The Legend Continues
Sean Dutra – Columnist
Every era has its sports heroes. The greats whose name becomes synonymous with their respective sport, team, and city. They have put in there time, achieved what few have, set records, and some nights have been compared to gods.
Brett Favre in his seventeen years as playing in the NFL has been all of the above to the most faithful fans in football. Favre brought his gunslinging mentality to Green Bay as a young unproven quarterback in the early nineties and never looked back. Since then he has been a spectacle to watch. Never lacking energy he thrilled fans at Lambo Field where he had made his home.
Favre had by all means a season where he could have easily bowed out and there wouldn’t have been any second guessing. He led the undermanned Packers to the NFC Championship game and had an MVP like season. So when he made his emotional announcement that he would retire from the game of football it should have been the end to a great hall of fame career. If only we knew at the time he wouldn’t even make it to the end of the summer. Two moths ago to think of him in a different uniform, throwing touchdowns for a different team, would be a site only Bears fans would have found pleasing.
When the 2008 NFL season kicks off in September #4 wont be thawing the frozen tundra instead he will be on the New York Jets? How did this come to be. The humble country boy will now be playing the big apple. Thats like Ted Williams going to the Cubs, or Magic Johnson playing for the Bucks. It just doesn’t click.
This has to make any follower of football and sports in general give a sigh of disappointment of what sports are becoming today. Its a world where there is no more loyalty. Dollar signs control the minds of superstars while aging greats cant give up the lime light. The case with Favre is no different.
When Brett had said he wanted to come back the blame game started on whos fault it is that we wont be wearing Packer green. Some say it is the organizations fault for not letting Favre come back and welcoming him with open arms. But realistically they planned on not having Brett there. They cant go back on all they planned on post Brett. They had a system set up to implement when Favre made his decision to go. He did they followed through and now there was no room for his triumphant return. Is that the Packers being stubborn or just not caving in to an indecisive superstar.
Regardless, Green Bay has lost an icon while New York has gained an aging quarterback who still thinks hes got something left to prove.
But emotions aside for a minute this situation might actually have some bright spots.
Brett led a team last year who were worse off at the beginning of the season than the Jets are right now. He now has the option to throw to a tandem of accomplished recievers in Jericho Cotchery and Laverneus Coles. He will also have a solid run game with Thomas Jones to give his old arm a break.
The main thing that i see ruining this situation for Brett is how he changes mentally now going to New York. WIll he realize that he really just wanted to be a Packer again, will he lose his fire and child like enthusiasm for the game. How will he react to being scrutinized every play instead of being worshiped like he was in Green Bay.
And hey, maybe New York isn’t ready for Brett as he all ready single handedly shut down the New York Jets website as too many people were ordering his jersey.
The question’s will keep coming as this saga continues to unfold.
