Hey Brett Favre, you can un-retire anytime you want (if you want)
1:16 p.m. update: Here’s Dr. Z with a great take on Favre–he was an all-timer, but could’ve been greater if he wasn’t so reckless with the ball and so protected by his media benefactors.
Brett Favre is retiring. Today. The sports world is properly in a reflective mood–Favre is, as native ‘Sconsin-ite Buzz Ryan points out, one of the last sports legends/folk heroes.
I think it’s the right time for him to walk away and apparently so does Favre, but I also think he could have regrets almost immediately, and definitely once training camps open across the nation.
Because it is a tiny bit odd that he’s retiring today, one day after his buddy Randy Moss re-signed with New England. A few days after most of the other big offensive free agents signed elsewhere.
Why now? I mean, I believe the announcement is absolutely authentic, but I also think it’s wrapped in Favre’s feelings about the Packers (ready to move on with Aaron Rodgers?) and the idea that he may never again be able to take that roster as far as he took them last season.
So if Favre is gone for good, we’ll all miss him. He has the right to leave at any time, for any reason he chooses. I’m curious to see how well Rodgers does, as well.
But maybe if a warmer-climate team is interested in August…. With a chance at a Super Bowl run. With some great receivers… We’ll see what Favre does. Or what if the Packers beg him back?
I sure won’t begrudge Favre for listening. I think his agent will demand that he listens. I think he might get restless real fast.
But I also wouldn’t argue if the Packers move to block any such Favre return in another uniform–they’re certainly under no obligation to let him show up in a Chargers or Seahawks uniform come September.
OK, everybody is tossing out their list, and here’s my list of alltime best QBs:
1. Joe Montana. Of course.
2. Johnny Unitas. If I could make this a tie with Joe, I would. But I grew up in the Bay Area in the 1970s and ’80s. So I can’t.
3. Brett Favre. The durability, the joy, the amazing throws in the Wisconsin winter, all those great games against the 49ers and Cowboys… He also made a lot of the dumbest passes I’ve ever seen, but if he’s at QB, your team has a chance to win. Period.
I wasn’t around Favre much during his career, but I was at one of his last games–December vs. the Raiders at Lambeau. Favre wasn’t brilliant, but he was good enough (and the Packer defense was dominant) to easily win that game.
What I’ll remember is being on the field a few hours before the game and watching Favre amble out of the tunnel onto the field… There were probably 20,000 fans in Lambeau, and they were ALL WAITING FOR FAVRE.
(This was the first home game after SI named him Sportsman of the Year. I brought a copy of it to the game since I hadn’t read it and figured I might have spare time in the press box. I didn’t. But I swear, the security guard at the gate wanted to swipe it from me. Though I’m sure he already had 10 copies at home.)
When Favre hits Lambeau Field, I’m telling you, there’s a literally boom! of happiness. That’s special. Not quite the same for Shaun Hill at Candlestick, well, not yet.
I also remember Deanna Favre riding in a cart down the catwalk after the game as the Bay Area media was walking back up to the pressbox. I have never seen a Princess in person… but Deanna Favre, riding in that cart, with attendants, family and in her thick coat, beaming… well, I’m pretty sure that was an American Princess.
I also thought: She looks cold. I wonder how much longer she wants to be this cold.
A week or so later, the Packers lost in icy weather at Chicago, and Brett complained about playing in the wind and cold. Again, I thought: They’ve experienced 16 years of this, they’re used to the Gulf weather, how much more do they want?
I think we found out.
4. Peyton Manning/Tom Brady. A single-entry right now because I don’t want to put two of these guys in the Top 5. Yet.
5. John Elway. Never a great Terrible stat QB, but OK with the game on the line, eh?
6. Otto Graham. Another era, but he’s the Bill Russell of the NFL. Winner. Winner. Winner.
7. Roger Staubach. My old college buddy is the one who clued me in on this one–missed all that time due to his Navy service and still put up ridiculous numbers. I only had room for one of these missed-time, great weapon QBs, so Staubach gets in, Steve Young is pushed out of this list.
