Brett Favre - still clueless

After listening to Brett Favre's statement about "retiring early", it was obvious how clueless he is.

He seems to think that this is just a situation between two parties (him and the Green Bay Packers).

What he fails to appreciate is that there's a significant 3rd and 4th party. They are the fans and then the rest of the public.

Wasn't it former tennis great Andre Aggasiz who said, "Image is everything"?

Favre just doesn't understand this point. He also doesn't understand the tremendous implications of the Packers giving him his release. There is no NFL team that wants Favre released, because it sets the incredibly dangerous precedent of a disgruntled player "retiring" to get out of his contract, and then "unretiring" before the next season even begins in order to become a free agent.

Another thing Favre doesn't understand is that America is still a place where we love the underdog. In this case, Favre is the underdog. His best move would be to accept a backup role, and then shine if and when Rodgers fails. But Favre has seen Rodgers practicing, and he might be worried that if the offense is revamped to take advantage of Rodgers' strengths, then even if Favre replaces him mid-season, it's an offense that might badly expose his weaknesses.

The final thing that Favre is completely clueless about is that no team is looking for a high-profile starting quarterback who will only be around for one season. Consider this: Favre had a great situation in Green Bay, yet he could never give them more than a year-to-year committment. So, does any NFL team really want the drama and pain of having to design an offense around a QB who will only be around for one season?

The final thing to say about all this is that I've lost a tremendous amount of respect for Favre. In all the recent things I've seen and read about him, he never talks about his love for the game. He talks about getting approval from his daughters to play. He talks about feeling slighted by Packers management at the end of last season and that he felt they pushed him to make a quick decision (duh, they had to know ASAP whether or not to retool their offense). And he and his agent talk about him being "unwanted" by the Packers.

Favre, man up and stop whining. Still think you have it in you? Still think that you really have that burning love for football? The answer is simple. Approach Packers management and buy out the remainder of your contract. If you really want your release to go and play elsewhere, then step up and prove it.

It's really the only way you'll prove anything to anyone at this point.