The Fall of Brett Favre Will Be Painful to Watch

Watching Brett Favre getting smacked by Patrick Willis of the 49ers today, in Brett's only series of his 2010 debut, reminds me of the wounded general who limped off the field in last year’s NFC title game.

I understand that Brett's ego won't allow him to go out the way he would have—by throwing an interception in the NFC Championship Game in a situation where an incomplete pass would have allowed the Vikings to attempt a field goal and possibly prevent the Cinderella story that was last year's New Orleans Saints.

Go ahead, Favre fans, admit it: You wanted Favre to retire. You've seen Favre take hit after hit and grow old in front of your eyes, and you don’t want to see any more—or do you?

The NFC Championship against the Saints was the equivalent of a prize fighter giving his last hurrah by peaking in the fight of his life but coming up short; even Brett Favre said that last season was his best.

No, I'm not saying Favre didn't perform admirably last season; but just like a prize fighter’s next fight after the toughest, most unpredictable contest of his life, where the fighter proves doubters wrong, that fighter (Brett Favre) stays on the horse too long and eventually gets bucked off or knocked out.

Brett, you did what you sought last year by proving to the Packers you weren't done, so why come back? The world had to witness the agony of what was known as Michael Jordan as a Washington Wizard, and now you choose to put us through the same.

The last two seasons, Brett, you've faded in the second half of the season. Yes, I’ll give you the fact that you guided the team Tarvaris Jackson took to the playoffs to the NFC Championship Game, but you also cost them a spot in the Super bowl.

Luckily for you, that cross-body wounded duck that ended your season was picked off. Hey, for your sake it probably kept your consecutive start streak intact with that bum ankle.

We've seen Brett fight for his legacy to the point where we cried with happiness, like the Monday night performance after the death of his father.

We’ve also seen him fight to the point we wanted him to give up, but like Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes, he won't. I tell you, ladies and gentleman, the boy wonder has stayed too long.

After Favre’s head bounced off the turf today, I watched him walk to the sidelines with the look of a fighter who knows he's shot; Brett walked to the sidelines with his normal swagger, but his eyes reminded me of Roy Jones vs. Antonio Tarver in the second fight when Tarver said, “Are you going to have any excuses tonight, Roy?”

Some might read this and think I’m crazy because of Brett’s stats last year. But football is a sport like boxing, where the end is swift and usually unpredictable. Just ask Shaun Alexander or LaDainian Tomlinson.

Two years ago with the Jets, Favre’s excuse was his elbow, and last year it was his ankle, which, Al Michaels made sure to remind the telecast viewers, has been surgically repaired three times.

Something tells me Favre didn't want to be there tonight and when the Vikings walked on the field for the second series of an NBC prime time game, Favre was on the sideline.

Watching Favre’s brief return made me ponder whether 2010 will be remembered as the year some of the greats stayed too long. First Ken Griffey Jr., followed by Chipper Jones, and now get ready for Brett Favre. Who next? I don’t know; maybe Shaquille O’Neal?