Wrong about Favre? An epic fail enables me to rest my case
I’d been hearing it lately: “Ready to admit you were wrong about Favre?” And I admit I was almost – almost, I said — wavering. The man I’d described as the most overrated athlete of our time had had a brilliant regular season. I didn’t see that coming. I didn’t think he had anything left. And now he stood one game from a Super Bowl, and the thought of a two-week ESPN Favre-fest was enough to turn my stomach.
But I held out hope. Even when the Vikings had the ball in field-goal range, I keep saying to myself, “He can still mess this up.” Lo and behold, he did. Which is why Brett Favre is …
The most overrated athlete of our time.
The Vikings kicked the Saints all around the Superdome but neglected to win the game. Favre had much to do with that — a blown handoff on the goal line, a forced interception in the second half, an unbelievable INT inside the final 20 seconds of regulation in a tie game. Even after a splendid season, the Favre I know and loathe blew it at the end.
Naturally, the sycophants on ESPN declared Favre a man’s man for trying to Make A Play, but the first rule of NFL quarterbacking remains: Protect the Doggone Ball. But he couldn’t do it because he’s Brett Favre, the man’s man who never saw a dare he wouldn’t take.
(Oh, and if you’re interested in some intriguing variations on the ESPN Favre phenomenon, check out the roundly irreverant #ESPNFavreRulesforAll on Twitter. One submission: “That’s the thing about NBC executives. They aren’t afraid to yank Conan off the Tonight show. Gotta respect that.”)
So now I can rest easy, at least until Favre retires and unretires again. He’s done for this season. His last pass was a postseason interception, same as in January 2008. Being Brett Favre, he teared up in the postgame interview because he’s a man’s man who isn’t afraid to cry. Or wear Wrangler jeans. Or throw the ball to the other side.
Ready to admit I was wrong about Brett Favre? Look, I’ll admit I’ve been wrong about pretty much everything in my so-called life. But not about Brett Favre. Never about him.
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385 comments Add your comment
wow
January 25th, 2010
8:10 am
Where would the Vikes be without Farve…Not in the NFC Championship game…..I will agree he is carelss sometimes but that does not define athlete of all time. Try breaking a sweat at anything except walking to the bathroom at 40 you p$$$$ and then you may know something about being an athlete
Jim
January 25th, 2010
8:10 am
“Favre Rules For All” is classic! Thanks for the tip, Mark.
Of course if we get one more season of local college football commentary like the last one from you and Schulz, there could be a “Paul Johnson Rules For All” page. As in, “Yes, Brody blew up the shark, but that shark is really on the rise, I’m telling you. Brody’s on a downward trajectory.”
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 25th, 2010
8:11 am
please insert “right” between you’re and Mark. Thank you
Fred
January 25th, 2010
8:13 am
I’m not sure we watched the same game. Part of me wanted the Vikings to win because of Favre and part of me wanted the Saints to win just because. I saw the Vikings fumble 4 times at bad times to kill drives. I saw Peterson not give Favre a pocket to put the ball in on a fumbled handoff. I saw Favre try to make a play when clearly his ribs were bothering him from a slam sack earlier and bum ankle that would have kept most men out of the game. I saw him try to make a play when he knew he would not be able to run or take an open field tackle. I think The Vikings offense as a whole make plenty of mistakes to go around, any one of which could have changed the outcome of the game.
For those criticizing Terry Bradshaw, I think the man has 4 Super Bowl rings so yes, I think what he has to say is relevant in this context. Exagerated for TV, probably, but still relevant.
Having said all this, it is good to see the Saints in the Super Bowl if it couldn’t be the Falcons.
My $.02 and your milage will vary.
Chris Broe
January 25th, 2010
8:15 am
I like Manning’s chances in Feb.
Gravedigger
January 25th, 2010
8:16 am
wow, that was a good one!!
Minnesota Dawg
January 25th, 2010
8:17 am
I rarely agree with you Mark. You are wrong again on this one. Bret Farve is the one who kept Minnesota in this game. You can’t put the ball on the ground five times and win. Yet they almost pulled it off! You already had a bias against Farve, so I don’t think you can objectively look at the facts!
todd grantham
January 25th, 2010
8:18 am
Mark, do you prefer sudden death like this game or the college version of overtime?
