So in case you missed it or forgot already, there was a very controversial, very polarizing quarterback. People wondered if he'd return to the NFL or if his career was over. Back in the day, he was one of the most exciting players to watch. Defenses would have to key on him, for better or worse. And he even had some success in the playoffs, as Packer fans remember all too well. Then, he signed a contract and the sports world summarily went apeshit.
Then, the Brett Favre saga went down and he was rendered an afterthought.
Nope, for once I'm not talking about Favre. He wasn't the only high-profile quarterback trying on a new jersey this off-season. Anyone remember Michael Vick? One-time supposed prototype for the new quarterback, the run-and-gun playmaker? The first quarterback ever to win a playoff game on the Frozen Tundra who wasn't wearing a green jersey? And arguably the biggest villain in sports today, when you consider that Barry Bonds hasn't played in almost two years? Also known to a select few doctors at a confidential clinic as Ron Mexico?
In case you missed it, he's back.
(He's back in Philadelphia, no less. You couldn't make this up: the town reknowned for throwing batteries at even Santa Claus is now going to be cheering for Ookie the Dogfighting Kingpin. You've gotta love how the world turns sometimes.)
There are a lot of people who think he shouldn't be back. Public backlash against Vick kind of seems like the cool kid thing to do lately. Forgive me for not joining in myself.
Here's the thing. I'm not for a second going to try and justify what Vick did. Dogfighting is fucking despicable no matter what way you look at it. But Vick was young, popular, talented, and rich. People who are young make mistakes. People who are also loved by an entire city, regarded as one of the most gifted athletes of their generation, and have a Fuck You bankroll make mistakes as well. Combine the two, add in the fact that Vick grew up poor and was pretty much thrust into the good life with no preparation on how to handle it, and it wasn't a matter of if Vick would fuck up somehow, but when.
To make a mistake, especially when you're put in a position where it is easy to make a mistake, is human. It's what you do aftewards that counts. So far, Vick has said all the right things in public. In Tony Dungy, he's got a great mentor looking out for him now. Vick seems to legitimately want to improve himself as a person. And I say he deserves a chance to do that.
In the meantime, let's all get off our damn high horses and see if we can't enjoy one of the best athletes of our generation doing what he does best again.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Random Thoughts: 8/19/09
Bill Hall to Reds?
The Journal-Sentinel reports that the Cincinnati Reds are interested in dealing for lavishly-paid infielder Bill Hall. Makes sense. Hall has killed the Reds throughout his career. Names mentioned in exchange include pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Both are just as overpaid, and just as past their primes. Both are also light years better than Carlos Villanueva, though the same can be said for most mammals with at least one functioning arm. I'd much prefer we get Harang--he's marginally more expensive, but he's also a year younger and, most importantly, he didn't have the best years of his career on a team with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz pre-drug-testing then fall off the face of the earth. Arroyo also has admitted in the past few days to taking supplements not approved by MLB, and has reportedly been ducking calls from MLB officials about that. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
And the past few weeks, we've been getting pounded by some of the worst teams in the National League. At this point, I'll welcome any pitching help superior to the three-headed failmonster of Jeff Suppan, Villanueva, and Mike Burns--even if it is linked to sketchy supplements.
More Favre fallout
I think yesterday's inaugural post pretty much covered the emotional side of things. Today, after a day to digest the information, I'm taking a look at what the Favre signing means for all parties involved for the future.
If you ask a Viking fan, the move means that the NFC North is in the bag, and the Super Bowl is in the crosshairs. I'm not so sure. Yes, Favre represents a sizable upgrade over incumbent Tavaris Jackson. But free-agent signing Sage Rosenfels would've been as well. Do I think Rosenfels is a better quarterback than Favre? Even with Favre about to push 40, I don't think so. Do I think Rosenfels is a better fit for this Vikings team than Favre? Absolutely.
In limited playing opportunities throughout his career, Rosenfels has demonstrated some good qualities: He is a humble, grounded player. He has a ridiculously accurate passing arm. He can run an offense with success. He's not a bad scrambler. But most of all, he doesn't expect to be the focal point of the offense. He's Chad Pennington without the starting experience. And, as Miami proved a year ago, you can win with Pennington, a good ground game, and a tough defense.
