Brett Favre should only be playing for one team this year. This team needs him so much more than Favre needs it, and its chances of winning rest solely on his shoulders, where it should be.
That said—it's not the Green Bay Packers.
In fact, Green Bay should not welcome Favre back at all. Aaron Rodgers only has a year left on his contract, and the organization used two draft picks on quarterbacks (Brian Brohm of Louisville and Matt Flynn of LSU) in April's draft.
The Green Bay Packers do not revolve around Brett Favre's decision-making. Bringing him back would just delay their evolution as a football team.
If Brett Favre wants to be released, the Packers should be willing to give it to him. They may be able (and more than willing) to trade him, but Favre's best fits lie in rival NFC teams who would jump at the chance to make themselves contenders and jump ahead of the Packers.
Green Bay should play the ultimate game of Russian Roulette with it's future-Hall of Fame quarterback—they should release him outright.
Thinking along the lines of the old-school quarterback, I may have the perfect fit for the ol' gunslinger. Let's face it, Favre would jump at the chance of playing the Packers twice a season. And there's one team within the NFC North with just as much history and prestige as the Green Bay Packers, and just as many problems to fix.
That's right—Brett Favre should be a Chicago Bear.
This may be wishful thinking on my part, but the move would send shockwaves around the NFL, presenting it with possibly the biggest storyline at the start of the season.
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I can see it now. Cancel the jersey retirement ceremony on opening night. Put the grizzled veteran against the first-year starter on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Start learning who those Chicago receivers are. Put Adrian Peterson on your Fantasy Football cheat sheet. Fear the Monsters of the Midway once again!
With no superstar-skilled position player on the offensive side of the ball, Favre could be the savior the Bears need to return to the playoffs.
Going to Chicago puts Favre just where he was last season with Green Bay. With few established targets and a stout defense capable of keeping Green Bay in games, Favre was presented with the challenge of resurrecting Packer pride.
However, he did more than that. He had a Pro Bowl season at age 38. He took Green Bay to the NFC Championship game. He made Greg Jennings and Donald Lee household names.
There would be plenty of challenges in Chicago. Receivers Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian have departed for Carolina and Minnesota, respectively, and the top targets include the speedy Devin Hester and aging tight end Desmond Clark.
Favre would have to develop targets such as Greg Olsen, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, and Mike Hass, turning them into Jennings, Lee, and James Jones. Favre would also serve as the last hope in Rex Grossman's development and mentor to Kyle Orton, or at least weather the storm until Chicago decides to draft a hopeful quarterback.
In Chicago, Brett Favre the guru and Brett Favre the Pro Bowler would both need to coexist for the franchise to succeed.
Unfortunately, FoxSports.com's sources report that the Packers will not grant Favre his desired release—so the above really is wishful thinking on my part.
If Favre were to return, at least for the time being, his destination in 2008 will remain in the hands of the Green Bay Packers. Whether that future is backing up Rodgers or suiting up in a different city next season, Brett Favre's legacy will not come to an end just yet. This story is far from over.
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about 1 month ago
The Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee had Brett on the front page of the sports section in a photoshopped Bear's jersey.
That being said, it isn't likely, but as Chicago fans await the inevitable Cubs choke job, it is nice to get excited about a Bears team that will be lucky to win 6 games this year
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