By: Melissa S. Wollering
Brett Favre’s agent Bus Cook isn’t kidding around. He took this picture of Brett’s bruised and swollen, tennis-ball-size ankle and another of his ailing purple hamstring. Now, Favre’s orthopedic surgeon says Brett would indeed need surgery before he would be able to return to the Minnesota Vikings.
With his 20th season in the NFL on the line, is it possible Favre’s worst fear is becoming a reality? Brett may no longer be able to go out on his own terms. And who can deny that retirement may be smarter now regardless of whether he goes through with the surgery or not?
The ankle injury is apparently the result of the injury he suffered three months ago in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints as told to Mississippi’s Clarion Ledger. Obviously, if after three months, it is still swollen and painful, the prognosis cannot be good.
In an email to Ed Werder, Favre endeared himself to Vikings’ players and staff while making a small knock on the Packers organization:
“This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10 — much like Green Bay for many years. That’s what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.”
So Favre’s one year with the Vikings seems to have truly cemented that inclusionary sense of belonging, something that took years to semi-achieve with the Green Bay Packers. Ouch. Now my ankle hurts. My Packers’ pride is bruised.
Favre doesn’t seem to be crazy about surgery. Also, it’s not known how long the recovery process would take, or whether he would even be able to perform again in the same capacity should he go through with surgery.
Hence, we resume tractor watch. Will he go for the surgery much like he went for the repair of his torn biceps tendon last offseason? Will he opt for retirement even though it’s not on his own terms?
On the bright side, one thing is a constant. The suspense and thrill of the “game” we’ve come to enjoy so much is here to stay, for now. Oooh, I hope it will last!