Last year Brett Favre proved he can come in and play when the season starts and be productive so I don't think he necessarily "needs" training camp to sharpen his skills and timing. I think we would all agree he certainly IS a special athlete but while his situation may be unique, I think it sets a bad precedent. Who is the next great athlete that will pull this annual stunt of avoiding training camp?
I think he would get a lot more respect if he just came out and said, "I don't want anything to do with training camp. I think it actually harms and breaks down my body more than it does it any good. I just want to play the season only."
Rather than this crap about retire/unretire, not sure I want to play, etc. Then when training camp breaks....yea, I think I'll play this year. I think he is insulting a lot of people's intelligence. And no matter what his teammates say in the newspapers, there HAS to be several that resent it. They just won't say it publicily or to a hall of famer's face. He may have earned a lot of things but I think blowing off training camps is not acceptable. If you don't think your body can take the 8 week training camp PLUS the 17 game season....then stay retired.