LeBron James captivated the entire basketball world this summer with his now infamous “Decision” to join the Miami Heat. He had as many as six teams bidding for his services and made them all wait — and wait some more, before his made-for-television special on ESPN.
Summer decision-making is typically, or at least for the last several years, a task reserved for Brett Favre. The captain of “Team Indecision,” however, has taken the mystery out of this summer’s Favre Watch by already answering the annual question: Will Brett Favre come back and play again next year?
If reports are true, the answer is no.
According to various sources, the Mississippi native has decided to not return to Minnesota for a second season. This could mark the end of a storied 19-year NFL career that will be remembered for his dominance on the field and indecision off it.
Vikings head coach Brad Childress could not confirm the reports of Favre’s impending retirement but did say he has spoken to him in the last 24 hours.
“It wouldn’t surprise me one way or the other, whether he elects to play or whether he elects to retire,” Childress said in a news conference Tuesday.
Teammates also say they won’t be convinced until Favre officially decides to hang it up.
Sources do indicate that the 40-year-old gunslinger has not felt physically ready for another NFL season after offseason ankle surgery.
“I would hope 20, 30 years from now, I’m remembered for something else besides records,” Favre told the Associated Press in 2007. “I know when I leave the game, I am going to miss it.”
Favre has plenty of records to his name – including consecutive games played (285), passing yards (69,329), touchdowns (497), completions (6,083), interceptions (317) and wins (181). He is an 11-time Pro Bowler, has 18 straight 3,000 yard passing season and 12 straight seasons of 20 or more touchdown passes.
Will he be adding to those numbers?
There is still skepticism about the latest news because of Favre’s past, and it would not surprise anyone if he decided to come out of retirement one more time.
Favre has see-sawed back and forth about retiring since the summer of 2002, when he waffled over leaving Green Bay. He would eventually play another six seasons for the Packers but would make the Cheeseheads sweat every year.
The Packers and the three-rime NFL MVP experienced a messy breakup in 2008, and Favre soon found himself being dubbed “Broadway Brett,” when he was traded to the New York Jets.
Minnesota hopes the record-setting quarterback has some waffling left in him after leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game last season and then bowing out to the eventual Super Bowl champion Saints.
He threw 33 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions in Viking purple in 2009.
The three quarterbacks Minnesota currently has on its roster (Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and Joe Webb) have combined to throw 51 touchdowns in their respective careers.
The way Favre has finished the last three seasons makes the probability of more indecision much more likely.
If 2009 was, in fact, Favre’s last season, he will retire as one of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL.
But it’s hard to believe this is the end.
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