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Leaving them wanting more
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White insists he won't be back
BY PETER JACKEL Journal Times
GREEN BAY Just as it was with Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax in 1966 and Michael Jordan these days, it seems almost unthinkable to be bidding farewell to Reggie White.
Not with this Hall of Fame-bound Minister of Defense having 16 sacks with one regular-season game left to play. And not with Brett Favre reminding us on a weekly basis that White should be given serious consideration for the NFC's Defensive Player of the Year honors.
White insists this is his last call, which is the same thing Brown and Koufax insisted 32 years ago when they left us at the peak of their games wanting so much more.
``Just to see all the people express themselves to me like they did makes it harder to leave the game," said White, who was greeted with a loud ovation during a video montage of his career at a third-quarter break Sunday. ``I just thank God for the opportunity to play in front of these people for six years and play a part in bringing them a championship. It's an extreme honor to play for the Green Bay Packers."
He was saying goodbye, even if it didn't appear as if he wanted to.
He was saying farewell, even if there's apparently still a lot of football left in the heart and soul of the Rev. Reginald Howard White.
All of which demands that the question be asked once again: Could White envision a scenario in which he still would be chasing down quarterbacks at Lambeau Field next season?
``If God tells me to, that's the only way I'd come back," White said. ``And then you'll all say I'm crazy."
Chances are, no one would be saying any such thing after the season White has had. While he was not a force Sunday with just one solo tackle and an assist, the fact remains he has the third-most number of sacks in his career at the age of 37.
But even if White came back next season at half the player he is now, his value to the Packers still would be immeasurable. Through White's six seasons in Green Bay, his presence in the locker room has been at least as valuable as what he has accomplished on the field.
His surprise decision to sign with the Packers in 1993 destroyed the stereotype that Green Bay was no place for superstars to play. And once other prime time players followed White to Green Bay, he had the presence to keep them together as they won a Super Bowl.
``We all know he's a special football player," Packers coach Mike Holmgren said. ``That goes without saying. You might not always agree with what he says off the field, but no one can question his honesty, his feelings for people, his caring for people and what he's meant for this organization."
Favre might have been just another of the more than 65 quarterbacks White has sacked at least once in his 14-year career. Instead, he got to experience a Reggie White he will always remember instead of a Reggie White he would have tried to forget.
``We've become great friends over the years," Favre said. ``I feel honored to be on his team and to be a friend of his. While we sat on the sidelines, he said, `I love you' and I said, `I love you.'
``I'm hoping he comes back for another year because he's playing great. More than likely, he won't, but he's got six or seven months to decide this and he might change his mind.
``If he's not the defensive MVP of the year or the NFL MVP of the year, then there's something wrong with the voting because he's having an unbelievable year. I think we've all enjoyed seeing him have the year he's had this year. It's just been remarkable."
Holmgren, whose future in Green Bay also has been the subject of much speculation, won't be counting on White trying to squeeze one last season out of his aging body.
``He's the only person who knows that for sure, but I'm pretty sure this is it," Holmgren said. ``I don't think he would come back for another year, but that's his call all the way."
And as of Sunday, White wasn't hearing any call from his God to continue.
``There's a time to continue and there's a time to stop," White said. ``I will be honest by saying there are some things that God has called me to do that I've been working on for years and I've been wanting to get out of the game to do them, but the Lord hasn't really told me to get out of the game yet to do some of those things.
``I'm probably just as excited about doing those things as I am about playing football."
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