Come On Home, Brett

Brett Favre was my fantasy football quarterback last season and he served me well. What a great guy to watch play the game. I'm glad his last season was such a good one, complete with records, playoffs and a run for the Super Bowl.

You had the feeling he realized he was lucky that he could spend his life playing. Not that football isn't work. Of course it is, and the pain in his body and the stress in his mind, both of which doubtless contributed to his decision to retire, are testament to that. But it isn't the sort of stress we regular people have, and he seemed to realize that. So he had fun. I loved watching him tackle his own guys and tote them around the field when they scored. Forget running from the other team. Run from Brett. My secret wish is that he had played defensive end for just a snap or two. I have a feeling he would have loved putting a fellow quarterback on the ground just once.

I don't know how Favre will stack up against all the other all-time great quarterbacks. He's won a Super Bowl and been the League MVP thrice. He is the most winning quarterback in NFL history. His career passer rating is a modest 85.7, but he owns the record for most touchdown throws with 425 and is the League's all-time leader in completions and attempts. Oh, and interceptions too. Brett didn't guarantee perfection, just effort. I read an article about being successful which included advice from Favre. In a nutshell, he said to follow your dreams, be realistic, listen to your coach, get yourself a mentor and show up for the job every day. Hard to argue with that, particularly when that advice comes from a guy who had to show up to play football outside in the middle of December in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for 16 years, that first temperate year in Atlanta a long distant memory.

So come on back home, Southern Boy. Ride your tractor, do some hunting and watch out for the alligators. Maybe I can catch a glimpse of you the next time I pass through Mississippi if I can't see you on Sunday afternoons anymore. Have a great retirement. But I give it 50/50 you really stay home next season.