TheLastManInAmerica

Bring him back

Someone’s gonna have to bring him back to earth

He’s getting out of hand

His alacrity for life is more than people stand

 “Back To Earth”- American Lesion (1997)                 

 Why risk it? The great reputation, the streaks, the glory, the legacy, all these things that are so rightfully a part of Brett Favre, it makes no sense why he’d want to risk them now by returning to a game he’s already conquered. “Veni Vedi Vici,” it could be the title of his biography because as it is he’s already etched his name into the annals of football history and every quarterback who comes along, especially those who don the green and gold of a Packers uniform, must chase his ghost to be considered one of the greats. He holds every passing record worth having, he is the most durable player at arguably the toughest position in all of sports and he’s won a championship. But now he wants to risk everything he’s accomplished to come back, but for what? What does he have left to prove to any of us or himself for that matter?         

    He is, without question, my favorite football player of all time. But he is even starting to wear me down with his behavior. He says it’s his love of the game that keeps calling him back every summer, even though every spring he seems to have had enough. Now it’s even testing his loyalty; he’s asking to be released or traded from the team where he did it all and the city that loves him like a son. This slap in the face was answered right back with one from the team itself, saying they would not release him and if he comes back, it will be as a backup.

            And good for them! This yo-yo act he’s playing with everyone is unacceptable. He leaves the team in an uncertain position; every off-season he can’t make up his mind, they don’t know if he’s coming back or if they’re going to have an extra 10mil to spend on new personnel. They’re also at a loss on who they should get practicing for the starting job. Then his backups are unsure if it’s now their time shine or if they’ll have to spend another season in the Great One’s shadow. Then of course there are the fans that have to watch this icon, this hero of theirs wallow in his indecision. He’s like Rocky in the latest installment of that series, once atop the world, he’s past his prime and he’s once again wondering about his self-worth. And in that regard it’s hard to argue against the way he’s acting.

            But the gridiron is no longer the place for him to prove his merit, not directly anyways. He’s done everything a player could hope to do and can rightfully be considered the greatest quarterback of all time. If he wants to know if he’s still got it, he should take up a job as a coach and teach youngsters all that he has learned to see if it was all worth it. If he continues to play he risks the chance of going out as one of the elite players in the league and his age he risks getting injured badly and tarnishing the Iron Man reputation. And what if the Packers make good on having him as a backup? Who could imagine seeing Brett Favre with all that fire inside of him smoldering on the bench? The last thing anyone wants is to see him go out like Muhammad Ali and hang around well longer than he should, getting outshined and bested by the young bucks who have inherited the game during his decline. For the sake of his legacy and the purity of all he’s accomplished, he needs to stay retired. Sure he may not have gone out on top like Elway, but it’s far better than him hanging around and being forgotten while he’s still there.             

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