My theory is this: if you boil every player down to the bare essentials, they fit into one of four categories: he brings something to the table, he takes things off the table, he doesn't bring anything to the table but he doesn't take anything off the table, or he brings something to the table but takes other things off the table. Oversimplified? Yes, but that's the point. Rosenfels is an example of the third type of player. He doesn't give your offense a whole lot in terms of weapons, but he's not going to kill you. Surrounded with a talented group of wideouts, a reliable tight end in Visanthe Shiancoe, and arguably the most exciting running back in the league since Barry Sanders, you can work with Rosenfels. Put him in charge of running the offense, staying the hell out of Purple Jesus's way, and occasionally throwing underneath to Peterson, Shiancoe, or Bernard Berrian: you've got yourself an offense that can move the ball, and won't turn it over a whole lot.
Favre, ten years ago, would've been in the first category of player. These kinds are rare--think Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. Today? He's a "brings stuff, but takes stuff away" guy. He's got an arm, no question about it. But he also makes bad decisions, and turns the ball over way too much. This team needs a Rosenfels type at quarterback--someone who is comfortable being second banana to Peterson and will keep the mistakes to a minimum. Favre is not that player.
That being said: do I think the Vikings are contenders? Definitely. But a lot has to go right for them to go far this year. Favre has to be able to shelve his ego and accept a limited role without complaining, and I don't see that happening. Brad Childress has to be able to keep the locker room under control, and I don't see that happening. Over the past three years, Favre has run Mike Sherman out of Green Bay and Eric Mangini out of New York. You think he'll be able to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Childress? Just wait until Childress costs the Vikings a game they should have won--if you follow the NFC North, you know the question isn't if this will happen, but when. Wait for Favre to take some thinly-veiled shots at the coach, and wait for the mutiny to take effect. Brett's fuse has always been notoriously short for shaky coaches, especially when things don't go according to plan.
Most importantly, and most overlooked, the whole plan hinges on Adrian Peterson staying healthy all year. Remember, Peterson was far and away the most talented player in the 2007 Draft, but fell to the Vikings at #7 because of concerns about his toughness--he missed large parts of both his sophomore and junior years at Oklahoma due to injuries. So what happens if he goes down? Well, in 2005 the Packers lost Ahman Green for the year, and with only the immortal Samkon Gado to rely on, went 4-12.
If everything goes right, the Vikings are a contender. However, if everything goes right, pushing all-in at the poker table with 4-5 suited is a good bet. That's not to say it will happen. Either way, the NFC North race looks to be one of the most competitive in the NFL. Three teams could win it, and all look like contenders. Unless you live in Detroit, it should be an exciting season.
(I'll have a full preview up of every division at some point in the next few weeks. Be patient. I'm still getting this thing off the ground.)
Madden 2010
Expecting a review? Well, I can't really do that. I haven't played it yet, and I don't anticipate playing it for a while. Every since exclusive licensing gave EA Sports a monopoly on the franchise, the game has steadily gone downhill. Personally, I prefer the NCAA Football series at this point--the Dynasty Mode holds up well against Madden's Franchise Mode, the Campus Legend mode blows Madden's Gawd-awful Superstar Mode out of the water, and the NCAA mini-games are infinitely more fun owing to the fact that you don't have to repeat them ad nauseum in order to play a franchise. Add to this the ability to run an option offense (the most underratedly fun way to make your friends scream and throw their controller at the wall), and it's not even close. Now if only the NCAA would pull their heads out of their asses and license player names, we'd be ready to go.
And thanks to the economy, I'll only be pulling in one of these games this year--and even that one won't be bought until a few other things (most notably my rent check, which I need to pay in two weeks and I still can't afford) are taken care of. That being said, I get paid each time you click on one of the ads in the right-hand column. Not saying you should do anything, just mentioning that.
Quote of the Week
"If I get hit in the balls from 300 feet, I deserve it"--Ken Griffey Jr, on why he doesn't wear a cup when he plays
Two days, two long posts. This thing might stick. Let me know what you think so far.
