Another Sour Note From Favre’s Familiar Tune
Open Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 08.18.2009/12:31PM
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There used to be 32 franchises in the National Football League, but that was in the good old days – before about noon Tuesday, when the league expanded to 33 entities.
Brett Favre is franchise No. 33. He is his own brand, as powerful and marketable – and in that order – as old-line franchises such as the Steelers, Bears and Giants, or more recent additions like the Texans.
Favre expands the rules of normal behavior and personal integrity at his whim. Retire today, play tomorrow. Retire again, play again. Retire again – well, you get the picture.
He is back in football – again. Around noon on Tuesday, a private plane brought Favre from his home in Mississippi to the Vikings’ headquarters near the Twin Cities.
Camera crews caught Favre deplaning, then riding in a black SUV to Vikings headquarters.
It all seemed so – well, like last year. Remember, a year ago a camera crew caught Favre getting off a plane to join his new team, the New York Jets.
And now we have classic rewind – Brett Favre playing football again, after saying he was retiring and would never play again.
Frankly, there is an odor to this year’s change of heart that was not present last year. It is one that does not pass the smell test of sincerity for either side – Favre and his stated intention not to play again, and the Vikings indicating they were done pursing Favre earlier in the summer.
The circumstances were somewhat different last year, when Favre retired from the Packers after 17 pro seasons. There was a split between Favre and management, when the Packers wanted to make Aaron Rodgers the starting quarterback.
Favre wound up forcing a trade to the Jets. He faded badly in the stretch, and the Jets missed the playoffs. Favre had shoulder trouble, and there was a disconnect between him and some teammates, who felt he acted more like a visiting monarch than a member of their team.
Favre announced after the season that he was retired for good. He sounded sincere, but the door always was left open. The courtship began between Favre and the Vikings, but Favre broke off the engagement before the start of camp when he said he was staying retired.
As it turns out, that was a ruse. And maybe the Vikings were in on it.
It is no coincidence that Favre changed his mind when training camp ended. Poor Brett. He didn’t want to live in a dorm and eat cafeteria food for three weeks with his new teammates.
It is understandable that a 39-year-old man with grown children wouldn’t want to go through training camp.
But camp probably isn’t the highlight of the year for Vikings defensive lineman Pat Williams, who turns 37 during the season, or cornerback Antoine Winfield, who just turned 32.
Look, it’s not like Favre is breaking any laws here. There are worse transgressions in life than a veteran player skipping training camp. Truth be told, a lot of sportswriters could do without it, too.
But there is an element of training camp that is part of the bonding process of a team. There is a communal suffering that breeds togetherness.
And isn’t that what football coaches preach continually – the team concept?
But Brett Favre has become a franchise unto himself. Let him continue to thrill us with his skills and guile. He has been a wonder to watch, especially fans in the NFC North, whose teams played Favre twice a year.
But next time he says he’s retired, don’t believe it – not if you’re a fan, a former teammate, or a player sweating in training camp waiting to see if Favre deigns to join your team.
Favre’s word isn’t as good as his arm.
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