There will be no more NFL comebacks for quarterback Brett Favre, according to his close friend Ryan Longwell, the Vikings placekicker.
Favre has had the public in never say never mode since leaving the Green Bay Packers after the 2007 season. The offseason drama reached a peak last August when Longwell was part of a Vikings group who travelled to Favre’s home in Mississippi asking him to play a second season for the Vikings rather than retire again.
Longwell, Favre, and their wives have been friends for years. The two played together in Green Bay and with the Vikings including the memorable 2009 season when Favre threw 33 touchdown passes, only seven interceptions and had a career high 107.2 passer rating. The 12-4 regular season Vikings were within a couple plays of making it to the Super Bowl.
The NFL season opens in a few days but Longwell told Sports Headliners not to expect Favre to play the hero for an NFL team in need of last minute quarterback help. “No,” Longwell said. “Not one ounce of one percent. No chance.”
Last winter Favre and wife Deanna left their home in Mississippi to visit Longwell and his wife Sarah near Orlando. The two men “talked a lot,” although they didn’t play golf as they often do.
Longwell said his former teammate, who turns 42 next month, has made a “good transition into life after football.” Favre is happy being at home in Mississippi.
“He’s great,” Longwell said. “He’s at peace. He’s at home, enjoying the ranch, enjoying his family like he should.”
How does Favre feel about his time with the Vikings including last season’s difficult 6-10 season? “I think he’s very proud of them (those two seasons),” Longwell answered. “He should be. He played the best quarterback in the NFL two years ago in ‘09. There was no one better, and then last year there were a lot of extenuating things that it didn’t matter if you were the quarterback or the kicker, you had little control over them. It was different here last year, but he valued his time and was very proud of what he did for two years because he played amazingly well.”
Among the Vikings’ struggles last year were Favre’s injuries. He had 11 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions with a 69.9 passer rating.
Longwell was asked if the punishment of all those NFL seasons has left Favre with a particular physical malady. “Yeah, I mean everything. Nothing in particular,” Longwell said. “Just banged up from playing that position for 20 years in the NFL.”