The Journal-Sentinel reports that the Cincinnati Reds are interested in dealing for lavishly-paid infielder Bill Hall. Makes sense. Hall has killed the Reds throughout his career. Names mentioned in exchange include pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Both are just as overpaid, and just as past their primes. Both are also light years better than Carlos Villanueva, though the same can be said for most mammals with at least one functioning arm. I'd much prefer we get Harang--he's marginally more expensive, but he's also a year younger and, most importantly, he didn't have the best years of his career on a team with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz pre-drug-testing then fall off the face of the earth. Arroyo also has admitted in the past few days to taking supplements not approved by MLB, and has reportedly been ducking calls from MLB officials about that. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
And the past few weeks, we've been getting pounded by some of the worst teams in the National League. At this point, I'll welcome any pitching help superior to the three-headed failmonster of Jeff Suppan, Villanueva, and Mike Burns--even if it is linked to sketchy supplements.
More Favre fallout
I think yesterday's inaugural post pretty much covered the emotional side of things. Today, after a day to digest the information, I'm taking a look at what the Favre signing means for all parties involved for the future.
If you ask a Viking fan, the move means that the NFC North is in the bag, and the Super Bowl is in the crosshairs. I'm not so sure. Yes, Favre represents a sizable upgrade over incumbent Tavaris Jackson. But free-agent signing Sage Rosenfels would've been as well. Do I think Rosenfels is a better quarterback than Favre? Even with Favre about to push 40, I don't think so. Do I think Rosenfels is a better fit for this Vikings team than Favre? Absolutely.
In limited playing opportunities throughout his career, Rosenfels has demonstrated some good qualities: He is a humble, grounded player. He has a ridiculously accurate passing arm. He can run an offense with success. He's not a bad scrambler. But most of all, he doesn't expect to be the focal point of the offense. He's Chad Pennington without the starting experience. And, as Miami proved a year ago, you can win with Pennington, a good ground game, and a tough defense.
My theory is this: if you boil every player down to the bare essentials, they fit into one of four categories: he brings something to the table, he takes things off the table, he doesn't bring anything to the table but he doesn't take anything off the table, or he brings something to the table but takes other things off the table. Oversimplified? Yes, but that's the point. Rosenfels is an example of the third type of player. He doesn't give your offense a whole lot in terms of weapons, but he's not going to kill you. Surrounded with a talented group of wideouts, a reliable tight end in Visanthe Shiancoe, and arguably the most exciting running back in the league since Barry Sanders, you can work with Rosenfels. Put him in charge of running the offense, staying the hell out of Purple Jesus's way, and occasionally throwing underneath to Peterson, Shiancoe, or Bernard Berrian: you've got yourself an offense that can move the ball, and won't turn it over a whole lot.
Favre, ten years ago, would've been in the first category of player. These kinds are rare--think Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. Today? He's a "brings stuff, but takes stuff away" guy. He's got an arm, no question about it. But he also makes bad decisions, and turns the ball over way too much. This team needs a Rosenfels type at quarterback--someone who is comfortable being second banana to Peterson and will keep the mistakes to a minimum. Favre is not that player.
That being said: do I think the Vikings are contenders? Definitely. But a lot has to go right for them to go far this year. Favre has to be able to shelve his ego and accept a limited role without complaining, and I don't see that happening. Brad Childress has to be able to keep the locker room under control, and I don't see that happening. Over the past three years, Favre has run Mike Sherman out of Green Bay and Eric Mangini out of New York. You think he'll be able to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Childress? Just wait until Childress costs the Vikings a game they should have won--if you follow the NFC North, you know the question isn't if this will happen, but when. Wait for Favre to take some thinly-veiled shots at the coach, and wait for the mutiny to take effect. Brett's fuse has always been notoriously short for shaky coaches, especially when things don't go according to plan.
Most importantly, and most overlooked, the whole plan hinges on Adrian Peterson staying healthy all year. Remember, Peterson was far and away the most talented player in the 2007 Draft, but fell to the Vikings at #7 because of concerns about his toughness--he missed large parts of both his sophomore and junior years at Oklahoma due to injuries. So what happens if he goes down? Well, in 2005 the Packers lost Ahman Green for the year, and with only the immortal Samkon Gado to rely on, went 4-12.
