Many times, fans of professional sports and the players themselves forget that athletes have extraordinary talent, but they are also human beings. This certainly applies to New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre, who recently announced his second retirement from the NFL in 12 months.
When Favre retired from the Packers in March 2008, it seemed to be an appropriate ending to a legendary career. Although he didn't finish the season with a Super Bowl title, the Packers' surprise run showed Favre's ability to silence his critics and hold together a successful team despite a 38-year-old frame.
But after Favre's emotional press conference and the realization that he had officially left the game, he realized something that many athletes constantly struggle with: He was afraid of change and moving on from the game he was so passionate about. You can hardly blame him - 17 seasons, all the records and tremendous success - it's not an easy thing to abandon. For some players, their sport is all they know, and the idea of leaving it behind is often too painful to confront.
In the end, Favre's abrupt decision to return to the NFL probably made him seem like a selfish individual. It was without a doubt an impulsive act and put the Packers in an extremely difficult situation, not to mention the players like Aaron Rodgers who were adversely affected.
But at the same time, I think it would also be unfair to say that Favre's one-year experiment was a mistake. He had a strong urge to return to the game he was so passionate about and had every right to prove himself out on the field, even if it felt wrong to see him without a Packers jersey.
During Favre's stint with the New York Jets, there were still glimpses of the old Favre that everyone loved and respected. His stats - 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions - were far from stellar, but Favre also led the Jets on an impressive five-game winning streak, including a victory over the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans.
The end of the season essentially unfolded as a complete disaster. The fashion in which the Jets choked down the stretch - losing four of their last five - made Favre's miscues even more glaring. But nonetheless, Favre also provided plenty of entertainment and gave the Jets much-needed excitement surrounding their franchise.
From the beginning, the Jets had no choice but to look at their experience with Favre as an experiment. He clearly didn't have a long-standing future with the team, and his skills were diminishing. But the Jets still competed at a much higher level than they did in years past, and in 40 years without a Super Bowl win, there was very little risk in taking a gamble with the older superstar.
In the end, Favre knew that it was time with all the injuries and adversity he was facing. Eventually, everyone's time runs out, and for Favre it came under unfortunate circumstances.
But what has been so impressive about Favre's retirement is not the announcement itself but the way in which he has handled it. This year was a major learning experience for both the Jets and the Packers, and certainly Favre, too. He proved that he was able to learn from his mistakes of the past - he didn't leave the Jets in a tough situation and put their team in limbo by dragging out his announcement.
Now Favre has given the Jets ample time to move on from his short tenure with the team and address the future needs of the franchise. Although Favre certainly played a part in the Jets' failure to make the playoffs, Jets fans should be eternally grateful to Favre for making the right choice for not only himself, but the team as well.
Hopefully Favre will repair his legacy with Packers management. He can't take back his actions from the past, but this one-year learning experience and his growth in maturity should not go unnoticed.
Do you think Brett Favre will stay retired this time? E-mail your thoughts to Matt at mfox2@wisc.edu.
