Perhaps the only redeeming feature in an otherwise nondescript season for the Green Bay Packers was their final game. With a chance at a .500 season after a 4-8 start, the Green and Gold traveled to Chicago and soundly beat the best team in the NFC. And make no mistake about it: anyone who says the Bears were not up for that game is not versed in this rivalry.
Naturally, the possibility of Brett Favre playing his last game in the NFL was moved to the national stage of NBC, which coveted the rights to broadcast one of the sport's most iconic players ever.
In an emotional, tearful interview afterwards, Favre told Andrea Kremer he was unsure about returning and that he would make up his mind in two weeks. That time has come and gone, and still nothing from Brett.
Of course, there wasn't any certainty of a comeback last year when the Packers' season ended. But the circumstances were completely different. Green Bay was stumbling out of a 4-12 season, in which Favre threw the highest number of interceptions in his career and the lowest number of scores in five years. The feeling was there was no way Favre would end his otherwise illustrious career on such a down note.
No. 4 suiting up on Sunday has been as sure a thing as there is for the past 15 Packer seasons. Yet, after that interview, one has to wonder whether Favre is indeed seriously considering going back to Hattiesburg, Miss. for good.
The American, a newspaper in his hometown, reported this week that Favre said he had not made a decision yet, but that he expected to speak with head coach Mike McCarthy fairly soon.
""There's not really [a timetable],"" Favre said after watching his daughter play in a high school basketball game. ""I said after the last game (Dec. 31) that I'd decide within two weeks, but I probably jumped the gun when I said that."" He also said that he doesn't want to ""drag this out"" the way he did in 2006, when he waited until March to inform the organization.
Whatever Favre decides, the Packers can't afford to wait that long this off-season. With plenty of cap room to acquire free agents and a decent draft pick, General Manager Ted Thompson is going to need notice so he can either begin the rebuilding process or chase established talent in hopes of another playoff run. Without Favre, who knows how long it will take to be back in contention.
Let's say he does opt to come back. The Packers owe it to Favre to get him some help on offense. To wit, Green Bay is in need of someone to replace aging Ahman Green and some help in the passing game—another receiver and a tight end who is a threat to catch the ball and run with it.
Packer fandom does not want to consider the flip side, but after this past season, Favre's retirement is an eventuality. Like watching Favre trying to complete passes in blanket coverage, we wait with bated breath for a decision that should and needs to come soon.
A-—Jon can be reached at bortin@wisc.edu. Readers' comments are published every Tuesday.
