Brett Favre Retires: Will He Change His Mind and Return In 2010?

Sources indicate that Minnesota quarterback and three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre plans to retire and half the country simultaneously rolls their eyes. 

Favre is a lot of things; a future Hall of Fame inductee, a gunslinger, a league MVP, Super Bowl champion, he is passionate and gutsy, but one thing he is not is a sound decision maker. Evidenced by his 317 career interceptions and two previous so-called retirements.

Green Bay, New York, and Minnesota can all attest to his unfathomable skill level and ageless wonderment for the game, but they can also all attest to the fact that Favre is as sure as John Kerry when it comes time to vote.

Good Ole' No.4 had one of his best statistical seasons in 2009, throwing for 33 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions, a rarity in Favre's career. He has averaged a little over 16 picks a season over his 19 years in the NFL, but last year something was different. Maybe it was the running game, Adrian Peterson ran for 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. Maybe it was that Vikings' defense that was second in the league in defending the run. 

Whatever it was, Favre looked 27 again, he enjoyed the game even more than he usually does, and he led a fringe NFC contender to the brink of Super Bowl glory.

Favre has not confirmed the reports nor has Vikings' coach Brad Childress or kicker and longtime teammate Ryan Longwell, so we wait.

Fans and experts alike have become accustomed to this annual song and dance, for the better part of the last decade. But even when we are certain that the Mississippi gunslinger is finally throwing in the towel, he comes waltzing back in to give us just a little more.

A lot of animosity has been brought on by Favre's indecisive nature, in Green Bay, Minnesota, and around the country. The constant media speculation day in and day out drives many to write him off as an egotistical attention seeker. But take notice that Favre, although indecisive, has always been honest with himself and the rest of us.

The reason for the constant speculation is because Favre never states whether he is staying or going unless he knows for sure.

Favre loves the game of football. His teammates, the fans, and this columnist would venture to guess that, that love, that passion will bring him back for another year. It has never been about the attention or money for Favre, it has been about what he loves, and he loves this game.