During the January 8 edition of ESPN’s sublime “Pardon the Interruption” program, Tony Kornheiser initiated a discussion about Brett Favre pondering, once again, whether to return to the NFL for about his sixth “one more season.” In response, Michael Wilbon retorted that he really does not care what Favre does. Kornheiser pushed the issue saying that Wilbon was being indecisive. Wilbon countered saying that he was anything but, reiterating that he has totally lost interest in the Favre “soliloquy.” Big time cheers to Wilbon here. The Favre saga has become about as interesting what pill Amy Winehouse will pop next.
For Favre, another season has ended with another huge interception that cost his team dearly. And once again, it is clear that with all of Favre’s plusses (incredible stats, leadership, toughness), he is equally dogged by some serious minuses (mistakes, poor judgement, false sense of invincibility).
In the wake of Favre’s 3 interception embarrassment against Miami in the final week of the regular season, much of the NFL media and fandom have been, predictably, sympathetic. Go to NYJetsChat.com and read the sad ramblings of a fan saying that the Jets’ fall was the fault of offensive philosophy, not Favre. Visit NewYorkJets.com and read editor-in-chief Randy Lange actually make a case for Favre’s return to New York. It appears that, as usual, Favre is getting a giant pass, even after one of the most pathetic performances in recent elimination game history, one that inevitably cost Eric Mangini his job.
On SIRIUS NFL Radio, the excellent Adam Schein expressed dismay that Mangini was able to score a new head coaching gig in Cleveland so quickly after the Jets’ collapse. Schein’s feelings are understandable, but he failed to pin any of the blame on Favre. Mangini never wanted to go the Favre route. He and the Jets sold their souls to the devil, in this case, one wearing a giant ego, three days of facial hair and Wrangler jeans. Schein can trash Mangini all he wants. It was not the coach who took the pipe in an elimination game at home against a division rival.
It makes me wonder why a guy like Donovan McNabb continually incurs the wrath of the press, while Favre goes unscathed. It may lend credence to McNabb’s contention that African-American quarterbacks are in fact judged differently by the press and public, but this is not about race. Guys like Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia, Philip Rivers and others have all been justifiably skewered at one time or another, while Favre coasts.
Let’s face it, kids. If not for then-Patriots coach Bill Parcells’ inexplicable decision to continually kick to Green Bay’s Desmond Howard in Super Bow XXXI, Favre would be without a title. The truth is that over his career, he has hurt his teams as much as he has helped them, maybe more. In fact, the culmination of Favre’s 2008 season plays into a belief that I have long held, namely, that if given the chance, there are at least 25 quarterbacks in NFL lore that I would select ahead of Favre if starting a team.
Laugh if you will. Storm me with emails and cheesehead-driven static, but it’s true. My list follows. It is totally subjective, and not at all based on statistics. Agree or disagree. Applaud or vilify, no matter. These guys, in no particular order, would all make my roster before the completely overrated Favre:
Bart Starr
John Unitas
Joe Namath
Terry Bradshaw
Roger Staubach
Fran Tarkenton
Joe Montana
Jim Kelly
Dan Marino
John Elway
Warren Moon
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Steve Young
Dan Fouts
Troy Aikman
Y.A. Tittle
Bob Griese
Phil Simms
Otto Graham
Sammy Baugh
Bob Waterfield
Bobby Layne
Randall Cunningham
Ken Stabler
Being as kind as I can be to Favre, I did not include a second tier group of QB’s, but you could make a case for the likes of Boomer Esiason, Donovan McNabb, Joe Theismann, Sonny Jurgensen, Norm Van Brocklin and Len Dawson. Make your own list if you want. Add or subtract from mine. The fact is that thanks to the sycophantic likes of NBC’s John Madden and NFL Network’s Steve Mariucci, the Favre lovefest is more propaganda than pragmatism.
Favre’s courage, love of the game and production could never be questioned, but his wreckless style and almost predictable interceptions are damaging to his overall career. In a foxhole, give me Favre anytime. In a close football game, I’ll take any name on that first list without question.
Wilbon deserves credit for putting the Favre soap opera in perspective. He is an old football player trying to hang on to a part of his life that is truly done. As for the Favre apologists, let them continue to pass the buck. If Favre passed it himself, the buck would surely be picked off and returned for six.
John Molori writes for Patriots Football Weekly, Boston Baseball Magazine, and BostonSportsMedia.com. He is a contributor to the “Papa Joe Chevalier Show” at KLAV AM 1230 in Las Vegas and papajoetalk.com. He hosts the “J-Team Radio Show” at AM 980 WCAP and www.jteamradio.com. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Outstanding! *gives applause*
Wow! I couldn’t have said it better my self. I personally think he is the most over rated athlete of this generation. I would love it if people at ESPN would read your article. The “gunslinger” has really had about 4 good seasons in his career. Favre is in the same class as Drew Bledsoe for me, he knows when to throw the dumb pass in the worst time.
