Brett Favre: 10 Reasons Why His Inevitable Return Is Bad for the NFL

The good news is that this article is not about whether or not Brett Favre returns to the game of football.

I'd pretty much bet the Favre farm, that if he is able to play, he will. 

Favre doesn't appear to be interested in a life outside of football, which is somewhat confusing since he has a wife, two daughters, and a grandson who would probably love to spend more time with him.

Then again, it's not like he is away for more than a few months during the year at this point, especially without going through training camp.

Furthermore, he appears to be one of those players that just can't get the game out of his system

Instead, the following commentary will stress why Favre's inevitable return is bad news for the NFL and the majority of its fans.

Don't get me wrong. Favre has every right to play.  It's just that the negatives of a Favre comeback now far outweigh the positives. 

1. Physically, He is Starting to Break Down

When Favre suffered an ankle injury in last season's NFC Championship Game, most people probably assumed that he would recover during the offseason and lace up his cleats with no problems in Week One of the 2010 season.

Well Favre had ankle surgery and reportedly the recovery is not going that smoothly.  He still has significant lingering discomfort and a limp.

If Favre was 25, he'd probably be sprinting by now, but he is 40 and injuries just don't heal as quickly or as completely at that age. 

During the 2008 season he spent with the New York Jets, Favre tore his biceps tendon.  The year before that he had bone spurs and other associated issues with his ankle. It's called a trend when you start suffering injuries year after year.

Can he make it through another 16-game season plus the playoffs? I don't think even he can answer that question positively right now.

2. Encore of 2009 is Almost Impossible

Favre had statistically the best year of his career in 2009. He completed 363 out of 531 passes for 4,202 yards.  His completion percentage of 68.4, his touchdown to interception ratio of 33 to 7 and his passer rating of 107.2 were all Favre bests.

Can Favre still play at a high level if healthy? No doubt.

Can he repeat his play in 2009? Very, very unlikely if for another reason then Favre's mental makeup as quarterback. He is a gambler by nature and historically has made his share of mistakes in throwing the football. 

Even with very good talent around him, he is far more likely to revert to his 2008 form when he completed as many interceptions (22) as touchdown passes.

3. Unreal Expectations

The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl.

After Favre took Minnesota to the conference title game last season, will Vikings fans be satisfied with anything less than a Super Bowl appearance and probably a victory?

The obvious answer is no and what better place to direct your anger at a former rival that couldn't get the job done in Favre?

4. The Minnesota Vikings Winning a Super Bowl with Brett Favre

Handout/Getty Images

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: In this handout photo provided by Walt Disney World, in a photo taken February 28, 2009 NFL quarterback Brett Favre lounges with Goofy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Favre was appearing at '

Even if Favre were to stay healthy and lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl win, it would bad for the NFL for two fundamental reasons.

First, it sends the wrong message to players around the league. 

Don't worry about training camp and building camaraderie and chemistry with your teammates. If you're good enough, we will accomadate you and heck you might make it to Disney World.

Check out the next slide for the second reason...

5. Winning the Super Bowl is All About Brett

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre speaks onstage during the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

You have to know that winning the Lombardi Trophy will be all about Favre and not about the first NFL title for Minnesota, its other players, and the fans. I can imagine the headline on the Monday after the game.

Will Favre retire or will he try and defend HIS title? 

Forget about Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Jared Allen, etc. In the eyes of the mainstream media (see: ESPN) it will be all about No. 4.

Who knows? John Madden will probably return to booth just to serve as Favre's personal analyst. At least comic Frank Caliendo will have more material for the next year.

6. The NFL Needs to Establish New Stars

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - JULY 30: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons runs the offense during opening day of training camp on July 30, 2010 at the Falcons Training Complex in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

You know the old saying, "Out with the old and in with the new?" Well, it certainly needs to apply to the NFL. The sport clearly is more popular than ever, but it is time to develop some new stars.

Quarterbacks such as Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Donovan McNabb are nearing the end of their careers and every year they stay in the league it seems harder and harder for new talent to emerge, especially as a marketing vehicle on a league driven by its commercial appeal.

I'm not arguing that the NFL should simply put older players out to pasture, but if the NFL is hoping to harvest a younger fan base that is more enamored with the X-games than the pigskin, the push should be to buy Matt Ryan's, Joe Flacco's or Chad Henne's jersey.

7. The NFL Needs Brett Favre to be Embraced by Green Bay Fans Again

Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 03: A Green Bay Packers fan cheers on the team against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)

There is no doubt in virtually anyone's mind that Brett Favre is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Well, the five-year waiting period might not be anywhere near enough for most Green Bay Packer fans to forgive Favre for playing for other teams including a division rival.

The longer Brett plays the game of football for teams other than the Packers and does his annual waffling over whether to play, the harder it will be for the "Lambeau diehards" to turn the page. 

The NFL doesn't want a Hall of Fame ceremony where fans come to boo, but that's a real possibility with Favre.

8. The Minnesota Vikings Would be Better off Long Term Without Favre Now

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Percy Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings smiles on the field during warm ups against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ro

The Vikings have a nice core of players and a lot of the talent is still young.

Every year that Favre plays is another year that players such as Harvin, Rice, Peterson, and Visanthe Shiancoe will need to break-in a young quarterback at some point.

Truthfully, Minnesota has already probably waited to long to groom a young quarterback given that Tarvaris Jackson hasn't worked out.

The Vikings should have drafted a quarterback this year and seem to be gambling all their chips on a one-year Super Bowl run, instead of opening up a "multiple-year" window to win a Super Bowl.

9. ESPN Won't Have to Come Up With New Programming Now

Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: Race car driver Danica Patrick (L) and ESPN talent Erin Andrews arrive at the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for ESPY)

OK, maybe you think this is just an excuse to put up a picture of Danica Patrick and Erin Andrews at the ESPY Awards. Really, it's not, I swear.

But, that does appear to be how ESPN operates, as more of an entertainment vehicle than a sports vehicle at times. Some people have suggested that ESPN becomes the LBTFN instead (The LeBron, Tiger, Favre Network). 

Without Favre really retiring this season, you know that multiple days ahead will be filled with Favre on the ESPN News ticker, old Favre games on ESPN Classic, Favre at the ESPYs, Favre mulling whether to play in 2011 on SportsCenter.

I loved ESPN's 30 for 30 by the way, and I pray they continue with original programming and documentaries that show us what goes on behind the sports scene.

Don't worry sex always sells, and Tiger and LeBron aren't going anywhere.

10. Favre's Long-Term Health

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 28: Sylvia Mackey (L), wife of former National Football Player John Mackey, greets Pro Football Hall of Fame player Willie Woods (R) before a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee about football brain injuries on Captiol Hill Octo

The NFL is rife with stories about former players who are mentally and physically broken.  Johnny Unitas was apparently so broken down at the end of his life that he could barely manage holding a pen to sign an illegible autograph.

Have you seen legendary NFL running back Earl Campbell recently? He uses a wheelchair because he has great difficulty walking due to severe arthritis in his knees and debilitating back pain. Campbell is only 55 years old.

NFL great Willie Wood has had knee replacements, hip replacements, and suffers from dementia while living in an assisted living facility. Wood played in the NFL for 12 seasons. 

It's a player's choice to continue playing football and this article isn't about the toll taken on a professional football player's body. But should anyone play in the NFL for 20 years considering the physical punishment?  Will one less year make a difference?

Chances are Brett won't find out.