8. Terry Bradshaw.
9. Dan Marino. Opposite of Elway–awesome numbers, I’m not sure that he was a winner, though. If you didn’t block for him, he was a losing QB.
10. Bart Starr/Dan Fouts. I’m cheating by putting them both in, so sue me. (Not you, Steve Y.)
I’ve always had a hard time coming around to Favre because he absolutely beat on the Niners. However, as I got older (yep, right there with you Tim)I came to appreciate his joy for the game. He never gave any indication in was about the $$$. The only sad part is Favre only won 1 SB.
As for the top 10, I too cannot see anyone better than Montana. Glad to see you give Johnny U some respect (I only read about him in books.)
Definitely Roger the Dodger over Steve.
Being a 49er fan I HATED Favre during the 90’s but I think my opinion changed during that Monday Nighter after the passing of his father. How could you NOT root for the guy that game. Goosebumps just thinking about it. Great player.
Young getting undercut by Dan Fouts??? Mr never won a big game? Fouts was the Allen Iverson of the NFL, put up big numbers with limited results. Young put up big numbers AND won a Super Bowl. Retired the most accurate QB in the game, first running QB to win a title. How can you slight him for Dan Frikkin Fouts, unbelievable.
I really love him. Hope he will change his mind!!For quick recap here you can find the best Brett Favre’s memorable moments !
Dude, seriously, farve, manning and brady better than elway? Elway could take over a game and carry a team on his shoulders, only farve could approach that and farve made far to many bad plays to ever be anything more than an amusement in a great quarterback discussion, an amusement that is quickly ridiculed out of teh discussion. Your credibility is slipping on this one.
Dude, seriously, farve, manning and brady better than elway? Elway could take over a game and carry a team on his shoulders, only farve could approach that and farve made far to many bad plays to ever be anything more than an amusement in a great quarterback discussion, an amusement that is quickly ridiculed out of the discussion. Your credibility is slipping on this one.
I think you’ve hear too many fawning broadcasters ooohh and ahhhh over Mr. Dramatic. If I’m a GM, I’ll take every QB on that list, plus a few more, including Troy Aikman and Jim Kelly, easily over Favre. Favre is 2 playoff interceptions away from playing himself out of the Hall of Fame. The smartest thing he’s done in 10 years is retire.
And how can you leave off Steve Young, who is arguably top 5? Marino should rank higher as well.
Brett Favre is definitely a top 5 QB but not top 3. Peyton Manning tied with Tom Brady? How many playoff games has he lost at home to underdogs. Manning played horribly during thier playoff run in ‘06, his defense won that one for him. He’s the Dan Marino of this era. As for Steve Young I can’t remember how many boneheaded plays he made in the playoffs. No way is Young top ten. Anyways, heres my list:
1. Montana- Mr. clutch, others had better stats but noone played better when it mattered.
2. John Elway-supremely talented, 5 super Bowls 2 wins
3. Johnny U.-before my time but ahead of his
4. Bett Favre-also supremely talented but took to many chances
5. Tom Brady-might be at the top of this list if he had beat the Giants
1. Montana – The Ultimate Puppet Master pulled all the strings.
2. Unitias – His dominance changed the game forever
3. Brady – The bar is so high, he’ll have a tough time moving up.
4. Elway – Freak of Nature, he grew into a phenomenal leader.
5. Graham – A Man amongst boys, the ultimate winner.
Everyone else had/has too many flaws in their game to make it this high without being easily picked apart. This group owned the field in their heyday. We’re lucky to all have had the opportunity to watch Montana, Brady and Elway in person. I don’t see anyone, Manning included, with a shot to breaking into the top five from the current generation.
PS. Steve Young is tough to grade, but considering Tim’s top 12 list, he should have been in there. Then again, Tim always loves a little early Prince: Controversy.