If everything goes right, the Vikings are a contender. However, if everything goes right, pushing all-in at the poker table with 4-5 suited is a good bet. That's not to say it will happen. Either way, the NFC North race looks to be one of the most competitive in the NFL. Three teams could win it, and all look like contenders. Unless you live in Detroit, it should be an exciting season.
(I'll have a full preview up of every division at some point in the next few weeks. Be patient. I'm still getting this thing off the ground.)
Madden 2010
Expecting a review? Well, I can't really do that. I haven't played it yet, and I don't anticipate playing it for a while. Every since exclusive licensing gave EA Sports a monopoly on the franchise, the game has steadily gone downhill. Personally, I prefer the NCAA Football series at this point--the Dynasty Mode holds up well against Madden's Franchise Mode, the Campus Legend mode blows Madden's Gawd-awful Superstar Mode out of the water, and the NCAA mini-games are infinitely more fun owing to the fact that you don't have to repeat them ad nauseum in order to play a franchise. Add to this the ability to run an option offense (the most underratedly fun way to make your friends scream and throw their controller at the wall), and it's not even close. Now if only the NCAA would pull their heads out of their asses and license player names, we'd be ready to go.
And thanks to the economy, I'll only be pulling in one of these games this year--and even that one won't be bought until a few other things (most notably my rent check, which I need to pay in two weeks and I still can't afford) are taken care of. That being said, I get paid each time you click on one of the ads in the right-hand column. Not saying you should do anything, just mentioning that.
Quote of the Week
"If I get hit in the balls from 300 feet, I deserve it"--Ken Griffey Jr, on why he doesn't wear a cup when he plays
Two days, two long posts. This thing might stick. Let me know what you think so far.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
We'll Never Forget You, Brent
At 10:14 this morning, I was awakened to the sound of my phone going off. I checked my text messages, and saw the following ESPN Mobile Alert:
"ESPN News - WCCO-TV (Minneapolis): QB Brett Favre is expected to sign with Vikings on Tuesday."
In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves: Whoa.
(By the way, this is the second time in a year and a half (or so) that I have been woken up by a text message. The first time was my then-girlfriend letting me know of Favre's original retirement. Out of the literally hundreds of texts I've gotten while sleeping, only two of them woke me up. A little bit creepy? Yes. But I digress.)
I was a wreck at work today. Sleepwalking through my shift. My head was elsewhere, and with good reason. For myself, and for a generation of boys in Wisconsin, Favre was a living god. Growing up as a sports fan in this state at the time I did, you didn't have much. Ray Allen's rookie year was when I was 8 years old--for my formative years as a fan, I got Todd Day, Vin Baker, and Glenn Robinson. The Brewers, if anything, were worse. In 1998, when I was 9 years old, the immortal Rafael Roque was our opening-day starter. Meanwhile, guided by arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in history, the Packers were a playoff staple. Guess which season was my favorite?
Brett Favre wasn't my favorite Packer--that was Reggie White--but he was a close second, and nobody else came close to the top two. After almost a decade of watching him sail recievers, force passes into double-coverage, and kill his teams with irresponsible interceptions, it's easy to forget what a phenom Favre was back in the day. My first memory as a sports fan was the 1995 NFC Championship game in which Favre, fresh off his first of three straight MVP seasons, damn near pulled off the impossible and upset the Cowboys in Texas Stadium. Back in the '90s, nobody beat the Cowboys at home. And Favre almost did it.
A year later, we avoided the 'Boys in the playoffs, and cruised to a Super Bowl victory. And Favre was great. Watch the highlights from that season some time--it's hard to believe that the plodding, gray gunslinger we are familiar with today was once such a great playmaker. I specifically remember one play against the Rams that season: Favre dropped back, sensed pressure, slipped loose from about 4 different Ram defenders, ran about 15 yards total behind the line of scrimmage, and flipped a shovel pass to Dorsey Levens for the touchdown.
Growing up during the Favre era tainted me as a football fan. Call it the Reverse Cubs Complex. You know how Cubs fans (or until 2004, Red Sox fans) seem to expect to lose every big game? We were the opposite. As long as we had Brett, we fully expected to win every game. And when we didn't it was a shock. Brett gave us that swagger. One of the most famous stories about him involves Super Bowl XXXI. The day of the big game, he was sitting in his hotel room watching highlights from Super Bowl XXIV. One play stuck with him--Joe Montana coming to the line, reading the defense, checking to a deep pass, and finding his receiver for a touchdown. That night, Favre did that exact same thing--twice.
