Brett Favre Staying Retired: Why the Saga Is Finished for Good

When Brett Favre retired last winter, he said without a doubt that his football career was over in an interview with ESPN. Frankly, not many were surprised, nor did they care about the headline throughout the sports world speaking of Favre's repeat retirement.

The general consensus was that Favre would come back to the NFL just around training camp when he was ready, and find a home that was open to him.

For months, the Brett Favre saga continued, with the Minnesota Vikings looking like they were going to give him a chance to play football once again.

After multiple tests with medical teams, workouts in Mississippi, and examining his past injuries in '08, Brett Favre fooled many by deciding to stay retired as he had said earlier in the year.

Favre called it "the toughest decision I have made in my life."

After the news broke, the Minnesota Vikings moved on, while many fans were upset with Favre for dragging out the retirement, and hanging the team out to dry.

Is it a shocker that Favre is staying retired? Did anybody believe he would go by his word and stay retired?

Even with Favre staying retired, it is still felt that he is not done playing football, and a comeback in the 2010 season looks likely.

Though I would tend to agree, what has to be considered is that Favre might be done for good in the National Football League.

Of course many will have their doubts, asking what would stop Favre from returning next season?

Yet, it might seem harder than it looks. After all, Brett Favre reaches the age of 40 in early October.

Would any of the franchises who didn't show interest this offseason (about 31 of them) really sign a 40-year-old quarterback who hadn't played for a full season?

I sure wouldn't, and frankly, I don't know any team that would make the move.

On one hand, Brett Favre should get some praise for finally realizing that it was time to hang up the cleats. After all, he dealt with the wear and tear of the shoulder at the end of the 2008 season.

Favre went through with a procedure to fix the shoulder, and practiced within his hometown of Mississippi to prepare.

However, at the end of the day, Favre finally learned to say no. He finally realized he wouldn't be able to play at the same dominant level anymore.

Even staying in shape at 39 years of age, Favre could have suffered an injury during the season.

Sure, he would play through it, as he is Brett Favre, the comeback kid, as many still call him. But how much would it have affected the Vikings, who are a contending team in the NFC, with or without Favre?

We know that Favre will start off on the right path, yet over the course of a 16-game season, the body cannot handle the pressure it would be taking.

It is hard to imagine that Brett Favre will never be in the National Football League again. For many, it will be difficult not to see him back in 2010.

The reality, though, is that this might just happen.

No-one will believe Favre is done until it happens, so yes, it will be hard to adjust to.

But the fan must think that the road is near. The era of Brett Favre, the saga that he has brought upon himself in the NFL, is coming to a close in 2009.

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also writes a column on the Baltimore Ravens starting in September for new website, FanHuddle.com.