Ron_Mexico
I Love Doggies
Enjoy your retirement Wreckless Gunslinger.
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The Favre Legacy - 310 INTs and 100 losses. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ron_Mexico
- Start date
drfeelgood
Footballguy
There are a lot of great things Favre has done during his career as an NFL QB. You chose only to put up the negative, which says a lot about you. Being a wreckless gunslinger is one of the things that made him so much fun to watch, along with his love for the game. It's too bad people such as yourself seem to enjoy posting the negatives on a person that has made the NFL fun for many years.
Limp Ditka
Footballguy
Thank you Mr Madden
candymanvandyfan
Footballguy
That guy would drag his goodies across a mile of broken glass if it meant helping his team win. If the consecutive starts streak and all the other records don't win your respect, Favre's team spirit, toughness and love of the game should.
AllVolUT
Footballguy
To me, this is killing the Favre legacy. For how much fun it looked like he had in GB last season, he seemed to be depressed in nearly every presser in NY.
Twilight
Footballguy
This won't be brought up in 5 or 6 years when he goes into the HOF at all. It seems mighty important now, but appearances are deceiving. I watched 3 HOFers leave the Niners in the twilight of their careers, and, although none really had the bitterness this does, none are more than a footnote in their story.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Favre should have retired on a high note last season on just about the only team he ever really played for. I think if he doesn't stop, there will be some tarnishing here at the end.
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Ron_Mexico
I Love Doggies
Didn't Favre appear for the first play of a game when he was injuredand then pull himself out, just to selfishly keep his consecutive streak going ?
Despyzer
Lousy Attention Whore
There are a lot of great things that Ron Mexico has done during his career in the SP. You chose only to put up the negative, which says a lot about you.
Favre hasn't been clutch since the 20th century. While I admire the Grit and Determination thing, it doesn't counteract the number of times in the past decade that he's managed to gack up a hairball when his team needs him the most.
2007 NFC Championship: Nutcrushing INT deep in Green Bay territory in OT, hands Super Bowl berth to Giants on a silver platter.
2004 Divisional Playoffs: Throws 4 nutcrushing INTs at home against an inferior Vikings team.
2003 Divisional Playoffs: Overtime. INT. 5 plays later, game over. Nutcrushing.
2002 Wildcard: Coughs up 2 fumbles and serves up another INT against the friggin' Atlanta Falcons, at Lambeau... and that was just the 4th quarter. Yes, nutcrushing.
2001 Divisional Playoffs: 6 INTs, 3 of them returned for TDs. The very pinnacle of nutcrushingness.
Let's be honest, folks. Brett Favre hasn't been BRETT FAVRE in a very, very long time. He's coasting on nothing but reputation.
2007 NFC Championship: Nutcrushing INT deep in Green Bay territory in OT, hands Super Bowl berth to Giants on a silver platter.
2004 Divisional Playoffs: Throws 4 nutcrushing INTs at home against an inferior Vikings team.
2003 Divisional Playoffs: Overtime. INT. 5 plays later, game over. Nutcrushing.
2002 Wildcard: Coughs up 2 fumbles and serves up another INT against the friggin' Atlanta Falcons, at Lambeau... and that was just the 4th quarter. Yes, nutcrushing.
2001 Divisional Playoffs: 6 INTs, 3 of them returned for TDs. The very pinnacle of nutcrushingness.
Let's be honest, folks. Brett Favre hasn't been BRETT FAVRE in a very, very long time. He's coasting on nothing but reputation.
Twilight
Footballguy
They said that about Jerry Rice as well as he desperately tried to stay in the NFL. Now, a few years removed, the "tarnish" was scrubbed clean by time and there is nothing but solid nostalgia about his time in the NFL.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
9 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl Title, and 3 consecutive NFL MVPs down?
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Yep, just like how Emmitt tarnished his legacy by playing out the string in Arizona...
