End of an Era?: Brett Favre Needs Ankle Surgery to Play in NFL This Year

It wouldn’t be the NFL offseason without a healthy helping of Brett Favre’s “Will he or won’t he retire?” career drama. 

Today, the NFL obliged.

ESPN broke the news Friday morning that Favre will require ankle surgery to play in the NFL this upcoming season.

For those who don’t remember, Favre initially injured his left ankle during the NFC Championship Game against New Orleans back in January. After taking 60 minutes of ritualistic abuse from the New Orleans defense, Favre’s ankle looked like it swelled to the size of a grapefruit. (Don’t click that link if you’re faint of heart.)

Three months later, the ankle remains swollen and bruised, according to Favre. He consulted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who informed him that surgery was unavoidable if he hoped to play in 2010.   

"[Dr. Andrews and I] have spoken,'' Favre said in an e-mail to ESPN. "To play again, I would need the surgery, as I suspected. This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10—much like Green Bay for many years. That's what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.''

According to the ESPN story, “Favre said he must determine whether his affection for the Vikings and his belief they are capable of winning the Super Bowl overrides his disdain for surgery.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I read, “This decision would be easy if not for my teammates, etc.,” I read, “I really don’t want to get this surgery.”

Who could blame Favre? One look at his past 18 months would be enough incentive to hang up the cleats for any mortal man.

After a torturous end to his stint with the Jets, Favre underwent surgery for a torn bicep tendon in his throwing shoulder, only to return to the field with Minnesota after training camp ended in August.

Favre put his 40-year-old body through 18 games (including the playoffs) and posted one of the best seasons in his Hall of Fame career, but came out on the short end of the NFC Championship Game for the second time in the past three seasons.

Worse yet, Favre emerged from that NFC Championship Game battered and bruised, both mentally and physically. After asking ESPN’s Ed Werder how old he was (49), Favre said he felt like he was “something around there.” He refused to reflect on the future after the game, saying, "It's hard to even think about anything other than the loss."

Could Favre pull yet another 180, get the ankle surgery, and return to Minnesota for his 20th season in the NFL? Given how many times he’s battled the retirement decision, nothing can be ruled out of the question at this point.

But what’s his incentive to return?

The $13 million he’s due to earn this year? Eh. Something tells me that Favre’s not like Charles Barkley, gambling all his money away—Favre’s likely got his NFL riches packed away back in Hattiesburg, Miss. 

Another Super Bowl victory? Sure, any competitor would love to climb to the top of his sport’s mountain again, but Favre already has a Super Bowl ring.

Adding to his legacy? Not sure how much more he can add, given that he already holds the NFL’s records for most career touchdown passes, most career passing yards, most career pass completions and attempts, most consecutive starts, and most victories as a starting QB.

As Favre said after the NFC Championship Game last year, "I didn't think I had anything to prove coming in, but if there were doubters out there, maybe I served notice to them."

Well, Brett, if there were doubters last year, you’re right. After seeing you trot back on the field of the NFC Championship Game with an ankle the size of a basketball, there’s no way to discredit your greatness.

I just can’t imagine why, at 40 years old, you’d want to put your body through another surgery and rehab, just to go back out on the field for 16 more games where 11 grown men will be hunting you down on every play.

Sure, football always sounds fun to Favre in the summer, when training camp battles start heating up and the regular season lies right around the corner.

Realistically, though, can his body take the abuse anymore? More importantly, does Favre want to put himself through it all again?

This time, Favre doesn't sound like he's pulling anyone's chain when he's talking about hanging it up for good.

From the sound of his quotes to ESPN, Favre’s as close to actually retiring as he’s ever been.