The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT December 15, 2010

While it may be safe to say that the NFL season has not lacked for excitement and competitive games this season, two events from this past weekend could be looked upon in years to come as those that change the game forever.

From the end of an era to a player asking another for an autograph after a loss, my guess is that you won't see anything like it for a long time.

WHEN SNOW ended delaying Sunday's game between Minnesota and the New York Giants, many believed that it would allow Brett Favre to recover in time to start his 298th consecutive regular season game.

That didn't happen as Favre was made inactive for the first time since becoming a full-time starter in 1992.

Whether he will play again this season could depend on how quickly he recovers and with the Vikings left with nothing to play for - him getting slammed to the turf at the Metrodome could be the final memory fans get of him in the NFL.

And although Favre has said over and over that this will be his final season, why believe him now?

Favre has spent the last five years retiring and then changing his mind right before the start of the regular season, but this time it could be different.

Between injuries, a bad season and fights with the coach, Favre looks like he's ready to retire.

If the records were important to him, Favre could have suited up on Monday night, handed the ball to Adrian Peterson and run off the field and found a clipboard, but he didn't do it.

Instead, Favre walked onto the field with the rest of the Viking non-starters, took his place along the sidelines and watched as the team got embarrassed by the Giants.

While the streak was the most impressive of his records, it wasn't enough for him to take the field on Monday.

Most likely, the majority will remember him as the quarterback that willed his way onto a field through injuries and other problems and never missed a day of work.

AFTER LOSING to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Dallas running back Tashard Choice asked and received an autograph from Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Choice later apologized for the act, telling reporters that it was for his nephew.

But for most fans, it doesn't excuse that he approached the quarterback of a bitter rival after a loss and asked for his autograph.

Had Choice approached him while the two were walking off the field in the tunnel, it may have gone unnoticed.

Instead, the whole thing was captured on national television, creating a buzz about what is right and wrong with sports.

While it appeared to be time for Favre to step away, a young running back still needs to learn something about his timing in the NFL.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.