Let me start this week's column by saying, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of Top Fantasy Football. There are three things I'm sick of hearing, seeing, and reading about lately; President Obama's healthcare scare, Michael Vick's redemption, and Brett Favre's un-retirement. One is too inexperienced to do the job, the other is too unrepentant to deserve the job, and the other is a cheesehead in Barney's clothing who shouldn't have been looking for a job to begin with. Before this season is all over I suspect Favre will beat the purple machine black and blue.
Don't misunderstand me. I have no quarrel with Favre's retirement dance. If he wants to tarnish his career and go out with a thud and whimper rather than the grace, poise and bang he could have, well, he's earned that right. My issue is with how Favre has deserted his faithful Packer fans. I don't think any true fan begrudges his desire to play on. But consorting with the enemy? Taking up arms with the Vikings? This is the ultimate insult to Green Bay and their misplaced loyalty in Brett. He's given them the Favre finger discount. He's discounted their support, he's discounted his allegiance to the green and cheddar, and ultimately, he's discounted his legend and all he stood for in Wisconsin and to the NFL. Playing for the Jets was one thing, but there is no worse team Favre could have suited up for that could have hurt Packers fans more. And that's just not the Favre America has admired all these years.
Brett you wept openly at your retirement from your beloved Packers, were those merely crocodile tears? You're nearly 40, you have a torn rotator cuff, just what are you trying to prove? Is the call of the spotlight that compelling? You have the heart of a giant, but nowhere is it present in this recent un-retirement folly. And Packers fans are not alone in this feeling that you do not belong in Viking purple.
Now the Favre story has taken on a new twist. Apparently not all of the Vikings want the Packer's Judas in their clubhouse, leading their team. This is exactly the kind of distraction, as if the Favre circus wasn't already a monumental drain on the team's focus, the team doesn't need. Who knows how much validity these rumors have, and I'm not here to fan those flames. In my opinion Favre doesn't belong in Minnesota regardless. He's not the same talent he was even three years ago, and the Vikings should be focusing on the future, not a one season dog and pony show. If Favre doesn't take the Vikes to the promised land this season, Brad Childress may join the ranks of the unemployed. Favre is turning his Hall of Fame career into a shameful shadow of his once great image and body of work.
Favre will take the field this coming Monday for a full two quarters (according to the team) in the Vikings third preseason game at Houston, and it will be a hard sight for me and many other football fans around the nation. Favre is a Packer. We can forgive his Jets dalliance as a mid-life crisis. He clearly did not play in New York with a full heart. But if he takes the field in the regular season as a Viking, I for one cannot forgive such betrayal. Stop this silliness now Brett, for the sake of your fans, if not your legacy. Your faithful supporters deserve better. Green Bay deserves better. Hell, even Tavaris Jackson deserves better. Just sayin'.