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LINCICOME: Let everyone share in a return by Favre

By Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 8, 2008 at 5:36 p.m.

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Could Brett Favre join the cast of great Broncos quarterbacks? Not likely.

Photo by Getty Images/1998

Could Brett Favre join the cast of great Broncos quarterbacks? Not likely.

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Knowing it would never work and that it will never happen, the notion of Brett Favre quarterbacking the Broncos is still fascinating.

Well, why not? The Broncos have never shied away from washed-up legends. We think of Jerry Rice, we try to forget Simeon Rice. Shannon Sharpe was allowed back and Terrell Davis was humored.

Others have allowed themselves to become gimmicks. It would be like Joe Montana going to Kansas City or maybe John Unitas to San Diego, except that Unitas could no longer play and Montana could.

So can Favre play, and not likely for Green Bay, which gave him his goodbye moment and his job to Aaron Rodgers.

The special case of Favre is that hints of his return allow the imagination to race, picturing the man in local team colors, doing what he did for 16 years in Green Bay, seeing his touchdowns and not his interceptions.

This must be true for the other teams in football, save possibly New England and the Colts, and even then, to be an injury away from the most legendary quarterback since John Elway might cause some to root for Tom Brady or Peyton Manning to stay down.

When Favre made his tearful and tasteful farewell, a model of grace, there seemed nowhere to go but out.

It was not that the door closed behind him, though it did, or that the Packers pushed him, though they held it open, but that there was a special sense of completion to it, a career in full, and anything else would ruin it.

That anything else just may be that Favre really did not want to go, that the Packers more or less made him feel he was no longer welcome, that for the good of all, as Favre himself put it, it was time to see life through the front windshield.

Favre allowed then that the itch may return and possibly it has. He never said he could no longer play, only that he would no longer play and that bit of space was allowed because of who he is.

He spoke of the only way he could possibly change his mind was if he would play in another Super Bowl, so it would appear that any place he will play - provided the Packers allow him that freedom - would be for a team close to the top.

That brings us back to the Broncos. Ideally, the Broncos do not need an old quarterback, even one so great as Favre, not with young Jay Cutler trying to live up to the very comparison, that he most resembles a young Favre.

Let us look at that. In Favre's third season - without the added consideration of diabetes to adjust to - he led the Packers to a 9-7 record, threw for 19 touchdowns (his lowest season total for the next 13 years) had a quarterback rating of only 72.2 but was able to win a wild-card game.

If Cutler is only that productive this season, it will be considered a wash, neither encouraging nor terrible. It may be as high as the Broncos can aim.

Now, imagining Favre there instead, there would be no lack of excitement and attention, more so than another mediocre season would bring. Nor will there be an absence of curiosity wherever Favre plays, if he does play.

Until training camps open, or maybe even until the season begins, the Favre commotion will continue. He does not appear to have gotten all the football out of himself that is there. And judging by the flurry of notice on his possible return, neither have we seen all of him we want to.

Favre is not the first nor the last great athlete to find it impossible to let go. Michael Jordan drew crowds for minor league baseball. Muhammad Ali had to be whipped in the Bahamas before he conceded. Gordie Howe would play today if someone would let him.

Here is a suggestion for all, fans, teams and the game itself.

Why not let Favre play one game for every team, at least in the NFC? That's 16 games, 16 teams. Let him have a last farewell tour, letting each city get its little piece of Favre and Favre his little share of them. Even if it is just one series, or as a holder on kicks.

He could give a wave and go on to the next town. Maybe that would scratch his itch.

If Favre is willing to throw away all the goodwill and public affection that carried him off to do nothing until he could think of something, whatever he does next, wherever he does it, it will be one game too many.

Comments

  • July 8, 2008

    6:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    You are the biggest joke in history. Your career as a writer is the only thing I see washed up. Get a life Lincicome. You are pathetic.

  • July 8, 2008

    6:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kodijack writes:

    He should have more class than this...but from the gossip from the past week he doesn't. Hopefully this off season drama is all this is and that he does not do something that will reflect badly on him, possibly keep another guy from getting a job, or finally get really injured.

    To be honest to those of us in the west Favre was never all that great. Sure, he had his moments, but he is not some kind of demi god thats for sure.

  • July 8, 2008

    7:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nmbronco1 writes:

    Wish I got paid Lincicome's salary to cook up preposterous articles like this one. Come to think of it, most of Lincicome's articles are either absurd like this one or else derogatory to any and all of Denver's sports teams. I know I could do a better job... the RMN needs at least one writer that is actually a FAN of the Denver teams.

  • July 8, 2008

    8:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    denverone writes:

    There's 3 minutes of my life I'm not getting back. Thanks La La Lincicome!

  • July 8, 2008

    9:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    den2mke writes:

    This column-- as many Bernie writes--is completely tongue in cheek. He's not suggesting the Broncos actually do this, just poking fun at the latest edition of Favre's fiasco. What, the suggestion that Favre play one game for each team in the NFC didn't give it away?!?

  • July 8, 2008

    9:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tomhung writes:

    Bernie, I feel bad for your family having to deal with a wet blanket like you on a constant basis.

  • July 8, 2008

    10:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CoLoradoCitizen writes:

    Jay CutLer is a STUD. He has a stronger arm than 90% of the NFL quarterbacks, and his accuracy is fantastic. Top that off with the ability to run, and we are SET! Barney has presented us today with crap. A gossip column. Gawd! I HATE GOSSIP! Thanks for nothing Barney.