Well done!
And you didn’t even mention other ESPN entities’ (Sportscenter, NFL Live), Sports Illustrated’s, and Peter King’s undying, and sickening, love for Brett.
The only QB on your top list I wouldn’t take over him would be Namath, and Joe Willie would tie with Favre (they’re both great leaders but each only won one title and both forced too many balls). I’d also take EVERY other QB on your secondary list over Favre.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him come back — to sink the Jets again (I’m a Patriots fan). Otherwise, retire already! But I’m quite sure he’ll string everybody along again and then try to play.
Glad to see a few sane media voices in the wilderness.
Matt Cassel.
Hey at least the Jets sold a lot of jerseys but seriously even with the last couple of yrs. playing the role of The Green Bay Gunslinger it was not work ing for Green Bay (07 aside but more at that in a moment) and I don’t understand how Pack fans didn’t cringe every time he began to improvise (especially near the goal line). Remember a lot of great QB’s play past their prime like Unitas in San Diego or Namith with the Rams. Yet, the big differences between is Farve actually made his team better we at least for the first eleven weeks. There’s no doubt Brett Farvara is a talented individual but I think this season and preceding seasons will taint his legacy and it he will forever be remembered (buzz word of 08) as a Maverick. Unfortunately this year his ego got the best of him and his body betrayed him. Even with slow feet Farvra still could rifle the ball up, down, and to the side, but this year his body just could not hold up to the rigorous NFL schedule. If Farve does make this his farewell tour at least he made it one that NFL fans will never forget!
Namath and Favre are a matched set. If you take an honest look at his stats and how his teams did, Namath is a truly horrible QB, who made puketastically awful decisions when it came to throwing passes. And as the America’s Game show on NFL Network showed, many of Namath’s teammates on the Jest loathed him because he took no responsibility for his actions and cared all about himself and staying out all night and getting drunk and laid rather then trying to win football games. If Namath doesn’t open his yap and make his infamous “guarantee”, then he doesn’t get into the HoF. Simple as that. He played a really crappy game in Super Bowl II and didn’t deserve to be named MVP, only got it because of his “guarantee.”
All this “Brett Favre is one of the best - if not the best - QBs of all time” crap makes me sick. What’s up the media love-fest? He’s not even the top 5 QB of his era (easily I take Brady, Manning, Marino, Montana, and Elway over him). Kuddos on a great post…
Do you honestly believe Randall Cunningham was a better QB than Brett Favre? If so, you have no credibility. S
John,
Check the numbers. In spite of all the INTs he has thrown, Favre has a better QB rating (85.4) than Cunningham (81.5). Favre has a better completion percentage (61.6) than Cunningham (56.6). Favre has more Pro Bowls (9) and First-Team All-Pro (3) selections than Cunningham (4 PB, 1 AP), and both played about the same number of years. Favre has a better record as a starter (160-93) than Cunningham (82-52), though there isn’t a huge difference between their winning percentages and a QB’s record is as much a function of the entire team as it is his individual performance. Favre has more MVPS (3) and Super Bowl rings (1) than Cunningham (zilch). As far as I can see, the only things that Cunningham was better at than Favre was scrambling and being able to stay on his feet after absorbing a hit by Lawrence Taylor.
Look, I agree that Favre is somewhat overrated and think the fawning by media types over him borders on jock sniffing. But I disagree that Randall Cunningham is better. I rest my case.
S
John,
Thanks for responding, via email. I am not surprised you did not post your comments on your website because they are laughable. Inn your email to me, in defending that Cunningham in your opinion was better than three-time MVP Favre, you wrote: “A lot of what you list is quite valid, but to me, the All-Pro’s, MVP’s and Pro Bowls are more a popularity contest than a testament of true ability.”
You must be joking. How is an MVP award more of a popularity contest than a testament of true ability? If there was any shred of truth to that ridiculous statement, David Ortiz would not have finished second to Alex Rodriguez in the 2005 AL MVP. Big Papi would have won, in a landslipe. Also, Barry Bonds would have never won an MVP because he is arguably the least popular athlete ever. Contrary to what you think, the MVP is not a popularity vote. It is based on performance.
John, you’re a hypocrite. Your agenda against Farve makes you no better than the media types who worship the ground he spits on.
Stevie,
Again, I get your gist. You prefer Favre over Cunningham. I wrote that my list was totally subjective and that it was not based on stats. I do think that since the media and/or fellow players vote for the MVP and other postseason honors, it is to a great extent a popularity contest. I also think that team performance plays a huge role in who wins MVP awards, unless it is an exceptionally unique season. I am not taking anyhting away from Favre’s honors. They just do not impress me given the number of games he cost his teams via turnovers and bad decisions. Thanks again for your thoughts
Bahaha @ Matt Cassell comment.