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ORIGINAL: Duane Sampson

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Posted March 16, 2008

Mike Vandermause column: Paolantonio levels Favre with absurd criticism





By Mike Vandermause
Brett Favre's retirement announcement last week was greeted with tributes, magazine covers, newspaper special sections and every form of adulation imaginable. The legendary Favre is a lock to become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. When all-time great NFL quarterbacks are debated, Favre will be part of the discussion. However, not everyone is fawning over Favre.
 
With the ferocity of a blindside sack, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio called Favre overrated and argued the last decade of his career was pedestrian. Paolantonio not only attacked Favre's credentials, but blasted the media for heaping undeserved praise on the quarterback. It's an absurd notion, particularly coming from an experienced pro football observer.
 
Having witnessed the Packers' starting quarterback first-hand since 1992, my job has been to call it like I see it, with no vested interest in defending Favre and no reason to inflate his career accomplishments. The unemotional, objective facts show clearly that over the wide arc of his career, Favre was brilliant. Paolantonio bases the bulk of his argument on the quarterback's playoff record in the past decade, when the Packers were 3-7 and Favre posted a mediocre passer rating of 77.8. He cites Favre's overtime interceptions in playoff losses to Philadelphia in 2004 and the New York Giants in January as examples of a player not nearly as good as his press clippings.
 
That narrow view fails to acknowledge that without Favre, the Packers in many cases never would have qualified for the playoffs. One measure of a great player is how he makes his teammates better, and Favre was the master at elevating players around him. For example, Favre's starting receivers in 2001 were an aging Antonio Freeman and an ordinary Bill Schroeder. Yet the Packers produced a remarkable 12-4 record, largely due to Favre and his 94.1 quarterback rating.
 
Paolantonio would discount that season because the Packers lost a divisional playoff game to the St. Louis Rams. Yes, Favre played poorly, but the Rams were a superior team and it would have taken a perfect game to beat them on their home field. Consider that in 2007, Favre was surrounded by the youngest roster in the NFL, but on the strength of a career-best 66.5 completion percentage and quarterback rating of 95.7, he willed the Packers to a jaw-dropping 13-3 record and berth in the NFC championship game.
 
Yet Paolantonio defines Favre's season by a playoff interception, and concludes: "Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone." Huh? Was Paolantonio too busy blow-drying his hair to notice Favre, at 38, was among the top three quarterbacks in the league? Sure, Favre threw his share of costly picks. But his gun-slinging approach is the reason the Packers were the winningest team in the NFL during his starting tenure and suffered just one losing record in 16 seasons.
 
In Paolantonio's view, Favre was a failure every year the Packers didn't win the Super Bowl. But during Favre's long stint in Green Bay, only one teammate — Reggie White — was a Pro Football Hall of Famer. That more than anything explains why the Packers captured just one championship with Favre. Is that making an excuse for Favre, as Paolantonio would suggest?
 
In reality, Favre doesn't need excuses. He has more victories, passing yards, completions, touchdowns and consecutive starts than any quarterback in NFL history. His record speaks for itself.
 
 Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.

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ORIGINAL: Lynn G.

There are 49,526 articles that drool over how godlike Favre is/was, and exactly one that criticizes him. Why would that Vandermause take the time to even acknowledge it? Sounds kind of paranoid to me.

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ORIGINAL: Easy E

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ORIGINAL: Lynn G.

There are 49,526 articles that drool over how godlike Favre is/was, and exactly one that criticizes him. Why would that Vandermause take the time to even acknowledge it? Sounds kind of paranoid to me.

The problem is that Favre's supporters go way overboard.

Favre's name should be brought up in the "greatest to ever play" converstations about the same amount as Roger Staubach and Steve Young.. which is to say, kinda, but not really.

There are, quite literally, people who think he is EASILY one of the best 3 QBs in the history of the league, and will tell you he is probably the best.