Master of Past and Present
Footballguy
FavreDidn't look real close but I didn't see a game that he had less than 10 attempts so I'm guessing he did not do that.
videoguy505
Footballguy
I really don't want to see him go. I want to see him back on the field next year, and maybe even the year after, forcing himself out there until he's an embarrassment not only to himself but to the league as a whole. I want people watching to be covering their eyes from his shame every time he drops back to toss a wobbler to the other team. That's how he should go out. Funny thing is, part of me thinks Favre would be happy with that too.
scott72
Footballguy
No..
scott72
Footballguy
Why so much hate?
DawnBTVS
Footballguy
Part of my issue with Brett is... as great as he was and as much "fun" (other players don't have fun/get excited in games?) as he had on the field and as I had watching him, he really sunk his teams too.
Aside from just the playoffs...
2008: Finished with 21 TD (Good) but also 21 INT! That's... disastrous to put it lightly.
2007: Fabulous year overall.
2006: Finished with 18 TD vs. 18 INT... not good!
2005: Finished with 20 TD vs. 29 INT.
2004: Finished with 30 TD vs. 17 INT.
2003: Finished with 32 TD vs. 21 INT. So that makes 5 of the last 6 seasons where he threw at least 17 INT.
In his career, as great as he was at throwing TD and making big plays, he was also quite capable of "dooming" his own team too. He had 8 seasons with over 17 INT and 5 of those came after the 2000 season. He followed up 2 great seasons (1996 and 1997) with 2 straight years of 23 INT.
Favre was a gunslinger, no doubt about that, but often times he relied on his arm to make the play and made questionable decisions that would bench most other quarterbacks after the number of INT he threw. You can be a gunslinger, but there's also something to be said for playing smart football and at times, I wonder if Favre could've won more Super Bowls if he had just settled for playing smarter football rather than trying to make that 40-50 yard bomb downfield with two defenders covering the lone receiver.
I applaud the guy for a tremendous streak and having 'fun' playing the game but I'm not going to say that those two traits (along with his MVPs and 1 SB) make up completely for the fact that the guy could be a turnover machine and be a burden rather than a leader. The negative traits are still there but it seems that a large majority of fans still kind of see him as the mid 90's Favre, when he hasn't been that guy since roughly 2000/2001.
Aside from just the playoffs...
2008: Finished with 21 TD (Good) but also 21 INT! That's... disastrous to put it lightly.
2007: Fabulous year overall.
2006: Finished with 18 TD vs. 18 INT... not good!
2005: Finished with 20 TD vs. 29 INT.
2004: Finished with 30 TD vs. 17 INT.
2003: Finished with 32 TD vs. 21 INT. So that makes 5 of the last 6 seasons where he threw at least 17 INT.
In his career, as great as he was at throwing TD and making big plays, he was also quite capable of "dooming" his own team too. He had 8 seasons with over 17 INT and 5 of those came after the 2000 season. He followed up 2 great seasons (1996 and 1997) with 2 straight years of 23 INT.
Favre was a gunslinger, no doubt about that, but often times he relied on his arm to make the play and made questionable decisions that would bench most other quarterbacks after the number of INT he threw. You can be a gunslinger, but there's also something to be said for playing smart football and at times, I wonder if Favre could've won more Super Bowls if he had just settled for playing smarter football rather than trying to make that 40-50 yard bomb downfield with two defenders covering the lone receiver.
I applaud the guy for a tremendous streak and having 'fun' playing the game but I'm not going to say that those two traits (along with his MVPs and 1 SB) make up completely for the fact that the guy could be a turnover machine and be a burden rather than a leader. The negative traits are still there but it seems that a large majority of fans still kind of see him as the mid 90's Favre, when he hasn't been that guy since roughly 2000/2001.
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DeCleater
Footballguy
No, but he did play half a season with a broken thumb.
Bojang0301
Omar4Heisman
Holmgren held him down in his prime. He had his shots unfortunately the Broncos, Cowboys and 9ers were also great teams in the mid to late 90's.
omally
Footballguy
Terrible post.
