Like your ex-girlfriend showing up to your birthday party, Brett Favre has gone and made everything really awkward. For everyone. He's made it awkward for the Packers organization, the Packers fans, the media, EA Sports, Eric Mangini, and probably a couple Jets fans.
Destined for the Hall of Fame, Favre was the closest thing in the modern NFL had to the franchise players of yesteryear that went to a team when they started out in the league and never left. Favre was the Packers, and the Packers were, to a large extent, Brett Favre. Everyone knew Favre was staying the league a few too many years, but as often happens with old sports heroes, the fans forgive: Favre had given much to Green Bay, and they could at least indulge him as he bullet-passed his way to a delayed retirement. His excellent 2007 season seemed to create the perfect opportunity for Favre to exit with grace. And so he did.
And then he told Greta Van Susteren, of all people, that he wanted to keep playing. Now Favre finds himself in a Jets uniform, barely squeaking by the last year's worst team in his first game, an outcast from the team he once embodied. Awkward.
Awkward for Favre's legacy. Favre is in his Michael Jordan With the Wizards or Joe Montana With the Chiefs phase: embarrassing postscripts to stellar careers.
Awkward for the Packers and their fans, who had a messy divorice with their champion and now don't quite know what to think of him. The Packers even had to write in a clause Favre's trade to the Jets to make sure he didn't end up at the Vikings (the Packers get the Jet's next three first-round draft picks if Favre gets traded to an NFC North team).
Awkard for a press that has perenially fawned over Favre and now struggles with their puppy love for the player and the creeping sensation that he is really embarrassing himself.
Awkward for EA Sports, who decided to feature one of the NFL's most celebrated playersas he retired on the cover of Madden NFL 09 in the Packers jersey he sported his entire career.
Awkward for Eric Mangini, who has to coach a quarter back who is a year older than him who is definitely not the future of the Jets.
Awkward for Jets fans, who got rid of Pennington and instead of getting the mythical Quarterback of the Future got Favre.
Favre doesn't need the money, he knows he can't win a Super Bowl with the Jets, and his legacy is going to suffer. What is he hoping to gain playing for the Jets?
When I came up with the answer to that question, I realized why Packers fans loved Brett Favre, and why the media hung on his every word. Brett Favre just wants to play football.
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2 comments:
Great lead. Funny and to the point. I like the "awkward" theme and your writing is very colorful. Your punctuation seems to be very good, too (first-round …) Also, the end is more than just a throw away, it stands out. Great entry.
I loved the title of this blog and agree completely with it. I think you do great writing and stick to the point but still add personality to it, it makes for a good read.
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