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
Jim
January 25th, 2010
3:09 pm
I think Favre’ play last night was generally impressive, but do check out “Favre Rules For All” that Mark suggests. It really captures to absurd pro-Favre swoon in certain corners of the media.
http://twitter.com/search?q=%23ESPNFavreRulesForAll
Yohan
January 25th, 2010
3:12 pm
The greatest QB ever wouldn’t turn the ball over 3 times in a playoff game when the game mattered.
MetsFan2009
January 25th, 2010
3:37 pm
Mark, until you lead a team to two Super Bowls (winning one of them), break every passing record known to mankind,and on top lead your team to two NFC championship games in four years (with two different teams, no less, after turning 36 years old) you really ought to keep your big mouth shut. Brett Favre showed more character and guts yesterday in four hours than most athletes do in a life time, not to mention more than most columnists like yourself do. Try getting slammed into Astroturf by linebackers two weeks in a row, so much that half your body is purple from bruises, and then we can talk. Meanwhile, if you want to write about over rated jocks, you have about 2 decades worth of Atlanta Braves players and coaches you can write about every day. Oh, and by the way, how did the Falcons do in the playoffs this year? You disgust me!
ADL
January 25th, 2010
3:52 pm
No, Brett Favre didn’t lose the NFC Championship all by himself, but if they Vikings ahd won you can be sure the talking heads would have made it sound like he won it by himself. Go home and stay there Brett!!!
John in Seminole
January 25th, 2010
3:53 pm
Several things. . .
Favre is a great qb. He is in the room as far as the discussion of the greatest QB ever is concerned. He is tough and has great endurance. That said, he is a diva, an egomaniac, and can make bad decisions at the worst possible time.
The INT was a fundamentally bad decision, not just a bad throw at a bad time. I can understand him being a little gunshy about running, however, given the beaten he had taken (sliding was no guarantee of safety the way the Saints were taking cheap shots at him). He wanted to win the SB, not watch his backup play in it while he was in traction. Of course, why blame Farve only? Where’s the love for the Saint that actually did the INT. Of course, the Vikings were not in a good position for a field goal. Nevertheless, I’m sure the Vikings fans who would’ve preferred a 57 yard FG try to the INT number in the hundreds of thousands (at least). The guy did make a 57 yarder in his career before, and with the adrenalin coursing, distance may not have been a problem.
Never heard of Johnny Utah. Obviously the poster is referring to Johnny Knoxville.
I was sick of Favre after all the hype about him. So I was definitely rooting for the Saints. I’m still glad that Favre lost, considering his behavior toward Chilly (btw, Chilly’s “playing for overtime” is almost understandable, given Favre’s history and what actually happened, and Petersen’s and the rest of the Vikings’ fumbles). I will admit that I had more respect for Favre after watching him take that beating, although I also felt sorry for him somewhat. In today’s age, Farve is a perceived throwback. When you watch a player like Manning, you see how cerebral the game has become, and Favre at least seems to buck that trend. Overrated. Yes. The most overrated today? No.
He is in the room as far as the best ever is concerned. But he is not the best ever. The final test is coolness under ultimate pressure. And he has not passed that test overall, and he did fail it big time yesterday. The best QB’s are the one’s you just get that sick feeling in your stomach if you go against them because you know they’re going to find a way, especially when they’re tied or behind in the closing minutes. Joe Montana and Tom Brady have passed that test, along with John Elway and Terry Bradshaw. Joe Montana gets my vote as the best ever.
An aside about Bush: no matter how few yards he gained yesterday, he almost earned his money by finagling that reception into a TD. With a 4th and goal looming if he didn’t do it, his TD may have been the difference as things turned out.
As for the Saints, my happiness at their victory is fading. They got loved by the refs in OT. And they played classless football yesterday. They played the man, not the ball. They didn’t care less if the play was over or not. Comparable to the Brady Pats beating the Colts the first time in the AFC Championship game by raping their receivers. Speaking of the Colts, that’s who I will be rooting for in the SB.
Rickster
January 25th, 2010
3:54 pm
My ode to Brett Favre (with my apologies to Gen. Larry Pratt.
“a$$ on the ground. a$$ on the ground. Looking all stupid with your a$$ on the ground.
Chased across the field, running sideways. Going for win. Throw it to the other team.”
“Looking all stupid with your a$$ on the ground! Give it up!”
Billdawg
January 25th, 2010
3:58 pm
Let’s back off the heroic hyperboly. Heroic is walking patrol in Bagdhad, rushing into a burning building, not playing football for millions of dollars.
Brian G in Illinois
January 25th, 2010
4:05 pm
Brett Favre is one of the greatest athletes of all time. He hasn’t missed a day of work in 20 years….beaten down by 300 lb. defensive linemen on a weekly basis. A champion isn’t always defined by someone who wins super bowls, world series, etc… Champions are people with big hearts, desire, passion and leadership. Brett made some mistakes, but he gave 110% every single day.
And by the way, I bet Mr. Favre made more money this year on Wrangler jeans commercials than you will make in your entire life.