Stinger Ray
Footballguy
I will never understand the mentality of someone that wants to hate a player like Favre. He played hard, with passion, and holds several key records other than the INT record which the haters want to focus on. He is respected by his peers for how he has played the game and the NFL could use more players like him.
Young 8
Footballguy
but pathetic with Denver & Seattle
Pots
Footballguy
His numbers might be, he wasn't really used that year. He had solid seasons at ages 39, 40, 41.
sho nuff
Footballguy
Agree to a point.Though, you cannot look completely past the INTs. They show though that he does not care about just stats and numbers. He was going out throwing no matter what.There were times when he did far more good to make up for the INTs for most of his career...this season and a few others a few years ago...not so much.Great player...if he played his last game, Im only sorry it was that crappy. If he did not like going out how he did last year, not sure how he feels about how he went out this year.
Stinger Ray
Footballguy
You always try to do something to diminish Favre even though you deny it. No one is looking past the ints. The point of my post is that I don't understand why people want to hate a QB that played the game like Favre did over his entire career.
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JamesTheScot
Footballguy
Of course you won't, because you are a Favre-lover. How could you possibly understand someone who looks at the same body of work that you do and yet comes to a different conclusion about Favre's greatness?Most of the people you call "haters" would readily admit to Favre's positive contribution to the game and the high level of play and skill he exhibited throughout his career. They just think he's put on a pedestal and gets a pass by a fan base that overstates his greatness and drinks his kool-aid without ever taking a critical eye.The "haters" are usually willing to acknowledge his positives. Unfortuantely, I don't see too many Favre apologists willing to concede some of his less desirable traits and shenanigans. Instead, they blame someone else for his shortcomings.
Phase of the Game
Footballguy
The Real Favre Legacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_caree..._by_Brett_Favre
Honors and awards
Favre has won the Associated Press's MVP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award three times, all in consecutive years (1995, 1996, and 1997; the last shared with Barry Sanders).
In 1999, he was ranked number 82 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.[8] In 2005, TSN published another special feature honoring the 50 Greatest Quarterbacks. With his career statistics considerably augmented, Favre was ranked number 4, behind Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and John Elway, and just ahead of previous Packer quarterback legend Bart Starr.
Favre was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2007.[9]
Favre has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl ten times in his career.[10]
Favre is a seven-time All-Pro selection.
Favre was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
Has received the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor 12 times.
Men's Health Magazine voted Favre the "Toughest Person in America" in 2003.[12]
Chris Greicius Celebrity Award from the Make a Wish Foundation in 2007 for "being a true standout, even among the many generous celebrities who help create magical experiences for the kids who wish to meet them."[13]
United States Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2007 finishing ahead of Tiger Woods and Tom Brady.[14]
Records and milestones
Favre currently possesses most of the well-known NFL career records for quarterbacks, including:
Most AP NFL MVP awards: 3 (1995, 1996, 1997)[16]
Most consecutive starts by a quarterback (NFL): 267[7] (289 including playoffs)
Most wins by a starting quarterback (NFL) regular season career: 169[7] (Regular season record: 169-98)
Most career passing touchdowns: 463 [5][3]
Most career passing yards: 64,707[5]
Most career pass completions: 5,682[1][7]
Most career pass attempts: 9,209[7][17][2]
Most career interceptions thrown: 305 [5][18]
Most career games with at least three touchdowns: 65 [19]
A victory recorded in the most different NFL stadiums: 32[20]
(2nd) Most career playoff pass completions: 438[21] (Montana, 460)[22]
(2nd) Most career playoff pass attempts: 721[21] (Montana, 734[23])
(2nd) Most career playoff passing yards: 5,311[21] (Montana, 5,772[23])
(2nd) Most career playoff passing touchdowns: 39[21] (Montana, 45)[23]
(Tied 1st) Most career playoff interceptions thrown: 28 (Jim Kelly, 28)[18]
(Tied 1st) Most career playoff losses as starting QB: 10 (Dan Marino, 10)
Favre's 268 consecutive starts trails only Jim Marshall's 270 consecutive starts as the longest such streak among players at any position.[7]
In the playoffs, Favre stands behind only Joe Montana in pass completions, passing touchdowns, passing yards and passing attempts.
