Havel on Favre

Award-winning Green Bay sports columnist Chris Havel has a long history with Brett Favre. He has insight into the mind of the best.quarterback.ever. that bleeds into his writing. Which is why I took great satisfaction with the following.

It's OK if Favre has records on mind
By Chris Havel

Brett Favre's future is now.

The Green Bay Packers' quarterback isn't as good as he once was, but to paraphrase the country tune, he is as good once as he ever was. It showed in his play during the Packers' 26-7 victory at Chicago in the regular-season finale.

Favre was the best quarterback at Soldier Field on New Year's Eve. That isn't saying much since the alternative was the Bears' ill-prepared Rex Grossman, whose quarterback rating — 0.0 — was identical to the chance he gives Chicago in the playoffs.

While the Bears' dilemma is deciding how long to stick with a fraud, Favre's dilemma is deciding when enough is enough. The answer seems as obvious as Grossman's lack of talent: One more season.

Favre, 37, could walk away today as one of the NFL's all-time greats.

He is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, and he is one of the few players that truly became a legend in his own time. He has nothing to prove, and he doesn't owe anybody anything. He gave back to the game more than he took from it.

The question is, why stop now?

As a staunch Favre supporter since he uncorked his first 100 mph fastball inside the Packers' original indoor practice facility, I thought greatness would be his sooner or later. It turned out to be sooner and later.

Favre has silenced his critics, and he has outplayed and outlasted his opponents. His contemporaries are relegated to acknowledging the cheers at Lambeau Field with a smile and a wave as they stroll toward midfield on Alumni Day. From Fuzzy Thurston to Frank Winters, there isn't one who wouldn't give everything to play one more game.

Favre has that option, and without the risk of embarrassment. The man still can play at an exceedingly respectable level, which is the first and best in a litany of reasons he should return for one more go-round.

He is the rare athlete that has the privilege and luxury of announcing his retirement before the final season, rather than after it. He also is the rare leader whose actions, rather than words, seem to make the most impact. Imagine the rush of adrenaline and sense of urgency an entire team would feel knowing 2007 truly is Ted Williams' final at-bat, Muhammad Ali's last round and Michael Jordan's parting shot.

Teammates young and old would rally as much for themselves as their leader. Win or lose, they could be part of history in the making. They may not do for Favre what Terrell Davis and Co. did for John Elway a decade ago, but they would like to try.

It is insane to think any NFL quarterback could start 250-plus straight games. So, why is it foolish to tack on another 16? Favre said he wouldn't return for the records, especially Dan Marino's career mark of 420 touchdown passes. Surely, he must know his fans want him to own pro football's version of Hank Aaron's home run record.

Pro athletes rightly are and routinely criticized for being selfish. If ever there was a time for Favre to be guilty as charged, the 2007 NFL season is it.

Favre's place in Packers history is forever. So is retirement.