Hows this? even though it aint all about the pack...
What's So Bad About Brett Favre?
Posted Jun 19, 2009 12:11PM By David Whitley (RSS feed)
Brett Favre is a despicable, ego-driven, legacy-destroying, traitorous 100-year-old diva who personally trashed the New York Jets season and is one step away from boxing Jose Canseco.
Whatever gets him the most attention.
That's what I've been hearing as the latest Favre retirement saga hits critical mass. And boy, are the masses critical.
I get why people are tired of the waffling. I even get why a lot of Green Bay fans wish Favre would retire to a Turkish prison with a cellmate who likes men in Wrangler jeans.
What I don't get is why so many people recoil at the thought of Favre taking another snap.
It's as if they are being chased through the off-season by a machete-wielding madman from "Friday the 13th." Pull off the hockey mask and it's that stubbly-faced good old boy from Mississippi.
He will not die, and neither will this story. But what's so bad about that? Or were you were really looking forward to that Minnesota quarterback duel between Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson?
The NFL is an entertainment product. And love him or hate him, few things would provide more entertainment this fall than Favre quarterbacking the Vikings.
"The pieces are in place," he said.
That Monday interview on HBO broke months of silence and triggered the usual reaction.
"Listen, Favre's 100 years old," Michael Irvin said. "Stop this already. This is killing everybody."
Irvin was downright generous compared to what Fran Tarkenton had to say a couple of weeks ago.
"I think it's despicable," he said. "What he put the Packers through last year was not good."
No it wasn't, but I don't think it rises to the level of despicable. Unless you are an ex-Vikings quarterback who is worried Favre might make people forget you even more than they already have.
"He's 39 years old," Tarkenton said. "How would you like it Ray Nitschke in his last year (playing for) the Vikings? Or I retired and go play for the Packers? I kind of hope it happens so he can fail."
Exactly.
As much as Tarkenton apparently hates Favre, he would be just as enthralled by his comeback as the 1,200 Minnesota fans who cheered the other night when Favre's name came up at a "State of the Vikings" rally.
They see Favre as the missing piece, or at least a much better bet than Jackson or Rosenfels. With him in the backfield, teams will no longer be able to put 15 players on the line of scrimmage to stop Adrian Peterson.
To which Jets fans say, "Suckers!"
They remember the Favre who threw eight interceptions in the final four games as the Jets fell apart. What people forget is how Favre was Broadway Brett early in the season. His arrival electrified New York and he even threw six touchdowns in a game. Then he tore a bicep tendon and turned into Ryan Leaf.
That led to the latest act in the Favre retirement drama. Will his throwing arm return after arthroscopic surgery last month?
"I went through it last year, and yeah I gutted it out or whatever," he said. "But it affected me and our team, and I don't to do that again. I won't do that again."
So a Favre-fatigued nation must again wait, watch and listen to the 249 ESPN reporters valiantly trying to stay on top of the story. Video of Favre throwing passes to the local kids has become a staple in this drama.
John Clayton has embedded himself with the receiving crew at Hattiesburg's Oak Grove High School. I swear I saw him miss a pass and the ball get stuck in his facemask the other day. Then Favre went to the Dairy Queen, where Chris Mortensen Twittered that he ordered a cheeseburger and a chocolate Blizzard.
The obsessed coverage is entertaining enough, but just wait until the Vikings open training camp. The Monday night game against Green Bay will be so big, ESPN might start another channel just to show it. And all warring nations on the planet will declare temporary ceasefire Nov. 1 to watch Favre return to Lambeau Field.
Sounds pretty entertaining to me, even if Favre risks tarnishing his legacy.
So what, it's his legacy.
Who really gets hurt here, except for Favre and all Minnesota fans who seem happy to take the risk?
If anything, the Tarkentons of the world should hope Favre keeps playing. If they're so sure he'll embarrass himself, what could be better than watching him do it?
As for Nitschke having too much class and loyalty to ever play for a team, the Packer connection didn't stop Jim Taylor from finishing his career with New Orleans. Reggie White made his last tackle as a Carolina Panther. Vince Lombardi left to coach the Redskins. Heck, Curly Lambeau himself moved on to lead the Redskins and Chicago Cardinals.
Sure, none of them had Greta Van Susteren chasing them for an interview, but if the saturation coverage of Favre's every move is getting to you, there's a simple solution.
Engage your remote control.
Even Favre's not on every channel. I bet that if his arm comes around and he's in a Vikings uniform in a few weeks, you'll be itching to tune in.
I don't know if Favre will play like he was born in 1909 and lead the Vikings to doom. Or if he will play like the Favre of 1996 and lead them to a Super Bowl.
I do know that either way, it'll sure beat watching Sage Rosenfels battle Tarvaris Jackson.
Tags: brett+favre, sage+rosenfels, tarvaris+jackson
