Prof Points: What’s bugging me about sports this week – Brett Favre

Brett Favre and I have always had a great relationship. I loved the gutsy way he played. I loved how he looked like he was having the time of his life every time he stepped out onto the football field. I loved his cameo in “There’s Something About Mary.” I even loved the way he filled out a pair of jeans in those Wrangler commercials.

So you can imagine how upset I was when Favre retired after 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. His press conference was heartbreaking and I was truly sad that I wouldn’t be able to see one of the best quarterbacks of all time ever play again.

Then, a few months later, Favre came out of retirement to play for the New York Jets. This move annoyed me mostly because of the timing – a grand total of four months had passed from the time he retired to when he stated interest in playing again –and because it tarnished Favre’s name.

After one season with the Jets, Favre retired again. This time around, his retirement press conference was a little less heartbreaking and his legacy somehow seemed not as significant as before.

After having arthroscopic surgery on his throwing arm, it seems that Favre is trying to return to the NFL and be the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, a team that was once his bitter rival while he played for Green Bay.

Every sports show, blog and website has been constantly contemplating Favre’s return and what it would mean to the NFL, the Vikings, the Packers, the Jets and Favre himself. Countless experts and ex-players have been asked to give their opinion on why or how Favre should return and what his role could be in Minnesota’s organization.

Favre has now become a spectacle. His 18-year career was amazing and he should have gone down as one of the greatest of all time. Now the record books will show at least two separate retirements and lackluster seasons at the age of 39.

As an athlete, I understand that it is hard to let sports go –to not have them in your life anymore. I understand the concept of having to give up competing in something you love. While Favre has said that retiring too early was a huge mistake, I think he has it wrong. Retiring at the time he did would have been a perfect ending to a stellar career.

The Brett Favre that may be in a Vikings uniform this season is not the same Favre who was a three-time MVP or who commemorated his late father with four TD passes and 400 total yards back in 2003.

I know that Brett Favre; I used to love that Brett Favre. Now he’s back, wearing purple, every where I look and it’s getting on my nerves.