Column: The game will retire Farve first • Don’t look for the Packers’ legendary quarterback to retire on his own terms

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During the Green Bay Packers’ blowout win against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Brett Favre chucked a snowball at one of his linemen; receiving gobs of praise from the Fox Sports commentators about how he enjoys his job more than Ronald McDonald and his painted-on smile enjoy shucking burgers for McDonald’s. Aside from the annoying subplot that Brett Favre enjoys playing football more than anyone else on the planet; another irritating question keeps appearing in the headlines: Will Favre announce his retirement?

Don’t bet on it.

The smart money on when the Packers quarterback will finally hang it up isn’t on this off-season or even after next season. Much like other great athletes, Favre will be the next to hold on too long, holding steadfastly to his policy of refusing to step away from the game on his own terms.

Instead, the game will retire Favre.

Favre, 38, has enjoyed a remarkable season this year, especially taking into account his age and struggles during the past few years. His 4,155 yards this year ranks as the third-best total in his storied career; and if New England’s Tom Brady didn’t take the NFL Record book and spray paint it with every single number the Patriots have accumulated this year, Favre would be an emotional lock for his fourth NFL MVP.

But much like a former NFC North Division quarterback who endured a similar fate to Peyton Manning in 2004 (Daunte Culpepper), Favre has hit his competitive ceiling. He hasn’t established a new level of play that he should be expected to continue, and much like Culpepper, fans next year will watch the skills of the Packers Immortal to fade away.

During this week’s pre-game coverage reviewing Eli Manning’s recent win streak, in spite of carrying himself like a kindergartener who realized he isn’t potty trained, take a look at Favre. If you’re a fan of his, appreciate what he’s done this year, ignoring the hyperbole of the world’s John Madden-types who only talk about how much he enjoys the game.

Remember Favre’s expression during the press conference after the ugly Dec. 23 loss to Chicago? He was out of it, surprised and frustrated. If he continues playing, that Favre will be on showcase much more than the snowball-throwing, freewheeling jokester we watched last Saturday.

Favre isn’t alone in his ability to see the window of his dominance closing. For every Barry Sanders and Jim Brown, there are three Johnny Unitases, Joe Namaths, Jerry Rices, Emmitt Smiths or Dan Marinos. Did we really need to see Joe Namath in a Rams jersey? Unitas wearing Chargers bolts on his shoulders? Rice, maybe the greatest football player ever, struggling to make the Denver Broncos a slot receiver?

But it isn’t only football. Several great athletes didn’t know when to quit. How about NBA greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Gary Payton, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing? In baseball, Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk rounded out his storied career as a bullpen catcher. This year Roger Clemens, HGH-aided or not, couldn’t get out of the third inning during his last appearance. He was replaced on the Yankees post-season roster by journeyman reliever Ron Villone.

Dominating at the highest level becomes second nature for these guys; they’ve never endured failure on the field. Whereas the rest of us had our dreams cast into the dirt like a weakly-hit grounder to third base — either getting cut at middle school tryouts or realizing we were a step too slow for upper-echelon high-school competition — the greats never had that kind of feedback. They dunked in high school and smashed home runs in college baseball even though their preferred sport was football.

Those of us unable to achieve that level of success build them up as immortal, and the athletes start to believe it. The game isn’t a job for the greats like it was for retired Viking Robert Smith or former Utah Jazz Center John Amechi. For guys like Favre, it’s their livelihood, and until the game rudely enters them into a new era, they’ll continue lacing it up. Until the game doesn’t slow down for them anymore, until they start throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, until they stop making the plays that before came as second nature, until the game makes the decision for them, they will show up every game.

Only if the Packers emerge victorious in Super Bowl XLII does a logical scenario of Favre stepping away exist: a great player with no other critics to silence and no other goals to accomplish. But Green Bay over the New England Patriots, after beating the New York Giants?

Again, don’t bet on it.

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Elliot is pissed off that both the Cowboys and the Colts lost, making the rest of the playoffs completely anti-climactic. He is currently on day two of the “Great American Job Search,” he has a job but he’s trying to find a new one. Reach him here. Currently listening to: “Glad Tidings” - Van Morrison, Moondance.

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