It appears as though Brett Favre is serious this time about hanging ‘em up for good.

According to a report by FOX Sports’ Alex Marvez, Favre filed retirement papers with the NFL and is set to walk away from the game for good. Of course, he also filed his retirement papers in February of 2009 and then managed to play two more seasons, so one never knows with him.

But the timing is right if he does officially retire. He proved in ‘09 that he could still play at an elite level, but he took a beating both on and off the field this past season. He once again dealt with an assortment of injuries and it’s clear that his 41-year-old body can’t withstand the punishment anymore. When you also factor in what has happened off the field, it’s probably best if Favre doesn’t pull another about-face and return next year.

For those who think Favre will always be remembered for the Jenn Sterger scandal, let me remind you that only the minority talk about Michael Jordan’s days as a Washington Wizard or discusses his rumored issues with gambling. People remember O.J. Simpson more for his off-field antics, but that’s because the man was caught up in a murder trial (and later for going to prison for attempted robbery).

People in Green Bay will never forget how he retired his way to Minnesota, but they’ll also forever be grateful for the many great moments he gave them while wearing a Packer helmet (which include a Super Bowl victory). He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and while some believe he tarnished his legacy over these past couple of years, others will talk about his greatness on the field without ever mentioning the name Jenn Sterger or criticizing him for his offseason fickleness.

That said, I still won’t believe he’s officially retired until Week 1 of the 2011 season rolls around and he’s not in uniform. And even then…

What do we think will happen in 2011? Ha! We’re glad you asked. As part of our 2010 Year End Sports Review, we see good things ahead for Duke, the Celtics and the Saints. We see cursed days ahead for the Phillies and Giants, and one Florida Gator-sized reunion in Denver. We also like Carmelo to play for the…hey, why are we telling you all this? Read for yourself below, lazy. (And have an open mind – we had some fun with this section.)

Contributors: Anthony Stalter, John Paulsen, Paul Costanzo, Drew Ellis and Mike Farley

You think he’s gone? He’s not gone. He’s never gone!

Brett Favre has duped us before with his retirement talk, so why should we buy what he’s selling now? Lord Favre says 2010 will be his final season, but after spending a couple of months on his ranch next summer, he’ll get the itch to return. And some team will welcome him back. And the media will torture us with their 24-hour Favre watch. And the dreaded cycle of death will continue. So which lucky team will have No. 4 in uniform next season? While we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Favre returning to the Vikings for one more year now that Brad Childress is gone, that’s not a very fun projection. Thus, what about Da Raaaaaaaiders? Huh? Can you see it now? Lord Favre and Al Davis at the podium holding up their pointer fingers and saying, “Just win baby.” No? Ah, you’re no fun.

Carmelo will be a Knickerbocker next year.

Book ‘em, Danno. The writing is on the wall. He hasn’t signed the three-year extension that the Nuggets offered last summer and has reportedly decided that the only team he’ll agree to be traded to is the New York Knicks. This means that if the Nuggets are hoping to get something substantial for him, they’ll have to move him before the February trade deadline. Since there appears to be only one team in the running, the deal isn’t going to be very good. We wouldn’t want to be Nugget fans right now — the rebuilding process is about to begin.
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After he was concussed in the Vikings’ embarrassing 40-14 loss to the Bears on Monday night, Brett Favre told reporters after the game that he was “definitely done” and that “I’m not coming back – you can print it.”

Nah, just kidding. He left the door wide open for his return.

Rotoworld.com writes that when he was asked by a reporter post-game if he would play again, Lord Favre responded: “Based on my decision making I probably shouldn’t tell you one way or the other right now.”

Good call, Brett.

Favre started against the Bears but couldn’t finish after he was sacked in the second quarter and hit his head on the frozen patch of ice that was the TCF Bank Stadium playing surface. He didn’t return.

If it’s a mild concussion he could probably sit out this Sunday against the Eagles and then play at Detroit in Week 17. Then again, he may want to just ride out the next two weeks on the sidelines because the Eagles blitz every down and Lions’ rookie Ndamukong Suh is literally trying to murder quarterbacks. No sense for Brett to go out in a body bag if this is it for him.

Then again, this probably isn’t his swansong, is it? He’s going to mull over retirement for the next few months only to come back as an Oakland Raider or something. You think he’s gone? He’s not gone. He’s never gone!

Just win baby.

Brett Favre reiterated on Wednesday that this will be his final season.

“I’m done, I’m done,” he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Uh, huh.

John Paulsen asked me if I thought Lord Favre meant what he said. My response? I think he means it………………right now.

Favre has had a tough year but we’ve been through this all before. He said at the beginning of the season that this would be his last, but he’s complemented retirement before only to return the following year. He even held a press conference with the Packers saying that he was retired and then – surprise! – he changed his mind and wound up in a New York Jets uniform.

Favre needs the spotlight, although even I have to admit that after this Jenn Sterger debacle he may mean it this time. His play has also fallen off a cliff and unless he puts up MVP-like numbers over these last five weeks, it’s doubtful that he’ll convince himself that he still has it and return for another year.

