When to Say When
I went to sleep last night hoping it was all a dream; a horrible, horrible figment of my imagination. It was nothing more than a rumor.
It was an event that actually transpired. I was busy at work all day, I did not have time to get involved with the story in its entirety, and as a result, I knew it must be false. The images that I
caught glimpses of must have been put together by some production guru, who specializes in putting faces where they don't belong.
There is no way Brett Favre could be holding up a Jets' jersey with
his name on it.
I woke up today to find myself stuck in the same dream. This morning, Brett Favre arrived in the same town I was sleeping in to be welcomed by the mayor of New York in a special ceremony, acknowledging his transfer of employment to the New York Jets.
I thought it was a dream when in turn, it is a nightmare. How could somebody I so admire, somebody who I just wrote about admiring not one month ago, turn his back on his fans and his dignity, and take a position such as this?
Brett Favre had just finished arguably his greatest season as a professional football player. He broke scores of records. He broke new personal ground. He took his team through a highlight reel season to the NFC Championship game, where every indication would have given his team, the Green Bay Packers, the advantage to win and advance to the Super Bowl, but instead they lost in heartbreaking fashion to the better team and the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants.
After the Giants thwarted the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, there was not much to talk about in the football world except the Giants' stunning and cinematic victory. The Giants had always been regarded as my second-favorite team in the NFL,
out of respect for my friend, Matt, and, of course, my favorite city. If the Packers were to lose in the playoffs, I submitted, it would be best if they were beaten fair and square by a team equally as honorable, historic, and deserving of the NFC Champion title, and especially if said team was to advance to soundly embarrass the New England Patriots, who I, of course, hated, because all they do is win all the time.
Living in New York, I got swept up in Giants fever. I even attended the parade. I felt happy for the Giants, their fans, and their players, while silently hoping next year's victory parade would be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay's team was the best that had been put together in a long time, and with Brett at the helm, they would surely have the desire and precedence to never stop fighting and go all the way the second they stepped on the field again. Sadly, the
Packers team that has slowly been amassed over the last three years or so will never be assembled again.
I got the news of Brett's retirement via text message from a friend and equally devoted Packers fan. I was at work. As the words, "Favre just retired" flashed across my phone's display screen, my heart sank.
It cannot be true. It's false. I won't believe it. Sure enough, my friend, the internet, confirmed the rumor. Brett had indeed announced his retirement by phone call to ESPN. I could have cried. I almost did. I certainly lost consciousness for a few minutes, while staring at my computer. How? Why? Why now?
Brett had been going back and forth thinking about retiring the last handful of seasons. He had always speculated retirement, weighed his options, and made the decision to return to the field and the team that made him a star.
So after having the best season of the second half of his career, he decides to hang it up now? Why? How does that make sense? He was so close. Why would he give up now?
The press conference he held in Green Bay brought out a lot of feelings. Brett openly wept. He struggled to hold himself together emotionally, but he stood firm on his decision. He was genuine. He was retiring. He was walking away from football for good. After a long and storied career, and years in the spotlight, Brett Favre, the record-holding quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and the face of the National Football League, was hanging up his cleats to retreat to the quiet reclusive life of rural Mississippi.
Tribute articles and commemorative issues of magazines flooded the mainstream media. Books and videos compiling Brett's historical and legendary career rushed to the shelves. They had been waiting for this day for years, eagerly anticipating the market for Brett Favre's retirement, and with good reason. Legendary quarterbacks don't retire everyday, especially after putting on the performance he just did, and it would be a long time before another sports figure of his stature stepped down. The sales of merchandise and nostalgic memorabilia would surely skyrocket.
Endless discussion ensued as sportswriters and contributors debated about Brett's retirement, and whether or not it was really the end. His return to football would be eagerly as anticipated and publicized, but it seemed as if Brett had at last made his decision. By retiring now, his legend was solidified as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, one of the most humble and respected men on and off the field, and a figure of hope, determination, and good will, looked up to by men and women of all ages.