Above all else, Favre was a competitor. That play against the Rams I described before, I think, exemplifies this above all. He never gave up on a play. When he was young, mobile, and accurate as anyone has ever been, this was what put him over the top. Dan Marino had the physical gifts to be that great, but never had the same never-say-die attitude that Favre had. That's what made him the greatest ever, instead of simply great. But over the years, as his physical skills eroded, Favre's mentality never changed. It was his tragic flaw.
It's an unwritten rule in professional sports: as you age, you either adapt or you fizzle. Randy Johnson has adapted--once an intimidating flamethrower, he has reinvented himself as a crafty junkballer due to his plummeting velocity. Steve Young never adapted, and he started getting hurt--and it eventually ended his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal are both great examples of once-dominant players who learned to share the spotlight late in their careers.
Favre never adapted. In his mind, he was still the same player in 2008 that he was in 1996. Sure, he didn't scramble around in the pocket as much, and he relied on his running game a lot more, but Favre was still completely unwilling to quit on a play. The result? You could piece together an entire hour-long SportsCenter out of Favre's forced-pass lowlights this decade. And the perennial retirement debacle stems from this character trait as well.
Favre is still a good quarterback. He's no longer great. But he's an upgrade over quite a few starters in the league (and Tavaris Jackson is undoubtedly one of them). In his mind, he can still play--so he's still going to play. And therein lies the problem.
A year and a half ago, he announced his retirement. The Packers, to their credit, thanked him for years of memories, and prepared to move forward with Aaron Rodgers taking the snaps. Meanwhile, the voice in the back of Favre's head kept telling him he could still play. Like the hundreds of times it told him Don't take the sack--you can still make something happen. So he decided that maybe, just maybe, he still wanted to play. And the Packers' management found themselves royally fucked. Brett was God in Green Bay. But he was getting older. By and large, his tendency to force passes had cost the team a trip to the Super Bowl the year before. And Rodgers was younger, cheaper, and if you believed what he showed in the Monday Night game against Dallas was indicative of his talents, just as good.
Packer Nation was split. Half felt that Favre should be starting for the Green and Gold so long as he was willing and able. The other half felt that he had already ended things, and was putting the team in an unfair position by trying to come back.
As you know, he ended up playing for the New York Jets. Was it painful to see him running another team? You bet. But it was hardly unprecedented. History is littered with legendary figures finishing their career with the wrong team. Joe Namath with the Rams. Joe Montana with the Chiefs. Michael Jordan with the Wizards. Jerry Rice with the Raiders, Seahawks, and Broncos. Emmitt Smith with the Cardinals. Hell, even Reggie White--my favorite Packer of all time--retired a Carolina Panther. This off-season, Favre retired and most of Packer Nation was ready to forgive him.
Now? Not a chance. Not only did he sign with an archrival, he did so for spiteful reasons (citing the Packer front office's treatment of him last off-season as a key reason to want to play for Minnesota in several interviews). And in doing so, he filled the biggest need area for the Vikings. Yesterday they were a contender in the NFC North, but hardly a favorite. Today, they're probably the smart bet to win the division. This wasn't just business--this was personal. This was Favre sticking it to the Green bay fans and executives who wouldn't kowtow to him when he wanted to come back.
To watch your childhood hero pull a stunt like that, well, it hurts deep. Watching him at work today, as ESPN showed him practicing in a Vikings helmet, was too much to take. I had to change the channel. I just wasn't ready for that yet. When Reggie White died a few years ago, it shook me. But all things considered, this was even worse. At least Reggie's legacy remained intact. I feel like my entire life as a sports fan has been tainted. Until Ryan Braun and CC Sabathia carried the Brewers down a historic stretch run last fall, every single cherished sports memory I had from my childhood involved Favre in some way or another. Like I said earlier, we didn't have much else growing up in this state. Now, it just feels different. I re-watched the NFL Films Super Bowl Champions special on the '96 Packers--the first, and only, iTunes purchase I have ever made--and it wasn't the same. It felt like watching a wedding video after the divorce.