That said, his word means nothing when it comes to retirement. Until he files the paperwork and is nowhere near a NFL stadium for the opener of 2011, I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

While it hasn’t come out of his mouth directly, Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com writes that Brett Favre told teammates Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Ryan Longwell that he will play this season.

Favre informed the trio Tuesday that he is, in fact, back in and will rejoin the Vikings, FOXsports.com has learned.

In addition, Favre is on the plane with the players and is heading back to Minneapolis. However, while signs point to Favre coming back, neither he nor his agent have informed the team that he’s returning. And with Favre, another change of heart is certainly not out of the question.

Does anyone else feel that this situation has gone from absurd to just flat out weird? The Vikings are in the midst of preparing for the regular season and Brad Childress thought it would be a good idea to send his top guard, his top pass-rusher and a kicker to woo Favre at his home in Mississippi? All right.

Although hey, assuming Favre is in route to Minnesota then I guess the move worked. It makes the situation no less ridiculous, lame and corny, but as long as Favre is back under center this year then nobody in Minnesota is going to care what it took to get him back.

Hopefully this year’s saga is finally over.

As a longtime Packer fan, the last few years of the Brett Favre saga have been particularly tough, especially his decision to sign with the Green Bay’s arch-rival. But the fitting end to the Vikings’ playoff run quenched every Packer fans thirst for karma, comeuppance, whatever. On one hand it would have been fun if Minnesota had crashed and burned to a 6-10 season, but there’s something wonderful about the fact that the Vikings were thisclose to a Super Bowl and their (adopted) prodigal son threw a horrible pass — in a season where he didn’t throw very many (for a change) — that sealed the hugely disappointing loss.

Now he’s doing his annual retirement dance again and appears to be stirring up the media to satisfy his need for attention.

Kevin Hench of Fox Sports argues that Favre’s antics are worse than LeBron’s.

Which is worse for a fan, death by a thousand cuts (Favre) or one swift decapitation (LeBron)?

Nice!

Favre put his loyal lady through hell for several offseasons, took up with a far-off mistress for a year, then came back to town with the one woman he had to know would most devastate his ex.

Compare that with LeBron. He didn’t waffle. His heart didn’t wander and return, wander and return, wander and return year after year. He was ramrod loyal to his betrothed. Until he wasn’t.

Blam.

The doors to the bedroom flew open, and there was South Beach astride LeBron. End of story.

LeBron announced his departure from Cleveland the way Rudy Giuliani conveyed that he was leaving wife Donna Hanover for a younger coworker with more upside. On TV.

It may not have been classy, but it was definitive.

For a month, LeBron has been annihilated for the way he handled “The Decision.” But Favre’s latest retirement reminds us there was actually a much worse way to handle things: the Brett Favre Way.

Sometime last summer, the tide turned against Favre. People still enjoy watching him play, but given his annual antics, far more football fans are rooting against him than ever before.

Other than in a few households in Wisconsin, he’s not as hated or reviled like LeBron is, because Favre’s history with Green Bay was far more successful than LeBron’s run in Cleveland. People are just sick of his act.

What’s worse — death by a thousand cuts or one swift decapitation?

Indeed.

(I love you, Aaron Rodgers.)

According to ESPN.com, Brett Favre has denied sending text messages to Vikings officials and teammates telling them that he had decided to retire and also told Ed Werder that if he’s healthy, he will play this season.

Favre also insisted that the decision isn’t about money, even though Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Vikings have offered Brett a raise that would increase his 2010 base salary from $13 million to $16 million.

Favre responded to a Star Tribune report that the Vikings were prepared to offer him more money for the 2010 season if he would play by insisting that his salary is not a factor in the decision. “It’s not about money,” he said.

Well, I would hope it’s not about money considering he’s made over $100 million during the course of his career (which doesn’t include the millions more he has made through endorsements). Money has played a factor in everyone’s decisions at some point or another, but it would be asinine to think that he would play next season for $16 million, but not $13 million.

Here’s the part of the story that I don’t get:

On Tuesday, Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said Favre texted his teammates and told them he plans to retire. Shiancoe added he did not receive any direct messages from Favre, but learned of the texts from several teammates.

“He told a couple guys on our team he’s going to retire,” Shiancoe said after practice on Tuesday. “He hasn’t told me yet. I’m going to check my phone right now, but it hasn’t been said publicly yet so I don’t know what to believe.”

So did Favre send the text messages or not? Because if he didn’t, why did Shiancoe say that Favre told some of his teammates via text messages that he was going to retire? Something doesn’t add up here. Either Brett is a lying windbag or there’s a bad game of telephone going on inside the Vikings’ locker room.

Regardless, this report proves that this situation is far from over. As reported all day yesterday, Favre has yet to make up his mind about whether or not to return. Shocking.

Favre has yet to tell Childress that he’s retiring
Despite reports that state he won’t return, Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress insisted on Tuesday that Brett Favre has not told him he’s retiring. Minnesota still considers the situation “fluid” and Viking players have told the media that nothing has changed in regards to Favre’s status with the team. A “family source” also tells the Biloxi Sun Herald that Brett has not decided whether to play this year. With over a month left before the season starts, it’s doubtful that Brett has made any concrete plans about whether or not to come back – even though many media outlets are reporting that he’s likely done.

