Brett Favre Finally Retires?

Say it ain't so! Actually, please say it is so. Rumors are spreading that Brett Favre has informed the Minnesota Vikings of his intention to retire. How will this effect the upcoming NFL season? Let's break this down.

First, and foremost, the effect this will have on the Vikings is large, but not devastating. Tarvaris Jackson has had one year watching the Old Gunslinger, and most people believe that he is ready, now more than ever, for the starting spot. The rest of the Vikings roster is full of talented players, so the drop off from Favre to Jackson will be felt, but may not be hard to overcome. Will the Vikings win as many games this year? No, and they wouldn't have won as many this year with Favre. Last year was an aberration. Will they win their division? No, the Green Bay Packers are now the prohibitive favorites. Will they make it back to the NFC championship this season. No, but  they will make the playoffs, most likely with 10 wins. Will they be better in the long run? Maybe. If Tarvaris can develop into a Donovan McNabb, then they will have a great team the next 2-3 years. Vikings fans know one thing for sure: Their season won't end on a crucial interception, which Favre has become an expert at throwing.

Second effect won't be felt by the fans. The NFL will see a small decrease in popularity. When you lose a top ten all-time quarterback, you are going to lose interest. It is inevitable. The great news for the NFL is that they have at least a dozen other great stories going this year, including the following: Are the Dallas Cowboys going to be able to play in their home stadium in February? Will the New England Patriots, and Tom Brady, continue to slide backwards, or will they make another championship run? Will the Washington Redskins become a serious contender with the acquisition of Donovan McNabb? The NFL has never had a problem creating story lines, but there will be less people interested in seeing Tarvaris Jackson under center when the Vikings come to town, or play on National Television.

The third, and last effect is on the success of the last two teams Favre played for before the Vikings. The New York Jets are a much better team since Favre left. What would have happened if he stayed with the Jets last season, and then left them high and dry right before the start of this season? Their quarterback situation would be a mess, and their chance at making the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs, would be flushed right down the drain. Green Bay Packers fans who were upset with Ted Thompson, following Favre's sudden departure, should be sweeping Ted Thompson and Aaron Rodgers' front doorsteps and leaving them flowers every single morning. Aaron Rodgers is a better quarterback now than Favre was after his first two full seasons playing under center. Aaron Rodgers may eventually be more beloved in Green Bay once he retires, if he can bring one or two championships to that city. Packers fans need to understand one simple fact about Favre: The Super Bowl that the Packers won was due to Desmond Howard's performance, not Favre's. If it wasn't for Howard, Bill Parcels and the New England Patriots would have beaten the Packers. Then, the following season, Favre came up short to an aging John Elway, when they were the clear favorites to win it all. Favre then lost to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship a couple of years ago, brace yourselves, on a fatal interception. And, if Green Bay's Favre fan club didn't notice, he also threw one of the worst passes of all-time in this year's NFC Championship game. (Albeit for the Vikings)

While Brett Favre's legacy as a top ten quarterback is guaranteed, due to his longevity and records, the only people that will be sad to see him go are Favre loyalists, and fans of whatever team was going to face him in the NFC Championship game this season. Favre, you will be missed, but mostly for all the wrong reasons (game-changing interceptions and off-the-field drama). Assuming that this time you really are retiring, don't forget to turn the lights off on your way out.