The news that future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is considering making a comeback after being retired a mere four months has created a huge amount of media interest. Part of this has to do with Favre’s status as a player who is destined to be a first-ballot NFL Hall of Fame inductee. There’s also the mythology that any great sports figure embodies.
With Favre, his greatness is measured partly by his skill and talent, partly by his drive and partly by his guts. Although he was capable of making some poor plays when under pressure, he was also equally able to connect on the big pass, to scramble out of trouble for a first down or to take a massive hit and get back up to make a huge play on the next down.
His coming back to the Green Bay Packers to lead the team again has a sort of resurrection quality to it. There’s the sense of the Phoenix rising from the ashes. And despite Favre’s disavowing the rumors regarding his wish to return and his having contacted the Packers to express those desires, the fact is that it’s not unusual for someone who has retired from any job at which they are successful to miss it and want to come back.
Green Bays’ number four played 17 years in the NFL. All but one of those years, his first, was spent with the Packers. For Favre, who is now 38 years old, that team has been his home, anchor and reality for most of his adult life. In sixteen seasons, the guy missed only one game and that was in 1992, his first year at Lambeau Field.
The Good
In Green Bay, field general Favre is an icon, a god and a Packer through and through. His grit and toughness go back to another era. You’ve got to believe that Green Bay’s beloved tough-guy, no-nonsense coach, Vince Lombardi, would have loved Favre.
The Packers have been to the Super Bowl four times, going two-and-two. It was Favre who gave the club its only world championship victory since they won back-to-back contests in the first two Super Bowls. It was 30 years after Vince Lombardi’s Packers took Super Bowl I that Favre led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXXI. That win, which was over the New England Patriots, brought the Pack to the forefront after a three-decades of disappointment.
The Bad
Traditionally, teams have done poorly when trying to replace someone of Favre’s caliber. And there’s little doubt that the Pack will certainly undergo a period of adjustment with Favre gone. There are three QBs in camp for the team; two are rookies and none have ever started a NFL game. The starting position looks to go to three-year man Aaron Rodgers.
In three seasons as Favre’s backup, Rodgers has played in seven games, completing 59.3-percent of his throws for one touchdown and one interception. He’s tossed a total of 59 NFL passes. His rating is 73.3.
The Ugly
For those who don’t want to have to deal with the major adjustments and probable initial disappoints Rodgers will bring, Favre’s return looks like a good idea. But consider this—sooner or later the Packers will have to replace the aging Favre and his decision to retire has given them the opportunity to move on. Chances are that if Favre does come back his battered body could give out part way through the season. That could create a truly ugly situation for players, coaches, ownership and fans.
