Brett Favre Sighting...Err, Sounding: Why Can't QB Just Fade Away Gracefully?

Brett Favre recently thrust himself back into the national headlines by taking a thinly veiled shot at the current king of the NFL—Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

After a first ballot Hall of Fame career, one has to wonder why he can't be satisfied with the type of life so many others would enthusiastically embrace.

Most analysts state he's petty or just bitter that his time is over. They are partially correct, but they're missing the true root of his hubris.

People like Favre can't walk away because the same competitive fire that fueled their rise to the pinnacle of their profession is the primary catalyst behind their lack of grace when the show ends.

Favre's greatest achievement is arguably his record streak of starting 297 consecutive regular season games.

Only 11 players in the history of the NFL have been able to start 200 consecutive games. Favre not only finished 27 games ahead of all others but possibly played in the most difficult era to sustain such a streak.

By 1992, athletic science was a booming industry as evidenced by MLB's "Steroid Era," meaning players were bigger, faster and stronger than any time before.

Additionally, the vast majority of Favre's starts were before the promulgation of rules to protect quarterbacks. Such rules eventually came about in response to a rash of injuries to the NFL's most marketable position.

Possibly the most driven people are politicians. There is no other attribute that could lead a sane person to enter a profession where every action is be judged by the entire population.

In the same sense, football players must surely be driven by some innate, internal voice that keeps them going.

Competitive men cannot just limit that intensity. It invariably spills into every facet off life.

The most obvious example is the competitiveness these men exhibit towards women. There is no need to substantiate the claim that neither politicians nor athletes are renowned for their fidelity.

It isn't that they aren't happy with their current situations but that they all harbor a constant desire to overcome a challenge.

This is the explanation behind Favre's and Anthony Weiner's embarrassing photo incidents. While probably not the best strategy to winning over a lady, these two did whatever it took to win.

It would appear from Favre's college days that he probably adhered to the same attitude when drinking.

For instance, Favre's first game action in college was preceded the night before by drinking a case and a half with his roommate after being challenged to create a "beeramid."

It's that recklessness that gives Brett Favre the bravado to say the things he says. 

The competition between Favre and Rodgers is not surprising to anyone. We have yet to hear Rodgers thank Favre for the hours of tutelage and mentoring during their time together.

Mostly because it is certain this never occurred.

Favre's "attitude of a winner" wouldn't allow him to look past the Packers being his team. This approach had served him well his entire career, and humility has never been one of his strong suits.

This is why Favre, much like Michael Jordan, cannot just ride off into the sunset.

Let's end with a word of caution.

Packers fans may want to learn not to take this type of behavior too personally.

It would appear that Rodgers has some of the same quality.

Remember when the media didn't ask Rodgers about the lack of player-only offseason workouts?