Brett Favre's Final Season Nothing Short of Predictable

Predictable.

That’s what the last year of the Brett Favre saga was. Or was it the last year? Please, God, make this be the last year because we just can’t take anymore of it.

Rewind the tape to the late hours of Jan. 24, 2010. Favre had just cost the Minnesota Vikings a trip to the Super Bowl with a late interception deep in New Orleans’ territory. It was a Favre classic as he threw across the field under pressure, something quarterbacks are taught not to do at the Pop Warner level.

The Vikings went on to lose the NFC Championship Game in overtime. Afterwards, beaten down and looking every bit of 40 years old, Favre was asked if there was any chance he would return for a 20th season in 2010.

Predictably, he was noncommittal, again putting into motion the events that proceeded in the previous two offseasons when he was on again, off again about retirement. He claims he never wanted the attention, but there was never any doubt that Favre loved every second of it.

Fast-forward about three months to April 30. Favre informs the media that Dr. James Andrews made it clear to him that the ankle he injured in the NFC Championship would need surgery if he wanted to play another season.

Predictably, Favre played the sympathy card, issuing a statement saying: “This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10—much like Green Bay for many years. That’s what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.”

Way to throw a subtle dig at the entire Packers organization and fanbase in the process, Brett. That’s the best way to get back into their good graces. More on that later.

Predictably, Favre went ahead with the surgery in mid-June and that’s it, right? He got the surgery and wouldn’t have done so if he was retiring, so we’ll see you in camp?

Not quite. Favre’s status remained in “serious limbo” until late July, when the Vikings fed his massive ego by sending three of his closest teammates—Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell, and Jared Allen—on a private jet to his home in Mississippi to try to get Favre to come back for one last season. Every media outlet in the universe was covering the story and had a camera crew at the airport for takeoff and touchdown.

Predictably, Favre was in heaven. The Vikings were begging him to come back and now the whole world could turn on the television to see to what extent they would go to bring him back. There was no way he could say no, even though he was never going to in the first place.

His return was reported on August 3 and made official two weeks later on August 17. So after another offseason of holding a team hostage, Favre misses all of training camp and is immediately rewarded by being named the starter for Minnesota’s second preseason game against San Francisco five days later.

Predictably, Favre addressed the team and its coaching staff twice in the two days that followed the 49ers game, assuring them that he was totally committed to playing a 20th season even though his actions suggested otherwise. Has anyone seen my red flag?

There were two reasons Favre didn’t want to play in 2010, one of which he made public, while the other was aired out by the media. The reason he made public was that 2009 was the best season of his career and it wasn’t enough to get the Vikings to the top.

At the age of 40, he set a career-high in completion percentage (68.4) and a career-low in interceptions (seven), while throwing for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns. Upon returning, Favre made it clear to everyone that they shouldn’t expect that type of production during the upcoming season.

Predictably, we never saw that outstanding level of play. Not even close, in fact. Favre went from having the best year of his career to unarguably his worst. His yards (2,509), touchdowns (11), and quarterback rating (69.9) were all a career-worst if you take away his lost rookie year in Atlanta when he threw just four passes. No. 4 threw 19 interceptions, lost three fumbles and, unpredictably, missed three full games, ending his incredible record of 297 consecutive starts.

The second reason Favre didn’t want to return to the Vikings was because of a serious rift and subsequent lack of respect for Head Coach Brad Childress. The media leaked this shortly after his return and Favre addressed the matter in the aforementioned team meetings. He wanted to make it known that he was bothered by the report and that there were no issues between he and Childress.

Favre lied. He hated Childress, hated playing for him, and because both men thought he was smarter than the other, the level of trust that must exist between a quarterback and a head coach never developed. As the Vikings’ season spiraled out of control shortly after the midpoint, it was clear something had to give.

Predictably, Childress was fired by Owner Zygi Wilf on Nov. 22.

All of the above led to a disastrous swan song for Favre and a pitiful 6-10 season for Minnesota, which had them tied for last with the Detroit Lions. What a difference a year makes.

Favre addressed the media following Minnesota’s season ending loss to the Lions, one that he took in from the sidelines in street clothes.

Predictably, he lied spoke about not regretting his decision to return for a 20th season, only that he wishes it played out differently. He told everyone that “it’s just time” to retire, like we haven’t heard that before, and even thanked Packers fans.

ESPN’s talking heads said it was the start of the healing process between Favre and Green Bay. I say that the shout out or indirect apology or whatever it was supposed to be was a load of B.S. and should be disregarded by the fans and anyone who is involved with the organization in any way.

On his way out, he should try apologizing to Minnesota for holding it hostage through last offseason, draft and training camp, only to come back and perform like this. Had he just gone on instinct, Favre would’ve retired to his farm in Mississippi last spring with his legacy at an all-time high, while the Vikings could’ve drafted and groomed their quarterback of the future.

Instead, the opinion of one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history couldn’t be lower, and the Vikings are stuck with Joe Webb and Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback in 2011.

Predictably, Favre will walk away for good this time because, for the first time in his career, there are no other options.

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