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Brett Favre: give up already
Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal 4:45 into overtime moved the Saints into the Super Bowl and knocked the mighty Minnesota Vikings, led by Brett Favre out of the playoffs. Favre, with tears in his eyes, limped to midfield to shake hands at the end of the game. With the confetti pouring down onto the field, the 40 year old Favre hobbled away to the visitors’ locker room for possibly the last time.
I’m sure people felt badly for Favre and his teammates as they walked off the field but as I was watching this, I was extremely overjoyed. I had such a great feeling watching this 40 year old plug cry as he hobbled out of sight. Now don’t get me wrong, Favre has had an amazing career and is a lock for the Hall of Fame but his actions over recent years have forced me to lose a great deal of respect for him. If this game had been played 5 years ago I probably would have felt bad for Favre but his actions over recent years have changed my view on him completely. Before we get into the events of this year’s NFC Championship, let’s take a look back at Favre’s career.
Favre was drafted out of the University of Southern Mississippi by the Atlanta Falcons 33rd overall in the 1991 NFL Draft. Falcons head coach, Jerry Glanville did not approve of drafting Favre saying it “would take a plane crash for me to put Favre into the game”. Favre’s first pass in the NFL was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. During his time with the Falcons, Favre threw a mere four passes with two of them being intercepted and not having a single completion. It was during the offseason that Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf traded his first round pick to the Falcons to acquire Favre.
Favre joined the Packers in 1992 and we all know what a great career he had playing for the Packers. Favre started every game from September 20th, 1992 to January 20th, 2008. Favre went on to set numerous amounts of records during his time with the Packers. Favre was the first NFL player to win three straight MVP awards and he helped the Packers reach back to back Superbowls in 1996 and 1997 where they won Superbowl XXXI against the New England Patriots. Favre also played through many mental adversities such as playing the day after his father passed away and having to deal with the struggles of his wife’s fight with breast cancer. Brett’s career in Green Bay was perhaps one of the greatest careers in all of professional sports and he was the definition of a legend. But this all changed after the 2007 season.
The 2007 season for Favre was one of his best. He broke records for most wins and most touchdowns all time and he led his Packers to a 13-3 record. Favre led his Packers to the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants. The game went to overtime and the Packers won the coin toss. On the second play of overtime, Favre was intercepted by Giants defensive back Corey Webster. The Giants marched down the field and kicked a game winning field goal to send them to the Superbowl. This interception would turn out to be Favre’s last throw as a Packer.
On Match 4th, 2008, Favre formally announced his retirement from the NFL and said “I know I can play, but I don’t think I want to. And that’s really what it comes down to”.
It was on July 2nd, 2008 that Favre shook the football world and changed his legacy forever. It was reported that Favre was in contact with the Packers about a possible return.
On July 11th, 2008, Favre sent a letter to the Packers asking for his unconditional release so he could play for another team. Packers GM Ted Thompson announced he would not grant Favre the release and reaffirmed the Packers commitment to Aaron Rodgers.
On July 14th, 2008, Favre spoke publically about his potential comeback claiming he was “guilty of retiring” and that he was “never fully committed” to retirement but was rather pressured by the Packers to make a quick decision. Favre made it clear he would not return as a backup to Rodgers. Favre accused the Packers of being “dishonest” and reiterated his desire to be released.
Favre filed for reinstatement with the NFL on July 29th, 2008 and was granted it by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Favre flew to Green Bay for training camp and both sides agreed it was time for Favre and the organization to part ways.
The Packers traded Favre to the New York Jets on August 7th, 2008 in exchange for a fourth round pick. Favre played the entire season for the Jets and led them to a 9-7 record, not good enough to make the playoffs. After the end of the 2008 season, in mid January 2009, Favre told Jets management that it “may be time to look in a different direction” regarding the quarterback situation. On February 11th, 2009, Favre retired from the NFL – again. By May 2009, Favre was officially cut from the Jets.
On June 15th, 2009, Favre stated he was considering playing again, most likely with the Minnesota Vikings. Not only was Favre coming out of retirement a 2nd time, this time he wanted to play for the Packers arch rival in the Vikings. However on July 28th, 2009, Favre told the Viking he would remain retired.
