Brett Favre probably has a lot going through his mind right now.† He might be thinking about how his latest attempt to prove the Packers wrong and win a Super Bowl dissipated when Garret Hartley booted a 40-yard field goal in overtime during the NFC Championship game.† He could be thinking about how the final pass heís thrown for the three franchises heís played for have been interceptions.† He definitely is grimacing at the disgusting bruises all over his legs and ankles that have refused to subside more than a week after he took the beating of a lifetime against the Saints.
In a magical year, Favre managed to prove almost all of his doubters wrong by throwing 33 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions, as well as career highs in completion percentage and incredibly painful ass-slaps given to teammates.† Even at 40, he finished third in the MVP race ó and, had Drew Brees and Peyton Manning not started 13-0 and 14-0 respectively, he probably wouldíve won ó and single-handedly changed the personality of the Vikings offense. He elevated the play of Sidney Rice to an elite level and mentored Percy Harvin throughout the season.
If he were to walk away now and retire for good nobody could fault him.† He would have left at the peak of his mental abilities as a quarterback, and even in the twilight of his physical abilities, he was still a top-five quarterback this year.† Even Brett Favre knows that the fun must come to an end at some point.† The solo at the end of Lynyrd Skynyrdís ìFree Bird” can only go on for so long.† The Godfather could only stay brilliant for two movies before collapsing under Sophia Copollaís horrendous acting.† Heck, Conan OíBrien was only the host of ìThe Tonight Show” for seven months before he was ó wrongly ó replaced by Jay Leno.
In order to make his decision, Brett Favre should look back to this year.† Not the egregious and under-penalized beating he took against the Saints, but the immensely gratifying victories against the Packers, once on ìMonday Night Football,” and the other on the most televised 4 p.m. game in the leagueís history.† He should remember heaving the ball up to Sidney Rice and watching a skinnier version of Larry Fitzgerald come down with the ball. He should recall handing the ball off to Adrian Peterson in the first game of the season, where Peterson drove through three Browns ìdefenders” before shoving another onto the ground,† though he probably should forget the heart-shattering fumbles.† He should watch film of the last two games of the season, where he posted nearly a perfect passer rating and accumulating nearly 300 yards in the first half against the Giants in week 17.† He should reflect on how even though the Vikings turned the ball over five times in the NFC Championship game, they still controlled the game and were a coin flip away from starting with the football in overtime.
Brett Favre should also look towards next year as well.† The offensive line will be improved through either free agency or the NFL draft.† Adrian Peterson will spend the entire offseason with Tiki Barber correcting his fumbling issues.† The NFL will look at the style of play that the Saints use and penalize it more harshly, protecting Favreís increasingly fragile body.
If the seemingly impossible were to happen and Brett Favre were to retire permanently, no one will call him weak, and heíll largely be remembered for his brilliant resurgence.† His 22-interception season with the Jets will be just a blip on the radar.
However, why would he want to retire right now?† He has one of the best running backs in the NFL, he has an elite receiving corps, an improving offensive line and an explosive defense. Brett Favre might have a lot on his mind, but heís having way too much fun to retire without giving the Super Bowl one more shot.