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ORIGINAL: Duane Sampson

Favre Might Unretire Due to Packers QB Injuries, But...
Tue Apr 8, 2008
 
The Sun Herald reports in a recent interview with Sun Herald sports writer Al Jones, who was working with QB Brett Favre on a foreward for the Sun Herald's upcoming book, "The Brett Favre Story," the Hancock County native did some speculating himself on whether he'd consider coming out of retirement. QB Brett Favre admits he's thought about it and has had moments of reflection since his retirement decision. But, bottom line, he said, is that he's happy with the decision he made. When asked if he would return to football if the Packers called because of team injuries, Favre said: "It would be hard to pass up, I guess. But three months from now, say that presents itself, I may say, you know what, I'm so glad I made that decision. I'm feel very comfortable in what I'm doing and my decision. Yeah, I can probably be up there doing that and playing, but again, I don't know. It's only speculating. I think the world of that team. I had a lot of fun, not only this year, but over my career. Those guys I played with this past year, a lot of young guys, a lot of fun. I think of that, when I think of now being retired, I think I won't be in the quarterback/receiver meeting on Thursdays joking around and having fun and game plan and all that stuff together. It was a fun year. That was fun throwing the ball around like we did. There's no reason to think that won't happen again. Aaron has fallen into a great situation. And if that opportunity presented itself and they did call, it would be tempting. And I very well could be enticed to do it." But upon further review, Favre added this: "But I don't want to do it if I'm not in shape. It would be hard to go up there at 38. It was hard to stay in shape. I say that, I worked out and I worked out hard. Week in and week out, I was just drained. Finally, for the first time, I felt, not that 38 is old, but I looked around at practice and these guys are bouncing around. And I practiced every day and all the time people would ask me, god, how do you do it? Inside I'm saying, 'I have no idea.' It's a struggle."

 

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ORIGINAL: Ed_Marotske

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ORIGINAL: Duane Sampson

Favre Might Unretire Due to Packers QB Injuries, But...
Tue Apr 8, 2008
 
The Sun Herald reports in a recent interview with Sun Herald sports writer Al Jones, who was working with QB Brett Favre on a foreward for the Sun Herald's upcoming book, "The Brett Favre Story," the Hancock County native did some speculating himself on whether he'd consider coming out of retirement. QB Brett Favre admits he's thought about it and has had moments of reflection since his retirement decision. But, bottom line, he said, is that he's happy with the decision he made. When asked if he would return to football if the Packers called because of team injuries, Favre said: "It would be hard to pass up, I guess. But three months from now, say that presents itself, I may say, you know what, I'm so glad I made that decision. I'm feel very comfortable in what I'm doing and my decision. Yeah, I can probably be up there doing that and playing, but again, I don't know. It's only speculating. I think the world of that team. I had a lot of fun, not only this year, but over my career. Those guys I played with this past year, a lot of young guys, a lot of fun. I think of that, when I think of now being retired, I think I won't be in the quarterback/receiver meeting on Thursdays joking around and having fun and game plan and all that stuff together. It was a fun year. That was fun throwing the ball around like we did. There's no reason to think that won't happen again. Aaron has fallen into a great situation. And if that opportunity presented itself and they did call, it would be tempting. And I very well could be enticed to do it." But upon further review, Favre added this: "But I don't want to do it if I'm not in shape. It would be hard to go up there at 38. It was hard to stay in shape. I say that, I worked out and I worked out hard. Week in and week out, I was just drained. Finally, for the first time, I felt, not that 38 is old, but I looked around at practice and these guys are bouncing around. And I practiced every day and all the time people would ask me, god, how do you do it? Inside I'm saying, 'I have no idea.' It's a struggle."

 

Now that would just chap the asses of some in here to no end...and I would laugh my ass off.....

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ORIGINAL: Duane Sampson

Packers to Retire Brett Favre's Number in 2008
Wed Mar 19, 2008
 
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Mark Murphy, president and ceo of the Green Bay Packers, said Wednesday that the Packers plan on retiring QB Brett Favre's number sometime this coming season. Murphy said he had had a preliminary discussion with Favre, and that both Favre and the organization agreed that his No. 4 would be retired in 2008. "Our plan and his is to retire his number sometime this season. And we will make a decision after the schedule comes out," Murphy said.

 
 
 
There are plans to retire his interception # as well

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ORIGINAL: Lynn G.

They just mentioned on ESPN that the Packers are working out none other than ...

... Daunte Culpepper!

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ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

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ORIGINAL: Lynn G.

They just mentioned on ESPN that the Packers are working out none other than ...

... Daunte Culpepper!

Oh good, if they sign him that means 4 more fumbles a game caused by our newest Vike Jared Allen!!!

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ORIGINAL: Todd Mallett

Is it true that Favre is going to be on the cover of Madden?

How super lame is that?

If Golden boy hadn't chumped it out in the NFCCG then that might be one thing but the last memory I'll have of the guy is him looking like he didn't even want to be there and missing a couple of opportunities to get the job done at home.