Go away…write about flowers or pumpkins. I bet you got picked last in kickball when you were little. Guys like you HATE guys like Brett Favre!
brian
January 25th, 2010
4:11 pm
Mark,
If that is all you saw in the game yesterday, then you’ve got some Brett Farve anamosity axe to grind or you are one plain ignorant sprots writer. Did you tell Tom Watson that he choked last year at the British Open. The one thing I interpreted from your column is those that can’t…..well you know who you are. Dude, you’re lame.
John in Seminole
January 25th, 2010
4:12 pm
One big flaw in Brett Favre’s leadership: leading your teammates by example by reasonably listening to your coach. Something Brett Favre didn’t do.
VickSwitchHitter
January 25th, 2010
4:18 pm
Brett Farve messed up yesterday. As a fellow blogger pointed out earlier and it was the simplest explanation Ive heard so far, ALL BRETT HAD TO DO ON HIS FINAL ROLLOUT PLAY WHERE HE THREW AN ILLADVISED PICK WAS TO HOLD ONTO THE FOOTBALL AND SIMPLY TAKE ABOUT 5 MORE STEPS AND GET OUT BOUNDS. HAD HE DONE THAT, and if the field goal kicker had made the 47-50 yard field goal, THE VIKINGS WOULD BE PLAYING IN THE SUPERBOWL AGAINST THE COLTS. In addition, Brett Farve might have been named MVP of the league this season along with picking up MVP superbowl honors after beating the Colts and hoisting the Vince Lombardy trophy (superbowl championship), had the Vikings gone on to defeat the Colts, which they would have. Its really unfortunate because that is why Brett came out of retirement to do those things and he came so close to getting to do them. It hurts because I AM A HUGE BRETT FARVE FAN and Brett is such a gladiator and a warrior. I am really choked up about it right now, but Brett Farve didnt CHOKE.
BigBam11
January 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
@ Rickster. Toooooo Funnnnyyyy
Russ the interim
January 25th, 2010
4:37 pm
Can we get an interim writer for Bradley?
MarkSilverstein
January 25th, 2010
4:56 pm
I think the Minnesota Vikings are cursed. I remember back in 1998 when the Falcons were playing them in nfc championship game (the only year in the falcons existence of every playing in the superbowl) where the Viking had a chance to win the game in regulation. Gary Anderson was an extremely accurate field goal kicker and he had made all of his field goals kicks for the entire year (100%). By an incredible fate of bad luck and a complete fluke, he missed a chip shot field goal kick in the closing seconds that would have given the Vikings a superbowl berth. Instead the game went into overtime and the Falcons eventually won when they held the Vikings scorless in overtime and got the ball back and went down the field and kicked the winning field goal. That was a heartbraking loss for the Vikings and they probably would have won the superbowl since they had the team with the best record that year.
Joe
January 25th, 2010
5:07 pm
Adrian Peterson coughed up the ball 3 TIMES!!!! And ran for ZERO yards on 12 different carries. If he doesn’t fumble 3x, and you think the Vikings could have just scored 3 ponts from his fumbles, then it is Peterson’s fault.
CiscoIE
January 25th, 2010
5:26 pm
Brett is an ultimate choker. He’s like the Great Pumpkin. You get all hyped up and he never shows. Adrian Petersons’ fumbles did not cause a change of possession. As a matter of record, the last one gained him 7 yards. But he sucks too
Ken Stallings
January 25th, 2010
5:32 pm
Mark,
You’re joking right? I mean you can’t serious be saying leading your team to the NFC Championship constitutes an “epic” failure?
Sometimes, it is best merely to admit a mistake and move on. To foolishly insist you are right amid all evidence to the contrary is the “hobgoblin of small minds!”
What Favre did was pretty damn impressive by all measures. If he decides to retire, he’s merely added one more rich chapter to his Hall of Fame resume. Certainly he could have handled the interim period better, but that’s a separate issue.
In terms of how he played this season, it was pretty darn excellent, putting him in the small circle of people seriously talked about for league MVP. If that doesn’t rate well on your performance scale, then you are indeed being petty and irascible.
Ken Stallings
January 25th, 2010
5:33 pm
Make that first line read: “… be seriously be saying …”
chad
January 25th, 2010
6:37 pm
Mark, you are an a$$. the only way you could hate a person as much as you do is to love him a little bit. Favre may not always make the best decisions but his skill is unquestioned,as is his love for football, and desire to win.
Dr Richard Handler
January 25th, 2010
7:00 pm
Blaming the fumbles on him too, huh? Come on! Adrian Peterson lost the game! It would’ve been in the bag had the n.n. not fumbled in the red zone. Oh I’m sorry that was favre’s fault.
Longar1947
January 25th, 2010
7:02 pm
Whats wrong with Farve? I’am 63 and have the same problems.
Jeff
January 25th, 2010
7:23 pm
Mark – gimme a break – most people would have been in the hospital by the 2nd or 3rd quarter with the beating Farve took. The guy is tough as nails, and still nearly won with what was a poor performance overall by the Vikings, and a disaster of a performance by the Minnesota O Line
Farve played great all season – I hope he can give it one more try, but this time with some O linemen who can block.
