you knew it was coming...

a story from Espn.com.  check it.  read it, then come back.

okay.  my initial thoughts.

don't get me wrong, the green bay packers are a better team with Ol' Number Four behind centre.  but this is the third or fourth year of "will he or won't he".  this march, he did.  he retired.  he told people that he was tired.  that he "was able to play", but didn't want to go through the off-season workouts that exhaust him so much.

well, here we are, in early july.  the Offseason Training Activities (OTAs) are over and the only thing between now and the NFL pre-season is a week of training camp.  we all saw this coming.

think about it.  brett's life the last 25+ years has been "football in the autumn".  he's 38 years old, feels like he can still play.  he's told the world he doesn't want to anymore.  but now his body is telling him, "it's time to get into shape and get ready for the season".

retirement is tricky.  (as far as i know.)  retirement means... you are done working.  even if it's a job you love and will miss.  when you retire, you are done.  that's it.  no more.

but knowing the Packers organization, if he decides to come back, brett will be welcomed with open arms, while in the next breath, handing the headset off to aaron rodgers for one (or two) more seasons.

and that's something else... aaron rodgers.  here's a guy who went from being a "possible number one" draft pick in 2005, dropping to the 24th pick, sitting on the bench while one of the greatest to ever play the game pads his stats.  bearing down, going to OTAs, training camps, etc.  wearing the headset.  not even playing a full game.  the half he did play, he was amazing in (in a losing effort)...

and then, finally... he's going to get his chance.  The Man is stepping down.  he becomes a team leader.  he gets his teammates behind him.  he gets the support of the fans.  then berates them.  then apologizes.  he's ready.  now the rumours start flying that he might be a backup again for another year.

not much has to happen for Farve to come back.  a request to the Packers to be reinstated.  the Packers then have to reinstate him or release him -- and if you think GB is going to let go of this legacy, say this out loud to yourself and try not to laugh:  "Brett Farve, Houston Texan".  yeah.  didn't think so.  just doesn't sound right.

if brett comes back, aaron rodgers deserves to be traded to a team that will use him right away.

an interesting week coming up.

eric