He only [really] played for one team in his career. He brought that team back to life, gave them a Super Bowl title, and joined the ranks as one of the most historically significant players in the Green Bay Packers franchise. He was revered, honored, and respected by the sports world by his team-leading qualities on the field, and his happy-go-lucky nature off the field. He was a genuine and honest man.
He and his wife battled trials and tribulations, one after another, but stuck with each other, stuck to their roots, and stuck to football, which had brought them so far.
Now Brett was feeling the effects of his curtain call, getting more press and media attention than ever before, and his status cemented in football glory for years to come.
As expected, Brett felt the pull of the activity that had been occupying his time for the last twenty years of his life. He was not ready to give football up completely. He hinted at it on his
appearance on the David Letterman show. Rumors kept circulating that he had not filed his official retirement documents.
Speculators anticipated his coming back. Reports were being made that Brett was secretly seeking offers from other teams. The secrecy and speculation eventually turned ugly as it became known that Brett Favre wanted to return to football, but the Packers, having already made their decision based on his retirement, did not want him back.
Sportswriters droned on about the situation day after day. They complained about how much stir Brett Favre was causing, after all the fuss he had already created, off-season after off-season. There was much debate. Should Brett Favre come back? Should he stayed retired?
After being reinstated in the league by the commissioner, there were talks of Brett playing again for the Packers, behind his protégé, Aaron Rodgers, there were talks of Brett being traded to the Minnesota Vikings or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers even reportedly made an offer to pay Brett Favre $20 million over the next ten years to stay within the bounds of his retirement.
Nothing would keep Brett away from the game, though. The tenacity and stubbornness that propelled him throughout his career refused to let his career subside. It seemed like nothing was going to get resolved. Brett would forever remain in contract limbo, where he could play for
the Packers, but he would not play, and they would not trade him or release him, letting him play with whoever would take him.
The decision finally was made, and Brett was sent packing.
After an unbelievable saga and unforgivable drama, Brett finally dropped the biggest bomb on his devoted public by agreeing to be traded to the New York Jets. After seventeen seasons on one of the most historically significant sports franchises, Brett was traded away to
one of the most mocked sports franchises. The Jest have not had a significant star since Joe Namath, who, after guaranteeing victory to the press, led the Jets to the Lombardi trophy after Super Bowl III, and put the Jets and the AFC on the map, before sullying his post-Jets
career by stinking up the Los Angeles Rams and doing Nobody Beats the Wiz ads.
Brett Favre has now joined the group of selfish athletes who don't know when to say when, and swallow their pride for the love and honor of the game, and the devotion of their fans. Though we will always remember Brett for his hard work and accomplishments in a Green Bay uniform, he has caused a lot of unrest for Packers fans, and his career will always be tainted by the little black mark at the end of it.
First and foremost I am a fan of the game and sport of American football. In the professional rankings, I am devoted to the team that made me love the sport, the Green Bay Packers. It was easy to fall in love with them at the time I did because of our helmsman, Brett Favre, who fearlessly took the reins and became an icon for football fans young and old. I will always be a fan of Brett Favre's, and the level of respect I have for him will probably never change. I will still
keep up with him as a New York Jet, even though I won't enjoy watching him in another team's uniform. I will still root for the Packers, even though it will be a little awkward until Brett retires from the league indefinitely.
This season is going to unfold with particular interest for Brett Favre fans, and I doubt very highly that it is going to be pretty. Aside from all the adjustments quarterbacks need to make when taking on a new offensive system, Brett also will have to face immense criticism from the New York media, from the Green Bay media and fans. He will additionally have to consider in the back of his mind his endorsement for EA Sports' Madden Football 2009 video game, which is
an honor stricken with an injury-bearing curse that is not easy to overlook.
I certainly hope Brett Favre is happy. It would be hard to believe he is, after everything he put us through over the last few weeks and months. I will still watch the games. It's not like I'll have a choice.
