Mississippi Swan-Song

This Sunday will mark the final game in the career of the NFL legend Brett Favre. If you look at his numbers and records on the field you see right away that he will be a first ballot inductee into Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame. The sad truth is that many of the modern football fans remember him for the final few years of his career, which were more of a soap opera then anything else.

After years of wavering, a teary eyed retirement and a quick return his presence continued to stunt the growth of QB in waiting Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. In his final game in Green Bay in ‘08, he threw an interception in the playoffs giving the Giants a trip to the Super Bowl and eventual Lombardi Trophy. That was seemingly his final game, but then he did the unthinkable. A perceived “career Packer” Favre’s interest to play came back in the summer of ‘08, but the Packer’s were ready to turn the page to the Rodgers era. Enter the Jets.

Favre arrived in New York ready to bring the franchise back to the Promised Land. How it ended was with mediocrity, no playoffs and another interception with his final pass. Just this week Favre was fined 50 G’s for an alleged sex scandal with Jets employee Jenn Sterger from back in that ’08 season. Allegedly he texted photos of his slong to the young studio reporter, but there was a lack of evidence and it was two years later, so there was no significant punishment. On to Minnesota.

Favre arrived in Minnesota surrounded by a very talented defense, young athletic receivers and arguably the best runningback in the NFL. Because the Tavaris Jackson experiment failed, Minnesota was forced to give the 40 year old Favre the keys to the car. He did not disappoint. The Vikings finished the regular season 12-4 including two wins over his former team the Green Bay Packers, the second being his first appearance on the frozen tundra since his departure. After a bye week and a home dismantling of “America’s Team” it was on to the Super Dome for a meeting with the Saints. In a tie game late in the 4th quarter and in kicker Ryan Longwell’s comfort range, yet again Favre threw a backbreaking pick to Tracy Porter and never saw the ball again losing 31-28 in OT.

The big top was not yet dismantled as in the summer of ’10 Favre continued to hold the feet of the Vikings over the fire with his indecision. Before the third preseason game he decided to return to the dysfunction to yet again lead his Vikings. It has not gone as planned and has continued to be a circus. First Sydney Rice his best receiver was injured. After that they acquired Randy Moss in the early part of the season only to release him within a month. And then after an embarrassing showing against the Packers, the Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf fired head coach Brad Childress. Only three weeks later after a hit from the Bills Arthur Moats knocked him silly, his consecutive start streak ended against the Giants at 297!

A half-hearted effort to comeback a week later and another sit out last week has led us to week 17. As the Vikings make there way to Ford Field in Detroit to face the Lions most fans are asking themselves, “Is Favre going to give it a go?” Well I for one will be in attendance on Sunday really hoping that Favre finds a way to get on the field and play. This is the dream scenario for me..

It’s late in the 4th quarter and the improved Lions lead the Vikings by a field goal. Favre takes over with two minutes to go and proceeds to drive his team into Detroit territory inching closer to the end zone and victory. With less then a minute to go Favre drops back, improvises to avoid Cliff Avril, reverses his field and slips out of the grasp of Corey Williams. As he rolls he spots Visanthe Shiancoe down the field and fires a bullet as he is absolutely crushed and slammed to the turf by Ndamukong Suh. The ball spirals perfectly and magically through the air and finds its way into the waiting hands of…Louis Delmas.

As Delmas take off down the field and high steps for ten years before sliding to the turf to seal the Lions victory, Favre lays glazed-eyed on the Ford Field turf from the Suh hit. I want Favre to get himself up, shake a couple of hands and leave the field for the final time with his final pass being an interception. I commend Favre on an outstanding unbelievable career and hope that the Packer fans forgive him enough to fill Fawcett Stadium in Canton in five years when he is inducted into the HOF. Being at his final game will be something memorable for me…that is if it is his final game. You never know with the old man!