Favre
loses respect by tossing around retirement pass
By
Emily Kelly, Staff Writer
Published 08/24/2009
News
Flash: Brett Favre has announced that he wants to play
again…no wait, he has changed his mind and will stayed retired…
Breaking: Brett Favre will join the Minnesota Vikings.
"Three weeks ago, Brett Favre told the Vikings he was staying
retired. Tonight he will be making his first start with the Vikings
in their preseason game against the Chiefs."
That was the teaser on ESPNews Friday, August 21, 2009.
I have heard all I want to hear about Brett Favre. It is time for
him to retire and stay retired.
Every year the sports nation has to face the questions "will
he or won't he retire” and "will he or won't he stay
retired.”
Maybe Favre is just confused about the definition of the word ‘retire’.
According to Webster's New World College Dictionary, the word ‘retire’
when used as a transitive verb means to withdraw from a position,
job, or office: to conclude one's working or professional career.
Nowhere in this definition does it state that the word retire means
to tak e a break and then return to work.
In March 2008, we all watched as Favre tearfully said goodbye to
the NFL.
At that time, we thought we had seen the last of Favre on the football
field. It seemed that his 17-year career, which saw him set numerous
NFL records, become the only player to be named the league MVP in
three consecutive years and win a Super Bowl, was going to come
to an end and we could look forward to his Hall of Fame induction
ceremony.
Then in April 2008, Favre had second thoughts and wanted to play
again. After weeks of drama between Favre and the Green Bay Packers,
the Packers traded him to the New York Jets. Favre played the 2008
season with the Jets but struggled near the end and appeared that
he had given everything he had to give to the game of football.
Once again in February 2009, Favre retired and told ESPN that "there's
no way" he would play another game in the NFL.
However, in June rumors began to swirl that Favre was in talks with
the Minnesota Vikings about a possible comeback.
At the end of July, Favre told the Vikings that he was going to
stay retired. Three weeks later Favre signed a contract (reportedly
a two-year deal worth some $25 million) with the Minnesota Vikings.
Favre's retirement talks began way before he first "retired"
in 2008. He has been talking retirement since 2006.
Sorry Brett, but this is ridiculous. Training camp is part of the
game. If you want to play football, then you should go through training
camp just like every other NFL player. If you don't want to go through
training camp, maybe you should retire, but don't decide that you
want to play after training camp is over.
I once considered myself a fan of Favre, but after his latest comeback,
I have lost some respect for him. His constant indecisiveness not
only affects himself; it also affects those around him. The Minnesota
Vikings already have two quarterbacks who were competing for the
starting job and now that Favre has signed, he has been given the
starting job.
Since the rumors began circulating that Brett was going to sign
with Vikings, every player in that camp has had to answer questions
about him. He has created a distraction in the Vikings camp. Instead
of focusing on football, the players are forced to focus on someone
who was not even a part of their team at that time.
Come on, Brett.
Next time you "retire," how about actually staying retired.
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