Retired

Friends,

One of the best quarterbacks of his generation officially retired today -- in the top five of all time, in my opinion. Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers owns nearly every important record for an NFL QB. He has long been one of my favorite QBs...even from his college playing days at Southern Mississippi. One of the amazing info bites about Favre is...a month before the start of his senior season he was injured in an automobile accident and he had to have a large section of his intestines removed -- not a pleasant thought...and yet, he was back a month later playing football for Southern Miss. I was amazed and impressed by this and knew that somehow this guy was going to be the great, tough guy (Ken Stabler, Johnny Unitas) NFL type at some point. Favre made 275 consecutive regular season and post-season starts over his 16 year career. Sports people talk about Cal Ripken's MLB leading consecutive games played streak (2632 games over 16 years) as being the most impressive "iron man" streak in sports, but Favre's streak is just as impressive, if not more so, given the serious weekly beating NFL QB's take every Sunday that they play -- 275 CONSECUTIVE GAMES -- remarkable! I will miss the "gunslinger" Favre who also owns the record for the most interceptions in history -- a tribute to his "no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners" approach to the game. Winner of a Super Bowl and NFL MVP's, he will never be replaced in Green Bay, although Aaron Rodgers will be the starting QB for the Packers when they start the 2008 season. I wish the likeable and capable Rodgers well. When asked if he would stick around and be an advisor or NFL game announcer, Favre said "no...not my style." He does not want to be one who would just "linger around," but wants to "get on with his life." One has to respect him for his convictions. At his press conference today, like so many before him -- Troy Aikman, John Elway and others who previously retired -- he could not contain his emotions. He came into the NFL with fire and passion, played with this same fire and now as he is leaving, his passion remains. I am not certain what it is that he will do during his retirement, but whatever it is, it will be done with zeal. Good luck Favre...the extraordinary everyman's QB.

Don