Favre's itch to return is no surprise
, last modified July 05. 2008 11:07PM
Brett Favre has an itch to play football again. Like that's a big surprise.

Of course he has an itch. It's worse than poison ivy, worse than chicken pox, worse than a fresh mosquito bite.

His fall Sundays have been dominated by football for 18 years. He retired from the Green Bay Packers four months ago. Now, with the start of training camp just a few weeks away, it's natural for Favre to feel an itch.

I remember when I had to give up recreation basketball because my Achilles tendons were screaming, "You can't do this to us anymore.'' It took years before I could walk past a gymnasium and hear the thump of a basketball without wanting to play.

Imagine what it must be like for a professional athlete to hang 'em up.

Favre is a quarterback with Hall of Fame credentials. For most of his 38 years, football has been his constant companion. He has been married to football longer than he's been married to his wife. No one should be surprised that he has an itch to play again.

It isn't like he embarrassed himself last season. Yes, he threw a wounded duck that was intercepted by the New York Giants in the NFC championship game. But Favre passed for 4,564 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. His completion percentage was 66.5. Even though he will turn 39 in October, he's still better than most of the starting QBs in the NFL.

The problem with Favre, and so many other gifted athletes, is there's no perfect time to retire. It sounds like a good idea in the winter when a quarterback is dealing with the aches and pains of a just-completed season. It doesn't sound so attractive in July when he can almost smell fall in the air and has no uniform to wear on Sunday afternoon.

Ask a husband or a wife whose mate has died what it was like the first time the holidays approached. On a smaller scale, this is the withdrawal Favre is facing.

He is addicted to the game and the crowd. He plays with a boyish enthusiasm, one of the reasons why fans adored him. He is worshiped in Green Bay and it isn't easy to give that up.

Should he go or should he stay? There are good arguments for either.

Barry Sanders retired too soon. So did Jim Brown and Bjorn Borg.

George Blanda stuck around too long. So did George Foreman and Babe Ruth.

What should Favre do? There is no way to scratch his itch, short of putting on the pads again, but that would cause some maneuvering for Green Bay.

After Favre called it quits, the Packers committed to backup QB Aaron Rodgers. He is 14 years younger than Favre and Green Bay already has styled its offense around him.

Now what should the Packers do? Welcome Favre back if he decides to play and allow him to compete for the starting job? Release Favre and allow him to play somewhere else?

It wouldn't be wise to cut him loose and let him catch on with another team in the same division, but do you think the Detroit Lions might be interested?

You say they wouldn't want an over-the-hill quarterback? What do you think they have in Jon Kitna?