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 25th, 2010
8:19 am
If Brett had had Pugnacious Paul coaching him on the Georgia Tech passing game, the Vikings would have surely won….Are your bosses telling you to take the wrong side of an issue just to stir up the populace, or is this really your true feelings….I think there should be an NFL rule about stating your intentions about playing the following year, because the way it has happened in the past is not good for the Vikings, or for that matter, Brett Favre, either…No way to argue about what he meant to the Vikings this season, however….When you get the ball in the red zone as many times as the Vikings did, and you don’t get points, you expect to lose…Worse game the Vikings have played in the past 10 games,and came at the wrong time….5 Turnovers, lack of sacks, giving up huge kickoff returns….Vikings got no one to blame except themselves…..
Red
January 25th, 2010
8:20 am
You are a failure guy. That is what you will be remembered for. Writing about failures. You sit and wait for the athletes to fail and then fly in like a buzzard who was waiting on someone to die. What a miserable life you have.
Mark Fatley
January 25th, 2010
8:23 am
The irony of your little insignificant blog is the overwhelming response you get for mentioning Favre, but if you did not you probably get next to no reads. Probably because you are a boring pratt.
CDAWG
January 25th, 2010
8:23 am
Mark you are way off your mark. I realize that this is your platform and you may use it as you see fit, however, Brett in no way lost that game. The guy took a beating because his line was not giving him adequate protection. I wonder how many younger guys would have withstood that beating. I watched the right tackle blocking down to help his team mate double team a guy and totally let the DE release untouched. His O-line should get their A$$’$ chewed today.
Adrian could have had that hand off that landed on the ground had he been paying attention. I tell my running backs that they have some responsibility in the hand off as well as the QB. Something else that Brett brought to the table this year is wisdom and leadership earned through years of success and experience.
Furthermore, his team lost by only THREE points to the hottest team in the NFL!!! I think your personal jealousies and dislikes for the KING should remain silent. Write something on something, say, the man who won the hotdog eating contest.
Dan
January 25th, 2010
8:24 am
Brett Favre NFL Records: most career touchdown passes, most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most career pass attempts, most consecutive starts, and most career victories as a starting quarterback. Future hall of famer. And he is overrated?!?!?!?! M
ark Bradley needs to be fired. This is terrible journalism. Stop stirring the pot.
Mark Bradley
January 25th, 2010
8:24 am
The college overtime, TG.
The Grinch
January 25th, 2010
8:27 am
His last pass completion for Green Bay was an interception in the NFC championship game.
His last pass completion for Minnesota will probably be that stupid interception in the NFC championship game.
REALIST
January 25th, 2010
8:30 am
110% correct on all accounts Mark…factual article… unlike the garbage the agenda laden mouthpieces at ESPN spew. I was beginning to think there were NBA officials working the game with a mandate fron the No Pads League front office.
DecaturBird
January 25th, 2010
8:31 am
This is a joke, right? One bad play, in the NFC Championship game, after his teammates had laid the ball on the ground several times?
Wow. I’m not even a Favre fan, particularly. But if that wasn’t supposed to be a self-depricating joke (I can hope) that’s one of your “finest” moments, man.
meh
January 25th, 2010
8:32 am
I hate Favre as much as the next guy, but the Vikings got jobbed. Grant it, Fave through the INT that lead to over time which led to the Vikings being jobbed. That pass interference was bogus. The ball was clearly way over thrown. And I don’t know how they upheld the completed pass after looking at the review. The ball looked to hit the ground to me.
WonderDawg
January 25th, 2010
8:32 am
I’d say Farve is is somewhat overrated but definately the one of the top two most “trumpeted” athletes in the ESPN age. The other one (Tiger) is much more deserving of having his butt kissed by ESPN, but it gets old nonetheless.
meh
January 25th, 2010
8:33 am
Also, as long as the NFL uses sudden death OT it will be inferior to college football.
