I don't want to see Favre with the Bears

There is a possibility Brett Favre might be wearing Blue and Orange next year as a member of the Beloved Chicago Bears. I don't want to see that happen. It's not really because he is arguably Chicago's most hated opponent. It's also not really because I think Favre should retire as a Green Bay Packer like John Elway retired as a Denver Bronco, Dan Marino retired as a Miami Dolphin, and Troy Aikman retired as a Dallas Cowboy. Sure Favre was first with the Atlanta Falcons but Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg started his career with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Those are just the other reasons. Here are the main reasons I don't want Favre to join the Bears:

1. He is no longer a young quarterback and he is past his prime. Favre is 38 years old and will turn 39 this October. He's not the same quarterback who led the Packers to two Super Bowls. Sure he had an impressive season last year. His 95.7 QB Rating was the highest season total for him since 1996, but can he do it again? I don't think he can. The Bears would be getting 2008 Favre not 1996 Favre. This would be like when the Washington Wizards got Michael Jordan or when the Boston Braves got Babe Ruth when Ruth was 40 years old. Brett Favre's best days are behind him now. Plus, everyone saw how bad he was in that Soldier Field game last December. That game he had a 40.2 QB rating and threw two interceptions. After the game, Favre said, “I’ve been playing 17 years, and that was the worst condition I’ve ever played in.” Now he might have to play there at least eight times next year? Do Bears fans really want to see that? Don't forget about his health. Sure, he has that long consecutive games played streak but he plays hurt. Call it heroic if you want but how heroic is he if he is throwing two interceptions in a game because his shoulder hurts? A healthy Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton is better than a banged up old Brett Favre. Playing hurt would be bad not to mention Favre would be pretty much insulting his teammates. He's basically saying, "A less than 100% Brett Favre is better than a healthy Rex Grossman." Helping the team isn't playing hurt. Helping the team is admitting you are too hurt to perform at your best. The Bears need a good and young QB not a QB who is too close to 40 and is towards the end of his career.
2. The Bears need a franchise quarterback, not a quarterback wanting to play one last season. The main reason the Packers want Favre to stay retired is because they want to finally start the Aaron Rodgers era. The Packers knew Favre wasn't going to play forever so they slowly developed Rodgers into their future franchise QB. The Packers don't want to wait anymore. They know Favre's best days are behind him. That is the same exact reason the Bears should avoid Favre. Hate them or love them, Grossman or Orton have a chance to become a solid starting QB for the next 10-15 years. Look what a franchise QB has done for teams like the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. Those two teams have combined for four Super Bowl championships. Hell, five of the last seven Super Bowls have featured either the Colts or the Patriots. Thanks to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, those two teams are Super Bowl contenders every season. I'm not saying Orton or Grossman could be as good as Brady or Manning but I do see the importance of having one QB for 10-15 years. They are still at an age in which one of them can become the Bears franchise QB. Adding Favre just delays the start of the Grossman era or the Orton era. They lose a year if Favre joins the Bears. Unless the Bears become instant Super Bowl contenders because of Favre, it is not worth it. Besides, what if Favre hints that he wants to return in 2009? Now, Orton and Grossman have to worry about a second year in a row being backup to Favre. Grossman is only signed for 2008. With Favre talking about playing in 2009, Grossman might consider trying to sign with another team. If Tavaris Jackson does bad, maybe the Minnesota Vikings will want Grossman as their starting QB in 2009. Grossman might not even wait for Favre to announce if he is going to play in 2009. What if Grossman signs with Minnesota and Favre later decides to retire? Now Orton is the starting QB by default. The Bears would have to hope that Orton ends up having a better career than Grossman because signing Favre led to the Bears losing Grossman to the Vikings. I don't want to see Grossman win a Super Bowl with the Vikings and have me thinking that he should have won it as a Chicago Bear. You think we have quarterback controversy now? Adding Favre just makes this mess even worse.

The good news is that it is highly unlikely Favre will join the Bears. The Packers do NOT want to trade Favre to a division rival let alone the hated Chicago Bears. If Favre did however somehow end up playing for a NFC North team other than the Packers, it would likely be the Vikings. It's not "too hot" which was the reason Favre will try to avoid playing for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Favre played better indoors last season than outdoors. The Vikings of course play home games in a dome. Favre probably still has nightmares about his last Soldier Field experience. Whatever scenerio happens, it won't have Favre joining the Chicago Bears.....at least I hope not.