Brett Favre 2009: The Season of Treason

With less than two minutes left in Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game and the Minnesota Vikings commanding a 27-3 lead over the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Brad Childress decided to go for it on 4^th and 3, deep in Dallas territory. It seemed like a logical decision: the Vikings had already put the game away and didn’t need another three points. So you figure they keep the kicker on the sideline and hand the ball to Adrian Peterson. With a 3-yard run, the Vikings get the first down, take a couple knees, and call it a game.

But in a move that defied football logic and spit in the face of good sportsmanship, Brett Favre slung an 11-yard touchdown pass to Visante Shiancoe. The pass screamed to the football world, “The old man still got it!” Silver-haired Favre celebrated his fourth touchdown pass of the game, chest bumping lineman and slapping coach Childress five.

But to the Cowboys, what initially appeared to be a classy gesture turned out to be a self-serving ego boost. So what the Vikings didn’t kick the field goal, instead Favre and Childress kicked the Cowboys right in the balls.

Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking barked at Farve as the quarterback trotted to the sideline. Translating the expletives to English, Brooking probably said something along the lines of, “What was that for?”

I find myself asking Favre the same question a lot over the past two seasons—first when he came out of retirement to quarterback the Jets and then again when he signed with the Vikings.

When Favre retired in 2007, he had everything a quarterback could ask for: three MVPs, the all-time record for touchdown passes and passing yards, and a Superbowl ring. Most importantly, Favre had left a legacy. Green Bay was ready to build monuments for its venerated play caller. Men named their first born after him. To be called “the next Brett Favre” was the ultimate term of endearment.

Sports Illustrated named Favre "Sportsman of the Year" and published a cover photo of the teary-eyed quarterback's farewell. Fans were content to see the old gunslinger fade into the sunset as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Four months later when Favre announced that he was considering coming out of “retirement” to play for another team, sports fans wondered, “What more does Favre want?” Favre’s success over the ensuing two seasons, including the late touchdown strike in Sunday’s game, shows that the old man got his touch back, but is it worth it? Are another two Pro Bowls appearances and another 55 touchdown passes and another 700 completions worth tainting the Green Bay legacy with purple?

Sure he's just two wins away from a second Superbowl ring, but I’m with Brooking on this one. Like he said after the game, “This is the NFL. That’s not what it’s all about.”

I imagine Green Bay is with us too where fans who once marveled over his accuracy now scowl at his treachery. Monument blueprints are in ruins. And in schools across Wisconsin boys named Brett are jammed into lockers. As for the Favre name, let’s just say it doesn’t mean what it used to. When someone calls you a “Brett Favre,” they probably mean some of the four-letter words Brooking screamed at number four.