Now before I get into this post let me make something perfectly clear, I am a Cowboys fan. I have done my fair share of Brett Favre bashing over the last few years. I have written a series of posts (6 episodes to be exact) entitled *Should I Stay Or Should I Go* when Brett Favre and the Packers were going through their lovers spat. I wrote a post shortly after he was traded to the Jets. I wrote a post when Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings. There have been numerous cartoons posted by people having fun at Favres expense. There was even a *Brett Favre Drinking Game* posted when Minnesota and Greenbay played on Monday Night Football earlier this season. Needless to say I have not been his biggest fan over the past few years. I respect what he has been able to accomplish during his career, but his antics over the last few years have really gotten to me as a fan of the game. Having said all that, now I’m going to tell Viking fans why they SHOULD hope Brett Favre comes back for another season.
There was a poll question put up by one of the local newspapers in Minnesota that asked the question *Do you want Brett Favre to return to the Vikings next season*. 71% of the fans want Favre back next season. 29% do not want him to return next year. For the Viking fans 0ut there that want Favre to return, the rest of this article is not directed at you. You understand that without Brett Favre your Vikings would not have been playing in the NFC Championship game last night. You realize that without Brett Favre you would not have won the NFC North, and may have not even made the playoffs. You understand that you have 2 backup quarterbacks (at best) that could have been named your starting quarterback had Favre decided to stay retired. Your are the same fans that hung your head in your hands last night when you saw Favre come limping off the field, because you were in fear that the hopes and dreams of making it to the Superbowl could rest in Tavaris Jackson’s hands. You guys and girls understand it.
To the Viking fans that do not want Favre to return next year I only have one question for you. Why? Do you understand that you were NOT a Superbowl contending team when you had Tavaris Jackson as your starting quarterback? Do you feel you would be better off at the quarterback position with Sage Rosenfels under center? Are you making an emotional decision based on Favre’s costly interception in last nights game? You must be, because that is the only reason I could possibly see for you not to want Favre to return. Now I’m not going to say that his interception didn’t rip your hearts out. Trust me when I say, Packer fans know your pain. If we have our honest caps on then I can honestly tell you that Brett Favre is not the reason the Vikings lost last night. His interception didn’t help things, but it certainly wasn’t the reason for the loss in the Superdome last night.
If your going to place the blame on Favre’s shoulders, then I’m sure it was his fault for the 12 men in the huddle penalty as well right? If you remember correctly they were in *reasonable field goal* range prior to that penalty. Favre was trying to make a play (as he has done his entire career) and things didn’t work out the way he thought they would. No one got upset when Favre threw a 50 yard hail mary into the back of the endzone (with 3 defenders) in the area at the end of the 49′ers game. Oh thats right, no one said anything because the Vikings won the game. That was just *Favre Being Favre*. That was some of the old mans magic right? Viking fans you are going to have to learn the same thing the Packer fans had to. You take Brett Favre for better or worse. Having Favre as your quarterback is like that relationship that makes you laugh, cry, and want to pull your hair out. Yes he could have continued running when he rolled out to pick up a few yards. He isn’t the most mobile quarterback in the league, especially after the beating he took last night. Bringing Longwell out for a 50+ yard attempt wasn’t a sure thing, so please don’t think it was a guaranteed win. When kicking a 50+ yard field goal (even indoors) its not always automatic. 50+ yards isn’t a chip shot.
I am almost certain that it wasn’t Brett Favre coughing up the football 3 times (one in the redzone), that would have been Adrian Peterson. Do you want him gone too? Peterson leads the league in fumbles since entering the league in 2007. Of course you don’t want him gone, because he is an explosive playmaker. You will make every excuse under the sun to justify why you want him on your roster, but you don’t want Favre back? I just don’t understand why there are fans out there that don’t understand that the offense is so much better with Favre running it. Here are a few numbers that jump off the stats sheet. These are just a few of the *playmakers* that started getting a lot of media attention after Favre came to town. Were going to break this down into two categories, Before Favre and With Favre.
Sidney Rice.
Before Favre ( These numbers are a combination of season totals for the 07 and 08 season)
46 Receptions
393 Yards
8 Touchdowns
With Favre
83 Receptions
1,312 Yards
8 Touchdowns.
Your ready to start renaming streets and babies after Sidney after that kind of season aren’t you? Lets look at another one shall we?
Visanthe Shiancoe
Before Favre ( Once again combination of season totals for the 07 and 08 season)
69 Receptions
919 Yards
8 Touchdowns
With Favre
56 Receptions
596 Yards
11 Touchdowns
Now you will notice a drop in the yards and receptions, he missed 3 games this season. I’m sure the drop off also has something to do with the addition of Percy Harvin, and the breakout season of Sidney Rice. I am not going to break down the entire offense, I think you get my point.
Viking fans if your perfectly content with your newly found *playmakers* going back to being average then send Favre out to pasture and go with one of your backups. You could even draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft. As long as you are fully aware of the fact that you will go back to being a stagnate below average offense, as you were with Tavaris Jackson under center. Are you ok with going through a *rebuilding* process with a rookie quarterback? Especially after the season you just had, winning the division and making a deep run into the playoffs? There are a lot of question that you have to answer going into next season. Soul searching if you will.
My intent is not to defend Brett Favre, merely pointing out that he is not the sole reason for loss last night.
8 responses so far ↓
1 jimi5150 // Jan 25, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Huh. Well, if you’re gonna be reasonable about it . . .
