What the Hell is Brett Favre Doing Here?

As anybody who watches SportsCenter every night or reads sports blogs during the day can attest to, I am sick of hearing about Brett Favre. Now if I'm sick of hearing and reading about him, why am I writing about him? The answer is actually quite simple, I find him fascinating. Why does he do what he does? What goes on inside his mind during the course of a season, a game, a play?

I am not a Brett Favre fan. I wouldn't say I dislike him as a person because I don't. He's a very likable person. I dislike Brett Favre because of the fans who idolize him and believe that he does no wrong. I hate hearing the John Elway/Brett Favre comparisons. I'm not going to say that John Elway is greater than Brett Farve or vice versa. When a quarterback reaches a certain level, it becomes hard to tell them apart. Quarterbacks can not be judged in a vacuum. Some were blessed with great receivers, running backs, coaches, fans, stadiums, etc... Others were hampered by things outside of their control.

Brett Favre was blessed with a perfect situation. He played with coaches who let him do what he does best and once he started piling up stats (for better or worse) the fans came to believe he was the second coming of Bart Starr. When Favre won the Super Bowl he became infallible in the eyes of Packer fan. Brett Favre is a gunslinger through and through. He will amass incredible stats partly because of skill, partly because of the sheer number of passing attempts (the Allen Iverson Corollary), but mostly because he has been allowed to do whatever he wants. I don't think Favre would have been successful in any system he played. Would he have led the '02 Oakland Raider to the Super Bowl? I say not. Would the '98 Vikings have won the Super Bowl with him? I think so.

I think we're seeing now what kind of person Brett Favre is. The situation is not a simple one for either the Packers or Favre. Favre is an icon, his name is synonymous with Green Bay football. The fact is that he has been holding the Packers hostage for years. Every offseason he held retirement over their heads which hampered them by limiting the moves they were able to make. This year the Packers wanted an answer earlier. Favre retired, stating that he had nothing left. The Packers did all the right things. They changed up their playbook a bit to tailor to incumbent, Aaron Rodgers' strengths. They draft not one but two quarterbacks. They got ready for life without Favre.

Then the rumors started. Favre wanted back in. His family wanted him to play, he wanted to play. Favre was asked about this and he claimed ignorance. For weeks, a new story came out every day with more evidence to prove that Favre was trying to make a comeback. Aaron Rodgers stopped fielding questions about replacing a legend and started receiving questions about Favre's impending return. Then the bombshell, Favre asked for his release from the team. Favre wants to play, the Packers want him to stay retired.

Not to insinuate that Favre did this on purpose but the timing is impeccable. Favre waited until after the draft and after Rodgers was named the starter. If the Packers let Favre play this year they are effectively pushing Rodgers out the door in favor of one, maybe two more years of Favre-ball. This will severely hamper the team's ability to compete once Favre is gone. If the Packers release him, he will most assuredly go to one of 4 teams (Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Ravens). Packer fan cannot bear (no pun intended) the thought of Favre playing with their hated NFC North rivals but that looks to be the case if he is released.

My thoughts? The Packers need to release Favre if that is what he truly wants. Favre put the Packers in this position and they can't keep catering to him if they are to compete now and in the future. Favre may go on to play for the Vikings or the Bears but he does so with 100% certainty that his legacy will be tarnished (more than it already is). Favre will not receive quarter with Bears/Vikes fans if things go downhill. Favre is not a Bear legend. He will get the same treatment as hacks like Grossman and Orton. The best situation for Favre is the Vikings who are blessed with a top-notch back, a good line, and serviceable receivers. Can you picture Favre in the Purple and Gold?