He is the NFL’s only three-time Most Valuable Player.

He owns all-time NFL records for touchdown passes (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758), passing yards (61,655) and wins by a starting quarterback (160).

He is destined for the NFL Hall of Fame.

He is Brett Favre.

We all thought the end had come for this 17-year professional football veteran when he announced his retirement from the Green Bay Packers at the end of the 2007 season.

Apparently, there’s still some fight left in this Gulfport, Mississippi native.

After a well-publicized comeback, Favre finally received his release from the Packers. Ironically, his career has landed in New York City with the Jets, a team that wanted to use their first-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft on the former University of Southern Mississippi standout. However, the Atlanta Falcons selected Favre with their first-round pick (one notch ahead of the Jets).

But can even Superman save the lowly Jets? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s a story that even Lois Lane would love to write.

In his first start with the Jets on Saturday, Favre completed five of six passes for 48 yards and one touchdown in a pre-season clash with the Redskins. The Jets had a chance to tie that game, but missed a chip-shot field goal with five seconds left and were handed a 13-10 setback.

But it didn’t matter, Mr. Favre is back and all is right within the football world.

Before he has a chance to call it quits again, I am calling for Favre’s famous #4 to be retired.

It shouldn’t only be retired as a Green Bay Packers jersey, one added to a Lambeau Field collection that includes the likes of Tony Canadeo (#3), Don Hutson (#14), Bart Starr (#15), Ray Nitschke (#66) and Reggie White (#92).

It should not only be retired from the NFL in general.

What I’m suggesting is that 4 be retired from the list of numbers. In its place we should insert the word Favre.

Just think of it…..young children learning their numbers: 1, 2, 3, Favre, 5, 6 and so on.

Any time what is formally known as the number 4 (or any other use of that number) is mentioned or written, we must instead use Favre. For example, 14 becomes Favreteen; 24 is twentyFavre….that one brings up an interesting side note dealing with Jeff Gordon’s car number. (How did the twentyFavre car finish today; thirtyFavreth, Favre laps down; in all honesty, that’s about how well Gordon has been running of late.)

We can have some real fun when writing or pronouncing numbers formally known as the 40’s. There would be Favrety, Favrety One, Favrety Two, etc. My all-time favorite would be Favrety-Favre….“now starting at tailback for (insert the name of your favorite team), number Favrety-Favre, Billy Bob Smith.”

How ‘bout the number 444 n one that will become Favre Hundred Favrety-Favre.

Even emergency aid responders (fire, police, rescue) and CB radio enthusiasts can change their jargon with this new number. “Did you copy my last transmission….10-Favre.”

I wish now this would have occurred years ago when I was a child. I could have ridden Bus Favre to school (honestly, I rode Bus #4 and Bus #14 back then).

What time is it? It’s 5:5Farve p.m.; time for me to end this nonsense.

Cal Bryant is Editor of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald and Gates County Index. He can be reached at 252-332-7207 or by e-mail at cal.bryant@r-cnews.com.