Inman: Favre's latest itch better left unscratched

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 3, 2008 | by Cam Inman

It's the NFL's greatest quarterback controversy since Joe vs. Steve.

It's called Play vs. Retire, and it's become an annual rite of summer for Brett Favre, even after he tearfully declared his retirement from the Green Bay Packers just four months ago.

Favre has the "itch" to come back and play, and his family is "tugging" at him to do so, according to an ESPN report Wednesday.

Stop the insanity, Brett. Go hop on that tractor in Mississippi. Or become Warren Sapp's partner on "Dancing With The Stars." Better yet, maybe Madonna and Alex Rodriguez could have you over for a game of cribbage.

This is not fair to the Packers, and especially Aaron Rodgers, Favre's successor to the quarterback throne he reigned from since 1992. How in the world does Rodgers' deal with this dejavu, of Favre teetering on the comeback trail?

Maybe Rodgers should just return to Cal for more schooling and sign up for Psych 124: Psycholinguistics, where he could learn of how language behavior influences psychological processes.

Ever since the Packers drafted him in 2005, Rodgers has heard Favre constantly waffle about retirement. It's a grueling mind game for Rodgers, wondering when he'll ever get a chance to start in place of Favre.

That time needs to come Sept. 8 in the season opener against Minnesota at Lambeau Field. Favre should not be there extending his NFL record for consecutive regular-season starts to 254.

Of course Favre is going to have the itch. Throwing a football is what he's done all his life, and he's done it with so much flare.

Nobody in Cheesehead County wants to disrespect Favre, of course, so, again, now that the possibility of a comeback has emerged, the Packers' future is clouded.

Dare they finally say no if Favre begs to return? Well, it's a lot easier to do so now than it was four months ago, when Favre confessed that he's "given everything I can give to this organization, to the game of football."

If Favre is adamant that he wants to return, and if the Packers don't welcome him back, then what? Then things get really crazy in Green Bay. Then scenarios swirl about Favre demanding his release so he can play elsewhere and pursue his second Super Bowl ring.

Would Favre suit up in a Chicago Bears jersey, or that of fellow division rival Minnesota Vikings? You'd hope he stays retired before sauntering down that disturbing path, just to eek out a few more touchdown passes (and of course more interceptions). You'd hope the Packers have the stones to get on with L.A.B. _ Life After Brett.

He totaled a NFL record 442 touchdown passes (and 288 interceptions) during the course of his 17-year career. He need not add to those totals. Plus, somebody should remind him he's the Madden '09 cover boy, so if he attempts a comeback, the video-game curse could strike down that comeback.

Packers report to training camp on July 28. Any potential Favre comeback will be decided upon by then. But it probably already has. The Packers have moved on with Rodgers, as they should.

And it's time we get on with other quarterback controversies around the NFL, such as that one going on with the 49ers, who's stable of arms includes Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, J.T. O'Sullivan. Now that's a team that could use Favre.

Contact Cam Inman at cinman@bayareanewsgroup.com