Favre Will Not Rush Decision

Brett Favre will take time to decide whether he will return for the 2009 season.

The 39-year-old quarterback told ESPN yesterday that he's following the advice of Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum by not making a hasty decision about his future.

"He said he's not going to bother me for three or four weeks," Favre said. "He told me to do whatever, and he'd give me a call in a month. Maybe I will tell him my answer that day. But he told me to get away and don't even think about football."

A lot of people will bemoan this as the same old thing for another year, but the reality is that this is an emotional decision. Brett loves playing football. It has been integral to his life for three decades. Giving it up is difficult for him. It is best to take time to consider this and not make a hasty decision in the heat of the moment. This is especially true for a guy who just changed his mind less than a year ago.

With that said, the Jets are in a much stronger position than were the Packers a year ago to take a firm stand after an appropriate period to decide. A month or two is plenty of time to mull it over. At that point, this team should demand a final decision. The Jets are currently over the salary cap for 2009, and Favre's plans with his $13 million pricetag will determine in which direction this team goes with its offseason roster decisions. If he does not decide on time or changes his mind, Gang Green can simply trade or release him and go with one of the three youngsters on the roster. Brett is not a legend in New York. There will be no outcry of support for him like there was in Green Bay if he tries to strongarm the team. In fact, it seems as though most Jets fans want him to retire.