Brett Favre Stays Retired

After a prolonged Hamlet-like inner debate, Brett Favre has finally made up his mind, for now. Favre has told the Minnesota Vikings that he plans to remain retired and not join the Vikings for the 2009 season. So, it looks like we have a resolution to one of the biggest annual off-season stories in the NFL. Hopefully, the decision satisfies Favre, someone who gave many priceless moments to NFL fans. Although many fans are elated that they no longer have to hear of Brett Favre, I'm disappointed that we will not see the future Hall of Famer for the 19th season.

Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings would have been great for this NFL season. As a neutral fan of the NFL, the more great storylines, the better the league. Seeing Brett Favre in the "enemy purple" after spending 17 years on the Packers would have been great drama. Whether you like Favre or not, most NFL fans would want to see the Vikings fans come to adore the man they hated for over a decade. The same reversal would come from Packers fans, as they would curse the greatest legend the city has ever seen. Then, the fateful day would come, October 5th. That would be the date that the Vikings and the Packers squared off for the first time in 2009. It would be in the Metrodome, imagine the storylines. It's Aaron Rodgers, the up and comer against the man who is the face of the Packers. It would be Brett Favre's chance at a direct shot to Ted Thompson, the GM who kicked him out of Green Bay. Not only would the game have all the angels, but it would also be on Monday Night Football. It's Favre vs. the Packers on center stage, isn't this the reason we like sports?

I also think that, if Favre was willing to grind it out for the entire season, this would be a win-win for the Vikings and Favre. The Vikings have a Super Bowl caliber team at every position on the field, except the most important one. Quarterback play has held this team back ever since Daunte Culpepper was lost for the season against the Panthers in 2005. QB's like Brad Johnson, Gus Frerotte, and Tavaris Jackson have not gotten the job done for a team as talented as Minnesota. Think about it, a team with the best running back in the league, the best run defense in the league, and weapons like Jared Allen rushing the passer, the Vikings should have won a playoff game in the post Culpepper-to-Moss era. It's not like the QB's don't have weapons to throw to, Bernard Berrian is a big-money deep threat that was signed before the 2008 season, and Sidney Rice was a 1st round pick in 2007 with a lot of potential. Clearly, QB is the problem here, and Brett Favre would have been a major upgrade. With him, the Vikings are a legitimate NFC title contender; without him, they will likely struggle to win their division.

For Favre, this could be a better way to end his career. Honestly, Favre was unfairly blamed for the Jets season, when in fact, he made them way better than expected. The Jets were coming off of an abysmal season, where they were not only bad, but also boring. Along came Brett Favre, with a lot of other free agents, and the team had a great start to 2008. At one point, the Jets were at 8-3, and at the top of many expert's power rankings after knocking off the previously unbeaten Titans. Favre was leading the league in completion percentage, and making big plays when he needed to. The Jets faded down the stretch, and Favre was partially to blame for it, but to act like the Favre experiment was a failure for the Jets is ludicrous. Favre did not have an awful season, he had a solid season and struggled at the end. A good final year with Minnesota could have left a better taste in the public's mouth.

Although I wanted to see Favre to the Vikings happen, if Brett wasn't fully committed and had doubts, then it's smart for him to retire. You never want to go into any situation half-hearted, especially with a complete resume' like Favre. It looks like the consecutive start streak record for a QB is set at 269. I just think that the next 16 games with Minnesota could have made the 2009 NFL season better.