If Brett Favre is the question, not even everyone in Chicago agrees on the answer anymore.
Some blood-thirsty Bears fans might want Favre back for a 16th season given how poor the quarterback looked in the Green Bay Packers’ loss two weeks ago at Soldier Field. Others prefer Favre just go ahead and retire in case there’s still a comeback or two left in that dangerous right arm.
So here’s the multiple-choice question, with the possible answers and their implications below:
Q: Given the sorry state of the Packers’ 3-11 season, in 2006 Brett Favre will:
A. Return rejuvenated to take aim at the Bears.
B. Retire, begin a career in broadcasting.
C. Return in a backup role to Aaron Rodgers.
D. Finish his career–gasp–elsewhere as the Packers go young.
Answer A (Stick it out)
People talk about Favre as if he immediately will get his AARP card after retiring from the NFL, yet he’s only 36.
John Elway won two Super Bowls after his 37th birthday, completing 59 percent of his passes over his last three seasons. Joe Montana made the Pro Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs at 37. Warren Moon played nine seasons after turning 36, throwing for 21,646 yards, 134 touchdowns and 100 interceptions for four teams in that span. None of those quarterbacks was in any better physical condition than Favre at the same age.
Answer B (Hit the airwaves)
If corn-pone humor and aw-shucks shtick helped Terry Bradshaw become a star in an NFL pregame studio, all that awaits Favre is an earpiece, a tailored suit and a new haircut. Favre’s quick wit will make network executives ring his phone the day he announces his retirement.
But at the end of this season, Favre will be within 48 games–three seasons–of breaking former Vikings defensive tackle Jim Marshall’s NFL record for consecutive starts (270), unthinkable company for a quarterback to keep. Favre also is currently within 25 touchdown passes of Dan Marino’s all-time mark of 420 and within 8,322 yards of Marino’s record of 61,361.
Could Favre walk away knowing he was so close to making more history?
Answer C (A backup plan)
For the first time in Favre’s career, he has gone three consecutive starts without throwing a touchdown pass. That has a lot to do with an injury-depleted offense and receiving corps, but many also wonder if it implies Favre’s decline has begun.
There could be cries in the off-season for the Packers to turn the page and start Rodgers even if Favre stays. A letter to the Green Bay Gazette last week intended for coach Mike Sherman’s eyes complained: “Don’t coddle Favre like he’s some kind of an infant. That’s cowardice.”
Favre has been supportive of Rodgers, but given his competitive nature, a backup role would fit him as comfortably as a Bears jersey.
Answer D (Find greener pastures)
Favre still has $57 million on a contract that runs through 2010. He’s due $7 million next year and $11 million in ’07. The Packers invested
$5.2 million in bonuses on Rodgers, whose deal is laced with incentives based on starts.
The Packers could have as much as $26 million to spend under the salary cap, but stranger things have happened to NFL legends caught in rebuilding efforts. Nobody thought Montana ever would leave San Francisco either.
“Now starting at quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, No. 4 …?”
The guess here is A will be the correct answer. Favre’s still too young and too qualified to end his career and too much the embodiment of the franchise to end it anywhere but in Green Bay when he does.
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TELL US
Brett Favre has made a living out of dominating the Bears over his career. Do you think he will retire after this season? Should he retire? And most of all, if you could give Favre a retirement gift–anything at all–what would that gift be, and why?
E-mail your thoughts to redeyesports@tribune.com and include your name, age and neighborhood or city. We’ll run the best responses later this week.