Eagles’ Maclin suffers hyperextended knee injury
Second-year receiver Jeremy Maclin suffered a hyperextended left knee injury during practice today. According to some reports, he looked to be in serious pain on the field and his teammates even huddled for a prayer after practice. He’ll undergo an MRI on the knee to determine how much camp time he’ll miss. Hopefully the injury wasn’t serious and he’ll only miss a week or so.

Falcons’ Babineaux suspended one game
The Falcons won’t have their best interior pass-rusher when they take on the Steelers in Week 1, as defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux has been suspended one game for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. (The suspension stems from Babineaux’s 2009 arrest for possession of marijuana.) Kudos to GM Thomas Dimitroff for having the wherewithal to know Babineaux was likely to be suspended and to select DT Corey Peters in the third round of April’s draft. Non-kudos to Babineaux for the arrest.

Haynesworth skips conditioning test again
Another day, another skipped conditioning test for Albert Haynesworth. Mike Shanahan says that Haynesworth’s knee is still bothering him and that when he’s ready to take the test again, “he’ll take it.” Shanahan is standing firm that Haynesworth is not allowed to practice until he passes the test (which some media members have reportedly attempted and passed over the last coupe of days).

Since the news of his (latest) possible retirement broke, the one thing that keeps popping into my head is what the conversation would have sounded like between Brett Favre and Brad Childress if Brett had ensured Childress that he was coming back this season but wanted to string the media along.

(When reading the Childress parts, think of a cross between a really excited Will Ferrell and Butters from “South Park.”)

“Hey Brad, it’s Brett.”

“Brett!!! OMG Brett, OMG! It’s soooo good to hear from you – how’s the offseason going? You ready to return?”

“Oh yeah Brad, I’m coming back. But hey listen, I wanted to know if you could help me out with something?”

“For realsies?! Yes! Of course – ANYTHING!”

“Well, first and foremost I don’t want to go to training camp. So you can suck it if you think I’m showing up.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Training camp is totally not cool and I wouldn’t expect somebody as wonderful and as awesome as you are to attend.”

“Cool. Secondly, I want to pull a prank on the media again this year. First, I’m going to string them along like I usually do and not tell them what my plans are. What I need you to do is string them along from your end, too.”

“Got it – done. This is so cool…”

“Then, I’m going to slip Peter King some information that my ankle isn’t healing well and how I’m still not decided about whether or not to come back.”

“Oooooh – I love Peter King!”

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When training camp rolled around last year, Vikings head coach Brad Childress was fully prepared to head into the season with either Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson as his starting quarterback.

Let’s hope he still feels that way.

Judd Zulgad of the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports via his Twitter page that Brett Favre began telling Vikings officials last night that he will not return for a 20th season. Apparently Favre’s ankle has not responded the way he had hoped and he is now leaning towards retirement.

First and foremost, if Favre has been honest with the Vikings about his ankle this entire time, then there’s nothing more the team or Childress could expect from Brett. Both Childress and Favre have stated this entire time that they didn’t know what would happen and neither of them said either way whether or not he would return for another season.

That said, the cynic in me wonders if Favre led Childress and the Vikings to believe that he would return. For a guy that went to great lengths to make sure he didn’t hand the job to Jackson last offseason (including trading for Rosenfels and completely avoiding giving Jackson any encouragement through the media), Childress has been awfully calm about his quarterback position this offseason. Is he really fine with heading into the season with either Jackson or Rosenfels? Or had he known that Favre wasn’t coming back, would he have gotten another quarterback at some point over the last couple of months (either in free agency or the draft)?

Granted, this is Brett Favre we’re talking about. This is a man that absolutely despises training camp and will stop at nothing (including tormenting the media with his annual retirement dance) to avoid it. Jackson could be lining up to take his first snap under center in Week 1 and Favre could come running out of the tunnel to proclaim his return.

You just can’t put anything past him.

However, if Zulgad’s report holds true and Favre doesn’t come back, then the Vikings could be in a world of hurt. They still have Adrian Peterson, a solid offensive line and an outstanding front seven on defense, but without Favre and the threat of an efficient passing game, opponents will just stack the box to take away AP. Plus, Don Banks of SI.com reported yesterday that two of three hip specialists recommended that Sidney Rice have surgery in the offseason, which he never did. If Rice is hobbled, the Vikes’ passing game would take yet another huge hit.

Again, we just have to wait and see what happens. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if three weeks from now the media started reporting that Favre was coming back. Training camp will have wound down by then and maybe his ankle will start feeling better too. (I’m sure Childress would literally rip his own soul out of his body for Brett to return, so that’s an option as well.)

But if he doesn’t return, then the entire landscape in the NFC North changes. The Packers already proved last year that they were serious threats to the Vikings. Without Favre in Minnesota, Green Bay would become the favorites to take over the division.

Update: Childress, in the denial stage of grief, has reiterated to the media that Favre has not told him he’s retiring.