 |
|
Play or go away? The legacy of Brett Favre and his time with the Packers deserves better than soap opera treatment.
|
|
I don't know about you, but man, how I wish Brett Favre would just go ahead and retire!
You know, it's hard to put your finger on who's most responsible for Favre's future being what's become the most tiresome story in sports. Is it the media's incessant preoccupation over Favre, and by all standards, his outstanding career? Or...is it a matter of Favre playing the media like a Stradivarius? Your guess is as good as mine, but I kind of believe that the media is culpable here. You don't get the impression that Favre gives a damn about all the added attention. So why the big deal?
Why the big deal indeed. In the big picture of star quarterbacks who have left the scene, no one has garnered more attention than Favre, who despite being very high on the all-time lists for touchdowns, yards and certainly the consecutive game streak...in reality, he's won exactly one Super Bowl. Compare to Montana and Steve Young who won a handful, and yet, when it was time to go went without the hysteria being whipped up over Favre's decision.
Consider others.
Johnny Unitas...two titles and for his day, all the records in the world. Yet, when Unitas was done he left with little more than a handshake and a slap on the back by the NFL hypesters and the national media.
Dan Marino...no one threw for more yards and more touchdowns during his tenure with the Dolphins...and no, he never won the big one. But arguably, he's more noticeable now for his role as an analyst for NFL than for his retirement as an active player.
Terry Bradshaw...won four Super Bowl titles and unquestionably led one of the NFL's best dynastys during his 12 years in Pittsburgh. Yet, when it came time for him to leave he and Chuck Noll could have shared the same cab. There was that little made over it.
And Tom Brady...in this day of over-reporting by a media that's just obsessed with one more better story, you can arguably say that Brady deserves more credit and attention than any of the other greats to play the position that we just named. After all, how much can you ask of a 6th round draft pick, who wins three Super Bowls in four years with a cast that's almost totally devoid of other high profile names? And if the mark of the man (in this case quarterback) is being a winner...no disrespect, but step aside Brett Favre!
The fact is, that the media has become obsessed with Favre for the fact of,,, 1) He plays in what must certainly be called the "Hooterville" of the NFL...there's absolutely nothing in Green Bay outside the Packers. 2) For the fact of all the personal tragedies he's endured and played through at a very high level during his career, he's become good "emotional" press, as well as statistical...the kind of human interest story that's usually reserved for the summer and winter Olympics. 3) In truth, no one has been a better emotional leader in football than Favre, but realistically, he should have left a year ago when the core of the Packers began leaving for more money and greener pastures. Emotion or not, there's no longer a cast to support his incomparable leadership, notwithstanding the injuries that became a plague in 2005. And now they've fired the coach (Mike Sherman) and if Favre does come back he'll have that adjustment with which to contend.
Even the Fox pre-game crew admitted Sunday (that's James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson) that the Brett Favre story has become the most over-reported story in sports...and that Favre, and the sports public, probably deserves some relief. At the very least, someone owes some explanation to the likes of Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly and hey, how about Bart Starr...about why Favre's decision to play or to go away is such a big deal!
If you're the biggest name in town and the arguably, the one person that the nation identifies with Green Bay, Wisconsin, there probably is some pressure on Brett Favre to play the game. He is, after all, the only reason left to root for the Packers. Every team has an Ahman Green and Donald Driver. There's only one Brett Favre! One thing's sure, he's certainly got enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life and the good people of Green Bay are largely responsible for that fact. Credit Favre, above the fact of his records, for the his loyalty to duty.
But all good things must come to an end, and if you're Favre...or the Packers...the good people of Green Bay and the rest of the country deserve better than this soap opera in Dairyland. Fish (which means for the Packers to sign the players necessary for Favre to be competitive if he does come back)...or cut bait (which means follow the example of Montana and Young) who quietly left the scene and wait for the call from the Hall of Fame in five years. After all, the quail hunting is excellent...back in Kiln, Mississippi.
Brett Favre deserves better. We all do, because this obsession over a sport rite of passage gets harder to understand everyday. Hey, I've yet to figure out how you get FAR-VE...from FAVRE! No one's explained that either.
The FanFile
[ «« Back ]
|