By they way, where was Jared Allen in all of this – seemed invisible.
J.
David3737
January 25th, 2010
7:27 pm
From the small town of Kiln,where he was raised, to the Sporting News recognizing Favre as one of the 100 “Good Guys” in sports.
At four years old Brett was hit in the head with a baseball bat! Brett Favre did not even cry!!
Favre claims if he ever did cry, he did it because he figured he was supposed to—not because it hurt.
When he wasn’t in school he was either playing sports, practicing for sports,helped him alot!.
Find out more about this great guy from this article I read about him!
http://ketiva.com/Sports/the_biography_of_brett_favrethe_life_of_a_legend.html
Paddy O
January 25th, 2010
7:43 pm
Mark is a typcial bandwagon writer here in GA. A lot of bluster but little insight and less fact/reality. Brett Favre is one of the best. I personallly like Staubach & Montana better, and respect Bradshaw a lot. But Favre is in the top 5 – he broke two Montana playoff records last night. It was a shame that he lost the game in regulation, but you take the good & the bad; the only way Bradley would be right is if the Vikings went 5-11, and Favre really was a locker room cancer. But he walks the walk. Bradley should be terminated due to his utopian narcissism, but the AJC would rather stop delivery to Haralson County than make quality money saving decisions.
38YearBravesFan
January 25th, 2010
9:48 pm
Mark – What happened to Sonny Clusters??? We was so used to reading his funny stuff while we was down at the DQ having a Dilly Bar…waiting to get autographs from You Know Who.
We is getting depressed without the pithy wit on the ole blog.
Mark Bradley
January 25th, 2010
9:51 pm
I worry about Sonny, 38YearBravesFan. I’m afraid he has sworn off both this little space and Dairy Queen.
Ivan
January 25th, 2010
11:01 pm
I won’t say he’s the most overrated. There’s too many other QB prospects out there for that title. I will totally agree though, Mark, on ESPN’s constant jabbering about the guy. It’s the media that makes you sick about him, not because of his accomplishments or near accomplishments, but the constant, “And in other news, Favre …….” every 10 minutes.
cherisaintsfan
January 26th, 2010
1:50 am
Despite my love and respect for Brett Favre, I love the article! You sound like you are speaking about someone you loved at one point. Feels like maybe Brett betrayed you somehow. It’s like you are talking about an ex. Hilarious! The only thing I would add is that The New Orleans Saints are quite talented, and they had an amazing season. I mean you could at least mention that we had 19 players score a TD this season. They will win the Superbowl! I believe in destiny, luck and shear odds.. my goodness, a true fan since 1976 and nothing so far! We have to win one before I die. Laissez bon temps roule!
matt
January 26th, 2010
12:41 pm
Considering the Vikings would have done well to be a .500 team had Favre not been on the team I dont think they have any room to complain!
Chris Mack
January 26th, 2010
4:28 pm
I wonder if there was a line in Vegas on a Favre game blowing gaff?
Daleco
January 27th, 2010
10:05 am
You hatred seems to know no bounds. I cannot defend the interception. It would definitely make me look like an idiot. I can only surmize, that this is from the whole will/won’t he retire, which I also admit gets old. But talk about sychphants, Peyton can do no wrong. He in any commercial that will pay him, writers write about him like he is the second coming and all I heard this year was how he does this with no talent around him which is the biggest bunch of bullocks I have ever heard. Let’s trade Peyton to Buffalo and see how good he does. Brett does have a love affiar with the TV media, but the print media love affair with Peyton is no better.
JorgeMeltdown
January 27th, 2010
11:24 am
Brett Farve was so dumb in the closing seconds it was absolutely incredible!. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. When I saw Farve throwing the football, I looked at the tv and I wanted to throw a brick at the tv. Farve had no business throwing the football, when he could have taken a knee, andd watched his field goal kicker make a 56 yarder sending the Vikings into the superbowl.
CoreyWilson
January 27th, 2010
11:34 am
Adrian Peterson is not overrated. Adrian just had a bad day. It happens to everyone, whether they are a football player or not. Adrian put the ball on the carpet three times and it cost his team a chance to play in the superbowl. Its not just Brett Farve’s fault the Vikings lost. There is enough blame to go around. Its mainly Farve and Peterson, though. They are the two main guys who blew it for the Vikings. In spite of it all though Farve could have won it in the closing seconds had he hobbled for 10-15 yards to give his field goal kicker a chance to win the damn football game.
JohnnyLewis
January 27th, 2010
11:38 am
The Saints were careless with the football as well and they were nervous. Their vaunted offense only collected about 70 yards in the second half and they failed on several plays of 3rd down and 1s and 3rd and 2s which is usually a cakewalk for them. They were afraid to lose and it showed. They also were sloppy with the football as well. IN MY MIND BOTH TEAMS DESERVED TO LOSE BUT THE SAINTS WEREN’T AS CARELESS AND THUS WILL BE PLAYING FOR THE BIG PRIZE.
PenelopeJones
January 27th, 2010
11:46 am
Superbowl Prediction: Colts 63 Saints 7