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The Brett Favre Retirement Watch has generated a collective yawn this offseason.
It’s not that people don’t care, but maybe Packers fans have endured the “will he?” or “won’t he?” scenario so often they figure it’s not worth the energy.
Fretting about Favre’s status won’t change his mind, and it won’t speed up the process.
But after the Packers came so agonizingly close to the Super Bowl, shouldn’t fans spend their waking hours hoping Favre returns for one more title run? Instead, there’s a feeling of calm among the Packers faithful.
It’s possible a false sense of security has set in because the evidence supporting Favre’s return is so overwhelming. Conventional wisdom says the decision is a no-brainer.
The Packers are a bona fide Super Bowl contender. Favre remains remarkably healthy and played at the top of his game in 2007. Favre has a strong relationship with coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers’ offense, ranked No. 2 in the NFL, has the potential to improve with the development of young receivers and the emergence of running back Ryan Grant. A $12 million base salary can’t be dismissed.
How could Favre walk away from all of that? Well, he might have his reasons:
There is nothing left to prove. Grasping for another Super Bowl ring is a noble goal, but Favre has been there and done that. Winning another championship would elevate Favre’s legacy, but it’s already in the stratosphere. He will go down as one of the best quarterbacks to play the game.
Favre’s bank account, like his legacy, doesn’t need enhancing. He can live comfortably for the rest of his life without earning another dime. If Favre needs a little spending money, his image and Hall of Fame career would attract lucrative endorsement deals for a long time.
Spending his retirement days in the warm climate of Mississippi, Favre never again would have to brave the brutal Midwest winters that feature below-zero temperatures, bone-chilling winds and frozen fingers.
Offseasons would involve carefree days of golfing, fishing, hunting and relaxing poolside instead of putting his 38-year-old body through rigorous, gut-busting workouts. The thought of not having to fly to Wisconsin for tedious minicamp and organized team activity sessions in May and June might sound appealing.
After being exposed to fame, glitz and glitter for almost two decades, the thought of a normal lifestyle would be attractive. Not having to split his grade-school daughter’s academic year between Wisconsin and Mississippi would be a big plus.
The theory that retirement would get boring and a man only can mow so much grass before needing a diversion is something everyone must face. Sometime soon, Favre will confront that dilemma. Thus, he must ask himself whether putting off the inevitable is reason enough to play another season.
I remain convinced Favre’s competitive nature will lure him back. But if the decision is so obvious, why didn’t he announce his intention to return soon after the season ended? He’s at least considering the prospect of life after football.
Favre likely will declare his plans in the next two weeks. If it’s like recent years, he will phone longtime friend Al Jones of the Biloxi Sun Herald and tell him the good tidings Packers fans want to hear. If it’s something different, news conferences will be scheduled, special editions will roll off the presses, ESPN will churn out hours of tributes, and the world as we know it never will quite be the same
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