Inevitable that I should comment on Bret Favre

I suppose since I spent so much time on Michael Vick, I should at least mention old #4. He actually looked pretty good during the first half of last season with the Jets. The torn bicep, or whatever it was, made the end of the season pretty tough for all of us who loved watching him play so much during his career.

But there is no arguing that we all grow older, and part of that means we are not as resilient as we used to be. Even Lance Armstrong discussed it very frankly this year. He is still very very good, world class even, in that he certainly competes with the majority of the riders out there. But he admits that he is probably not the "best" anymore. Younger guys (and gals) have prepared themselves to compete at the highest levels, and they are more resilient, able to reach deeper for that last ounce of energy necessary to win.

I think the same parallel can be drawn with Bret Favre. He is still very very good. But he will not recover from a hit as quickly as he used to. He is more susceptible to a break or tear. He is less resilient, less able to reach deeper for something that isn't there anymore: the energy of youth. He must rely on cunning, knowledge, and trickery, just like the rest of us old codgers. He may have a season or two left in him, maybe even more if his linemen can protect him. But a middlelinebacker is going to break through on a blitz one day soon, make a clean hit, and ring Bret's chimes. Perhaps he will then understand that he is no longer invulnerable. I just hope he does not suffer a serious or permanent injury to learn this lesson.