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Packers burning question: Is it time for Favre to retire?
By Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
June 18, 2007
Let's get the dangling suspense out of the way by answering the question first: Absolutely not. If Brett Favre having fun playing the game and still can chuck the football downfield with ease, he has a right to, and should, keep playing.
The common question asked by those questioning Favre: But what's there to play for? He's already in the exclusive 400-TD club, has a Super Bowl ring and has a special place among all the greats to ever play for Green Bay.
The answer is more complicated. Favre may no longer be able to carry the Packers with his rifling right arm alone, but he can play a big part in helping a young team rise to contention with his head and heart.
The Packers need Favre the leader more than ever. Aaron Rodgers, their first-round pick from 2005, is in no position to take over at quarterback. While Favre continues to be the NFL's ultimate iron man, Rodgers broke his foot last season in only his fifth career appearance.
Favre himself had some offseason ankle surgery but nothing that won't keep him from building on his regular-season consecutive games played streak of 237. The bigger offseason issues were his urging of the team to acquire wide receiver Randy Moss and then dispelling rumors of his own desire for a trade out of Green Bay.
Now that all of that is in the rearview mirror, and Favre is firmly planted for his 17th NFL season, the focus is on the future. More specifically, it's a bright near future with general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy guiding the operation.
Last season Favre had to deal with younger offensive linemen in front of him and no proven wide receivers other than Donald Driver. This year, with his longtime backfield mate Ahman Green now a Texan, the new combination of rookie Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency, acquired from the Texans early last season, puts a different spin on the running game.
Last season, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz came through at guard in the team's new zone-blocking scheme, and rookie Greg Jennings showed real promise as a big-play wideout. This season, Jackson and Morency are set to be a productive, versatile combination.
And there's the defense, which will continue to improve with young stars such as Cullen Jenkins, Aaron Kampman and A.J. Hawk, who has shown the playmaking flair to creep toward Favre's level of Packer Nation adoration.
Favre doesn't need to put up MVP stats for the Packers to get to the playoffs. He has underrated players all around him, and he can help them all come together by being an efficient passer and leader.
The running game and overall defense are set to reemerge as strengths for the Packers. Favre can play off that, using high-percentage passes in a balanced offense to move the ball and his fiery savvy to motivate some of his much younger teammates.
The NFC North is there for the taking, as the Bears are having some issues. And the Packers can build on the confidence generated by winning at Chicago last New Year's Eve to finish with a surprising 8-8 record. And really, for the Packers to take advantage, they need the quarterback who can win now, and that's Favre. They need him in the short term as much as he has loved playing for them over the long term.
There has been rebuilding all around Favre the past few seasons, making many think he won't have another shot at the playoffs. But he's in a good position to prove them wrong. And besides, the playoffs always are more fun when No. 4 still is around.
By Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
June 18, 2007
Let's get the dangling suspense out of the way by answering the question first: Absolutely not. If Brett Favre having fun playing the game and still can chuck the football downfield with ease, he has a right to, and should, keep playing.
The common question asked by those questioning Favre: But what's there to play for? He's already in the exclusive 400-TD club, has a Super Bowl ring and has a special place among all the greats to ever play for Green Bay.
The answer is more complicated. Favre may no longer be able to carry the Packers with his rifling right arm alone, but he can play a big part in helping a young team rise to contention with his head and heart.
The Packers need Favre the leader more than ever. Aaron Rodgers, their first-round pick from 2005, is in no position to take over at quarterback. While Favre continues to be the NFL's ultimate iron man, Rodgers broke his foot last season in only his fifth career appearance.
Favre himself had some offseason ankle surgery but nothing that won't keep him from building on his regular-season consecutive games played streak of 237. The bigger offseason issues were his urging of the team to acquire wide receiver Randy Moss and then dispelling rumors of his own desire for a trade out of Green Bay.
Now that all of that is in the rearview mirror, and Favre is firmly planted for his 17th NFL season, the focus is on the future. More specifically, it's a bright near future with general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy guiding the operation.
Last season Favre had to deal with younger offensive linemen in front of him and no proven wide receivers other than Donald Driver. This year, with his longtime backfield mate Ahman Green now a Texan, the new combination of rookie Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency, acquired from the Texans early last season, puts a different spin on the running game.
Last season, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz came through at guard in the team's new zone-blocking scheme, and rookie Greg Jennings showed real promise as a big-play wideout. This season, Jackson and Morency are set to be a productive, versatile combination.
And there's the defense, which will continue to improve with young stars such as Cullen Jenkins, Aaron Kampman and A.J. Hawk, who has shown the playmaking flair to creep toward Favre's level of Packer Nation adoration.
Favre doesn't need to put up MVP stats for the Packers to get to the playoffs. He has underrated players all around him, and he can help them all come together by being an efficient passer and leader.
The running game and overall defense are set to reemerge as strengths for the Packers. Favre can play off that, using high-percentage passes in a balanced offense to move the ball and his fiery savvy to motivate some of his much younger teammates.
The NFC North is there for the taking, as the Bears are having some issues. And the Packers can build on the confidence generated by winning at Chicago last New Year's Eve to finish with a surprising 8-8 record. And really, for the Packers to take advantage, they need the quarterback who can win now, and that's Favre. They need him in the short term as much as he has loved playing for them over the long term.
There has been rebuilding all around Favre the past few seasons, making many think he won't have another shot at the playoffs. But he's in a good position to prove them wrong. And besides, the playoffs always are more fun when No. 4 still is around.
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