Brett Favre's Fitting Farewell

Go ahead, say it. It's okay, we all know that it's true.

Brett Favre's probably played his last game, and it was a fitting end.

In a season that started and ended with drama, Favre played no more than a tragic and fallen hero. His stat line was pedestrian at best, and had him on the losing end to the matchup against the quarterback he was brought in to replace.

Now, we start to get the spin from the media. Mangini took the ultimate fall in New York, and given his play calling he should have.

The lead stories, though, make excuses for Lord Brett. It was his shoulder that bothered him, that's why he didn't have the same zip on the ball. No, no; there wasn't an exam done, it's a feeling that we have. It has to be the reason. That's why Lord Brett fell in those last five games. It's the only reason we see this as a bad season, just those final five games.

I'm here to take the shine off the apple and say what those that call the games and report the games won't. Favre was awful, and it started from the beginning. He had help, that's for certain, but he was the leader of the pack (excuse the pun).

Let's start with those final five games. Favre threw just two touchdown passes while being intercepted nine times. They managed just one win, against Buffalo, and you could argue that Dick Jauron and the Bills handed the Jets the victory because they were equally inept.

He lost at home, and he lost on the road. Favre managed to pull out losses against Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver. Not one of those teams will be playing next weekend, and all three come from two of the weakest divisions in football. He needed a win desperately against Seattle, yet couldn't bring it home in weather he dealt with while in Green Bay. He choked away the game against Miami on Sunday.

Then there's the rest of the season. The impressive five game winning streak? The first three were against the Chiefs, Bills, and Rams. Seven times this season he threw multiple interceptions, and he led the league in the category for the year.

Five times this season he didn't throw a touchdown pass. Just twice this season did he throw for more than two, and not once after week four. He threw for as many touchdowns this season as he did interceptions.

Think the Jets got their money's worth out of Favre? Ask Miami how they like Chad Pennington.

The fact of the matter is, this year isn't the first time we've seen this.

In addition to toying with the idea of retirement for the last several years and holding a Packers franchise hostage in the process, Favre has become no more than a gunslinger over his recent seasons.

Certainly, he was impressive last year with Green Bay, but his decisions cost that team a shot to be special. His final throw was an interception thrown into traffic on a pass that should never have been made.

In 2006, he threw for 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In 2005, it was 20 touchdowns and 29 picks. I'd argue that should have been the cutoff point. Favre was very good through 2004, but since then it all has fallen apart.

He managed to garner every passing record. He pulled away all the positive records that Marino set, and then added interceptions to it for good measure. It's the same way Cy Young owns the record for most wins as well as most losses. His final game was his 100th career loss.

If his final performances have been any indication, he simply looks done.

And no one will come out and just say it. Unless it's an angle that Jim Nantz wants to discuss for the 37th time.

ESPN bowed at the altar all season long, even refusing to acknowledge his indiscretions in talking with teams about the Packers' weaknesses. I still feel there was more to this story, but it's been brushed under the rug.

The Packers were made out to be the bad guys in wanting to make sure Favre didn't end up in the division. Fans and media seemed to feel that Favre should be a Packer or be allowed to go where he pleased. Again, ask the Jets how that Pennington thing has worked out for them.

As fans, we don't want to remember players on their last legs. No one wants to remember the Michael Jordan that played with the Wizards,  we want the one from his days in Chicago.

Walking away certainly isn't easy.

Now, though, it's time. This is no time to be a mercenary and hang on for another season. This is no time to look for a final shot at glory. He has the ring, he has the numbers, and it's time to ride off in his Wranglers into the sunset.