Hang it up, Mr. Favre. And many thanks for all the interceptions…. I know the realization that the gunslinger who loves to play football more than anyone else ever because he has more fun out there on the field than any human being has ever known is headed for retirement will likely cause Peter King and John Madden to be prostrate with grief throughout the summer, but perhaps by the time the season rolls around, the founding members of the cult of Favre will be able to accept the idea that the NFL just might survive his passing.
Seriously, it’s ridiculous. What he should have done is announce that he was going to play, taken a pay cut and arranged for a two or three year contract extension mentoring Aaron Rodgers as a backup. Why stars can’t manage to realistically assess the situation and arrange for a graceful and lucrative exit strategy is beyond me.
Dennis Bergkamp is the perfect example. Over the course of his career he transformed himself from a speedy striker accustomed to being the focus of the attack into a quasi-midfielder primarily creating opportunities for the younger, faster guns, especially Thierry Henry. He hasn’t played as much since Wenger bought Van Persie – his long-term replacement – last year, but he’s still a valuable weapon in the Gunners’ arsenal.