Death, Taxes and Brett Favre | Thebigtip

It’s that time of the year again…August. It’s bloody hot in most of the US and all 32 NFL teams are in training camp, sweating through two-a-day practices, with visions of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at next February’s Super Bowl.  Here is a guarantee and you can take this to the bank…31 of the 32 teams that think they are going to win it are wrong. Stepped out on a limb there, didn’t I? I have another guarantee for the coming football season… Brett Favre will play in 2010.

Yes, I read the web reports and have been watching ESPN and the NFL network. I am aware that he’s reportedly texted teammates telling them he’s through.  Certainly, if his teammates think there’s something to this, it must be true. After all, he’s almost 41, he’s tired and he’s beaten up. Sorry, I am just not buying it.

So, what is this then? Is it Favre trying to avoid summer camp? Is he seriously injured? Is he trying to get more money out of Minnesota? I say YES to all the above.

Missing camp? Favre has made no secret of the fact he doesn’t need training camp. He proved last season that, after 18 seasons in the west coast offense he knows the playbook well enough to miss all of camp and still step in and function very efficiently. Not to mention, at his age, the rigors of camp may be detrimental to his condition.

Injured? Apparently, the ankle injury is serious. However, we’re 5 weeks away from the start of the regular season, so his ankle should be able to heal.

Money grab? Favre has the leverage and he knows it. He is the one missing piece between a Super Bowl team and an 8 win team.  The window for success closes very quickly in the NFL and teams have to maximize their opportunity when it’s there. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf covets a Super Bowl championship and will do whatever he has to do to ensure his team’s success. To that end, he and the Vikings have reportedly offered Favre an additional $7M to play this season. Yes, an EXTRA $7M, bringing the total to $20M! Favre has always said it’s not about the money. However, if it isn’t about the money, why have the Vikings coughed up another $7M? Clearly, the message that more money might work has gotten to them.

Comedian Chris Rock has a great line. "We’re as loyal as our options." That makes a lot of sense. Perhaps, Brett Favre would play for free, but he can make $20M to play so doesn’t have to play for free.

As much as Brett and his backers like to say he’s just a good ole southern boy who loves the game and would play for free you shouldn’t believe it.  It’s simply not true. Sure, he is from the South and he loves the game. But he’s also an egomaniac who loves the attention and the drama. Now, that alone doesn’t make him a bad guy…only a guy who seems addicted to his name being on the lips of every sports reporter in the country.  Now, if we are honest with ourselves, most of us are just like Brett, in that respect.  Who wouldn’t like millions hanging on their every word? I’d imagine that would be quite addictive.

For the record, I am sick and tired of this back and forth. By my count, this is seven straight off seasons of Favre considering, aloud, his retirement. This is not good for the Vikings. Imagine trying to gameplan an offense without knowing who the starting QB will be. This sets the team back but the Vikings as much to blame as Favre. They went into this offseason believing Favre would play but knowing there was a remote chance he may not. What did they do to address their QB needs in the event  Favre does not suit up in 2010? Did they try to trade for Donovan McNabb? Kyle Boller? Michael Vick? Nope. They sat quietly as the Eagles traded McNabb to Washington and banked on #4 returning.  So, when people criticize Favre for his indecision and the impact it has on the Vikings, I see the Vikings as culpable for their present situation. 

Favre loves playing football and his team was a bad interception away from the Super Bowl last season. He has good young weapons to work with on offense and a ferocious defense that keeps them in every game. This team has a chance to win it all. They really do. If we have learned anything about Brett Favre, it is that guy loves to play and the only way he won’t play is if he physically cannot play. Short of that, he will never retire.

Call it a hunch, but I say he is in uniform for week one of the regular a season in New Orleans.

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Steve Salisbury lived in Melbourne for 10 years where he co-hosted "Born in the USA" at 1116SEN for 5 years. He now lives in Northern California with wife and three young children but appears Wednesday morning's on "Hungry for Sport" with Kevin Bartlett. Since moving back to the US, he has hosted talk shows for 710ESPN-Los Angeles, XTRA Sports 860-San Francisco and Sports 1140-in Sacramento. Starting in September 2010, Steve will be co hosting shows for ESPN1320 in Sacramento and KAHI950 in Auburn, CA.

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