So what did I do? Start a sports blog. All summer, as I found myself with exceedingly more free time, I considered doing it. The Richard Jeffersontrade giveaway happened, and I thought about starting this blog. The Brewers sent a giant "Fuck You" to their fans by failing to bring in a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, and I thought about it again. But I put it off each time--I won't stay motivated, it'll suck, nobody'll read it, etc. After this bombshell hit, it just felt right. Maybe I won't stay motivated. Maybe, after a nearly 9 month sabbatical from sports writing and devoid of copy editors to cover my ass, I'll suck. Maybe I'll get the 1.5 hits a month that inevitably killed my first attempt at a blog a couple years back.
Brett's facing the same situation. Maybe, like he said after last season, his heart just isn't in the game anymore. Maybe he's worse than we're realizing--he did, after all, murder the Jets' playoff chances down the stretch last year. Maybe, with the Packers and Bears both looking frisky on paper, he'll suffer his first losing season of his career.
At his age, he's got a better chance of being exposed than I do. So let's see how things play out.
"ESPN News - WCCO-TV (Minneapolis): QB Brett Favre is expected to sign with Vikings on Tuesday."
In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves: Whoa.
(By the way, this is the second time in a year and a half (or so) that I have been woken up by a text message. The first time was my then-girlfriend letting me know of Favre's original retirement. Out of the literally hundreds of texts I've gotten while sleeping, only two of them woke me up. A little bit creepy? Yes. But I digress.)
I was a wreck at work today. Sleepwalking through my shift. My head was elsewhere, and with good reason. For myself, and for a generation of boys in Wisconsin, Favre was a living god. Growing up as a sports fan in this state at the time I did, you didn't have much. Ray Allen's rookie year was when I was 8 years old--for my formative years as a fan, I got Todd Day, Vin Baker, and Glenn Robinson. The Brewers, if anything, were worse. In 1998, when I was 9 years old, the immortal Rafael Roque was our opening-day starter. Meanwhile, guided by arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in history, the Packers were a playoff staple. Guess which season was my favorite?
Brett Favre wasn't my favorite Packer--that was Reggie White--but he was a close second, and nobody else came close to the top two. After almost a decade of watching him sail recievers, force passes into double-coverage, and kill his teams with irresponsible interceptions, it's easy to forget what a phenom Favre was back in the day. My first memory as a sports fan was the 1995 NFC Championship game in which Favre, fresh off his first of three straight MVP seasons, damn near pulled off the impossible and upset the Cowboys in Texas Stadium. Back in the '90s, nobody beat the Cowboys at home. And Favre almost did it.
A year later, we avoided the 'Boys in the playoffs, and cruised to a Super Bowl victory. And Favre was great. Watch the highlights from that season some time--it's hard to believe that the plodding, gray gunslinger we are familiar with today was once such a great playmaker. I specifically remember one play against the Rams that season: Favre dropped back, sensed pressure, slipped loose from about 4 different Ram defenders, ran about 15 yards total behind the line of scrimmage, and flipped a shovel pass to Dorsey Levens for the touchdown.
Growing up during the Favre era tainted me as a football fan. Call it the Reverse Cubs Complex. You know how Cubs fans (or until 2004, Red Sox fans) seem to expect to lose every big game? We were the opposite. As long as we had Brett, we fully expected to win every game. And when we didn't it was a shock. Brett gave us that swagger. One of the most famous stories about him involves Super Bowl XXXI. The day of the big game, he was sitting in his hotel room watching highlights from Super Bowl XXIV. One play stuck with him--Joe Montana coming to the line, reading the defense, checking to a deep pass, and finding his receiver for a touchdown. That night, Favre did that exact same thing--twice.
Above all else, Favre was a competitor. That play against the Rams I described before, I think, exemplifies this above all. He never gave up on a play. When he was young, mobile, and accurate as anyone has ever been, this was what put him over the top. Dan Marino had the physical gifts to be that great, but never had the same never-say-die attitude that Favre had. That's what made him the greatest ever, instead of simply great. But over the years, as his physical skills eroded, Favre's mentality never changed. It was his tragic flaw.
