Reports today are that the grand old man of football suffered two fractures in his ankle last night while he was almost single-handedly losing a huge game for his struggling Vikings. Favre threw three picks against Green Bay in what was certainly his last game at historic Lambeau Field. It was classic Favre. He would make a great play, only to follow it with an equally stupid one. The best part was listening to the announcers say how he almost pulled out another comeback win, completely ignoring the fact that if he hadn't thrown those picks his team would not have been behind.
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FAVRE: Feeling his age. |
Among his many records -- good and bad -- Favre has started 291 straight games. Most ever for a quarterback, 291! A streak that goes back decades. Once Favre announced he was coming back for one more year there was never any doubt that he would be throwing passes -- and picks -- against the Pats on Halloween. The guy always plays. Even when he shouldn't. That's because Favre always puts his own interests ahead of that of his team. Always.
But now it looks like I will be booing Tavaris Jackson. That won't be nearly as fun.
Favre was the young gunslinger back then. I can still see him running around in his green and yellow Packers uniform with his helmet raised above his head after he threw a touchdown bomb. Favre and the Pack knocked off the Pats even though he made many stupid mistakes. The Pats could have won. Maybe should have won. But Favre and Green Bay did and -- although he hasn't won a title since -- his legend has continued to grow.
Favre came back to bite the Pats in 2002, the year after Brady won his first Super Bowl. The Pats, who won a thriller at home against Miami to finish at 9-7, needed Favre and his Vikings to knock off the Jets to put the them in the playoffs. The Patriots were the defending champs and were hot. If they had made it into the playoffs anything was possible. The Pack was 12-3. The Jets 8-7. My family gathered at my parents house figuring there was a very good chance a 12-3 team would beat an 8-7 team. We forgot Brett Favre was playing,
Favre and the Pack decided to pretty much take the game off and were whipped by the Jets 42-17. The Pats were out of the playoffs. The Jets were in. Thanks Brett. It hurt a little less when the Atlanta Falcons went into Green Bay and blew them out 27-7 in the opening round of the playoffs. Favre, as usual, threw two big picks.
Flash forward to 2008, the year Brady got hurt and the team still managed to go 11-5 with Matt Cassel leading the way. Favre was now a member of the Jets. He had led Gang Green to an 8-3 record through eleven weeks and the national media had anointed them champs. But the Jets, lead by Favre game-killing interceptions, lost three of their next four and were out of the playoff hunt.
But... the Jets were playing Miami, who were tied with the Pats for first in the AFC East, in the final game of the season. If Favre and the Jets could beat their rivals from the South then the Pats, without Brady, would make the playoffs. It would be a great success story. Once again my family gathered at my parents' house to see if Favre could give us a little help.
Final score: Dolphins 24, Jets 17.
Favre threw three picks, one of them Miami took back for a score. Does Favre hold the record for most "pick sixes"? My bet is yes. Once again Favre had screwed the Pats and their fans.
All the time Favre was losing one big game after another, the media was elevating him to American hero status. His status among my family? Public enemy #1.
I was hoping for one last chance to let Captain America know how I felt. Once again it looks like he has cheated me out of some fun.
Then again... if there's a quarterback who will force his way on to the field with a fractured ankle and a weak arm in order to officially kill his team's season, it's Brett Favre.
Come on, Brett. You owe me one.
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