Huh?!
January 25th, 2010
8:35 am
Is Favre the best ever? No. Is he the most overrated? Not even close. Bradley wishes he had half the skills so that maybe he could’ve played the game instead of waxing poetic about others from the sidelines. The turnover bug bit Peterson, Harvin, Shiancoe and (yes) Favre (some multiple times) in an otherwise good game and we get subjected to this drivel. Get a life!
Favre BLEW IT!!!!
January 25th, 2010
8:35 am
19 “legendary” years and Favre blows the game on s stupid rookie type decision!
Can you say OVERRATED?
Maybe that is why Favre teams have only won one championship?
59bulldawg
January 25th, 2010
8:37 am
One championship is one more than a lot of NFL teams have won!
SKULLS
January 25th, 2010
8:40 am
Farve sucks. end of story.
winterville
January 25th, 2010
8:41 am
I agree, the hoopla around this guy is enough to make you think Tim Tebow doesn’t get enough press. Before the game I think it was Terry Bradshaw claiming that Farve was the best to ever play the game. Give me a break. He’s not even the best of the 4 teams that were left Saturday. Peyton beats him by a solid mile. Then to even lump him in the sam category as Joe Montana! Give me a Break!!!!
WonderDawg
January 25th, 2010
8:41 am
Mark, do you want to get called more names in for column than you have been today? Do an article on the most overrated NASCAR driver in history. Dale Jr. He’s the only “athlete” with more blind fans than Farve. God luck.
WonderDawg
January 25th, 2010
8:42 am
that’s more names one column
TJ
January 25th, 2010
8:47 am
Mr. Bradley, thank you for your opinion. I, too, just felt it in my skinny bones, that somehow the Vikings would blow it at the end. Then, when they got the 5 yard penalty for 12 in the huddle, the stage was set for failure, or fate , however you want to look at it. Some things, you just feel. I knew that either Favre or Peterson would turn it over.
As for Favre being overrated, however, please explain where he is rated now, and also where YOU would rank him among QB’s. Thanks.
ERIN
January 25th, 2010
8:51 am
what crappy writing. how can someone with his career stats be “overrated?”
WonderDawg
January 25th, 2010
8:51 am
I bet Jen doesn’t shave her legs ….
Oh and Wie won a LPGA event in ‘09 and carried the Solheim Cup team to victory last. Just saying…
Tommy
January 25th, 2010
8:51 am
I don’t care if Favre had 100,000 career passing yards–there were 15 seconds left, you’re inside Ryan Longwell’s field goal range, you rolled out to the right and there was NO ONE in front of you for at least 5 yards. Every NFL QB with two brain cells to rub together heads for the sideline and gives his team a shot at the winning field goal. But he throws it across his body into double-coverage.
And I’m supposed to accept that a guy who makes THIS play is the greatest quarterback of all time?????
Brett Favre is the Cal Ripken of the NFL. In other words, he is an extremely overrated athlete whose ‘great records’ are all the result of playing forever.
Had Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, or Aaron Rodgers made that throw–the ESPN guys would have been calling him the stupidest person in NFL history. Heck, had Tom Brady done that they would have said it. But the Golden Boy gets a pass. Of course.
Eric
January 25th, 2010
8:53 am
Brett may not be perfect, but then who is. History will be very kind to him, as it should be. Brett Favre is very good for football. There are few player who really love the game the way he does. I truly believe his detractors are just jealous…or juvenile, or insecure or something. That game came down to a flip of the coin. Had the Vikings won the toss, they would be the ones celebrating.
UA Alum92
January 25th, 2010
8:53 am
Glad we don’t have to endure two solid weeks of Favre worship. Hope he retires for good. Peyton is far and away the best QB in the NFL and, with another SB win, should be in the discussion for best ever.
melissa
January 25th, 2010
8:56 am
you’re an asshole
Halsey
January 25th, 2010
8:57 am
The Vikings would have never been in the NFCCG if Favre didn’t join them.
kepah17
January 25th, 2010
8:58 am
I totally agree, he is overated and not very smart. He has ammassed some big numbers as a result of staying healthy for his career. He is not in the class of Montana, Elway, and many of the other old timers.