In addition, Favre owns a number of team records, having printed his name into almost every passing category in the annals of Green Bay Packers history. With 42 "come-from-behind" 4th quarter or overtime victories,[24] Brett Favre is second only to John Elway's 47 4th quarter or OT "come-back wins", in NFL history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_caree..._by_Brett_Favre
Honors and awards
Favre has won the Associated Press's MVP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award three times, all in consecutive years (1995, 1996, and 1997; the last shared with Barry Sanders).
In 1999, he was ranked number 82 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.[8] In 2005, TSN published another special feature honoring the 50 Greatest Quarterbacks. With his career statistics considerably augmented, Favre was ranked number 4, behind Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and John Elway, and just ahead of previous Packer quarterback legend Bart Starr.
Favre was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2007.[9]
Favre has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl ten times in his career.[10]
Favre is a seven-time All-Pro selection.
Favre was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
Has received the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor 12 times.
Men's Health Magazine voted Favre the "Toughest Person in America" in 2003.[12]
Chris Greicius Celebrity Award from the Make a Wish Foundation in 2007 for "being a true standout, even among the many generous celebrities who help create magical experiences for the kids who wish to meet them."[13]
United States Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2007 finishing ahead of Tiger Woods and Tom Brady.[14]
Records and milestones
Favre currently possesses most of the well-known NFL career records for quarterbacks, including:
Most AP NFL MVP awards: 3 (1995, 1996, 1997)[16]
Most consecutive starts by a quarterback (NFL): 267[7] (289 including playoffs)
Most wins by a starting quarterback (NFL) regular season career: 169[7] (Regular season record: 169-98)
Most career passing touchdowns: 463 [5][3]
Most career passing yards: 64,707[5]
Most career pass completions: 5,682[1][7]
Most career pass attempts: 9,209[7][17][2]
Most career interceptions thrown: 305 [5][18]
Most career games with at least three touchdowns: 65 [19]
A victory recorded in the most different NFL stadiums: 32[20]
(2nd) Most career playoff pass completions: 438[21] (Montana, 460)[22]
(2nd) Most career playoff pass attempts: 721[21] (Montana, 734[23])
(2nd) Most career playoff passing yards: 5,311[21] (Montana, 5,772[23])
(2nd) Most career playoff passing touchdowns: 39[21] (Montana, 45)[23]
(Tied 1st) Most career playoff interceptions thrown: 28 (Jim Kelly, 28)[18]
(Tied 1st) Most career playoff losses as starting QB: 10 (Dan Marino, 10)
Favre's 268 consecutive starts trails only Jim Marshall's 270 consecutive starts as the longest such streak among players at any position.[7]
In the playoffs, Favre stands behind only Joe Montana in pass completions, passing touchdowns, passing yards and passing attempts.
In addition, Favre owns a number of team records, having printed his name into almost every passing category in the annals of Green Bay Packers history. With 42 "come-from-behind" 4th quarter or overtime victories,[24] Brett Favre is second only to John Elway's 47 4th quarter or OT "come-back wins", in NFL history.
Stinger Ray
Footballguy
I am thankful that I was able to watch Favre play for the Packers. I admire how he played the game and the passion he displayed. I also doubt that the Packers and maybe the NFL will never see a QB like Favre. I'll let you haters pile on but I am proud to be someone that understands and appreciates what Favre meant to the Packers and the NFL.
Stinger Ray
Footballguy
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=32...&type=story
Brett Favre played so long and with such flair that he developed dual legacies.
Those who have coached and evaluated quarterbacks at the highest level tend to admire Favre despite the gunslinger mentality that produced interceptions and touchdowns alike.
Says Mike Holmgren of Brett Favre: "He can do things other guys can't do physically from that position."
Those who have coached and evaluated quarterbacks at the highest level tend to admire Favre despite the gunslinger mentality that produced interceptions and touchdowns alike.
