KL: A quick note on ol' Graybeard

Watching the latest events unfold in the saga of ol' Graybeard himself--Brett Farv-ra, I must admit, that an overplayed story has actually peaked my interest. Favre has requested release from the Green Bay Packers so he can come out of a very brief retirement to make "one last" super bowl run. Being perhaps one of the top three quarterbacks to ever play the game, one might think--despite how tiresome Favre's yearly commitments and decommitments are--that it might be nice to see the man play on the field again one more year. Who doesn't want to see a Hall of Fame lock to take the field perhaps one last time? Who didn't want to see Michael Jordan play for a down and out Wizards team?

Wait a minute. Let's back this up. I was curious when Jordan returned, and I possibly will admit that I switched to a Wizards game by choice--yes intentionally--for the very first time in my life because of this. Only to realize that Jordan was a year older, a year slower, and making absolutely no difference for this terrible team.

Maybe Favre won't be as slow, and as decrepit as Jordan was. But at least Jordan left for two years before he made his attempt to come back. Leaving some anticipation to the average viewer like myself.

No, I do not anticipate Favre's return. And apparently, neither do the Green Bay Packers. They have been patiently behind this man ever since he has made his supposed "last run"--each of the last three seasons. They have even groomed his heir apparent in Aaron Rogers, who has been stagnating on the bench all this time waiting for it to all play out. Even so, the Packers management have been patiently allowing Favre to take his time. He is Brett Favre after all. Well, he finally left, so naturally Green Bay set everything in motion for life without their Hall of Famer at the helm.

Yes, even at age 39 or 40, Favre, most likely, would be more productive than a first year Aaron Rogers. But that is not the point here. The team has moved on. Everything has been set for Rogers to start his first NFL game this September. And now 60 days before that first game Favre has this "itch" to return? And he expects the Pack to go along with his every move and wavering decisions? Maybe they are being childish by denying him to go elsewhere--without a legitimate reason thus far. On the other hand, Favre is being selfish for assuming the world revolves around him. So if you are the Packers, why would you let him go to a competitor?

No, despite the seemingly harsh decision to not release Favre, I believe the Packers are justified here. This is a business. And ol' Graybeard himself should have had some foresight into the possibilities of being emotionally fickle. And now it is his problem to deal with--not the Packers. And the Packers have absolutely no need to justify their decision--who have the contractual rights to do this. They have been cooperative all along and have acted respectfully. It is time for Brett Favre to do the same and go away quietly.