packers11
03-27-2008, 10:38 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7951584/Favre-hasn't-filed-...-is-it-just-a-formality?
Favre hasn't filed ... is it just a formality?
By John Czarnecki
John Czarnecki has been the editorial consultant for FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. This season marks Czarnecki's 30th year covering the NFL. He is one of 44 selectors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Updated: March 25, 2008, 2:12 PM EST
When Brett Favre finally called it a career earlier this off-season, he certainly gave the impression that he wasn't having any second thoughts about riding off into the sunset.
But almost a month later, Favre still hasn't taken the final step to make his retirement official. He hasn't filed his retirement papers with the NFL Management Council.
I am curious about Favre not filing his retirement papers. What if he got all emotional about the Packers not making a second attempt at signing Randy Moss — this playoff team is so far under the salary cap it's ridiculous — that he simply became frustrated and quit? People can make some strange decisions when they get mad about something.
Couple that with his feeling that Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson weren't exactly begging him to return for another season, and I can see Favre making a knee-jerk reaction. When he retired, Favre said it was tough living up to his image. But even after 17 seasons, he was a top-five quarterback last season. He can still play.
I wrote before that McCarthy seems quite willing to move on without Favre. Aaron Rodgers needs to play before he reaches free agency. But you can bet that neither McCarthy nor Thompson wanted to be known as the men who nudged Favre out of Green Bay. That would amount to political suicide throughout Wisconsin.
The next move belongs to Favre.
If Favre doesn't file his retirement papers pretty soon, the only conclusion is that he is having second thoughts and still wants to play. How wild is that? Well, it isn't totally crazy because retirement is the toughest decision in sports; it's why grown men cry at those press conferences, knowing they will never again play the game that they've loved for years.
But if Favre wants to play, will he force himself back onto the Packers? Or will he ask for his release?
I hate to say this, but Thompson would never give Favre his unconditional release. He can't afford to have Favre playing somewhere else; it's just bad politics.
But, to be honest, if Favre really wants to play again, he would be better off on a team like Baltimore or Tampa Bay, a playoff-caliber team that needs a quarterback shot in the arm. We all know it would simply be a one- or two-year stint.
In the past, whenever a trade seemed to make sense, Favre always said that he'd retire before finishing his career somewhere else. He was old-fashioned; he wanted to keep his legacy intact.
The next move is Brett's. File those papers and the speculation ends. But until he does, fans must wonder what he's really thinking.
Favre hasn't filed ... is it just a formality?
By John Czarnecki
John Czarnecki has been the editorial consultant for FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. This season marks Czarnecki's 30th year covering the NFL. He is one of 44 selectors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Updated: March 25, 2008, 2:12 PM EST
When Brett Favre finally called it a career earlier this off-season, he certainly gave the impression that he wasn't having any second thoughts about riding off into the sunset.
But almost a month later, Favre still hasn't taken the final step to make his retirement official. He hasn't filed his retirement papers with the NFL Management Council.
I am curious about Favre not filing his retirement papers. What if he got all emotional about the Packers not making a second attempt at signing Randy Moss — this playoff team is so far under the salary cap it's ridiculous — that he simply became frustrated and quit? People can make some strange decisions when they get mad about something.
Couple that with his feeling that Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson weren't exactly begging him to return for another season, and I can see Favre making a knee-jerk reaction. When he retired, Favre said it was tough living up to his image. But even after 17 seasons, he was a top-five quarterback last season. He can still play.
I wrote before that McCarthy seems quite willing to move on without Favre. Aaron Rodgers needs to play before he reaches free agency. But you can bet that neither McCarthy nor Thompson wanted to be known as the men who nudged Favre out of Green Bay. That would amount to political suicide throughout Wisconsin.
The next move belongs to Favre.
If Favre doesn't file his retirement papers pretty soon, the only conclusion is that he is having second thoughts and still wants to play. How wild is that? Well, it isn't totally crazy because retirement is the toughest decision in sports; it's why grown men cry at those press conferences, knowing they will never again play the game that they've loved for years.
But if Favre wants to play, will he force himself back onto the Packers? Or will he ask for his release?
I hate to say this, but Thompson would never give Favre his unconditional release. He can't afford to have Favre playing somewhere else; it's just bad politics.
But, to be honest, if Favre really wants to play again, he would be better off on a team like Baltimore or Tampa Bay, a playoff-caliber team that needs a quarterback shot in the arm. We all know it would simply be a one- or two-year stint.
In the past, whenever a trade seemed to make sense, Favre always said that he'd retire before finishing his career somewhere else. He was old-fashioned; he wanted to keep his legacy intact.
The next move is Brett's. File those papers and the speculation ends. But until he does, fans must wonder what he's really thinking.