Brett Favre Retiring? He Says He's Done, But I'm Not So Sure

This isn't something we haven't heard before. We've watched him say this exact thing two times before only to re-appear with a new team.

Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Brett Favre has notified the Vikings that he is not going to return to football and says he's hanging it up for good. If only that were true.

On March 5, 2008, Favre told the Green Bay Packers that he was "mentally tired" and was leaving the game of football. In a voicemail message to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Favre said, "I know it shouldn't feel unsuccessful, but the only way to come back and make that be the right decision would be to come back and win a Super Bowl. And honestly, the odds of that, they're tough. Those are big shoes for me to fill, and I guess it was a challenge I wasn't up for." Favre should have listened to his own words.

Apparently, as it would eventually turn out, he was up for the challenge as he made his return to the NFL almost six months later to the day, signing with the New York Jets in August of that same year. He was right about the odds of the Jets winning a Super Bowl because the team didn't even sniff the playoffs, finishing the 2008 season with a 9-7 record.

In February of 2009, a few weeks removed from the Super Bowl, Favre once again stole the spotlight and announced to the football world that he was done. He informed the Jets, through his agent, of his decision of wanting to call it a career. Once again, the showering of compliments on his "great career" came from every which direction. He was celebrated just as he had been when he gave his teary press conference in Green Bay.

During a conference call, Favre told the media, "There are several things that went into decision but most importantly, the most important thing, was that physically, you know with my shoulder the last half of the year it hampered the way I played."

Retiring from Green Bay was a mental thing and retiring from the Jets was a physical thing. Favre was running out of excuses.

Ten months later, in August of 2009, Favre re-appeared. Only this time it was with a team in the exact same division as the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings. Needless to say, Packer fans were irate. While Favre coming back and playing for the Jets was bad enough, it wouldn't top coming back and playing against the team he spent most of his career with. It was on.

Packers' linebacker Nick Barnett summed it up nicely when he was asked about Favre signing with the Vikings. "I think he's a great quarterback, a great guy, a great leader. Would I like to hit him? Hell, yeah, I'd like to hit him. All these damn practices out here and they didn't let us hit him."

When asked about his decision to return, again, Favre said, "I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be. You're 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don't have to do that much and I agree with that. If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too."

This time around, Favre would have a lot more success than he had the previous season with the Jets. The Vikings got into the playoffs and were the perennial favorites to get to the Super Bowl. Until, that is, they hit a buzzsaw in the eventual Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

This is where my argument comes in. Favre retiring from Green Bay was all about emotion and it was a decision that wasn't thought out. I can get with that and I can understand it.

His decision to leave the Jets was based on his age and inability to throw the ball without pain, not to mention the team wasn't very good. His retirement from New York was all about going back home, kicking back, and watching to see which team would give him the best chance at one more Super Bowl.

Finding the Minnesota Vikings was the right place for him at the right time. However, when it comes right down to it, it was Favre that ended it for himself. He made one of the most horrific passes and the worst possible time that cost his team not only the game but also another shot at the big game.

Brett Favre can't end his career on a horrible decision that cost him another trip to a Super Bowl. Brett Favre can't go out with that on his mind. Brett Favre will be back in the NFL in 2010 and it's only a matter of time before he gets up off his couch, realizes the Vikings are better with him than without him, calls Brad Childress, and changes his mind one more time.

One of the most telling signs of a comeback was Favre's decision to undergo surgery on the ankle that hampered him most of last season. Not only that, but he did something a lot of us have gotten used to seeing, throwing to high school kids and looking like the quarterback of old.

Brett Favre isn't retiring, not yet. Right now, he has the spotlight all to himself. It will make his return to the Minnesota Vikings that much more triumphant. The only difference between the last two times and this time is the fact that no one believes him. Favre has cried wolf one too many times.

There's no question in my mind that, when he does officially retire and actually stays retired, Brett Favre will be remembered as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he will also be known as something he'd rather not be known for, deceitful.