Others loved him because of it.
Favre's retirement after 17 NFL seasons, the final 16 as Green Bay's iconic quarterback, begins the five-year countdown to his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Best Ever Debate
In his 17 seasons, Brett Favre set numerous NFL records, including most yards passing (61,655) and touchdowns (442).
But do those numbers, combined with Favre's three MVP awards and one Super Bowl victory, put him among the top 10 quarterbacks of all time?
Recently, ESPN.com's Mike Sando examined this debate. While seven seasoned evaluators placed Tom Brady solidly in the top 10 quarterbacks of all time, Johnny Unitas consistently ranked higher than any other QB. Favre ranked eighth.
The most prolific passer in league history, with 61,655 yards and 442 touchdowns, Favre led the Packers to 13 winning seasons and only a single losing one. His teams finished among the NFL's top 10 in scoring a dozen times, including a No. 1 finish in 1996 -- the season Favre won his lone Super Bowl.
"Brett's a wonderful player, and the beauty of when he plays -- and the hard thing for the team he is playing against -- is that he can do things other guys can't do physically from that position," former Packers coach Mike Holmgren once said.
The seven seasons Favre spent under Holmgren revived a dormant franchise while cementing Favre's identity as a player people had to watch, just in case something spectacular happened, good or bad.
Favre finished eighth in ESPN.com's recent project evaluating the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw finished ahead of him. Otto Graham and Dan Fouts rounded out the top 10.
The rankings drew from the insights of seven panelists with a combined 321 years of experience watching and evaluating quarterbacks. One of them, Zeke Bratkowski, backed up Hall of Famer Bart Starr in Green Bay before coaching in the NFL.
"The one thing that jumps out about Brett Favre is his leadership," Bratkowski said in a phone interview Tuesday. "People rallied around him because of his demeanor."
A panelist who requested anonymity singled out Favre's longevity, leadership, competitiveness and playmaking ability as enough to place him among the 10 greatest quarterbacks.
"But I've seen way too many really bad throws that cost them games," the panelist said. "He's too hard-headed. [Coach] Mike McCarthy has done a really good job of reining him in."
The resolve and humanity Favre showed off the field, whether conquering addiction or playing through personal tragedy, brought another dimension to his legend. His 399-yard, four-touchdown performance in a December 2003 Monday night game against Oakland came one day after Favre's father, Irv, passed away unexpectedly.
"It was unbelievable," former teammate Matt Hasselbeck said at the time. "It was just so great to see the way his teammates rallied around him. It showed how much he means to every one of his teammates and coaches, [and also] what kind of person he is.
"I know Irv, and I know Brett, and I know that whole family. They're a football family, and I don't think there was ever a doubt that if he was going to play in the game that he was going to play well."
The panelists agreed few quarterbacks had stronger throwing arms, but Favre's ability to start every game since Sept. 27, 1992, might be what separates him from all others. Playoffs included, Favre started 275 consecutive games.
"When do you get guys that can play as long and as hard and as good?" said former NFL player and longtime scout **** Haley, who ranked Favre among his top 10 for the ESPN.com project. "I think it has to be the inbred toughness of a Favre or [Peyton] Manning that just gets them out there every day.
"The game is so hard, and for guys that just don't miss time -- they don't miss practice, they don't miss games -- I'm amazed because you've got 300-pound guys hitting you from every angle."
Favre rushed for 1,503 yards in his first nine seasons, and his ability to improvise remained strong to the end. His underhanded flip pass to tight end Donald Lee in the Packers' divisional-round victory over Seattle in January stands among many signature plays.
But even Favre couldn't be sure when such moments would materialize. That's part of what made him fun to watch.
"From the outside looking in, it may appear that it's almost that, 'He looks for those type of plays,' and that's not the case," Favre said a few years ago. "It just happens.
"And a lot of those plays from earlier in my career, it was from not knowing what the hell was going on. I'm sure Mike Holmgren can attest to that."
