An Open Letter From Brett Favre

Here we go again.

The Super Bowl is around the corner, conference play is heating up in college basketball and Punxsutawney Phil is testing my patience by even thinking about seeing his fat little shadow.  What, it’s 15 flippin’ degrees outside and I live in Tennessee!  I’m cold!

But I digress.  It’s also that special time of year where Brett Lorenzo Favre, possibly the greatest quarterback of this generation, keeps us on the edges of our seats while he decides his future.  Will he or won’t he?  Should he or shouldn’t he?  He loves us, he loves us not!

Obviously, this is not a new discussion.  Green Bay Packers fans have fought this off-season battle for years.  Now, it’s time for New York Jets fans to lock, load and prepare for a potentially draining off-season.  But cheer up all you green-and-white junkies, you do have a new coach to be optimistic about, defensive monster Rex Ryan.  And let’s not forget, Ryan just helped the Baltimore Ravens, a team with a rookie quarterback, get to the AFC Championship game. 

In an attempt to get the answer everyone’s been looking for, I’ve obtained a letter written by Favre to Jets fans and fans across the NFL (in the interest of not getting sued, this is not an actual letter from Brett Favre.  It was written by me and does not express the opinions of Brett Favre, the New York Jets, Rex Ryan, Thomas Jones, his hometown of Kiln, Mississippi, Brett’s wife Deanna,  or his partner-in-mancrush, John Madden).

Dear Fans,

What would Brett Favre do?

That’s what I’m asking myself.  I love this game more than anything.  Hell, I’ve played almost 300 games in a row, never missed one!  I’ve played through pain and freezing weather.  I even played one of the best games of my life a day after my daddy Irvin died!

I know what everyone’s thinking, I read the papers.  Steve Serby of the New York Post said Rex Ryan’s first order of business should be firing me.  And I heard what Thomas Jones said on that radio show.  Like I don’t know you play to win the Super Bowl.  Really, Thomas?  I thought I was playing for that free trip to Hawaii at the end of the season, and I’m not even going!  Do you really think you would've rushed for 1,300 yards if Chad Pennington was your quarterback this year, Thomas?  Sorry y'all, I ain't about slingin' mud.

I know I completed 50 percent of my passes and tossed three interceptions in our loss to the Miami Dolphins in week 17, a game that would have given us a shot at the playoffs.  I know we lost four of our last five games down the stretch.  But those same people calling for my head when we finished the season 9-7 were kissing my feet when we were 8-3 and had just whupped the undefeated Tennessee Titans to make it five straight wins.  What was the Jets record last year?  Oh yeah, 4-12. 

I gave Jets fans hope the minute I put on your uniform.  I gave us a chance to win every week.  I made us exciting to watch.  I made the New York Jets something to talk about, not only in New York, but everyday on ESPN as well.  This year has been fun, Jets fans.  Admit it!

I guess it comes down to this, and this is what will make or break my decision.  Do I still love to play this game?  Do I still want football to consume most of my life?  Or is it time to hit the ol’ dusty trail, maybe get a front-office job in Green Bay and take Deanna, Brittney and Breleigh around the world in a sweet, new yacht.

I play a game for a living, and I’ve made a crapton of money doing it.  Think about how hard it is to leave that behind!  If you’re a teacher, are you counting down the days until you no longer have to teach math to ungrateful kids who say they’ll never use it?  If you’re a lawyer, well, nevermind, it sucks to be a lawyer.  You get my point.  It’s a game I play, not a job I dread going to daily.  Maybe my boy Napoleon Dynamite said it best when he said to Pedro, "Follow your heart, that's what I do."  That movie rocks!

Anyway, whatever I decide to do, I want to thank you fans for everything you’ve done for me.  You’ve made me what I am today, a living legend.  I also want to thank John Madden for helping me become a household name, even if it sounds like he has a mouthful of turkey every time he says it. 

Y’all have been great,

B. Favre     

                                            ****AG****