As the Vikings and Saints took the field this past Sunday evening for the first ever NFC Championship game in New Orleans, the anticipation of whether Brett Favre’s comeback could make it all the way to the Super Bowl was one step away. Or as life may have it, one throw away from getting Favre all the way back to the promised land…the Super Bowl. Hollywood was loving it.

Let’s be perfectly honest, many people were very tired off Favre and his on again off again retirement. He retired, he’s not retired. He’s quitting, he’s not quitting. He needs shoulder surgery, he doesn’t need shoulder surgery. We heard it all from top to bottom the last few years. He always kept us hanging, waiting for the next announcement. The next flight in the middle of the night to meet with doctors. The next guest appearance on a talk show to announce what the hell he’s going to do.  After things melted down with the Jets last year, things didn’t look too good. Favre claimed his shoulder was messed up and he needed surgery, he thinks. Head Coach Brad Childress of the Vikings always had an eye and an ear to whatever was going on in Favre’s life. He knew, if Favre was any kind of healthy, he would be exactly what the doctor ordered for his Vikings. Brett Favre would be the answer to take the Vikings back to a Super Bowl and would give them their best shot at winning it all. It might be for one season and one season only, but it was worth it.

Successful surgery followed by several workouts allowed Favre to feel what he hadn’t felt in a few years. Strength in his throwing arm with no discomfort whatsoever. Brett Favre was back and he was dressing in purple and gold. He was a Minnesota Viking.

At forty years of age, Favre began the season with some spectacular results and was putting up numbers even the young Brett Favre couldn’t match. Of course, no knocking the Packers he used to play for or the Jets last year, but this Viking team had Adrian Peterson. Huge advantage for Favre to have the best running back in the game behind him for each play. Got a problem, hand it to Peterson.  Trouble with the pass rush, dump it off to Peterson. As the season rolled on and Favre had his Vikings playing at an incredibly high level, he began to gain control of all his weapons. Sidney Rice became a household name and Favre’s favorite target quickly. We never even noticed Sidney Rice before. Rookie Percy Harvin and Favre clicked almost immediately and became a hot combination. TE Visanthe Shiancoe was Favre’s security blanket and wound up catching a TD in all but six regular season games.

This Brett Favre comeback story wouldn’t go away. He was here to stay and play like he’s never played before. His fans continued to be amazed at his precision, accuracy, and arm strength at forty. He had the Vikings record at 6-0, then 10-1, and eventually won the division and a first round bye in the playoffs. First up, a home game with the Dallas Cowboys and Favre starter kit QB Tony Romo. Thanks to the Vikings front four, Romo never aw the light of day and Favre was at his best tossing for four touchdowns and taking his Vikings to the NFC Championship with a 34-3 romp over Dallas.

Hollywood writers and movie makers were scrambling as fast as they could to get ready to make the movie. This was setting up so beautifully. Brett Favre, at the age of forty is one game away from the Super Bowl. One more game Brett, just one more.

Of course, the New Orleans Saints were the only team that stood in the way of Favre taking the Vikings to the Super Bowl. What made things even better, was earlier in the day, Peyton Manning led his Clots to victory and he was already in. Hollywood was salivating now. Brett Favre versus Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. Delicious! One more game, one more Favre performance to get him there.

The Saints and Vikings put on an incredible show for us all to enjoy. The game was back and forth with lead changes, momentum swings, big plays, turnovers, touchdowns, and more. The Saints were home in front of a home crowd that had never seen their team in an NFC Championship game. NEVER! They were rowdy, loud, and proud (Sorry Mav fans). Hard hitting was at a premium and Favre was in the middle of it all. He was getting belted around and continued to limp his way on and off the field. Beaten and battered, he still led the Vikings on a game tying drive late in the fourth quarter to tie things up at 28-28. Oh the drama…can it get any better?

With a little over four minutes to play, the Saints had time to win it in regulation. After a sack of Drew Brees and two incompletions, Favre was back in business. He had two minutes and change to finish the script for Hollywood. This was perfect. Limp back onto the field, drive your team down for a game winning TD or field goal to go to the Super Bowl. Starting at his twenty-one yard line, Favre began to work his magic. He hits Bernard Berrian for ten, then Sidney Rice for twenty yards, Chester Taylor pops a run for fourteen yards and the Vikings and Favre are in business. First down at the Saints 33 with a minute to go. Martin Scorsese is already making phone calls to line up the actors for the movie.

All Brett Favre had to do was maneuver his team into field goal position and this Hollywood story would end perfectly. After two no gains and a deadly five yard penalty, Favre had a decision to make. All he needed was ten more yards for a field goal attempt. Barely able to walk, Favre made the decision he’s made a thousand times. He rolled right, giving himself time, waiting for a receiver to come open. He waited and waited and then…..Don’t do it Brett! Don’t make that throw! Please don’t throw it!

Favre couldn’t resist the temptation. He couldn’t stop himself. He’s made that throw a thousand times. A throw most quarterbacks can’t make on their best days, Favre made it throughout his career. As he released the ball, Sidney Rice appeared to be open. They always look open to Brett. However, just like in Lambeau against the Giants when Favre through his first last pass ever, this one had the same result. Tracy Porter stepped in front of Sidney Rice to intercept the pass and steal the script that Hollywood and Scorsese were praying for. Unbelievable!

What makes Brett Favre great is what gets him in trouble. Trust me, he’s done more great things than you and I can count. He will be in the NFL Hall of Fame one day soon. Favre is a gunslinger. Though Hollywood was waiting and so were all the Favre fans around the world, you’ll have to wait till next year. Unless of course he retires again….unretires, then retires…