During Favre's formative years, cameras routinely caught Holmgren lecturing his quarterback with a zeal that would seem to threaten human blood-pressure limits. But Holmgren later said such highly public moments created false impressions about their relationship, and about Favre as a player.
"He freelanced early, and then he became a very disciplined quarterback, but he could on occasion pull a rabbit out of a hat because physically, he could make an unusual throw," Holmgren said. "Not many quarterbacks can do that.
"Brett, I tease people about him, but he was really usually disciplined in most things he did on the football field. Every once in a while, he would do something. If it worked, I liked it. If it didn't, we'd have a meeting."
Favre could throw with tremendous accuracy when his mechanics were right, and sometimes even when they wavered, experts said.
"By having a strong arm, he would get rid of the ball quicker than a lot of people could," Bratkowski said. "He could be sliding away and get rid of the ball. He had great confidence in his arm. Even though they were getting close to him, he could get rid of it. He took his share of hits and he played tough and he played hurt.
"If I had one word to define him, I would say he is a gladiator. And he didn't lose a lot of bouts. He was able to show up in the arena every time, so he was popular. It is a great streak. He's a warrior."
Brett Favre played so long and with such flair that he developed dual legacies.
Those who have coached and evaluated quarterbacks at the highest level tend to admire Favre despite the gunslinger mentality that produced interceptions and touchdowns alike.
Says Mike Holmgren of Brett Favre: "He can do things other guys can't do physically from that position."
Those who have coached and evaluated quarterbacks at the highest level tend to admire Favre despite the gunslinger mentality that produced interceptions and touchdowns alike.
Others loved him because of it.
Favre's retirement after 17 NFL seasons, the final 16 as Green Bay's iconic quarterback, begins the five-year countdown to his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Best Ever Debate
In his 17 seasons, Brett Favre set numerous NFL records, including most yards passing (61,655) and touchdowns (442).
But do those numbers, combined with Favre's three MVP awards and one Super Bowl victory, put him among the top 10 quarterbacks of all time?
Recently, ESPN.com's Mike Sando examined this debate. While seven seasoned evaluators placed Tom Brady solidly in the top 10 quarterbacks of all time, Johnny Unitas consistently ranked higher than any other QB. Favre ranked eighth.
The most prolific passer in league history, with 61,655 yards and 442 touchdowns, Favre led the Packers to 13 winning seasons and only a single losing one. His teams finished among the NFL's top 10 in scoring a dozen times, including a No. 1 finish in 1996 -- the season Favre won his lone Super Bowl.
"Brett's a wonderful player, and the beauty of when he plays -- and the hard thing for the team he is playing against -- is that he can do things other guys can't do physically from that position," former Packers coach Mike Holmgren once said.
The seven seasons Favre spent under Holmgren revived a dormant franchise while cementing Favre's identity as a player people had to watch, just in case something spectacular happened, good or bad.
Favre finished eighth in ESPN.com's recent project evaluating the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw finished ahead of him. Otto Graham and Dan Fouts rounded out the top 10.
The rankings drew from the insights of seven panelists with a combined 321 years of experience watching and evaluating quarterbacks. One of them, Zeke Bratkowski, backed up Hall of Famer Bart Starr in Green Bay before coaching in the NFL.
"The one thing that jumps out about Brett Favre is his leadership," Bratkowski said in a phone interview Tuesday. "People rallied around him because of his demeanor."
A panelist who requested anonymity singled out Favre's longevity, leadership, competitiveness and playmaking ability as enough to place him among the 10 greatest quarterbacks.
"But I've seen way too many really bad throws that cost them games," the panelist said. "He's too hard-headed. [Coach] Mike McCarthy has done a really good job of reining him in."
The resolve and humanity Favre showed off the field, whether conquering addiction or playing through personal tragedy, brought another dimension to his legend. His 399-yard, four-touchdown performance in a December 2003 Monday night game against Oakland came one day after Favre's father, Irv, passed away unexpectedly.
"It was unbelievable," former teammate Matt Hasselbeck said at the time. "It was just so great to see the way his teammates rallied around him. It showed how much he means to every one of his teammates and coaches, [and also] what kind of person he is.
