Spring Break
Loyalty should go both ways for Favre
The public has blasted NFL quarterback Brett Favre but columnist Ian McPhail says he should be supported.
By: Ian McPhail
Issue date: 7/15/09 Section: Sports
As Brett Favre's return to football with the Vikings seems certain, many columnists and fans are tired of this annual retirement soap opera.
Unfortunately, these opinions are often influenced by an overzealous media, attempting to garner interest in a sport with a season that lasts less than half a year.
Favre's countless accomplishments and influence as a positive role model throughout his career should entitle him to un-retire without alienating millions. Favre's retirement and banishment to the New York Jets was not the result of his mistake in retiring, but a carefully orchestrated public relations campaign by Green Bay's management and NFL pundits to replace Favre with a younger player.
With a hall of fame career and a great final year in 2007, Favre tearfully said goodbye to the game. With concerns about the continued health of his body, and a desire to spend more with his family, Favre seemingly decided to end his career on a high note.
Last summer, as fans bemoaned the loss of their leader, Favre's retirement started to sound too convenient to the Packers. In 2005, management had selected Aaron Rodgers in the first round to be groomed as Favre's replacement. In the last year of his contract, the team needed to see what Rodgers was capable of before it expired. But before long Favre wanted back on the field. He asked the Packers to either put him back under center for another season, or to release him to find another team that wanted him with no hard feelings.
The Packers did neither. For nearly a month they stalled Favre's comeback in an effort to subvert the negative public relations backlash. From offering him a $25 million for re-retirement, to giving Favre the chance to spend his last year in Green Bay as a backup to Rodgers, the Packers created a media circus as a distraction from their poor treatment of a sports hero who brought a Super Bowl back to Green Bay without them.
Favre gave everything to Green Bay and their fans, and when he asked to play or be released, the Packers traded the quarterback. A spiteful management decided that allowing Favre to succeed in his last season or two would be a public relationship nightmare, so they exiled him to the hapless Jets. And Favre did not complain; he suited up in Jets green and almost single-handedly turned the franchise around.
Unfortunately, these opinions are often influenced by an overzealous media, attempting to garner interest in a sport with a season that lasts less than half a year.
Favre's countless accomplishments and influence as a positive role model throughout his career should entitle him to un-retire without alienating millions. Favre's retirement and banishment to the New York Jets was not the result of his mistake in retiring, but a carefully orchestrated public relations campaign by Green Bay's management and NFL pundits to replace Favre with a younger player.
With a hall of fame career and a great final year in 2007, Favre tearfully said goodbye to the game. With concerns about the continued health of his body, and a desire to spend more with his family, Favre seemingly decided to end his career on a high note.
Last summer, as fans bemoaned the loss of their leader, Favre's retirement started to sound too convenient to the Packers. In 2005, management had selected Aaron Rodgers in the first round to be groomed as Favre's replacement. In the last year of his contract, the team needed to see what Rodgers was capable of before it expired. But before long Favre wanted back on the field. He asked the Packers to either put him back under center for another season, or to release him to find another team that wanted him with no hard feelings.
The Packers did neither. For nearly a month they stalled Favre's comeback in an effort to subvert the negative public relations backlash. From offering him a $25 million for re-retirement, to giving Favre the chance to spend his last year in Green Bay as a backup to Rodgers, the Packers created a media circus as a distraction from their poor treatment of a sports hero who brought a Super Bowl back to Green Bay without them.
Favre gave everything to Green Bay and their fans, and when he asked to play or be released, the Packers traded the quarterback. A spiteful management decided that allowing Favre to succeed in his last season or two would be a public relationship nightmare, so they exiled him to the hapless Jets. And Favre did not complain; he suited up in Jets green and almost single-handedly turned the franchise around.
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