JeJe
January 25th, 2010
9:01 am
Favre is NOT overrated. A.P. blew serious !@#$ in this game. He gets the blame, not Favre.
And trust me, I am no Favre fan, but I admired watching Brett that entire time
TommyJack
January 25th, 2010
9:06 am
Brett needs to go away. For good.
kepah17
January 25th, 2010
9:07 am
Maybe not overated but not very bright for sure. Refererence the last championship game he was in againest the Giants, dumb, de dumb dumb
Mark Bradley
January 25th, 2010
9:07 am
Adrian Peterson fumbled three times. I grant you this. But he did not deliver an interception inside the final 20 seconds of regulation in a tie game with his team facing at worst a 55-yard kick to book passage to Miami.
Richard Dawson
January 25th, 2010
9:07 am
I’m sick of Favre, but calling him the most overrated athlete of our time is silly. Many MLB players/cheaters, such as McGwire and Bonds, far surpass Favre.
UA Alum92
January 25th, 2010
9:07 am
Favre is a polarizing figure and I guess such characters are good for selling papers. Amazing how much ink that guy generates.
Reginald Ball
January 25th, 2010
9:08 am
The real goat from last night is whomever was the 12th man in the huddle. Were it not for the 5 yard penalty, the next play would have been a run up the middle, followed by a potential game winning FG kick on the last play of the game.
Bryan
January 25th, 2010
9:09 am
c’mon Bradley …be for real…this reads like you sat around watching the whole game rooting for one guy to make a mistake…gimmie a break…this season was STILL a HUGE success for Brett Favre and the Vikes period…u don’t sound too bright writing this article and I’m writing this as a guy who NEVER liked Favre but u sound silly!!!
Eric
January 25th, 2010
9:10 am
Is the loss Favre’s fault? I personally don’t care if the Vikings would have won or lost. I’ve grown up a Favre fan and he is arguably among the best quarterbacks of all-time. Yes, I think he made a bad play and he, along with many others (on and off the field) have made plenty of bad plays. His came at a very bad time, twice in his career, but folks… It’s more than just his playing that made me a fan (and irate at times as well), but it’s the guy. I don’t know if he’s a man’s man or what, but to me he is a role model…. a human role model. You can question my choice, my judgment, but for me the fact that he lives his work-life on television, plays with such passion and heart… It is not easy to describe, but the man makes me proud. There aren’t many things in life I can think of that I would “really” like to do, but shaking Brett Favre’s hand would be near the top of my list.
Bill
January 25th, 2010
9:10 am
Where would the Vikings have been without Favre? The man earned his pay, give it a rest.
Hope the Colts kick A@@.
winterville
January 25th, 2010
9:12 am
He’s a great quarterback. Easily top 10 of all time and arguably top 5, however, just as all us Georgia fans were sick of the Tebow gushing by ESPN, this guy gets too much attention. Bradley isn’t saying the guy stinks. Obviously, he is great. But he is not deserving of all the attention he gets year round. The stupid interceptions in now 2 NFC championship games alone proves that. For that reason I argue that Bradley is right on in this assessment. He’ not saying Farve sucks, just that the is overated.
TM
January 25th, 2010
9:13 am
You are wrong, without question….. it was terrible for NBC to pull Conan.
JacketFan
January 25th, 2010
9:14 am
Favre surpassed at least two QB postseason records last night (surpassing Montana). He made two mistakes and they were costly, but the bigger mistakes were the penalties on the Vikings defense (one of which was questionable) and the fumbles by Adrian Peterson. No, Favre is not the most overrated player of all time. That honor goes to “The Boz” or Michael Vick.
Vince Lombardi
January 25th, 2010
9:14 am
You can blame Favre for his two INT’s, Peterson for his fumbles, but in the end I blame the head coach. Despite the turnovers Minnesota had a chance to win it in regulation, but the last minute of regulation was some pretty poor clock management. Then on top of that, to get an illegal substitution penalty that puts you out of FG range was pitiful.