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Brett Favre: I could still play in the NFL

Chuck Cook / US PRESSWIRE

Stop us if you've heard this one before.

Brett Favre thinks he could still play quarterback in the NFL.

Now 45 years old and five years removed from his last snaps as a pro, Favre still doesn't sound like he's totally given up the dream.

"I think I could play," Favre told Sports Illustrated. "As far as throwing."

Perhaps in an attempt to preempt articles like the one you're reading right now (too late!), Favre added: "Of course, we're not trying to start some he's-coming-out-of-retirement deal."

He continued: "Do I think I could play and lead a team? Look, no. But I could play. I could make all the throws I made before, I just couldn't throw it near as far, but that never matters anyway."

Favre claimed he can still throw a football 50 yards. That's 30 fewer than he claims he could at his peak, but still much farther than an average 45-year-old.

Frankly, Favre is probably right that he can still make throws comparable to some NFL starters. But there's much, much more to succeeding as a quarterback. Father Time is undefeated, and watching a late-career Favre get abused behind the line by defenders too big and too fast for him to deal with was depressing.

Favre will probably be that guy who goes to his grave claiming he can still play, but (mercifully) we won't ever have to see him learn first-hand that he can't.

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