Minnesota Vikings: Brett Favre the Selfish Strikes Again!

In some breaking news that came out this morning, Brett Favre has reportedly told the Minnesota Vikings that he is retiring. In other late breaking news, the Earth is round and humans need to breath oxygen in order to survive.

This will mark the third time that Favre has retired from the game of football; that is, unless you count last July's decision to reiterate his intentions to retire despite appearing that he would be joining the Vikings, which he then did so anyway three weeks later. In that case, this is Favre's fourth time.

Perhaps one of the saddest things is that I used to respect Brett Favre and what he stood for. And that meant a lot coming from someone who is a Chicago Bears fan and watched No. 4 decimate our team two times a year for over 15 years. As time has gone on though, and his retirement announcements have become as frequent as his MVP awards, one has to question if this player who the entire world grew to love for his youthful exuberance on the field was playing all of us for a fool.

After all, why would someone who sold us on how prideful he was, and how he was just like the every day American, be so selfish, arrogant, and narcissistic? 

For the next several days, you will read on this site and others about the great memories Favre will leave behind us. ESPN is currently looking like a stale sitcom right now, bringing in the same cast of characters and ex-Packers to talk about how great Favre was, and how he will always be a legend of the game. Sportscenter is running its now annual edition of "Brett Favre's Top Ten Plays," that they must have ready in the vault every time the NFL off season comes around.

Amidst all the greatness you'll hear, perhaps a few people should realize how Brett Favre has now hijacked yet another team's season, thanks to Favre's indecisiveness and immaturity. The Vikings, who have been banking on Favre coming back to the team, did not try to bring in another quarterback as an insurance policy. On the contrary, they kept Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels to back up the great and illustrious Favre, who would get off the tractor and mosey on to Minnesota, to finish the job he started; and ended last year by throwing another all to common critical interception.

Now, the Vikings, who were one of the favorites to win the NFC enter training camp with a quarterback no one trusts, and a three ring circus about whether or not Favre really is retiring. If it wasn't enough of a kick in the pants to these players that they now will presumably play the 2010 season without a bonafide starting quarterback, they will now have to answer questions every week until December on "do you think Favre might come back this year?"

Had Favre announced his retirement in the spring, the Vikings would have had time to bring in another quarterback like Donovan McNabb, Mark Bulger, Jason Campbell, Michael Vick or even Ben Rothlisberger. But of course Favre couldn't give the Vikings that kind of courtesy.

The next question is, is Favre really retiring? Around this time last year, Favre said he would not play football again, only to change his mind two weeks later and come to camp three weeks late. Why would anyone in their right mind be prepared to believe that Favre won't pull off the same act this time? 

At this point, the chances are just as good that Favre and his camp planted this story in which an "anonymous source" reported to the AP that he was going to retire, just so Favre could once again become the topic of discussion. Favre would get to inflate his ego even more, and look all the more heroic with Favre coming into Minnesota, injured ankle and all to save the Vikings.

As a Chicago Bears fan, this is great news to me, but more importantly as a football fan, I really just want this whole situation to end. Brett Favre has managed to take a once great career, one in which he was arguably the most adored athlete in all of sports, and turned what should have been the twilight of his career into a mockery.

The past six years now have turned into a soap opera called "As Favre Turns," as it has had about as much betrayal, reunions, hospital visits and tears as an episode of "Days Of Our Lives." 

The vast majority of this country would wish Favre and his act would end up getting the axe like the soap opera "Passions." Sadly, one can't help but get the sick feeling this dramaedy will continue this year and for all we know, many more years to come.

Please do the world a favor Brett. Stay home this time. We already know the league can go on without you. It's time you realize this as well and come to understand that you can live without the league .