like me to offer a common sense explanation for any other “reason” that contributes to this fooey of “unretirement”, feel free to ask. I am more than happy to oblige and let you know why ESPN is full of idiot writers and has an idiot audience that hangs on every word these idiot writers have to say as if ESPN were the holy grail of sports reporting.

One day in the distant future, I plan on being the demise of ESPN.

Author: Brenda Niemeyer
Contact: bniemeyern@gmail.com

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Tags: #4, Brett Favre, ESPN, Favre, football, Green Bay, Greenbay Packers, Madden, Mike McCarthy, NFL, Packers, retire, retirement, Ted Thompson, unretire

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