It's an unwritten rule in professional sports: as you age, you either adapt or you fizzle. Randy Johnson has adapted--once an intimidating flamethrower, he has reinvented himself as a crafty junkballer due to his plummeting velocity. Steve Young never adapted, and he started getting hurt--and it eventually ended his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal are both great examples of once-dominant players who learned to share the spotlight late in their careers.
Favre never adapted. In his mind, he was still the same player in 2008 that he was in 1996. Sure, he didn't scramble around in the pocket as much, and he relied on his running game a lot more, but Favre was still completely unwilling to quit on a play. The result? You could piece together an entire hour-long SportsCenter out of Favre's forced-pass lowlights this decade. And the perennial retirement debacle stems from this character trait as well.
Favre is still a good quarterback. He's no longer great. But he's an upgrade over quite a few starters in the league (and Tavaris Jackson is undoubtedly one of them). In his mind, he can still play--so he's still going to play. And therein lies the problem.
A year and a half ago, he announced his retirement. The Packers, to their credit, thanked him for years of memories, and prepared to move forward with Aaron Rodgers taking the snaps. Meanwhile, the voice in the back of Favre's head kept telling him he could still play. Like the hundreds of times it told him Don't take the sack--you can still make something happen. So he decided that maybe, just maybe, he still wanted to play. And the Packers' management found themselves royally fucked. Brett was God in Green Bay. But he was getting older. By and large, his tendency to force passes had cost the team a trip to the Super Bowl the year before. And Rodgers was younger, cheaper, and if you believed what he showed in the Monday Night game against Dallas was indicative of his talents, just as good.
Packer Nation was split. Half felt that Favre should be starting for the Green and Gold so long as he was willing and able. The other half felt that he had already ended things, and was putting the team in an unfair position by trying to come back.
As you know, he ended up playing for the New York Jets. Was it painful to see him running another team? You bet. But it was hardly unprecedented. History is littered with legendary figures finishing their career with the wrong team. Joe Namath with the Rams. Joe Montana with the Chiefs. Michael Jordan with the Wizards. Jerry Rice with the Raiders, Seahawks, and Broncos. Emmitt Smith with the Cardinals. Hell, even Reggie White--my favorite Packer of all time--retired a Carolina Panther. This off-season, Favre retired and most of Packer Nation was ready to forgive him.
Now? Not a chance. Not only did he sign with an archrival, he did so for spiteful reasons (citing the Packer front office's treatment of him last off-season as a key reason to want to play for Minnesota in several interviews). And in doing so, he filled the biggest need area for the Vikings. Yesterday they were a contender in the NFC North, but hardly a favorite. Today, they're probably the smart bet to win the division. This wasn't just business--this was personal. This was Favre sticking it to the Green bay fans and executives who wouldn't kowtow to him when he wanted to come back.
To watch your childhood hero pull a stunt like that, well, it hurts deep. Watching him at work today, as ESPN showed him practicing in a Vikings helmet, was too much to take. I had to change the channel. I just wasn't ready for that yet. When Reggie White died a few years ago, it shook me. But all things considered, this was even worse. At least Reggie's legacy remained intact. I feel like my entire life as a sports fan has been tainted. Until Ryan Braun and CC Sabathia carried the Brewers down a historic stretch run last fall, every single cherished sports memory I had from my childhood involved Favre in some way or another. Like I said earlier, we didn't have much else growing up in this state. Now, it just feels different. I re-watched the NFL Films Super Bowl Champions special on the '96 Packers--the first, and only, iTunes purchase I have ever made--and it wasn't the same. It felt like watching a wedding video after the divorce.
So what did I do? Start a sports blog. All summer, as I found myself with exceedingly more free time, I considered doing it. The Richard Jefferson
Brett's facing the same situation. Maybe, like he said after last season, his heart just isn't in the game anymore. Maybe he's worse than we're realizing--he did, after all, murder the Jets' playoff chances down the stretch last year. Maybe, with the Packers and Bears both looking frisky on paper, he'll suffer his first losing season of his career.
At his age, he's got a better chance of being exposed than I do. So let's see how things play out.
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