"Scepticism is not irrefutable, but obviously nonsensical, when it tries to raise doubts where no questions can be asked.""Scepticism is not irrefutable, but obviously nonsensical, when it tries to raise doubts where no questions can be asked."The first thing that crossed my mind when I read about Brett Favre's latest comeback was that this means another summer of incessant speculation about whether he'll return for yet *another* season, in 2010. The second thing was that I'm not sure he's worth it. He was pretty good for the Jets in the early going last season, but as the hits piled up and the protection schemes broke down, he looked very old by the end of the campaign. Then came the surgery on his shoulder. One thing I think we can all agree on regarding the aging process: It takes a 40-year-old body a long time to heal. In Favre's case, there is the distinct possibility that he'll be much more Tim Wakefield than Tim Lincecum. If that happens, then Minnesota would likely be better off with the dubious quarterback combination of Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

One reaction I didn't have was that I'm sick of Brett Favre. What I am sick of is people complaining that they are sick of Brett Favre -- and vilifying him for his apparent fickle nature. This is the exact sort of self-righteous nonsense that people spew when they don't take time out for a little empathy. Put yourself in Favre's shoes and ask yourself just how would you have behaved differently. Has he been perfect during his flip-flopping period? Of course not. But how and why does that offend you?

You can make a good case that Favre's matador routine is detrimental to the teams for which he's danced with the last couple of years. However, the teams are the enablers in Favre's football addiction. There seems to be a voice of reason bounding around Favre's head that says, "You know what, you've accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the NFL ... and then some. Perhaps you should quit before you completely embarrass yourself."

At the same time, there is the voice that is not uncommon for competitive athletes to hear. The one that says, "I really want to keep playing this game." I don't think Favre has a narcissistic need for attention. If he did, he wouldn't have stayed close to Kiln, Mississippi, to raise his family. I think the guy just really likes playing football and even though his mind tells him it's time to quit, when the season approaches, he just can't stay away. Retirement is forever and to think that you can squeeze just one more season out of your failing body is a mistake of judgment that enumerable athletes have made over the years. I just read Allen Iverson's Twitter feed this morning. Still without a team, he's working like a beast to get back what he says will be the A.I. "like you saw at Georgetown." Allen Iverson is 34 years old and has taken as much punishment as any NBA player that I can remember. He can no more revert to his 20-year-old self than I can shape-shift into a cat.

What really bothers me is that the Favre Fatigue which has swept through the sports community like a global pandemic has led to the man himself being impugned. I've seen him called an a-hole, a d-bag and several other things, all related to the point that he's "ruined his legacy."

This is nonsense on stilts. In time, after he's long gone, all we will remember is that Favre broke just about every record in the NFL passing ledger while leading the Green Bay Packers to their first golden era since the hallowed days of Vince Lombardi. We'll watch the old NFL Films highlights of Favre in his prime and marvel at his athleticism, cannon arm, improvisational ability and gambler's nature. These last years with the Jets and Vikings will just be a footnote, Johnny Unitas with the Chargers, Joe Namath with the Rams and, to a far lesser extent, Joe Montana with the Chiefs.

It's this latter case that makes me think there is upside to this whole situation for Minnesota Viking fans. This is a well-stocked roster, featuring a bruising offensive line, a stout defense (that may be short its two elite interior linemen for a while) and the best running back alive. A 2009 Viking team with competent quarterback play is a Super Bowl contender. And while it may be wishcasting on the Vikings' part, I think they are more likely to get that from Favre's death rattle than they would be from Jackson or Rosenfels. It's a gamble worth taking.

And as for Favre Fatigue, is that really his fault? Or is it the result of a ubiquitous media blare that never shuts down? The information machine not only never stops churning, but it has a nasty tendency to grab hold of one particular batch of high-octane fuel and burn every last drop. There have been plenty of interesting sports stories the last few months, but it's the media that has chosen to staff Farve's hometown and report on every plane trip he's taken and to speculate on his mindset without an actual quote from the man himself.

If you're tired of hearing about Brett Favre, don't blame him. Just change the channel.

ADDENDUM: For an indication of just who the consumers are for all of the Favre overcoverage, here's a representative comment that I saw repeated several times in various forms in my Twitter stream: "I'm really amused that 'Farve' is currently a trending topic, but not 'Favre'."