Most everybody has had a dog or pet die. The crying, the memories, the funeral (or flushing). It's emotional; thinking about all the great times you had with old Rusty, how fun it was tossing the football around with Bailey, or jogging with Spot. It lasts for a few weeks, maybe a couple months.
Then you get the new puppy.
And how cute little Duke is. Sure he barks a lot, and he bit your hand when you tried to play fetch for the first time. But when he catches that first Frisbee, it's heaven. By now, you're flying high. You're all set to take him to the beach, to the park, heck, to the world.
And you don't need Rusty back.
Listen. Old pets don't return. The times with them are great. They are loved. But when their time comes and they go, they're gone.
Duke is here now.
Whether Rusty and his fans want to accept it or not, Aaron Rodgers has replaced him.
Brett, you're still loved. You will never be forgotten. Look, you're a legend. But you've run your course.
Leonardo da Vinci didn't try to paint another Mona Lisa. Thomas Jefferson left the White House after eight years, even with people wanting him to stay in office. Beethoven stopped after his ninth symphony.
Brett, you've had your nine Pro Bowls. Your painting is complete. The 422 touchdown masterpiece is finished.
Chris Mortensen can deny the reports that you've asked for a release if Green Bay doesn't want to play you, but the public knows that the Packers don't want you back.
You know it too. You know that maybe, just maybe, you've caught your last Frisbee, or jogged your last lap around the park.
And what a beautiful lap it was. Don't ruin it with a stumbling stint with the Chiefs or the Jets.
Rusty, let Duke shine now.
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
Nobody tell Brett Favre that Beethoven died three years after his ninth symphony was released.
That might not excite him coming off his ninth pro bowl...
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
Good article. A little funny, a lot of truth.
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Shaun Ahmad about 1 year ago
Favre playing for another team would be a joke.. I agree with that.
But let's not forget that he's won 18 of his last 22 games and got to the NFC championship game last year. He had a great season by anyone's standards. He's old, but still a better quarterback than the majority of the teams have right now.
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Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
That's why the Packers probably told him, "It's not you. It's me."
He said he's done with the game. Everybody moved on. They did it sadly, but they did it nonetheless. And now it's time for him to do so as well.
I'm sure Jefferson would have been great in a third term too...
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Shaun Ahmad about 1 year ago
I agree with you that Favre SHOULD move on. I don't like when people say they've retired but come back. It's not appealing to me.
However, if he says he wants to play another season, do you say "No" to a guy who has proven he can still play better than most, or do you go with the unproven commodity. Given the fact that the Packers were a couple of mistakes from the Super Bowl with Favre last year, it makes the decision that much harder.
This wouldn't be a big deal if the Packers went 8-8 last year. You know?
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Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
It's definitely an interesting scenario.
I don't agree with the Packers feelings that they wouldn't want to play Brett Favre if he does indeed actually decide to make a comeback, but it seems like that is the case.
So if Favre comes back, where does he go? Kansas City? Chicago? Minnesota?
Or will it even get that far?
If the Packers don't want Favre back, they are going to do everything that they can to make sure he doesn't come back. If he does, they're stuck in a PR nightmare. They want to move on with Aaron Rodgers, so they'll end up having to decide between simply blocking Favre out and sit him, since they own him for two more years, or trade him to another team. Just think if the Bears got him, Chicago goes 13-3 and the Packers end up 7-9 with Rodgers. Green Bay would get blasted for letting Favre go.
I think there are a lot of teams that wouldn't say "No" to a guy who has proven he can still play better than most, but I don't see how Green Bay would let it get that far.
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Shaun Ahmad about 1 year ago
Well said. I think Minnesota would chase Favre down like a rabid dog if they had a chance at him. I don't think Favre would go to a team where there was little to no shot of winning a Super Bowl (i.e. Kansas City).
If Favre ever goes public and says he wants to come back, Green Bay has no choice but to take him back. Like you said, PR nightmare to the fullest if they choose to trade, cut, or not let him back.
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Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
My gut feeling is that Favre loves Green Bay too much, and respects McCarthy and co. enough that he will realize he doesn't want to play anywhere else. Thus, he'll stay retired, because he's not going to be able to play in Green Bay.
Maybe it's sad, but that's how it will probably play out.
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Andres Sanchez about 1 year ago
I agree. Go away Favre, Im tired of this whole Retirement story and quite frankly have been over it for a long time.
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The Packers Lounge about 1 year ago
Firstly, the Packers will never release Favre. The almighty TT know that Packer fans would have his head.
Brett Favre will not play in the NFC if he gets traded. Sorry to Tampa, Chicago, and you losers in Minneapolis.
How come no one is talking about a quarterback competition?
How come no one is talking about Brian Brohm possibly being better than Rodgers in two years when Favre's contract expired.
If Ted Thompson plays this right, and gets a little luck, he could become the most brilliant GM ever.
What kind of draft pick does an Aaron Rodgers get you? That's the real question.
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