So . . . Brett Favre really should have retired, eh?
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Any Regrets
10 Sep 2006 11:53 pm
Comments (9)
If you mean Brett should have retired because its probably not much fun to play on a losing team, and the Packers aren't going to much good this year, I wouldn't disagree with you. But obviously Brett would. Despite the brave face he put on it in training camp, he had to have known that they weren't going to be any good, yet he chose to play anyway.
But if you mean he should have retired because he can't play anymore, then you're just dead wrong.
(Did you see the game? I'm not sure what parts of the country got what game late; I would have expected D.C. to get the Cowboys.) If you look at his numbers for the game, yeah, they don't look too hot. And if you watch Sportscenter, all they show you is the wild interception(s), because it fits their storyline. But most of the 'bad' part came as the game was getting out of hand, and after it was already gone. He completed his first six passes, and (working from memory) accounted for 42 of the 63 total yards they had at halftime. Both interceptions came after they were down 20+ points, and had just about abandoned the running game completely. At that point, he's just throwing it up, trying to make something happen. But in the first half, when they were still in it, he looked great - sharp, accurate passes.
A couple stats on last year (also from memory of graphics today, and two weeks ago): in the first halves of last year's games, he had 11 TDs and 8 INTs; in the second halves, 9 TDs and 21 INTs. When leading or tie, 7 INTs; when trailing, 22 INTs (they had a breakdown of 'leading' vs 'tied' but I don't recall, but I'm sure of the 25% - 75% ratio.)
He didn't fumble the opening kickoff, he doesn't play pass defense, he doesn't do punt return defense, and he can't do his own pass blocking (and at his age, he can't be the running back). He's a *very* good player on a very bad team. He's Elway in '97-'98; put him on a good team, and he's on his way to the Super Bowl.
- Robert, proudly watching the Packers for 49 years (OK, I don't remember much about the first couple years. But I do recall being mad as hell that my 8 and 7 year-old brothers were going to the '61 championship game, while I, at 5 years old, didn't get to. Hell, I'm still sore about it!)
By the time anyone gets to the point where "The Last Hurrah" is poignant, they're several years past the point where it would have been reasonable to step down.
Brett was right not to retire. But the Packers should have done the right thing and traded him to a team that had a chance - it's painfully obvious the Packer are 2-3 years away from competing for anything. Imagine Favre on the Redskins - that would've been fun.
Favre isn't what he was, but at least a dozen NFL teams would grab him if they had a chance. Nobody insists that a lot of people who were never as good as what's left of Favre still is should retire.
I'm really, really sick of all the Favre worship in the media. It's like Steve Largent all over again.
Having attended possibly the worst bears-packers game of all time (Oct. 31, 1994) and endured innumerable humiliating losses at Favre's hands, yesterday's embarassment of the golden boy of the sportswriting literati was sublime. I want to sing:
Bear Down, Chicago Bears.
Make every play clear the way to victory!
Bear Down, Chicago Bears.
Put up a fight with a might so fearlessly!
We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation,
With your T formation.
Bear Down, Chicago Bears.
And let them know why you're wearing the crown.
You're the pride and joy,
of all Illinois.
Chicago Bears, Bear Down!
Funny. I have very fond memories of that Halloween Night game (though only on TV). :-)
I've known for a couple years now that the gods of football karma were going to make Packer fans pay DEARLY for having had the pleasure of watching Favre these many years. I just didn't know it would start while he was still there!
FTJ -- right on, groovy.
Comments closed September 24, 2006.
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Heads in the Sand
I'm not a big fan of Favre, but I'm going to be a contrarian here. (You know, like Mickey Kaus, except more sensible, intelligent and manly.) The Bears' D is possibly the best in the league and we all know that Favre has a propensity to throw picks even against so-so defenses. And it's September - Favre usually picks up steam as the season goes on, and has insane Decembers.
I don't necessarily see the Packers having that great a season, but the main problems aren't with Favre, they're with the offensive line and RBs (totally depleted last year by injuries).
Posted by transplant | September 11, 2006 2:03 AM