One More for #4 - Brett Favre returns to Football

Brett Favre is coming back in 2007. In this age where Hall of Fame athletes love to tease the general public on whether they are going to hang up their jersey (Lemieux, Jordan, and Clemens) Brett Favre is no exception. For the past two seasons, we have had to wait and see if Favre is going to return to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, which has ended both time in the same way. Brett is not finished with this game. And this time I believe that Favre is making the right decision.

Favre is not just a football player, he is an icon. He is Unitas, he is Butkus, he is Taylor, and he is Montana. Favre has not just been the starting quarterback for the Packers the past 15 seasons, he has been the constant in the NFL over that time period. Favre starting for the green and yellow, besides taxes, is one of the only guarantees in this world. He is the lovable quarterback from Mississippi, that seems to fight until his last breath every Sunday in the freezing Wisconsin atmosphere. Favre plays to win and loves the big stage, and in return the fans love him. So much in Green Bay that they refer to him as "God" and learn to count by using the numbers "1-2-3-Favre-5-6-7-etc.".

There are many that were wishing that Favre retired this season. Going off on a high note by beating the NFC Champion Bears on New Years' Eve, where viewers got to see that tearful "goodbye" that Favre sent through television viewers everywhere. And I am sure that there are even more that wish that he left two seasons ago when the Packers stunk and Favre had a brutal season (20TDs-29INT). There are two reasons that if you are a Green Bay fan or a football fan on why you would want to see Brett Favre come back.

The number one reason I think Green Bay should be ecstatic is because they have a decent quarterback returning. Brett Favre may not be the 3-time MVP he once was, but he is definitely a serviceable quarterback that does all he can to win. There has never been a player as dependable as Favre. His 237 straight starts is not only a ridiculous number, but it an deftly be argued that it is a harder streak to have than Ripken's Iron Man streak. Aaron Rodgers proved how incredible that streak was when he could not even last one game in the NFL without being injured. Favre did a decent job this year with a young team. He brought the team to 8-8 and the team should be better next year. Favre and Green Bay should also have an edge because they play in the weak NFC where 8-8 can almost get you into the playoffs. If you are still upset over reason number one ask this question to yourself. What quarterback would make Green Bay a better chance for the playoffs next year?

Reason number two, the records that Favre can continue to chase. He can build on his ridiculous starting streak and his seasons with 3,000 yards passing (currently 15 seasons) and he gets to chase the big records. He is six away from Marino's 420 passing TDs, he is two wins away from breaking Elway's 148 wins as a starter, and he is just under 4,000 yards away from Marino for all-time passing yards, but I do not think he will be touching that one next year. He is also five interceptions away from breaking George Blanda's record for career INTs, 277. Brett can solidify himself as the number one passer this game might have ever seen. And unlike Marino, fans will not have to empathizes for the great Marino and all of his stats but the one giant piece missing, a Super Bowl ring.

I am a sports romantic. I love sports and I love them because of guys like Favre. Favre is the working man's hero. He plays in Green Bay one of the smallest towns in America to have a professional franchise and he has brought them a championship. In my opinion one of the biggest tragedies of my spectator career was watching Barry Sanders retire because he lost the passion for the game because his team was so bad. Barry Sanders was the greatest running back I have ever seen and I really wish he could have played a little longer. Brett Favre is one of the greatest I have ever seen, and I can handle 16 more games no matter how bad they are. I just have a feeling that next January Favre and his Packers will be joining 11 other teams with their fight to bring Green Bay and the Biloxi Boy one more Super Bowl.