THE GRID: VOL. VII

THE WAY CHAMPIONS SHOULD GO OUT
Bryan Palmese, NFL Draft Bible

The strife that Brett Favre went through over the past two seasons led many to believe that his days in Green Bay or even in the league were numbered. Far too often legends end their respective careers donning the jersey and colors of a team other than the one that they shot to stardom in. It's sad to see such great players that led their team to championships and champagne celebrations hang up their cleats in a city other than the one that they shined in. Brett Favre, one of the greatest quarterbacks to grace a football field, almost didn't end his career on the historic Lambeau Field nor under the conditions should a superstar. After a mediocre 8-8 season in Green Bay last year, the fiery signal caller was torn between retiring before he was ready to. The Packers organization seemed ready to usher in their rebuilding youth movement and perhaps saw Favre as someone that was impeding progress. Favre, had he not come back with the Packers, would've moved on to a different team and finished a phenomenal career elsewhere.

The competitor in him didn't want to hang them up yet, but age and physical wear were starting to show last season. The Cal Ripken of the NFL, Favre has started 241 consecutive games, so injuries and the physical duress that football players endure is not an issue. However, at 36, Favre had to question whether or not his presence was a positive or a negative attribute for the Packers team. The ex-Southern Mississippi quarterback through as many touchdowns as interceptions--eighteen and an ineffective offensive line didn't lend a lot of support. 2006 was a year that Favre would like to have back which is why there was a lot of speculation as to his future in the league. Fortunately, the gunslinger didn't want the sour taste of 2006 to be his last year and stayed in Green Bay for another year. He made his career with the Packers and was determined to end it with the Packers.

For all of his 2006 troubles, 2007 has started off as well as anyone could've hoped in Wisconsin. The three-time MVP has the Packers off to a 4-0 start and seems to have found the fountain of youth. Favre has thrown for over 1000- yards and eight touchdowns during the '07 campaign with only two interceptions.

There are two paths that players can follow towards the end of their career. One would be to go out on top under your terms. John Elway, Jim Brown, and Barry Sanders come to mind as players that did it there way. They came, they saw, they conquered. Some would say Sanders and Brown denied fans several more years of stellar play, but they saw a future beyond the game of football. Brown and Sanders left the NFL as leading rushers at their respective times. Brown was only 29 years old and Sanders 30 years old respectively. Elway enjoyed several outstanding seasons in Denver and led to the Broncos to three Super Bowls, but couldn't capture a ring in any of those games. Finally, in 1997, Elway out-dueled Brett Favre to win his first Super Bowl. The former Stanford Cardinal would win a second ring a few years later against Atlanta.

Then there are other players that held on too long and pained fans to see them in a helmet unfamiliar to that players' career. The 49ers duo of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice didn't ride off into the sunset of San Francisco. The former headed off to Kansas City to finish off some record breaking with the Chiefs. The latter jumped across the bay to Oakland for a few seasons before heading north on Interstate 5 to Seattle. Montana enjoyed two successful seasons in Kansas City, but seeing the former Golden Domer wearing number nineteen with the Chiefs always seemed out of place.

Emmitt Smith set all of the running back records he owns while with the Dallas Cowboys. However, after thirteen exciting seasons in Big D, the former Gator signed with the Arizona Cardinals. His last two years were disappointing and should not be the way one of the greatest running backs of all time is remembered. Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas are two other prime examples of overstaying your welcome in the league. Two Hall of Fame quarterbacks that are forever remembered in Super Bowl lore went to different teams at the end of their career and struggled. Broadway Joe left New York and spent his last year with the Los Angeles Rams, playing in only four games. Unitas also ended up in sunny Southern California with San Diego. A pitiful three touchdowns and seven interceptions were his stats for his final year in the league. None of these players should close the chapters to their career in this manner.

Brett Favre is a warrior and a competitor that has been through it all during his sixteen year career. His mind and athletic attributes come along once in a generation. The great start that he has enjoyed this season is so deserving for he and all of the fans of football. Green Bay is back in the hunt in the NFC and Favre is still the captain of the ship. This is the way a player of this calibre should finish a storied career -- on top of the mountain looking down at the glory left behind.