It was an event that actually transpired. I was busy at work all day, I did not have time to get involved with the story in its entirety, and as a result, I knew it must be false. The images that I
caught glimpses of must have been put together by some production guru, who specializes in putting faces where they don't belong.
There is no way Brett Favre could be holding up a Jets' jersey with
his name on it.
I woke up today to find myself stuck in the same dream. This morning, Brett Favre arrived in the same town I was sleeping in to be welcomed by the mayor of New York in a special ceremony, acknowledging his transfer of employment to the New York Jets.
I thought it was a dream when in turn, it is a nightmare. How could somebody I so admire, somebody who I just wrote about admiring not one month ago, turn his back on his fans and his dignity, and take a position such as this?
Brett Favre had just finished arguably his greatest season as a professional football player. He broke scores of records. He broke new personal ground. He took his team through a highlight reel season to the NFC Championship game, where every indication would have given his team, the Green Bay Packers, the advantage to win and advance to the Super Bowl, but instead they lost in heartbreaking fashion to the better team and the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants.
After the Giants thwarted the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, there was not much to talk about in the football world except the Giants' stunning and cinematic victory. The Giants had always been regarded as my second-favorite team in the NFL,
out of respect for my friend, Matt, and, of course, my favorite city. If the Packers were to lose in the playoffs, I submitted, it would be best if they were beaten fair and square by a team equally as honorable, historic, and deserving of the NFC Champion title, and especially if said team was to advance to soundly embarrass the New England Patriots, who I, of course, hated, because all they do is win all the time.
Living in New York, I got swept up in Giants fever. I even attended the parade. I felt happy for the Giants, their fans, and their players, while silently hoping next year's victory parade would be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay's team was the best that had been put together in a long time, and with Brett at the helm, they would surely have the desire and precedence to never stop fighting and go all the way the second they stepped on the field again. Sadly, the
Packers team that has slowly been amassed over the last three years or so will never be assembled again.
I got the news of Brett's retirement via text message from a friend and equally devoted Packers fan. I was at work. As the words, "Favre just retired" flashed across my phone's display screen, my heart sank.
It cannot be true. It's false. I won't believe it. Sure enough, my friend, the internet, confirmed the rumor. Brett had indeed announced his retirement by phone call to ESPN. I could have cried. I almost did. I certainly lost consciousness for a few minutes, while staring at my computer. How? Why? Why now?
Brett had been going back and forth thinking about retiring the last handful of seasons. He had always speculated retirement, weighed his options, and made the decision to return to the field and the team that made him a star.
So after having the best season of the second half of his career, he decides to hang it up now? Why? How does that make sense? He was so close. Why would he give up now?
The press conference he held in Green Bay brought out a lot of feelings. Brett openly wept. He struggled to hold himself together emotionally, but he stood firm on his decision. He was genuine. He was retiring. He was walking away from football for good. After a long and storied career, and years in the spotlight, Brett Favre, the record-holding quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and the face of the National Football League, was hanging up his cleats to retreat to the quiet reclusive life of rural Mississippi.
Tribute articles and commemorative issues of magazines flooded the mainstream media. Books and videos compiling Brett's historical and legendary career rushed to the shelves. They had been waiting for this day for years, eagerly anticipating the market for Brett Favre's retirement, and with good reason. Legendary quarterbacks don't retire everyday, especially after putting on the performance he just did, and it would be a long time before another sports figure of his stature stepped down. The sales of merchandise and nostalgic memorabilia would surely skyrocket.
Endless discussion ensued as sportswriters and contributors debated about Brett's retirement, and whether or not it was really the end. His return to football would be eagerly as anticipated and publicized, but it seemed as if Brett had at last made his decision. By retiring now, his legend was solidified as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, one of the most humble and respected men on and off the field, and a figure of hope, determination, and good will, looked up to by men and women of all ages.
