Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Brett Favre and his Legacy

by Joe Persinger
@Brew_Mastr_Joe on Twitter




In the second round of the 1991 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons drafted some no name kid from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 

Traded to Green Bay at the age of 23, what a gift he was to the city and franchise.  


At the time, the Packer's had not posted a winning season since the end of the Lombardi era.  They were the laughing stock of the NFL.  It was a glorious time for Bears fan.


OK, I'm a little biased when it comes to that opinion.  But still.


Favre started as the clipboard holder that year until Dan Majkowski injured a ligament in week three sidelining him for three weeks.  That was the end of Majkowski's career in Green Bay.

Week four of the '92 season started the longest consecutive starts streak for a quarterback in NFL history.  

It's been 19 seasons, 2 teams, and one un-retirement since Favre took the field that Sunday afternoon. Now he finds himself at home, cutting his lawn, and living outside of the media circus he would bring to town with him.


Should this hurt his legacy?? Taint it?


He holds NFL record's in wins(184), completions(6,300), attempts(10,169), yards(71,838), and touchdowns (508).  Did I mention he is the only quarterback with 500 plus touchdowns, and 70,000 plus passing yards??  


Apparently so.

How anyone could dismiss this, I'll never understand.


How can you not respect this??

He holds the NFL record for most career interceptions (333).  So what?  When you have 6,263 completions, your bound to throw an interception.  


Out of a list of many accomplishments, his 333 interceptions really puts a blemish on his record.  But if you consider how many touchdown passes he's thrown, it seems less costly.


And mostly because it's out weighed by his many other impressive feat's.  

11 pro-bowl selections, NFL MVP 3 consecutive years in a row,  a 5 time the NFC Player of the Year, he won 2 NFC Championships, and has 1 Super Bowl appeareance.  


That's not even all of them.  


His "iron man" record of consecutive starts is one of his most impressive feats.  He's played with an injured thumb, through drug addiction, after numerous tragedies and now at his ripe age of 42, he STILL played with a bum ankle, elbow, and shoulder for the Vikings in 2010.  


A quarterback's elite status has always been measured by his success' in the playoffs, and most importantly, the Super Bowl.  And the Gunslinger has had mixed results. 

So what is his legacy??



I guess that depends which sideline your standing on...