Have We Seen the Last of Favre?

Now you see me, now you don't. Now Brett Favre's retired, now he isn't.

Ever since King James announced he would be relocating to South Beach, the world has officially turned its wide-eyed gaze to Favre, desperately attempting to gain a hold once and for all on whether Favre will don the purple and gold for one last go-around with the Minnesota Vikings.

In the past 8 years, we've been bombarded with dozens of conflicting reports, a couple retirement speeches, and even a few funny commercials. But no matter who thinks what, we must all face the fact that Brett Favre is as undecided as undecided gets.

On August 4th, reports spurred that Favre had texted his Vikings' teammates to inform them that he will infact retire. As Vikings head coach Brad Childress told the media that Favre hadn't said anything to him about it, I immediately dismissed this rumor. And sure enough, Favre later announced that he did not send text messages to teammates. Then he later added that he still remains undecided on whether or not he'll return.

Favre has fans scraping for rumors, quotes, and expert analysis in an attempt to discover which way he's leaning. Through sifting this information, some claim there is really no way to accurately assume one way or the other.

I would disagree...

Of all the players I have ever seen take the field on Sundays, I have never seen a player with as much passion and love for the game of football as Favre.

The fact of the matter is that Favre loves playing football too much to retire. He's spent the past 19 years of his life doing what he loves most, and in the process broken nearly every record a quarterback can break. His record 285 consecutive starts are also a testiment to his dedication and passion for his career. And who can forget his touchdown celebrations, from both index fingers raised to the sky to the widest smile you'd ever see.

Also, the way Favre ended last season with Minnesota was a tormenting way to end a career. He led the purple and gold to a 12-4 record and looked to be unstoppable, but Favre's Vikings were eliminated from postseason contention one game short of reaching his third Super Bowl, and in overtime no less. Despite feeling like he failed what he set out to do, Favre still had one of the best years of his career, passing for 4,202 yards with 33 TDs and 7 INTs, which proved Favre to still be one of the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Perhaps his most glorified moment in his debut season for Minnesota came in Week 3 against San Francisco in which Favre completed a 32-yard desperation bomb to wideout Greg Lewis in the back of the endzone resulting in a 27-24 lead with just 2 seconds remaining. As if the hugs, celebrations, and plus one in the win column wasn't enough, Favre later recieved an ESPY for this, which was titled Best Play.

However, Favre's ankle surgery back in May, though deemed successful, may have been just one surgery too many. For his love of the game, he'll play. But no amount of love can help him play football with a cane.

But this surgery, even if not as successful as it could have possibly been, was still good enough to allow Favre to play. Through his 19 years, pain is not something unknown to him, as multiple surgeries would show. But seeing as he holds the NFL consecutive starts streak by a long shot over second place Peyton Manning (192), we can properly assume that he's somehow learned to ignore it over the years.

So for these reasons, I have no doubt in my mind that other Vikings quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, and Joe Webb will only be found warming benches around the league in 2010 while they take notes from the crafty veteran.

It's as simple as this: If Favre can play, Favre will play. So for this reason, look to see him stretch that streak to 286 come time for the Vikings to play their NFC title game rematch against Drew Brees and the 'Who Dat Nation'.