The 49ers traded Joe Montana to Kansas City, Jets’ great Joe Namath burnt out as a Los Angeles Ram and legendary Colts’ quarterback Johnny Unitas faded out of the NFL in a Chargers jersey.
Now Brett Favre, the gunslinger who carried the Green Bay Packers back to relevancy, is donning a Jets jersey in the twilight of his career – after an ugly, drawn-out dispute with the Packers.
After a week of dramatic punditry, the aftermath seems to be taking away Favre’s otherwise brilliant career – and quite frankly Favre should receive a majority of the blame for the fiasco.
Favre said he was mentally drained when he tearfully announced his retirement in early March.
“I know I can still play, but it’s like I told my wife, I’m just tired mentally,” Favre told ESPN in March. “I’m just tired.”
But come July, Favre began calling an audible when he contacted the Packers about a possible return.
The Packers told Favre he could backup fourth-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Favre camp publicized that the recently retired signal caller felt mistreated and disrespected by the organization.
But what were the Packers supposed to do?
After toying with retirement for years, Favre said he was done.
After waiting in the wings for three years, first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers received his opportunity.
Favre told the Packers to move on, and they did.
For four months the Packers coaching staff told the players that this was Rodgers’ team.
For four months, Rodgers studied the playbook and practiced with the Packers, while Favre took time off in “retirement.”
Then Favre decided maybe he wanted to come back.
And the Packers are supposed to forget about the past four months?
It would not have been fair to anyone on that team – especially not Rodgers.
Favre is a legend and accomplished great things with and for the Packers.
But does a 1997 Super Bowl victory mean Favre can do whatever he wants in 2008?
Do touchdowns and wins mean he can whimsically cycle in and out of the role of team leader every few months?
No.
I’m sure deciding whether to retire is difficult. Favre himself has wrestled with the decision each of the past few seasons.
But that’s why he should not have made his initial announcement without being certain.
Much like Favre, Colts coach Tony Dungy has spent time at the end of each of the past few seasons deciding whether he should retire.
And Favre would be much better off right now had he taken a play from Dungy’s book.
Each year Dungy takes his time when deciding whether to retire. He takes his time because he doesn’t want to rush to the incorrect decision.
Like the Packers have had Rodgers as Favre’s heir-apparent,
Colts associate head coach Jim Caldwell has been labeled Dungy’s eventual successor.
Having Rodgers and Caldwell allowed Favre and Dungy, respectively, to take a longer time deciding without terribly handicapping their teams because the insurance policy was already in place.
Favre did not recognize this luxury and retired prematurely – only to eventually cause excess drama and controversy for both himself and the Packers.
Favre made his name as a risky, creative gunslinger driven by his guts and emotions.
This time he forced the wrong play.
Favre and the Packers maybe both could have handled things a little better in the past month or so, but Favre should have never let the situation reach that point.
I don’t think Favre’s performance will drop off as much with the Jets as Unitas’ and Namath’s did with the Chargers and Rams, respectively.
Favre’s time with the Jets could more closely mirror Montana’s run with the Chiefs – maybe even including a playoff appearance or two.
But it doesn’t matter because this separation never should have happened.
Brett Favre never should have worn another jersey after the Packers, and his image has already lost a little something because of the change and the exhaustive publicity it drew.
Unfortunately, Favre should probably blame himself for the whole situation.
—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]