JAY GLAZER reports FAVRE is DONE

[swede]

I'm honestly perplexed that everybody here seems to think Favre is lying when he says that the reason he's walking away from the game is that he's mentally exhausted.

Only because he intimated toward the very end of last season that he felt like there was a good chance he would return...after he had already put in a considerable mental investment into 2007.

So what changed in the last few games of the year to convince him otherwise?

Again, the Brett that I think I know is comfortable making his decisions based on how he feels, and he didn't feel up to another season of getting his old body ready for another run at it.

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

Willing your body to perform at a level it is slowly telling you it can no longer achieve creates a tremendous amount of mental pressure.

I think, as it was, Green Bay had about a one in eight shot at the Super Bowl this coming year. Randy Moss may have pushed us up toward one in four.

I cannot subscribe to any theory that holds Brett Favre retired because of something the Green Bay Packers organization did or didn't do.

He retired because he's 38 going on 39 and he felt for the first time that the amount of fun he was about to have, and the amount of success he was likely to achieve were not worth the pain, pounding, and mental strain he'd be sure to feel.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

I know this feeling, and I walked away at 33.

[cpk1994]

Favre's lack of trust and patience in Thompson is then ridiculous.

No one is confusing Favre with being a future GM candidate.

Tom Brady, despite numerous rings, was still whining for a guy like Moss last season. NFL QBs like shiny new toys to play with.

WEll, he got that WR, and still din't get a ring with it.

[BallHawk]

My biggest regret is that I never got to see him play.

[Partial]

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

Fair enough, but how does that apply? The old dog had his best season in years and proved he was still one of the best in the business if not THE best.

[BallHawk]

And now it begins to sink in that he's gone.

And it is so frustrating that this guy was a goddamn legend, nothing like him, and of the 15 years I've been alive I never saw him play in person. That's what is really upsetting to me. And there's nothing that can change that.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

Fair enough, but how does that apply? The old dog had his best season in years and proved he was still one of the best in the business if not THE best.

Recovery takes longer and longer as you get older. At 37, my football injuries I have received over the last year just won't get better it seems, plus it seems a new injury keeps popping up. The mental frustration with it wears on you.

Sure Favre had a great season, but he had to work far harder these last 2 offseasons to get to where he is now. At some point one just gets tired of trying to maintain that level of physicality. At age 25-26 it wasn't as hard to stay in shape. Now, it takes a lot longer and more out of you.

That's what I think the mental fatigue Favre is referring to. It's not the film study so much as the mental mindset to get an aging body up to NFL calibur level. The discipline to work out hours and hours a day and getting beat up week after week.

[Cheesehead Craig]

And now it begins to sink in that he's gone.

And it is so frustrating that this guy was a goddamn legend, nothing like him, and of the 15 years I've been alive I never saw him play in person. That's what is really upsetting to me. And there's nothing that can change that.

Sorry to hear that man, I was lucky to see him 3 times. Twice at Lambeau and once at the Metrodome.

[Bossman641]

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

Fair enough, but how does that apply? The old dog had his best season in years and proved he was still one of the best in the business if not THE best.

Recovery takes longer and longer as you get older. At 37, my football injuries I have received over the last year just won't get better it seems, plus it seems a new injury keeps popping up. The mental frustration with it wears on you.

Sure Favre had a great season, but he had to work far harder these last 2 offseasons to get to where he is now. At some point one just gets tired of trying to maintain that level of physicality. At age 25-26 it wasn't as hard to stay in shape. Now, it takes a lot longer and more out of you.

That's what I think the mental fatigue Favre is referring to. It's not the film study so much as the mental mindset to get an aging body up to NFL calibur level. The discipline to work out hours and hours a day and getting beat up week after week.

I agree 100%. I think the mental fatigue is convincing himself to put in the physical work in order to be where he needs to be to succeed. Last year there were numerous quotes about Favre talking about how much more serious he had become and the amount of film study he put in. If anything, he was energized by the freedom given to him and leading all the young guys.

I don't think this is what has caused him to walk away. I just don't think he wants to put in the work; working with a personal trainer multiple times a week, the minicamps, but I think he will miss the competition come September.

[The Leaper]

That's what I think the mental fatigue Favre is referring to. It's not the film study so much as the mental mindset to get an aging body up to NFL calibur level. The discipline to work out hours and hours a day and getting beat up week after week.

Then the decision was based on a lack of desire to go through the PHYSICAL rigors...it has nothing to do with the mental mindset.

What you are saying is that Favre's body told Favre's mind to stop...it wasn't worth it anymore.

I agree that is the most likely scenario to occur for someone like Favre. However, I'm still confused over how anyone believes this has something to do with a mental mindset. It's 100% physical...Favre's mind would still be willing to run through a wall if his body let him.

[Lurker64]

Then the decision was based on a lack of desire to go through the PHYSICAL rigors...it has nothing to do with the mental mindset.

What you are saying is that Favre's body told Favre's mind to stop...it wasn't worth it anymore.