He only [really] played for one team in his career. He brought that team back to life, gave them a Super Bowl title, and joined the ranks as one of the most historically significant players in the Green Bay Packers franchise. He was revered, honored, and respected by the sports world by his team-leading qualities on the field, and his happy-go-lucky nature off the field. He was a genuine and honest man.
He and his wife battled trials and tribulations, one after another, but stuck with each other, stuck to their roots, and stuck to football, which had brought them so far.
Now Brett was feeling the effects of his curtain call, getting more press and media attention than ever before, and his status cemented in football glory for years to come.
As expected, Brett felt the pull of the activity that had been occupying his time for the last twenty years of his life. He was not ready to give football up completely. He hinted at it on his
appearance on the David Letterman show. Rumors kept circulating that he had not filed his official retirement documents.
Speculators anticipated his coming back. Reports were being made that Brett was secretly seeking offers from other teams. The secrecy and speculation eventually turned ugly as it became known that Brett Favre wanted to return to football, but the Packers, having already made their decision based on his retirement, did not want him back.
Sportswriters droned on about the situation day after day. They complained about how much stir Brett Favre was causing, after all the fuss he had already created, off-season after off-season. There was much debate. Should Brett Favre come back? Should he stayed retired?
After being reinstated in the league by the commissioner, there were talks of Brett playing again for the Packers, behind his protégé, Aaron Rodgers, there were talks of Brett being traded to the Minnesota Vikings or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers even reportedly made an offer to pay Brett Favre $20 million over the next ten years to stay within the bounds of his retirement.
Nothing would keep Brett away from the game, though. The tenacity and stubbornness that propelled him throughout his career refused to let his career subside. It seemed like nothing was going to get resolved. Brett would forever remain in contract limbo, where he could play for
the Packers, but he would not play, and they would not trade him or release him, letting him play with whoever would take him.
The decision finally was made, and Brett was sent packing.
After an unbelievable saga and unforgivable drama, Brett finally dropped the biggest bomb on his devoted public by agreeing to be traded to the New York Jets. After seventeen seasons on one of the most historically significant sports franchises, Brett was traded away to
one of the most mocked sports franchises. The Jest have not had a significant star since Joe Namath, who, after guaranteeing victory to the press, led the Jets to the Lombardi trophy after Super Bowl III, and put the Jets and the AFC on the map, before sullying his post-Jets
career by stinking up the Los Angeles Rams and doing Nobody Beats the Wiz ads.
Brett Favre has now joined the group of selfish athletes who don't know when to say when, and swallow their pride for the love and honor of the game, and the devotion of their fans. Though we will always remember Brett for his hard work and accomplishments in a Green Bay uniform, he has caused a lot of unrest for Packers fans, and his career will always be tainted by the little black mark at the end of it.
First and foremost I am a fan of the game and sport of American football. In the professional rankings, I am devoted to the team that made me love the sport, the Green Bay Packers. It was easy to fall in love with them at the time I did because of our helmsman, Brett Favre, who fearlessly took the reins and became an icon for football fans young and old. I will always be a fan of Brett Favre's, and the level of respect I have for him will probably never change. I will still
keep up with him as a New York Jet, even though I won't enjoy watching him in another team's uniform. I will still root for the Packers, even though it will be a little awkward until Brett retires from the league indefinitely.
This season is going to unfold with particular interest for Brett Favre fans, and I doubt very highly that it is going to be pretty. Aside from all the adjustments quarterbacks need to make when taking on a new offensive system, Brett also will have to face immense criticism from the New York media, from the Green Bay media and fans. He will additionally have to consider in the back of his mind his endorsement for EA Sports' Madden Football 2009 video game, which is
an honor stricken with an injury-bearing curse that is not easy to overlook.
I certainly hope Brett Favre is happy. It would be hard to believe he is, after everything he put us through over the last few weeks and months. I will still watch the games. It's not like I'll have a choice.
posted by Leland J. Fischer at 11:29 AM
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