  • July 8, 2008

    10:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    Brett Favre is a joke. The N.Y. Giants laughed after playing the Packers in the playoffs. The defense talked about how their whole game-plan centered around stuffing the run. They WANTED Brett Favre to throw the ball because he consistantly makes bone-head throws that result in turn-overs. He's no different than Jake Plummer and that was the worst era of Denver Bronco football. Jay Cutler IS the starting q.b. and deserves to be the starting q.b.

  • July 8, 2008

    10:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wers writes:

    only a deluded and classless bronco fan would make a comment like the giants were laughing at favre and the pack. didnt see the broncos sniff the playoffs in 2008 so your comments are basicly sour grapes. comparing favre to plummer is like thinking the broncos have any chance to be in the big game in 2009. of course you probably think broncos still fleeced the Packers in the Javon Walker trade.

  • July 9, 2008

    5:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jr_mcmillin writes:

    Favre can still produce. The last two seasons, with all the talk of him being too old, what does he do? He WINS. He had great production these last those seasons. If ESPNs' story of the "Text message" is true, it was classless on the part of Green Bay. There are teams out there that need Brett's talent and I hope, if he does want to play, he gets snatched up quickly. I enjoyed watching him play except when he was going against the Broncs and look forward to seeing him play some more. Even at this stage of his career, he's starting caliber material for allot of teams. Hopefully it won't be an AFC team.

  • July 9, 2008

    7:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    No, the comments aren't sour grapes. The comments are re-iterating what the N.Y. Giants Defense said after they beat the Packers. They WANTED Favre to throw the ball. They KNEW he would make bone-head mistakes. Why bring it up now? To point out that we don't need Brett-Jake Plummer - Favre.

  • July 9, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DavusX writes:

    Sorry, den2mke, Bernie never does anything tongue-in-cheek (his tongue is too thick to fit in his cheek, by the way)... he thinks he's better than everyone and that his opinions are worth spewing so that everyone can take note of his self-inflated superior intellect.

    No, he's not a tongue-in-cheek reporter, but rather a spiteful little hack. He is scarcely more than a dumpster diving worm looking for more trash to write. Personally, I think he needs to go back to Chicago... but they obviously don't want him back. I guess we're simply stuck with him. figures.

  • July 9, 2008

    9:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RightDownTheMiddle writes:

    That was a stupid article. Period.

  • July 9, 2008

    9:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike1969 writes:

    One game for each NFC Team? Cutler a young Favre? Favre a Bronco?

    WOW are you an IDIOT!

  • July 9, 2008

    9:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    denverrich writes:

    While everyone rags on the writer I think he got what he wanted. People talking about Denver Broncos Fotoball at a time when the Denver sports scene is barren. Right or wrong he stirred the pot and fired some people up. If he wrote a "Brett Farve should retire and fade away" story nobody would be talking about that today.

  • July 9, 2008

    11:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    Lincicome actually gets PAID for crappola like this? Anyone "off the street" could do just as good and for a much cheaper payday!!

  • July 9, 2008

    11:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jvill writes:

    Not a big fan of Bernie's, but he basically said Brett should stay retired, which is generally the consensus opinion.

    Don't understand all the name-calling. It's a column, not a news article.

  • July 9, 2008

    4:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    jvill, obviously you don't read many of his articles? He has wrote some pretty harsh things about the Broncos and really lacks class in the matter. He is a Bronco hater from day one and will get everything he deserves, verbally, from us. Sorry the "name calling" hurt your delicate feelings. We'll all say 10 Hail Mary's and beg forgiveness. NOT.

  • July 10, 2008

    12:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BornOrange writes:

    Once Again, I'm not even bothering to read Bernie's trash- I already know it's a waste.

    Bernie, as I've said before, just go away - go to hell, go to Oakland, I don't care. Just leave and stop subjecting us to the endless torment you call journalism.

  • July 10, 2008

    8:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoRick69 writes:

    At first thought, Bernie's idea of letting Favre play in one game for every NFC team seemed like a decent enough Idea. My next thought was that it was the most moronic idea I have ever tried to comprehend. If Favre were to come back, as Bernie had noted himself in his own article...It would be to play for a championship. How in the world would that ever work out if he played one game for every team in the NFC for a season? Please Bernie, refrain from hitting the scotch before you attempt to write. better yet, Bernie, just please, please move back to Chicago.

  • July 11, 2008

    11:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RenegadeLG writes:

    Wow, awful. As if we needed more reason to question Lincicome's credibility - he ripped off, verbatim, Frank Caliendo (as John Madden)'s spiel that Favre should play one game for every team. You could tell - in his hesitance to talk about what the headline meant until the end of the article - that he was constantly asking himself, "Should I write this? Surely somebody other than me heard Frank on Mike & Mike that morning". Sad. Not that I'm pretending there are any original journalists left, especially in Sports. They're all hacks.

    Although I do agree that Favre is tarnishing what little credibility he has left.

  • July 14, 2008

    8:41 p.m.

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    FLBroncoFan writes:

    Ok, first off please don't abuse me -- I want a discussion as I'm not understanding why no one else is on board for Favre playing 1 yr for the Broncos. I am a huge Broncos fan and agree that Cutler looks EXTREMELY promising! But doesn't anyone think that with Favre at the helm that the Broncos would have a greater chance at a Super Bowl victory? The man wants to go out at the top, and the top is winning a Super Bowl. He deserves that! He is still a great QB -- throwing for over 4,000+ yards. Denver has the OFFENSE to back him up, and the DEFENSE to get the ball back for him. Cutler does have a Favre style to him, and if he is not able to get training under Elway, can you imagine what one year of training under Favre would be like???!! It would be amazing! It might even be enough to get a back-2-back Super Bowl victory if Favre took the Broncos all the way this coming year! Your thoughts?