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Deja vu Again for Brett?

The annual rite of spring is here. I can’t shake a stick without being asked my thoughts on the plans of one Brett Favre. Of course, this happened even when Brett had not retired and went through his decision-making months after the end of the season from 2005-2007. Andrew Brandt

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The annual rite of spring is here. I can’t shake a stick without being asked my thoughts on the plans of one Brett Favre. Of course, this happened even when Brett had not retired and went through his decision-making months after the end of the season from 2005-2007. And, of course, it happened last year prior to – and following – his retirement. I expected Brett to want to continue playing a year ago, as I did every year for the past several years. Now, not so sure.

I have not talked to Brett, but I’ve talked with Bus Cook, his agent with whom I negotiated Brett's 10-year, $101M contract in 2001, both of us hoping at that time that Brett would play three more years. Now nine years later, the clock ticks on whether he will stay retired a second time. Bus says he’s done, as does another person very close to Brett, as does Brett. But as we know, there’s speculation that it could be déjà vu all over again.

Brett's decision to un-retire last year was, in my mind, quite predictable. This year, it is less so, but not entirely outside the realm of possibility. The problem is that Brett's desired result last year -- to return to the Packers -- was not available to him (nor this year, of course), as the Packers made an organizational decision to move on with Aaron Rodgers. With that path blocked, Brett reluctantly accepted the assignment of his contract to the New York Jets, making the best of a situation that was not his preference.

For Brett to un-retire again, there would first have to be a suitor, and that suitor would have to put the team’s future on hold for at least a year, as the Jets did a year ago. Brett can now talk to any team in the league about a potential opportunity – without fear of tampering charges by the Jets – after being granted his release following the trumpeted arrival of Mark Sanchez. With Sanchez in tow, the Jets are now officially committed to moving away from any temporary quarterback solution; they have embraced the future. As a result, there was no need to have Brett on their reserve/retired list because he’s a player with a five-month career with that organization.

As noted above, there were certainly reasons for Brett and Bus to request his release. One is to have the ability to talk to other clubs as an unrestricted free agent. Another is to sign a ceremonial one-day contract with another team to retire as a member of that club. Possible in Green Bay? One day perhaps, but probably not any time soon.

I always got the feeling Brett would one day like to do what Roger Clemens did in Major League Baseball for a few years: pick a team and come back and play for them in the middle of the season and lead them on a run into the postseason.  Brett loved to play the game; he certainly did not love mini-camps or training camp.   

Clemens could do this. He could choose a team and walk on the mound and pitch, just rearing back and throwing the same way as he would wearing any team’s cap on his head. For Favre, of course, it would be much more problematic. Football is about schemes, about systems, about 11 players on offense in sync galvanized by thousands of repetitions in offseason workouts, mini-camps, training camp and practices. A player cannot show up in the middle of the season and walk in and start slinging. At least in theory he can’t, although Brett probably believes he still can.

Having said all that, for the first time, I don’t think Brett will play again … at this time.

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daniel
Apr 30, 2009
01:17 PM

Cue to the vitriolic disparaging posts from ignorant, ungrateful packer fans...

aevansen
Apr 30, 2009
01:27 PM

Packers fans had a total of two days to enjoy an exciting draft and a glimpse at success again. Now all we get to read about is this. If wanting him to just go away makes me vitriolic and ignorant, so be it.

Chuck
Apr 30, 2009
01:29 PM

I actually find it sad that Brett can't embrace retirement and move on to a new challenge in his life. There's a lot of other things he could be doing with his time and has a great family to share it with. At almost 40 years old, he won't recover from that big hit like he did when he was younger. What is there left to prove?

Colin
Apr 30, 2009
01:31 PM

Daniel,

You can probably cue all the comments that are sick of the vomit-inducing media hypefest surrounding another Brett Favre rumored return. Simply put, most people are sick of hearing about whether this guy is coming back, sick of the excessive ESPN coverage, just sick.

As a Packer fan myself, I appreciate what Favre did. I don't appreciate the years he put the organization through the wringer whether he'd return, thus screwing up any free agency & drafting plans.

And if you want a vitriolic post from a supposed "ignorant, ungrateful Packer fan", I'll say this...I hope Favre returns, I hope he goes to the Vikings, I hope to see Kampmann bury him in the ground.

Scott M.
Apr 30, 2009
01:35 PM

I just hope that Favre commits one way or the other soon. This isn't baseball - if you're going to come back and play for a team, they don't need you in August, they need you NOW. If you're going to try to play another season, your body doesn't need to start getting ready in August, it needs to start getting ready NOW. Professional football isn't a part-time gig - you either it play it or you don't.

Blaise63
Apr 30, 2009
02:54 PM

Hmmm. . . "With Sanchez in tow, the Jets. . . have embraced the future". And this is diffent from the Packers last March-how? As a Packer fan since my first recollection of a game in 1962, I fully supported the actions of the Packers last year. Talk is that Favre would like to wear the Purple and Gold; even as a Viking non-lover I would have to scratch my head and wonder why they would put their future on hold.

Ben G
Apr 30, 2009
02:57 PM

Roger Clemens cheated...I have no respect for him and to mention Roger Clemens in the same breath as Brett Favre is an injustice to Favre. If anyone used steroids it would be possible to "show up" in the middle of the season and play at a high level. I expect a better column from you Brandt...

Paul in GB
Apr 30, 2009
03:06 PM

daniel -
I'm not ungrateful or ignorant and I will refrain from disparaging comments.

Brett Favre WAS the greatest quarterback I have ever seen play. He is no longer the greatest still playing the game. If he wants to continue to play - good for him, I wish him all the luck in the world, godspeed. If he wants to play for the Packers biggest rival (I still say the Bears are our biggest rival) to "get back at Ted" he, or anyone else, should not be surprised that some Packer fans will take it personally. They have so much love and appreciation for everything he did for the Packers and Green Bay that they cannot believe he would do such a thing to them.
Anyone who thinks the Packers should have released him from his contract last year without compensation because of everything he did for GB needs to brush up on their business skills - you don't give something away if it still has value - the NFL is not the Salvation Army.

There, I hope that wasn't ignorant or ungrateful.

Romo4MVP
Apr 30, 2009
03:14 PM

Ben G,

Go back and read the post. Brandt wasn't comparing Clemens and Favre on a competitive level.

He was talking about the deal Clemens had to stay home.

That was a cheap shot at Brandt. WOW.

WoodyG
Apr 30, 2009
03:19 PM

What's going on here isn't all that difficult to envision.

BF received his release from the Jets so he can sign a quick contract with the Pack & then re-re-re-retire as a Packer.
The Pack along with BF will retire #4 on Sunday night, game 1 versus the Bears.
I think this scenario is perfectly clear.

(Or I suppose he could sign with the Vikes)

John W
Apr 30, 2009
03:45 PM

Yaaaawwwwnnnnnn......

Roy
Apr 30, 2009
04:27 PM

daniel
April 30, 2009
1:17 pm

Cue to the vitriolic disparaging posts from ignorant, ungrateful packer fans

That's a ridiculous statement. We just wanted things to wind down in a predictable and orderly way. We wanted our hero to play by the rules. Be a team guy. Last year was proof that the Packers were accurate in their evaluation of his skills. It was Brett that caused all the hassle, not fans who wanted to keep their memories intact. He had a great run and it is selfish of him to extend at the expense of the team and the fans. In the movies the good guy always know when to walk away gracefully. I guess Brett didn't watch the movies.

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