Breaking: Favre is a Douche

Brett Favre is embarrassing himself. Not a groundbreaking sentiment, I know. But, I was a Brett Favre fan. Loved him even. I was the guy smiling as the announcers fawned over his on-field antics while everyone else in the room cringed and rolled their eyes.

Then he changed. Or, more accurately, his real nature finally surfaced. The nature that had been suppressed his entire career only by constant adulation and ego-stroking. Once all that stopped, so did the boyish charm and the good ol' Southern likability. Out game the surly, vindictive Brett.

Since throwing that back-breaking, season-ending INT in the 2008 NFC Championship Game, he has gone about destroying his own legacy so thoroughly it almost seems intentional.

Less than two months after that game came the tearful retirement. He swore he had nothing left to give and could no longer subject his beat-up old body to the pounding of an NFL season. He claimed it had nothing to do with Packers GM Ted Thompson refusing to allow the organization to be handcuffed by Favre's indecision for yet another off-season. Then he changed his mind and asked to be released, Thompson refused and that's when the real legacy destruction began.

Favre broke his silence on, of all things, Fox News and claimed he was never fully committed to retirement. Apparently Thompson called Favre's bluff and Number 4 had no problem calling a press conference and lying to everyone to keep up the charade.

Favre allegedly engaged in surreptitious talks with the divisional rival Vikings, prompting the Packers to file tampering charges.

The Packers finally traded him to the New York Jets, leading them to an 8-3 record before losing 4 out of the last 5 games and missing the playoffs.

Shortly after the season ended, Favre retired again.

A few moths later he again asked to be released, and the Jets obliged. He had shoulder surgery, ostensibly to prepare for the upcoming season. Rumors again resurfaced that he was planning another comeback and again the Vikings were the rumored destination.

Now Favre is on the brink of signing with the Vikings and his long road of spite is nearly complete. Almost a year and a half after the Packers had the audacity to ask him for a decision so they could prepare for the draft and the upcoming season, Favre will sign with the team's rival. They will play twice this year, the first matchup a Monday Night game in Minnesota. The spotlight will shine brightly on Brett Favre, just the way he likes it.

Since his last game as a Packer, Favre has conducted himself with as little dignity as possible. Neither he nor anyone close to him has shown the least bit of concern about his legacy and that may be the saddest part of all. Now he will be remembered as a great QB who just didn't know when to hang 'em up. He will be remembered for the turmoil that marked the last few years of his otherwise stellar career. He will be remembered as a selfish, spiteful man instead of that endearing, boyish football player so many people, like me, want to remember.

But I just can't.