At the risk of getting too much in to metaphysics, desire is a mental state. Favre's body tells Favre's mind what he's going to need to do to keep playing, and Favre's mind decided that it was more than he wanted.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Any one here under the age of 30 may not understand how depressing it is to go out and play flag football with the 20-year-olds from the office, see a sweet pass heading to the corner of the end-zone just for you, and then have your legs simply not get you there the way they once would have.

Fair enough, but how does that apply? The old dog had his best season in years and proved he was still one of the best in the business if not THE best.

Recovery takes longer and longer as you get older. At 37, my football injuries I have received over the last year just won't get better it seems, plus it seems a new injury keeps popping up. The mental frustration with it wears on you.

Sure Favre had a great season, but he had to work far harder these last 2 offseasons to get to where he is now. At some point one just gets tired of trying to maintain that level of physicality. At age 25-26 it wasn't as hard to stay in shape. Now, it takes a lot longer and more out of you.

That's what I think the mental fatigue Favre is referring to. It's not the film study so much as the mental mindset to get an aging body up to NFL calibur level. The discipline to work out hours and hours a day and getting beat up week after week.

I agree 100%. I think the mental fatigue is convincing himself to put in the physical work in order to be where he needs to be to succeed. Last year there were numerous quotes about Favre talking about how much more serious he had become and the amount of film study he put in. If anything, he was energized by the freedom given to him and leading all the young guys.

I don't think this is what has caused him to walk away. I just don't think he wants to put in the work; working with a personal trainer multiple times a week, the minicamps, but I think he will miss the competition come September.

Exactly. People here think it is just physical that stops you. Wrong it is the emotional and mental that stops you.

Early in Brett's career he didn't need to put in the physical work, now he does. Are the workouts strenuous..of course, but nothing he can't handle.

It is the mental and emotional that is stopping him. Knowing he has to go to the gym, knowing he has to eat right, knowing he can't slack off. For him, right now, it is all about his head and heart. He just, most likely, just can't fathom doing it again.

Anyone who works out..lifts hard, knows that going to the gym and eating right is a GRIND. The lifting is actually the easiest part of it. It is a LIFESTYLE. And, anyone who is serious knows you gotta take a break for a week every 2 months or so..and you don't work out 7 days a week. You just can't sustain it.

Football isn't what it use to be..back in the 70s and 80s when players showed up for training camp and got in shape. They were able drink beers and basically recharge for the season.

Nowadays they gotta work out all the time, they have more offseason meetings and whatnot. We all have read about how injuries are potentially caused by this increase.

Brett has been doing this for so many years. He is just mentally fatigued and his heart just won't allow him to face the grind that he knows he must start right now.

He prolly looks at his wife and kids and thinks...go workout, punish myself..or enjoy spending time with them and my family. You only have so many years with them.

I agree that once training camp starts he'll get that itch.

[The Leaper]

I don't think this is what has caused him to walk away. I just don't think he wants to put in the work; working with a personal trainer multiple times a week, the minicamps, but I think he will miss the competition come September.

I agree completely.

Right now, Favre recognizes he doesn't think the work is worth it...but as reality sets in and Favre realizes he no longer will have that adrenaline rush that only being an NFL QB can bring, things are going to be grumpy at the Favre compound.

Favre has LIVED football for his entire life. Walking away is not going to be as easy as he thinks it will be...when he KNOWS he can still compete at a high level. If you know you are done...it is easier, but even then most retired QBs still say it is incredibly tough to quit. From what I've seen, Favre more or less is saying he just doesn't want to go through the grind...but I'm not sure he realizes just how much he will give up at this point by doing so. Does Superman really want to get in that crystal case to become Clark Kent for eternity?

Come August, he will start to realize that like a punch to the face. In March, it is easy to see the sit-ups and sprints as a pain in the ass. When the summer starts to wind down and football is in the air...THAT is when Favre is going to have to make his real decision.

People criticize Barry Sanders...but he did it right. He put in the effort...then right at the cusp of the season said no mas. Barry KNEW it was his time to go because the love wasn't there even when the payoff for all that work he did was at hand.

I saw Favre last year...we all did. There is plenty of love there. The payoff for that work is a long way away right now...it only makes sense he is physically and mentally wore down from a long season. As that payoff gets closer, the blood in Favre's veins will only boil more intensely. That is why many older, veteran NFL observers are stating that they aren't writing Favre off just yet.

[The Leaper]

Exactly. People here think it is just physical that stops you. Wrong it is the emotional and mental that stops you.

The mental decision relating to Favre revolved around WHY he should come back. He doesn't feel the risk (or grind) will outweigh the reward.

In terms of doing the physical aspects of preparation...Favre could still do it.

In terms of meeting the mental hurdles...Favre could still do it IF he felt there was a compelling reason to return.

In 2007, there was a compelling reason...records and a validation of a career to those who doubted him.

In 2008, there apparently isn't much of a reason to come back...other than winning a Super Bowl, which Favre clearly views as a long shot by his comments.

[packinpatland]

"The Packers are like The Pips, and their Gladys Knight is gone."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/nfl_experts/post/I-can-t-even-picture-the-Packers-without-Brett-F?urn=nfl,69910

I just laughed when I read this..........