Time for Favre to do the honorable thing and step aside

By Doug Halberstadt
Sports Columnist

I think it’s time for someone to tell Brett Favre to call it a career. He is not doing himself or his Minnesota teammates any favors by continuing to play the way he is.

I’m not sure if statistics would bare this out, but I believe his last two games (against division rivals Chicago and Green Bay) were the worst of his lengthy career. I can’t ever remember seeing him look as ineffective and as bad as he did in both of those games.

When you combine the multiple interceptions he threw with his inability to connect on passes to wide-open receivers, he was quickly transformed from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time to just another run-of-the-mill, less-than-average NFL quarterback.

It’s sad and pathetic to see a player of his former caliber reduced to the level where he is currently performing. He is arguably the best quarterback in the history of the game, and most assuredly in the top five of all-time on any fan’s list. It’s absurd to suggest that he has anything left to prove to anyone.

Favre should do the honorable thing and step aside and retire. The Vikings are 3-7, and unlikely to catch division leaders Chicago or Green Bay with only six games remaining in the regular season. The Vikings would be better served with someone other than Favre leading the team for the remainder of the season. It would give them the perfect opportunity to assess the talent they currently have on their team and determine what moves they need to make during the offseason.

Whether it’s the Vikings owner, or their head coach, one of them has to have the intestinal fortitude to bench Favre. And when they do, Favre should simply accept reality and walk away from the game with his head held high.

Brett, there’s no shame in admitting that the game is best played by younger men. You had your time. Let it go!