I absolutely agree. I’m no Brent fan. Even when he was with the Packers it was a tumultuous relationship for me. A love/hate thing. You live with the Favre, you die with the Favre. He’s an incredible quarterback, no question. The numbers prove it. But, he’s a gunslinger and a maverick. If you’re gonna take him, you’re gonna take ALL of him. As Childress found out.
You make the point about Favre that I’ve been trying to make about his years with the Packers, and Aaron. They’re just one guy . . . and one play does not a football game make. As much as Aaron didn’t lose the game for the Packers, Brent didn’t lose the game for the Vikings. Was it a bad decision? Yep. Did it alter the outcome of the game? Don’t know. We’ll never know. You simply cannot say one way or the other. Even if the ball had been on the 30 yard line . . . look at how many “easy” field goals have been missed this playoff season. The much ballyhoo’d defense of the Vikings had an opportunity to stop the Saints. They didn’t. But, even with that, as much as the Viking defense failed, the offense of the Saints succeeded. There are two teams on the field, folks. And they both want to win.
In the end, I could care less if he retires or not. I’m glad we don’t have to put up with him. But, again, I absolutely agree . . . you’d have to be a complete moron not to want him back next year. They’re not going to get a good draft pick, free agency is going to be iffy this year, their schedule is going to be tougher, and who do you have?
Exactly.
2 liverdamage // Jan 25, 2010 at 7:35 pm
If Favre retires, they’ll need to trade the farm for JaMarcus Russell to even have a chance!
3 Lajitas // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:28 pm
My feelings about the Farve saga are well noted, so I’m not going there tonight. I am going to say that I hope he retires for one plain, simply, ugly truth. He’s 40 years old now. The body is worn and the recuperation period gets longer each game. You could see the stress and agony in his wife’s face after each hit, and with good reason. She is the one who will have to care for him later on down the road. I’ve had many conversations with Art Strahan (Michael’s uncle) about all the players he played with back in the ’60’s and early ’70’s who can’t walk now, or have trouble just getting from the bed to the wheelchair. Farve has nothing left to prove in this game. No, Cinderella didn’t get the glass slipper back this time. But that’s life. Sometimes it just sucks. But it would be nice for all his fans to be able to watch him walk onto the stage and up to the podium 5 years after retirement to accept his bronze likeness at the Hall of Fame. Retire now and go enjoy life down on the farm. It ain’t so bad, dude, especially when you can afford any toy you want to help occupy your time. Let your wife enjoy you for a while. You’ve had waaaay more years than most get to have. Accept your blessing and go.
4 Ick // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I think he should retire as well. I just think its funny that there are some Viking fans out there that don’t want him back. They should realize that the Vikings didn’t decide they wanted him, he decided he wanted them. He made the decision to go to Minnesota. Was it for the money? Maybe. Was it for a chance at the Superbowl? I’m sure that thought crossed his mind. Was it to stick one to the Packers franchise? Absolutely!
Farve should walk away now, while he still can. I found myself wondering if he would get up each and everytime he hit the ground last night. The Saints didn’t sack him one time, but man did they put a beating on him. For the first time in his career, Favre looks his age. He looks like a 40 year old man playing a young mans game.
JaMarcus Russell? Really Liverdamage?
5 Dan // Jan 26, 2010 at 7:54 am
I loved having Farve here this year, but this year’s performance is no measure for future results.
I hate seeing a 40 year old get knocked to the ground so I’m leaning towards that he should retire.
Plus, the Vikings maybe have another run in them with the right veteran QB and if they can re-establish the ground game. There defense is pretty young and solid yet and their offensive playmakers like Shiancoe, Harvin, Berrian, Rice still have many years left. I’d be happy with a McNabb or some other old-side-of-30 QB to hopefully give us another run in the next couple years.
Dan´s last blog ..Still a tough loss to swallow
6 Chris from Racine // Jan 26, 2010 at 10:28 am
Excellent post sir. I agree with all you said. Any Viking fan who doesn’t want him back next year is making a decision based on emotion, not facts and figures. That being said, the man should retire post haste. He is just one hit away from being seriously injured…it was painful watching the game (in a fun kind of way)
Not being a Packer fan but living in Wisconsin, I’ve watched this drama go on year after year after year. In fact, even though Favre left two seasons ago, our newspapers and sportscasters are STILL all Favre, all the time. I think it’s sad that he has tarnished his legacy the way he has. Although he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, he will also forever be known as a manipulative prima donna.
In the words of Motley Crue…Brett don’t go away mad, Brett just go away.
Chris from Racine´s last blog ..MIA
7 Ick // Jan 26, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I think its time for Favre to ride off into the sunset. I think he polished the tarnish off his legacy with that performance on Sunday night. If you think about it his guts and the way he played the game is what made people fall in love with him. As I said in the article I found myself worried he wouldn’t get back up after some of the hits he took.
It was reported today that Favre could barely walk after the game. He had massive bruises on his arms, back, ribs, both legs, and ankle.
I agree with Dan that a bringing in a veteran would be a wise choice should Favre decide that its over. I wrote an article before the season started about how I felt Michael Vick would be a great fit in Minnesota. I still feel the same way after watching him be McNabb’s back up. I think it made him even more hungry to compete and work for a starting job in the league. Vick will be a starting qb next season, where remains to be seen. I do not condone what he did, but I am glad to see him on the right path, thanks in large part to Tony Dungy.
Ick´s last blog ..And Then There Was One…
8 Ick // Jan 26, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Almost forgot, Dan I added your site to my sidebar. Great work keep it up!
Ick´s last blog ..And Then There Was One…
Leave a Comment