By Breanna Jacobs
Brett Favre’s NFL career has been anything but easy, especially in the past few years. After a tear-filled retirement in 2008, Favre decided that he could not handle being out of the NFL. When the Green Bay Packers, a team he played for for 16 years decided they did not want him back, Favre entered into a short, one season stint with the New York Jets. The trade was hard, as the Packers and Favre did not truly want to part ways. Favre was even offered a job in Green Bay’s front office, but turned it down in favor of being on the field. At the end of Favre’s short time with the Jets, NFL fans and analysts alike thought that Favre’s career was over and that this time, he would stay retired. But once again, they were all wrong. Favre was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings, a rival team to his beloved Packers. Favre played with the Vikings through the 2010 season, although his aging body was constantly plagued with injuries that would keep him from the field many times.
In addition to Favre’s NFL career being a minefield of questionable choices, Favre’s personal life took a tumultuous turn. In late 2010, news came out that Favre had handled himself inappropriately during his stint with the Jets. Favre sent pictures of a sexual nature to a massage therapist working with the Jets, Jenn Sterger. Favre, despite his seemingly happy marriage to Deanna Favre, admitted what he did, and stayed fairly mum about the situation. Sterger, however, recently talked about what had happened, the apparent trauma it had caused her, and said that she was in no way associated with Favre. This unfortunate turn in the personal life of Favre caused many to lose respect for him, and many began to question just what his impact on the future of the NFL will be.
The Green Bay Packers are giving us an answer to that inquiry.
Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said that Favre’s recognizable No. 4 jersey will eventually be retired. Although Favre and the Packers are not on the most pleasant of terms since Favre’s departure from the team, the Packers believe that Favre’s many accomplishments in Green Bay deem him worthy of jersey retirement.
While Favre’s jersey will not be retired right away, it will be retired eventually, perhaps in a few years, when he is presumably done with football, and retired for good.
Over the span of Favre’s career, he not only made many great accomplishments, but he left a legacy that will impact not only the Green Bay Packers, but the NFL as a whole long after his retirement. And even though Favre’s career did not consist entirely of happy times, and while many may say that due to recent events, he is not worthy of such an homor, Favre is certainly deserving of joining the small group of elite former Packers players that have their jerseys retired and enshrined as a part of Green Bay’s history.
I agree.
I think as athletes who seem like good guys continue to disappoint us when we find out about their off-field transgressions, we need to realize that all we can do is idolize their play on the field. Or, more simply put, judge them as athletes only, not as citizens.
So, while Favre’s exit from Green Bay was probably not handled well, we really can’t fault him for his extreme competitiveness either. The guy wanted to continue to play, and he still played pretty well for a 40-year old QB. The Packers, obviously, made the right choice in moving in a different direction, and while many of us considered the whole Favre retirement saga to be quite annoying, the fact that he wasn’t ready to call it quits can’t really be held against him.
I agree as well. Like Chas says we idolize these players and then we almost expect the same level of excellence off the field as well. Judge them for their performance on the field.
If I remember correctly – the Packers while they made the right choice to move on – didn’t exactly handle Farve’s departure very well. It was obvious that while they were done with Farve – Farve wasn’t done with football. Yeah, the is he retiring, is he coming back charade was a bit much.But I’ll never fault him for wanting to continue to play.
5 years from now, when he is inducted into Canton – how many Packers will be there ? Something tells me that quite a few will be there.
I completely agree with both of you.
Although Favre and the Packers didn’t part on the most pleasant of terms, he will always be a very important part of Green Bay’s history.
And while he’s had a rough past few years, he is still respected as one of the most talented QBs to play the game, and rightfully so.
It will be great to see his jersey retired, and great to see his inevitable induction into the Hall of Fame.
Time heals all wounds. The Packer community will embrace Favre again in time. I realize that hindsight is 20/20, but Thompson just couldn’t deal with the rollercoaster that was Brett’s play anymore. We can’t deny that he did thrill us for many years, but look at what consistency did this past season.
Favre “retired” to teach the Packers a lesson for not allowing him to be the de facto GM. Favre retired THE DAY AFTER Moss wasn’t signed, per Favre’s brokering efforts, the SECOND time. Anyone remember the Greta interviews? Favre called Thompson a liar and complained how he didn’t do as Favre wanted (retaining certain players, retaining or hiring buddy coaches, signing Moss). These came RIGHT OUT of Favre’s own mouth. Favre simply didn’t retire too early and simply wanted back in. He was sending the Packers a message, and when they failed to fall to their knees, rend their garments, and beg Favre to come back, Favre decided to effect getting his release so he could go to the Vikings and stick it to the Packers. Favre ONLY put in his reinstatement after the Packers finished their off season cycle (final prior year evals, free agency, draft, OTA’s, initial roster and salary cap (including the allocation of Favre’s now freed up space)). Favre did this ON PURPOSE – to force the Packers to release him or be in violation of the cap. Favre had no desire to come back to the Packers – and “they FORCED HIM OUT”?
Favre wanted out to go to the Vikings and stick it to Thompson for not letting him do Thompson’s job. Favre worried less about his own job (being the best QB for the Pack he could be) and worried more about Thompson’s job. Unfortunately there are still so many people who believe that Favre was so singularly responsible for the Packers resurgence in the 90’s that he SHOULD have been allowed to be as big a jerk as he was the last three years with the team and the three years after. While Favre was a main ingredient in the Packers’ success, he took a very long time getting with the program, and was replaceable (by Brunell) along the way. The Packers, since Harlan took over the Presidency in 1989, have been one of the best franchises in the NFL – adding Wolf and Holmgren, two fellows who would have spurned the Packers just a few years before. Harlan, Wolf, and Holmgren elevated the Packers organization BEFORE Favre was ever traded for. The luckiest day in Favre’s life was when the Packers fished him off ATL’s third string. And the Pack stuck with him through a 78 QB rated career after 2.5 years, and through a near mortal drug addiction. THEN, one of the best teams of the modern era in 1996 won a championship, and the massive misallocation of credit to Favre ALONE began. While Favre is a HOF due to his longevity, he didn’t provide a concentrated quality that anywhere near gave him license to put himself above the team and pick and choose whose job he was entitled to do.
Favre, through June of 2008, had the right of first refusal on the quarterbacking job. But he wanted out. HE BURNED his legacy, no one took it from him. Before the Packers organization and fans accept him back, he needs to show some contrition. He doens’t automatically get forgiveness. But he likely never will. If it’s not important to him, it’s not important to me if he ever comes back as a dignitary. The 90’s were wonderful, and I look back fondly on them. But having Favre circa 2025 or not, pot bellied like Hornung, doesn’t impact the enjoyment of those memories. Those were TEAM memories, and are enjoyed as such. All those old Lombardi Era players hang around to provide continued income with their appearances and books etc etc, because they didn’t make anywhere near what players do today. Favre is set for life. He doesn’t need the money and we don’t need the reminder of his selfishness and his efforts to HURT the team that made him who he was.