Being Brett Favre

Love of the game…. PERIOD!

He had a lot of time to think about what he was going to say, and you know he figured Joe Buck would ask “Why are you thinking of possibly considering coming out of your semi-but-permanent retirement to maybe play for the possible Minnesota Vikings?” Of course he wasn’t going to actually say, “To get Ted Thompson for hurting my massive ego.” Or anything even remotely close to that, for that matter. He has to give the politically correct “Because I love to play” answer. I don’t buy it.

I’m sure that he still enjoys playing; it wouldn’t be worth it to come back just to get back at Uncle Ted, but I don’t think it’s as big a part as he’s trying to let on.

You act like you just stumbled upon some novel idea. Some of us have seen & believed that all along.

Welcome to the party.

The media has been spinning it’s wheels over the issue, trying to forecast and guess and speak with authority, trotting out the experts and companions, deluging us with their bullshit and distracting us from one simple truth; they don’t know. They never knew because the person in question didn’t tell them and he wasn’t feeding the shark frenzy they were creating.

Who can know what’s in another person’s heart, truly? The best we have to go by is what they tell us, and we can judge by that and their actions, but it’s still a guess.

I’m more concerned with what is, and maybe if I have some experiences that can relate, I can begin to understand what the man is going through.

I believe Favre; that he’s an old racehorse who hears the sound of the starting gate every single year, whether he’s on the field or not. And when he does, he starts to reach for his cleats or to take a football into his hands. That his heart probably races a bit faster, before he looks around and realizes, "Oh, I’m supposed to be done with that now… ".

The question remains, is he still capable of getting back out on the field and produce a full season’s good work? Guess we’ll find out….

It’s obvious the Brett loves to play football. To be honest, it’s all that he really knows, and his quote reflects it. His entire routine has always revolved around football. His love for the game is the main reason why so many fans (and announcers) love him.

Which brings in the insecurity. Since football is all he knows, I think he’s afraid of what he’ll do with his life after he finally retires for good (in about 13 more years, 12 more retirements, and 10 more teams, but that’s besides the point). His past struggles with painkillers and alcohol tell me he has an addictive personality—perhaps he’s just really concerned about how he’s going to fill up all that free time after football. Maybe he’s scared that he’ll feel a greater need for his old vices.

But if you think for one second he doesn’t love all the attention, you’re nuts. If he really hated the media hanging on his every whim, he would have done this interview weeks ago. And of course he told Buck it’ll be about a month before he knows if his shoulder is ready—fair enough, but please don’t let him fool you into thinking he’d rather not have all these eyes on him. That boy has cried wolf far too many times for me to believe it.

Finally, revenge is obviously a factor, because the Vikings are the only team Favre wants to come back for. He wants to play the Packers twice to get back at Ted Thompson. The Bears already have their QB, and the Lions…well I’m not sure they count as a football team right now.

Andrew, I believe all of your angles for Favre’s inevitable return are correct to a degree. It’s nice to romanticize that he “just wants to play football”, but it’s naive to think there aren’t other factors at work.

i don’t know any professional football players. i wouldn’t know favre or allen or peterson if they didn’t play football. i don’t know who they are, i only know they can play ball. the only empathy i can come up with is from playing high school football and i’m sure the motivation is completely different compared to the pros.

every player has to get himself ‘up’ to play week in and week out. the coaches, fans, media and teamates probably all play a roll in getting a player ready, but the final push comes from within. everyone has to do it. it doesn’t matter how (unless it’s illegal or cheating) it’s done.

not to sound cold but who cares what the guys motivation is? i personally think favre is trying desperately to go out on top. if he’d won the sb two years ago with the packers he’d be retired and none of this would have ever happened here or in green bay. and the cheese heads would still have fond visions of favre dancing in their heads. that’s only my opinion and who knows if it’s right. and also who cares? he’s not my friend and probably wouldn’t want my advice even if i wanted to give it.

whatever his reasons are he’s just the next formerly great athlete who can’t or doesn’t know when to quit. the list is long and spans all sports. sometimes you get lucky and get to go out on top (elway?) but most times you just look old (de la hoya?).

if the arm ends up good to go, here’s hoping favre gets his wish and goes out top.

man that tasted sour.
(i think i just threw up in my mouth a little)

Pure and simple.

The question is not why he really wants to come back, it is why you would want him? Does anyone really think we improved our pass protection this off season? Birk is gone and “the other lineman can’t even stand to say his name” is not. A 40 year old QB can not out scramble ones in their 20s. Bum shoulder equals no “GUN” and there is no way to say how long it will last even if it is better after surgery. Don’t get me wrong I wanted Farve last year bad, but now there are more questions then answers. He said himself last night he joined the Jets too late and the offense was new to him and had to be pared down. He knows our offense how? When did he practice with our first unit? When did he get our Playbook is it on the internet or something? That may be something the coaches may want to look in to, other teams may be able to defend us better if there is a leak in the front office.

Don’t need a Weatherman to tell which way the wind blows. – Bobby Zimmerman, Duluth

After school is out, no one needs to bring a note from their mother to give them authorization to throw a football.

Favre’s first head coach called him a “car wreck” and when asked under what conditions Favre would get his first NFL start answered, “a plane crash,” by which it was understood that the coach and the rest of the team all would be dead and Favre would survive because he had missed the flight again.

Where is Jerry Glanville now? (Just a rhetorical question. I know the answer.)

Q. Why do any of us do what we do?
A. We can’t think of anything better to do with our time.