Time to Call It Quits

As I am sure you all have heard, Brett Farve is trying to make a comeback to the NFL. Farve retired back in March but since has had a "change of heart" and want another shot at the Limbardi Trophy. For his sake I hope the Packers do not allow it. As great as Brett Farve has been to the NFL and game of football for so many years, the game does not need him anymore. No body wants the last image of a legendary quarterback to be one of him being carried off in a stretcher.

The Packers had a great year last year, far better than anyone would have expected. Yes, they have a lot of talent, but I for one do not foresee a repeat performance of last year’s miracle run in the cards again for this season. They are not a Superbowl team; not in the same league as the New York Giants and definitely not in the same league as the Dallas Cowboys. It would be foolish for Brett to come back to a team that will struggle to make the playoffs.

On top of all of this we have Aaron Rodgers, a first round draft pick in 2004 and deemed successor to the great Farve. The plan from the beginning was for Rodgers to back up Farve for a year or two and get a feel of what it takes to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. That was four years ago. He has learned from the best, but you can only learn so much from watching game. He has franchise quarterback potential, but that potential will never he reached if he continues to rot on the bench. It would be a wasted investment to watch Rodgers walk at the end of the year without knowing what might have been.

I can only imagine how hard it must be for star athletes to walk away from a sport that has been their life for the past 20+ years. With that said, there comes a time when everyone must step away. Brett had a great run. He is one of the top five greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but the time for him to sail off into the sunset has come; time to walk away now when everyone thinks of him as a winner; not a year down the road when everyone may say “great player, but he never knew when to hang 'em up.”