Brett Favre held a press conference and said he knows he can still play, but felt he was "mentally tired" and he said he didn't want to play, to go through the grueling process of mentally preparing for a new season.
You know, he is a great competitor, a "warrior" on the football field. What happens, when he is left alone, spends time with his family? Takes time off for himself. Tools around in his hometown in Mississppi, goes on a vacation. He finds that the wounds of this past season have healed. The memories of losing to the NY Giants in OT in frigid Lambeau Field perhaps will have faded, and he remembers the interception he threw in OT, to give the ball back to NY, who capitalized and won a thrilling NFC title game.
It takes a strong man, to step back and say, "You know, that's it." There will be a battle ahead for Favre, when he has healed from being "mentally burned out." Then he will have another decision to make. "Should I come back?" Comeback. It is not far-fetched.
It is hard for warriors to know when to say "enough." Ali fought way too many fights before he finally hung up his gloves, and then he had to cope with his health problems.
The great boxer Joe Louis stayed in the ring too long. But he had a debt hanging over his head and needed money to pay Uncle Sam.
Joe Montana left his '49ers, came back to play for the Chiefs and then retired. I wonder if Favre is really done?
He'll have time to heal once the spotlight has faded from him. But come early Summer, when the football clock starts clicking, when its "time to get ready for training camp", he will have a decision to make. His body wants to play. Can he stare down that last pass, that last game, that last loss? That will be a question facing him, and only he will be the one who has the answer.
