Favre stays retired…for now

Believe me, I really would like to wish that Brett Favre’s recent announcement of staying retired is a permanent one.  He says the mental and physical toll of a 16-game season is just too much for an almost 40-year old to handle.  Plus we all know he’s never been a fan of training camp which I’m sure the thought of staying in a dorm room in Mankato was being dreaded as he debated these past few months whether or not to sign on with the Minnesota Vikings.

But this is Brett Favre we’re talking about.  When was the last time he’s made a decision and stuck to it.  The guy has been wavering the past 4 years now on each upcoming season on what to do.  Tuesday’s decision was one he had to make.  The Vikings never imposed a deadline on Favre, but Brett knew he couldn’t leave the team hanging if he wasn’t 100% committed to playing in 2009.  By saying no, he’s allowing the team to move on at this moment.

Over these next few weeks, that “itch” is sure to come back for a future Hall of Famer who knows nothing but to be playing football at this time of year.  I don’t doubt for one moment that Minnesota would welcome him with open arms yet if he changes his mind in a couple of weeks.  He was able to walk into New York Jets camp late last year and learn an entirely new offense in time for the season opener.  The learning curve to the Vikings’ West Coast offense would be a whole lot less.

Here’s another scenario.  Vikings limp out of the gate for the 2009 regular season.  They start off 1-3, the defense dominating in all 4 of those games, but bad play at quarterback by Sage Rosenfels and/or Tarvaris Jackson is to blame for all of their losses.  Head coach Brad Childress is now on the hot seat because Brett Favre or not, this team is expected at the very least to win the NFC North.  Childress gets on the phone and pleads with Favre to think again about coming out of retirement.  With training camp in the rear-view mirror, and a 16-game season whittled down a bit, Favre gives the green light to come out of retirement for the second straight year.  One week later, Favre is in uniform to begin a huge 3-game stretch right before their bye week that ends with a game at Lambeau Field.

Like I began this blog, I hope Favre stays at home so in 5 years we can put him in Canton and debate where he sits among the all-time best quarterbacks.  But I have a feeling the never ending ‘Favre Saga’ still has a chapter or two yet to be written.