Brett Favre: Retired Today, Playing Tomorrow?

If what Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday is correct, then we don't have to worry about currently-retired quarterback Brett Favre putting on a Minnesota Vikings uniform next season. He's not going to. He's going to stay retired, according to his agent. As of today. Who knows what his answer will be tomorrow?

ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Hype, cut away from its Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees obsession to give us the breaking news that Favre and Vikings coach Brad Childress were going to discuss the possibility of maybe joining the team. That sent everything into overdrive--Sportscenter,talk radio, blogs--Favre a Viking?!? Super Bowl, here we come!

OK, time out. We've been down this road before. Favre's first retirement came after the 2007 season, in which his Green Bay Packers lost to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game, which was played in the below-zero tundra of Lambeau Field. Then, as training camp rolled around, Favre got antsy. He wanted to un-retire and play for the Packers again, but the team declined, having already entrusted their future to Aaron Rodgers.

Favre tried to sign with the Vikings, but the Packers wouldn't hear of him defecting to a hated rival. So they traded him to the New York Jets, where he had a so-so season, throwing as many interceptions as he did touchdown passes. Then, citing an injury to his bicep, he retired again.

What is the Vikings' motivation for signing Favre, who turns 40 this fall? Are they admitting that the quarterbacks they already have--Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels (just acquired from the Houston Texans) and John David Booty (who also happens to wear #4)--are the weakest link towards a championship run? Putting enough rear ends in the Metrodome seats to avoid embarrassing TV blackouts? Finally convincing the Minnesota Legislature that they deserve a new stadium?

Favre has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, taking the Packers to two Super Bowls and creating many memorable moments that could stock a spinoff of NFL Network. But the more he acts like a teenage girl who can't decide which boy she wants to go to the prom with, the less respect he gets. Make a decision and stick with it.

Meanwhile, ESPN can now obsess over Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles Dodger who was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for using a banned substance. He used to play for the Red Sox.