Brett Favre: Athletes Who Have Held On Too Long and Need To Retire

The Brett Favre saga has gotten a bit, well, goofy. Regardless if you have talent or not, if you have any uncertainty as to whether you want to keep playing or not, you probably should retire. After all, comebacks can make for great stories in three years.

Here's a short list of athletes who should bow out respectively right about...now.

Chris Chelios - NHL

Chelios has had essentially three amazing careers with the Canadiens, Blackhawks and Red Wings. The former Norris Trophy Winner, Olympic Medallist and Stanley Cup Champion hasn't yet retired from the NHL, although he has hinted at it.He played in the AHL for most of the season, but was called up for seven games to suit up for Atlanta.

Regardless of the fact he'll turn 49 in January, if you aren't good enough to be with the Thrashers all year, do yourself and some 22 year old kid in the minors a favour:retire. All he's doing now is delaying his entry into the HHOF.

Jamie Moyer - MLB

The only reason why Moyer should retire is because he's on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Yes, he's probably the most effective junkballer in baseball, but it's probably going to be hard for him to come back from elbow surgery. If the Phillies can keep their current rotation in place for 2011, Moyer would be relegated to the bullpen, which may not be the way he'd like to end his remarkable career.

Shaquille O'Neal - NBA

The Big Aristotle has had a career many could only dream of. Rookie of the Year, MVP, 15-time All Star, four Championships, Top five All Time scoring leader, to name a few. His RPG and PPG last season in Cleveland were roughly half of his career averages. He's had an exciting career, and the sports world will lose it's most quotable athlete, but it's time for the Big Diesel to put it in park and get ready for his name to be called to the Hall-of-Fame.

Thierry Henry - MLS

Henry is arguably one of the golden game's greatest strikers. He's won championships in three different countries. His resume is exceptional. But he's come under a lot of fire in the last year. He'll never get to visit Dublin, poor fellow. His last international goal was a work of sheer palmistry.

Now, he's gone the route of so many greats before him like Pele and Beckham: he's gone to finish his career in MLS. MLS needs young, marketable stars in order to boost the league's presence in the US. Henry's not that guy. It's time to put away the cleats and spend more time with the girlfriend (Andrea Rajacic...Google her).

There are probably many more athletes who should retire in the next week or so. Why tarnish a stellar career with sub-par performances in an undesirable environment with a team (or even a league) that you have no connection with? Take a bow and go enjoy life.