Brett Favre: 297 and Done, The End of an Era as Favre Says Goodnight in Detroit

And so it ends. It’s official. After 297 straight starts, the streak for most consecutive starts by an NFL player will end tonight in Detroit.

Leslie Frazier, the interim head coach of the struggling Minnesota Vikings will start the five-year man from Alabama State, Tavaris Jackson, tonight against the New York Giants and for the first time in two decades, Brett Favre will watch the beginning of a game as an onlooker and not a participant.

For the last few years, the old gunslinger has soldiered on despite being riddled with injuries. Despite having one of the best seasons of his career last season, leading the Vikings to the NFC championship, Brett Favre has been a mere shell of his former greatness this season.

Begged to come out of retirement by now ex-coach Brad Childress, Favre has recorded one of his worst seasons to date with just 10 touchdowns and a scant four victories.

At points Favre let his pride and enormous ego get in the way of his health concerns, but at 42 one cannot expect to keep up with the elite quarterbacks in the league any longer. The unfortunate thing for Favre, and his fans, is that the concession of defeat has come far too late.

Regardless of the numbers (11 Pro Bowl appearances, Super Bowl XXXI champion, five-time NFC Player of the Year, three NFL MVP titles, etc.) and the records (most touchdown passes, most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most victories, not to mention most interceptions, fumbles and sacks), all of which were beyond impressive, the last three years have turned Favre into a caricature of greatness.

Favre has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since he left Green Bay in 2007, a remarkable season after which he claimed he would retire. He didn’t.

We all know what happened after that. But the fact that he didn’t stick to his word isn’t what has jaded the quarterback in the eyes of many. It was the fact that he did so and revealed his true colors in the process.

Favre has shown himself as selfish and unwilling to compromise. He’s been a prima donna of the highest order, the embodiment of the quarterback stereotype (did I mention he’s currently involved in a minor sex scandal?).

After the overtime loss to the New York Giants in the 2007 NFC Championship, some claimed that it was unfitting that the career of a legend end with an interception.

As chance would have it, the following two seasons, as well as his last game of this season, each ended the same way: with Favre throwing a pick on his final pass. A man cannot escape his fate. The great gunslinger’s last throw was always meant for the other team.

If Brett stayed true to his word and had retired after he left Green Bay, he would still be viewed as a hero. He would still be the icon, the pillar and example of manhood many of us saw him as growing up.

Perhaps in years to come, whilst looking at his records, most of which will never be broken, we will remember the good times and great plays. For now, however, the reputation of a man many once saw as a hero has been tarnished seemingly beyond repair.

With three games remaining in an incorrigible season, it makes no sense for Favre to play anymore. Which means it’s over. The legend is now that, a fixture in our collective memories.

Goodnight and farewell, hero.