Blame ESPN, Not Favre

Was there ever a doubt he would come back?

We all knew Brett was coming back after the season he put together last year, right?

A year that he would have led the Vikings to the Super Bowl if Adrian Peterson could hold on to the ball.  A season that he was brought in to be a "game manager" and instead became the focal point of the offense.  After all the doubters said he was a washed up, primadonna, and he proved them all wrong by playing his best statistical football ever.

Of course he was coming back.

Or was he?  If you really think about it, it's not such an easy decision.  To play an NFL season as a quarterback at any age takes a physical toll unlike anything most ever experience.  To do so as a 40 year old after having arguably your best season in a 19 year career must be frightening.  What more could he do? Only a true competitor who loves the game would even consider such a risk.

So why are so many people upset at the manner in which he returned, again?   Isn't recovering from ankle surgery enough to give him a pass this year?  Doesn't the fact he turns 41 in October warrant some slack? Can't you admit the league would be less interesting without him?

A big reason for Favre's negative reputation is ESPN.  More troubling than Favre's consistent waffling is the way his antics are reported.  ESPN is little more than the National Enquirer in disguise, creating and exploiting Favre "drama" for the ensuing ratings spike.

Broaching the Favre topic is expertly preceded with boo hoos from the poor analysts that are forced to report on him.  They spend countless hours debating Favre's off-season with the common analysis being, "Favre just needs attention, the act is tired, and blah blah...we don't like it."

These are the same folks that recently turned an alleged Favre text message into a full day of coverage on his retirement.  A text message they never saw, just heard about from an anonymous "teammate" of Favre.  They never gave a second thought to the source's credibility, something you are literally taught the first day of Journalism 101.  The report was inaccurate but ESPN remained unapologetic, cleverly blaming Favre for the miscommunication, again.  "Let's chalk it up to Favre's indecision.  No one will notice."

Why is Favre always to blame for ESPN's shoddy reporting?

ESPN's popularity has allowed them to stretch the boundaries of ethical reporting.  In the age of social networking we now get reports via twitter accounts.  Can you imagine Walter Cronkite reporting on the latest Lebron tweet?

Tweet?!? Really?

Or how about reports on an athlete's Facebook page? The worst of it is ESPN legitimizing TMZ.com as a credible news source. Now reporters have carte blanche to cite any tabloid website they want.  Any paparazzi photo is fair game.  Only half of what is reported on ESPN is sports news, the rest is celebrity gossip.  There is no longer accountability, and rumors are reported as facts.

Analysts in studio claim they are "sick of the Favre drama."  ESPN is so sick of Favre they created an entire day dedicated to his retirement based off a text message they never saw.  So sick of Brett that once he truly decided to come back, they had a link to a live shot of his plane landing in Minnesota.  So sick of Farve that once again all programming is focused on his return.  Yes.  It's easy to see how sick of Favre they are.

Was there ever a reason for Farve to rush to camp other than to satisfy media criticism? Until very recently Farve received no pressure from his organization to make a decision. They were comfortable with his process.  Every year he plays requires serious analysis of his mind and body.  Even if he declared himself ready to play, he still shouldn't participate in pre-season workouts.  If any other NFL player starts for 250+ games consecutively over a 20 year career and can still play at an elite level, then they deserve an exemption also.

Preparing for the mental toll is just as difficult as preparing for the physical toll.  He is a relic in the NFL, a dinosaur.  He is the last remaining of his generation.  No one has done what Favre has in terms of durability and consistency.  Everyone else doubts him and his ability to play at 40, can you imagine the doubts he has?  Those are doubts that must addressed before deciding play again.

Favre is one hit away from the end of his career, and unless he stops having success, that is the only thing that will get him off the field.  If that's not honorable, I really don't know what is.  I have never believed in walking away while you are still on top of your game.  If the fire of competition still burns, and someone is willing to pay you for your services, why not play? Age should never determine retirement for a professional athlete.  Loss of desire or ability should.  Favre's felt the physical pain and the mental strain, but never a loss of desire.

We all saw the NFC championship game against the Saints, specifically the beating Favre took.  Imagine throwing yourself down a flight of stairs 18 times a year.  You are going to have to think long and hard, and check your courage, before making that leap.

The catalyst to Favre's return was a visit from teammates Jared Allen, Ryan Longwell, and Steve Hutchison to find out where he stood. They were not there to beg.  They were there to let him know they wanted him on the team, and back in camp.  We knew Favre was coming back.  It just took some of his friends to help throw him down the stairs, and remind him they would be going down the same stairs with him.

Maybe deep down Favre needed to be coaxed.  I think that's okay.  He's earned it, and he's in a position where it's understandable.  In a league where you're old if you're 30, coming back to play at 40 is not an easy decision.  At 40 you probably need reassurance from your coach and teammates that they want you there.

In Green Bay there was a sense that he was holding up the franchise, and he probably was.  In Minnesota it is a much different story.  The hopes of the Vikings rely heavily on his arm, and they need him to play.  What's wrong with that, exactly?  He has not hurt his team by taking his time.  He actually reported to camp a day earlier than he did last year.

Who cares if he says one thing and does another?  If you don't listen to the ESPN rhetoric, it really is easy to ignore.  Realize that he has a history of indecision and accept it.  The Vikings have.  The only thing I find annoying about Favre is the way he is covered.  When ESPN sensationalizes everything about a topic, it becomes annoying.  When they can't wait to get a story so they just invent one, that is annoying.  I have learned over the last three years to believe half of what you see, and none of what you read with Favre.

So, will he be successful again this season?  After consulting the magic 8 ball, "signs point to no." It would be nearly impossible to recreate what he did last year, but no one thought he would do it then either.  For Minnesota and Favre to be successful this season, they must get back to running effectively and minimizing their reliance on Favre's arm.  Unfortunately, I don't believe his body can hold up another year.  Unless Minnesota can flawlessly pass protect, I see his season ending with an injury.  Isn't that what is captivating about the guy, though?  There is always heavy doubt surrounding him.  I can't wait to see if he can prove me wrong.

I can understand why teams in the NFC are sick of Favre after the career success he has enjoyed.  What I can't understand is fans getting sick of him.  It would make sense if he were Vinny Testaverde, but he's not.  If people really were fed up, teams wouldn't pay him, the media wouldn't report on him, and fans wouldn't talk about him.  That's when he should hang it up.  Until then, try a little empathy, and judge him for what he has been able to do with his career.  Not what ESPN reports.