Brett Favre: I Want To Play (Just Not in Green Bay)

Just when you thought it was safe to be an NFL general manager, your long-time, future Hall of Fame, Super Bowl-winning RETIRED franchise QB makes your life difficult. That has to be what Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy are thinking this afternoon as Brett Favre has told the team he wants to play with an unconditional release from his Green Bay Packers contract.

Wow.

Three days after expressing to Packers' officials during a conference call his desire to play in 2008, Favre had his agent James "Bus" Cook send an overnight letter officially asking for his client's contractual release. Favre claims pressure from the Packers seeking a decision caused him to retire in March even though he had felt the same way about retirement as he did in previous seasons.

More so, Favre indicated that his tenure and dedication to Green Bay should be enough to afford him an unconditional release, without any strings or worry of trade: he wants full control of his future, even though he is under contract for three more years.

Wow again.

Simply put, this is a horrible move on Favre's part. While I fully support ANY athlete wanting to play as long as he is physically able to, Favre went out like a champion last year, even if his last pass was an interception. The only reason to return should be to win a Super Bowl and, at this point, is that really going to happen? Of course not.

What are the chances that Favre is going to pick the one team out of 32 that will win the whole schabang? He is going to have to learn a brand new system and work with a new offensive line and receivers. The chances for ultimate success are slim, regardless of where.

This may be all fun and games to Favre, but while his achievements and success in Green Bay will be unscathed, his legacy won't be. All he needs to do is look at Joe Montana and ask him how it worked out in Kansas City. Montana got injured and played well but never reached the level of success he did in San Francisco--and he spent FIVE YEARS there. What is Favre going to accomplish in one or two? Or is he planning to play until he's 43?

Green Bay Packers Press Release: The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team.

As a retired player, Brett has the option to apply for reinstatement with Commissioner Goodell. If that were to occur, he would become an active member of the Green Bay Packers. As always, the Packers will do what's right and in the best interest of the team.

Brett Favre Not Retiring?

Don't call it a comeback because, let's face it, he never really left. According to multiple sources including ESPN's Chris Mortensen and current Green Bay Packers players who wish to remain nameless, future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is giving serious consideration to returning to the gridiron this year.

What a surprise.

For me, the surprise was that Favre "retired" in the first place. Especially considering he put up totals of 4,155 yds. and 28 TDs while compiling a 95.7 passer rating just last season. He also brought his team to the NFC Championship game and came close to making the Super Bowl a season after putting up dreadful numbers: 18 TDs, 18 INTs and a 72.7 passer rating.

ESPN is expected to go on the air in just a few minutes with a Favre report. I was allerted to this from a text message from ESPN's news service telling me to be sure and watch NFL Live at 4:00 p.m. today. The show started with host Trey Wingo saying Favre has told head coach Mike McCarthy that he has the itch to play again and continued with studio analyst and current Green Bay Packers player Al Harris saying he has spoken to Favre on a few occaions in which he has reiterated the same feelings.

If Favre does return, one would expect he wants it to be with Green Bay, though in all actuality it may have to be with a team other than the Packers. They just spent the draft giving new QB Aaron Rodgers a plethora of back-ups and competition for his job. One now wonders if Favre's retirement was premature or if he's trying to pull a Roger Clemens and get max money for the least amount of work and has wanted to play and return to the field all along?

Favre is still under contract with the Packers and is currently listed on IR. His family is reportedly pushing him to return to the field. All he would have to do is speak with management and request a reinstatement into the league in order to make his contract active again. There should be more developments in the coming days.

All I can say is if I was the Packers, I would say it's time to move on. If they decide not to, Rodgers should find somewhere else to play.

Sosa to Retire After World Baseball Classic

Former Texas Rangers outfielder Sammy Sosa announced today that he will retire from baseball following the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Sosa, best known for his 13-year stint with the Chicago Cubs, is a free agent and not signed to a MLB roster after posting 21 home runs and 92 RBIs last season.

"There's something that I wish to state very clearly: I'm not looking for a job," Sosa told Hoy, a Dominican newspaper. "In fact, I have told my agent that he should stop offering my services to MLB teams. I'm not retired. I remain highly focused and not begging for a contract."

Sosa's alleged involvement with steroids, coupled with his June 2003 corked bat incident, badly hindered the reputation of the only player in MLB history with three 60+ home run seasons. He will retire from baseball as one of only five players to hit 600 home runs and at number five on the career home run list.

"It would be great if folks can see me for the last time wearing the uniform of the [Dominican Republic] National Team," Sosa said. "It's always an honor to represent your country."

While Sosa has certainly had his ups and downs since 2003, I am still left wondering why he is not on an MLB roster right now. As a DH for an American League team or even a Tim Raines-like pinch hitter for a young team that needs a little extra pop, Sosa can still contribute as proven by his 2007 numbers.

I also find it interesting how all of Sosa's achievements are still overshadowed by the corked bat more so than anything else (including steroids.) People fail to remember one simple fact: Sammy Sosa was instrumental in the rebirth of baseball in this country. He, along with Mark McGwire, were responsible for some of the most exciting drama in sports history culminating with McGwire's (at the time) record-breaking home run and celebration with Sosa who was both his opponent in the race and during that game.

So while some may only remember Sosa for his faults, I choose to remember him for his glory and, most of all, his swing.