Generally discussing the subject of flip-fopping, the N&R’s Allen Johnson weighs in on the Brett Favre situation:
As an incurable Green Bay Packers fan, I don’t know what to make of quarterback Brett Favre’s messy flirtation with a comeback after announcing his retirement several months ago.
On the one hand, I believe Favre has earned the right to have second thoughts about walking away from a game he loves so much, gave so much to and still is able to play so well.
Then again, I also understand why Packers management feels jerked around.
Favre has retired and unretired before. He contacted the Packers, saying he wanted to come back in March. The team was scheduled to join him in a public announcement.
Then he said never mind. He wasn’t coming back after all.
Now he’s reversed field again.
And I’ve changed my mind about him changing his mind.
OK, I’m a converted Packers fan. What do you want me to say —- I went to the promised land — Lambeau Field. I also made my conversion public after Favre announced his retirement, so there was no guarantee this would be a bandwagon season, and I was happy about that. This would be a true test right from the start
So I considered the situation carefully when it started to unfold. For starters, I asked What Would Vince Do? Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Vince Lombardi would tell Favre fine, go play for somebody else. Nobody’s better than the team.
The Wisconsin State Journal’s Jason Wilde also made this point:
At any point during his chat with Van Susteren, did you hear Favre say anything remotely about the team and its potential?
No. It was all about him.
He said in passing that he liked his teammates and had fun with them, but he should’ve said, “I want to come back because I know we can win it all this year. We were 13-3 last year, made it to the NFC Championship Game with the youngest team in the league, and we’d have been in the Super Bowl if not for my overtime interception against the Giants. We’ve got a great team, and I want to be a part of it.”
With all this in mind, I was leaning toward the view that the Packers should just roll the dice and cut Favre loose. But this morning’s edition of the Sports Reporters brought me around. Mitch Albom made the point that, if you ask any coach in the NFL if they’d rather have Favre or Rodgers for their starting quarterback, they’d all say Favre. so it’s common sense to make up and bring him back.
Sure, the Packers no doubt feel the team’s credibility is on the line here, common sense or not. But while evryone’s talking about the situation Favre has put the Packers in, the Packers need to think about the situation Favre’s put himself in and realize they have everything to gain and nothing to lose by bringing Favre back. If he comes back and they win, everybody’s happy. If he comes back and they lose, then Favre won’t retire (again) soon enough.
It’s indeed all about Brett, and the Packers just need to let it be that way, at least for the time being. They’ll still be there after Favre’s gone, whenever that is.
