Brett Favre Retires: Who Screwed His Team More, Favre or LeBron James?
The annual Brett Favre retirement saga is finally over, for the moment at least.
Favre reportedly sent text messages to his teammates Monday night telling hinting that he had reached the end of the line.
The decision has huge ramifications for the Vikings, who find themselves right back where they were a season ago with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels as the only two reliable quarterbacks on the roster.
Favre's surprising decision handcuffs the Vikings, who now face numerous challenges as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Favre's untimely declaration to the Vikings is eerily reminiscent of LeBron James deciding to take his talents to South Beach and leaving the Cavaliers for dead.
But is Favre's act worse than what LeBron did to poor Cleveland? Let's take a look.
Manner of Announcement
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According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Favre sent a number of text messages to teammates saying, "this is it." Clear, concise, and simple.
LeBron's national television announcement will go down in infamy for being one of the most selfish and thoughtless actions imaginable.
Don't rule out a retirement ceremony held on the front of his beautifully manicured lawn, but until that happens Favre's announcement remains much more civilized.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
The Current State of The Franchise
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Favre's retirement leaves the Vikings in a difficult position.
As one of the NFL's most balanced offenses last season, the Vikings were able to take advantage of opposing defenses in the running game and using a lethal play action attack.
Jackson will likely be named the starter, and his inconsistency has been well-documented. The Vikings will likely lean on Adrian Peterson and hope Jackson isn't forced to win games while facing eight-man fronts.
Ultimately, there is still plenty of talent in Minnesota and the Super Bowl remains a possibility.
The Cavaliers will be lucky to make the playoffs and won't get anywhere near the NBA Finals. LeBron's decision leaves the team with two overrated former All-Stars and a mediocre supporting cast.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
The Fate Of Their Former Teammates
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Brett Favre's arrival fueled a dramatic increase in production from wide receiver Sidney Rice and helped Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Schiancoe flourish.
All four can expect a noticeable drop in production thanks to Favre's departure.
LeBron's impact on his former teammates in Cleveland was equally as important. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison will likely see a statistical increase, but role players like Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker will be forced to assume greater role's for the new-look Cavaliers.
From a statistical perspective, Favre's teammates will suffer far more than James'.
Primary Offender: Brett Favre
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Impact On Coaches and Management
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In a sense, both Favre and James got the best of their former employers.
Favre led Brad Childress on throughout the last two offseasons, taking the Vikings coach hunting and acting cordially as he toyed with his decision.
James forced the Cavaliers to spend $20 million on a washed-up center and acquire role players that have little value without a superstar to get them shots.
Dan Gilbert's public reaction is probably similar to how Childress and the Vikings are reacting privately.
Primary Offender: Brett Favre and LeBron James
The Future of The Franchise
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Despite Dan Gilbert's bold statements to the contrary, the Cavaliers are no closer to claiming a championship than the Cleveland Browns.
The Cavs are saddled with bad contracts and aside from J.J. Hickson, veteran players with little upside.
The Vikings are in a better position financially, but stayed out of the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes with the idea that Favre was likely to return.
Instead of having McNabb for three or four years, the team is forced to place its hopes on Tavaris Jackson's shoulders.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
The Value Of The Franchise
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From a financial point of view, the Vikings will remain a valuable franchise even with Favre poised to walk away from the game.
Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin should continue to sell jerseys and keep the team in contention.
The Cavaliers' value skyrocketed the moment that LeBron James stepped onto the court. It took an immediate hit when he walked away.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
The Lasting Image of The Franchise
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The Vikings will recover, even if doesn't happen right away. There is plenty of young talent in place to produce success.
The Cavaliers might recover eventually, but it remains to be seen if it will be under Dan Gilbert's control.
In the end, both the Vikings and Cavaliers look foolish thanks to the actions of their former stars. Both teams clearly relinquished too much control to their respective stars.
It's not always good to put your eggs in one basket.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
Severed Relationships With The Cities and The Fans
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Vikings fans welcomed Brett Favre with open arms. Now, they will return to a state of normalcy and resume hating the former Packer legend with a passion.
Not exactly a difficult transition to make.
Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to reel from the decision of its Chosen One. James' decision will never be forgotten.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
Lasting Legacy In Minnesota and Cleveland
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Brett Favre got the Vikings to the doorstep of the Super Bowl while compiling one of his best statistical seasons. His legacy in Minnesota will be remembered in a positive light.
LeBron's public announcement erased the memories of his accomplishments in Cleveland, including two Most Valuable Player awards, an appearance in the NBA Finals, and considerable playoff success while displaying continued improvement.
LeBron's legacy with Cleveland certainly won't be remembered in a positive light.
Primary Offender: LeBron James
The Final Verdict
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It is difficult to predict what will happen in the wake of Brett Favre and LeBron James, but it is clear that both players screwed the franchises that invested millions in them while making countless concessions.
Both Favre and James crave the spotlight, but James' public announcement amounted to a public denouncement of his hometown team.
The Vikings will remain more than relevant on the NFL's radar even without Favre. The Cavaliers will struggle to survive and won't even be able to begin rebuilding for two seasons.
In the end, LeBron clearly screwed the Cavaliers. Big time.
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