"I know Irv, and I know Brett, and I know that whole family. They're a football family, and I don't think there was ever a doubt that if he was going to play in the game that he was going to play well."
The panelists agreed few quarterbacks had stronger throwing arms, but Favre's ability to start every game since Sept. 27, 1992, might be what separates him from all others. Playoffs included, Favre started 275 consecutive games.
"When do you get guys that can play as long and as hard and as good?" said former NFL player and longtime scout **** Haley, who ranked Favre among his top 10 for the ESPN.com project. "I think it has to be the inbred toughness of a Favre or [Peyton] Manning that just gets them out there every day.
"The game is so hard, and for guys that just don't miss time -- they don't miss practice, they don't miss games -- I'm amazed because you've got 300-pound guys hitting you from every angle."
Favre rushed for 1,503 yards in his first nine seasons, and his ability to improvise remained strong to the end. His underhanded flip pass to tight end Donald Lee in the Packers' divisional-round victory over Seattle in January stands among many signature plays.
But even Favre couldn't be sure when such moments would materialize. That's part of what made him fun to watch.
"From the outside looking in, it may appear that it's almost that, 'He looks for those type of plays,' and that's not the case," Favre said a few years ago. "It just happens.
"And a lot of those plays from earlier in my career, it was from not knowing what the hell was going on. I'm sure Mike Holmgren can attest to that."
During Favre's formative years, cameras routinely caught Holmgren lecturing his quarterback with a zeal that would seem to threaten human blood-pressure limits. But Holmgren later said such highly public moments created false impressions about their relationship, and about Favre as a player.
"He freelanced early, and then he became a very disciplined quarterback, but he could on occasion pull a rabbit out of a hat because physically, he could make an unusual throw," Holmgren said. "Not many quarterbacks can do that.
"Brett, I tease people about him, but he was really usually disciplined in most things he did on the football field. Every once in a while, he would do something. If it worked, I liked it. If it didn't, we'd have a meeting."
Favre could throw with tremendous accuracy when his mechanics were right, and sometimes even when they wavered, experts said.
"By having a strong arm, he would get rid of the ball quicker than a lot of people could," Bratkowski said. "He could be sliding away and get rid of the ball. He had great confidence in his arm. Even though they were getting close to him, he could get rid of it. He took his share of hits and he played tough and he played hurt.
"If I had one word to define him, I would say he is a gladiator. And he didn't lose a lot of bouts. He was able to show up in the arena every time, so he was popular. It is a great streak. He's a warrior."
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Farve was a great QB, great for the Packers and great for the NFL.
That is why it was so tough to watch his career end the way it did. I hated seeing Farve in a Jet uniform struggling. Just like I hated seeing Montana in a Chief uniform.
Hopefully in a few years the Jet memories will fade and people will just remember Farve as a Packer..the way it should be.
When I think of Montana now I never even think about him playing for the Chiefs.
That is why it was so tough to watch his career end the way it did. I hated seeing Farve in a Jet uniform struggling. Just like I hated seeing Montana in a Chief uniform.
Hopefully in a few years the Jet memories will fade and people will just remember Farve as a Packer..the way it should be.
When I think of Montana now I never even think about him playing for the Chiefs.
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Stinger Ray
Footballguy
Do people think differently of these players because they ended their careers with a different team?Johhny UnitasJoe NamathJoe MontanaFranco HarrisJerry RiceEmmitt SmithJamesTheScot
Footballguy
And I am someone that understands and appreciates what Favre meant to the Packers and the NFL. Like I've said before, I think he's in the top 4 or 5 QB's that I ever saw play on Sundays. Not sure how that qualifies me as a fan or a hater. But I also see the cracks in the paint and am willing to acknowledge them - which I guess to you makes me a hater. I'm too old for blind devotion. Enjoy yours while it lasts.
Stinger Ray
Footballguy
No that doesn't....your posts in the Favre leadership thread showed how you feel about Favre.