Guess what, Favre changes his mind more than the god damn weather and on August 18th, 2009, Favre officially signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
This move to sign with the Vikings felt like a slap in the face to all Packers fans and many people in the sporting world claimed his legacy as an NFL great had become overshadowed by his need for attention.
On November 1st, 2009, Favre returned to Lambeau Field, his home for 16 years. Favre received numerous amounts of boos the entire game and it became quite obvious to everyone that Brett Favre was not viewed as the same person that retired from the Packers organization in 2008.
Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record with one of his best seasons ever and secured his team a first round bye in the playoffs.
Favre’s first playoff game with the Vikings was against the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings dominated the Cowboys and won the game easily 34-3. Favre and the Vikings were accused of running up the score late in the 4th quarter but Brett didn’t really seem to care about these accusations. After the game, he was all smiles as he and his teammates sang the now famous “Pants on the Ground” song in the locker room. Favre was just one win away from a third trip to the Superbowl and the only thing in his way was the New Orleans Saints.
While last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys might be remembered by “Pants on the Ground”, the NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saints will be remembered as “Brett on the Ground”. I am not sure what was thrown around more this game, the actual football or Brett Favre’s senile body? Favre was absolutely punished on most of the plays and I was surprised he wasn’t seriously injured. Some people may argue that Favre had a somewhat serious ankle injury after a devastating hit by Bobby McCray. I do not think that this was the case. Favre looked completely fine when he was scrambling outside the pocket and seemed to be able to plant his feet pretty easily in the pocket. It appeared that Favre would only begin limping after a failed 3rd down attempt or after yet another Viking turnover.......................weird.
Despite how shitty the Vikings were playing and how many times Favre had been thrown to the ground, they were still in the game. The Vikings got the ball back with 2:37 left on the clock. They marched from their own 21 yard line into field goal range. On third down from the 33 yard line, the Vikings pulled a Saskatchewan Roughrider and were penalized for having 12 men in the huddle. On the next play, Favre rolled out to the right (pretty easily for someone who limps on and off the field) and had a huge open space in front of him to run. Favre could have easily picked up 5-10 yards on the run which would have set up the reliable, Ryan Longwell for a game-winning kick. But no, what does Favre do? He tries to throw an across his body pass for Sidney Rice. Unfortunately, the pass worked out about as well as Rex Ryan’s last diet and the ball was intercepted by Tracy Porter with just seven seconds remaining. Favre limped off the field once again and the game was headed to overtime.
The Vikings got to call the toss and they obviously have never heard “tails never fails”. The Vikings chose heads and lost and the Saints elected to receive (obviously). Basically the whole Saints drive was under constant booth review but in the end, Drew Brees was able to get his team in position for a field goal and chance to send the Saints to the Super Bowl. Hartley's 40-yard field goal 4:45 into overtime sealed the deal sent the Saints to the Super Bowl.
Brett Favre cried as he limped out onto the field at the end of the game to shake hands. Favre’s dream of playing in another Superbowl was crushed in an eerily similar fashion as to when his Packers team lost to the New York Giants in the 2007 NFC Championship game.
Watching Brett Favre lose like this yet again almost feels like a perfect example of karma. Favre’s ego is too big and there is no way his last throw in the NFL was going to be an interception in the NFC Championship to the New York Giants. So instead of just staying retired as a legend in Green Bay and with an incredible legacy, Favre had to return, this time with the Jets.
Unfortunately for Favre, things did not end as hoped in New York as the Jets missed the playoffs and yet again, Favre’s last throw as a New York Jet was an interception. Favre retired once more only to return again, this time with the hated Minnesota Vikings
By this time, Favre’s legacy in Green Bay had been completely destroyed and many feel as if Favre is a traitor and do not think of him as fondly as they used to. It’s funny how in the previous week against the Cowboys, Favre throws a late, unnecessary pass for a touchdown to rub it in and this week he throws a late, unnecessary pass except this time for an interception which ended up costing the Vikings a shot at the Superbowl. As the saying goes, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
Favre will not let this latest interception be the last throw of his career. He didn’t do it in Green Bay; he didn’t do it in New York so what makes you think he will do it now? He has already ruined his entire legacy with the Packers and their fans so what is one more season going to do? Unfortunately, the “Brett Favre Retirement Saga” will return for a third season and can be seen on your television sets sometime this summer.