The Great Favre Challenge

Before I give you my reasons, I would like to know the metrics by which you will choose the winners and what the prizes are.

 

dance-monkey-dance

 

First, let me start off by saying that I'm a Favre supporter. But, I refuse to be bias, therefore. Here are my reasons for the corresponding questions.

1. Favre is a proven winner. The reason for his success, as a matter of fact the reason for any proven winners success is the fact that they put themselves first in order to better themselves. In some cases, and it inspires others around him to be successful. In other cases, such as what we've witnessed this year with the Jets; it's caused others around him to become jealous (i.e Coles). When this happens, it causes somewhat of a "Wedge" between that person and the rest of his teammates for example. In my opinion, Favre is no more selfish than any other quarterback would be, with the career that Favre has produced.

2. I don't flatout believe that Favre sucks. However, I do believe that he refuses to realize that his skills have diminished. Let's take a look, shall we?

2008: 2 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 54.90 passer rating
2007: 6 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 73.33 passer rating
2006: 4 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 61.22 passer rating
2005: 1 touchdown, 10 interceptions, 54.40 passer rating

These are Favre's stats over the past four seaons, in the final five games of those seasons. Favre's inability to perform is not something that's new here with the Jets. Some would have you believe that "He just doesn't like being here, so that's why he sucks", or "He's selfish and tries to hard, so that's why he sucks." The truth of the matter is that Favre's skills have been diminishing over the years, but the thing is, that in GB he had the ability to set the Packers up for the Post-Season early on in the season. This was partly due to the fact that the NFC as a whole is a weaker conference than the AFC, therefore, weaker opponents mean a better record, and less to worry about when the end of the season rolls around, so it's ok if they lose 3 of their last five. Couple this, with the fact that Favre had a slight bicep injury heading into the tail end of this season.

3. It's simple. He wasn't! As it's been seen throughout Favre's career, he simply refuses to sitout due to injury. This is probably due to the fact that it's the reason Favre was able to get his start in GB! Because the QB in front of him went down, from there on out the rest is history. Pile this on top of the fact that Favre probably wants to maintain one of the things he's known for best, his record for consecutive starts. I believe it also has to do with the fact that Favre didn't want to make the Jets look like complete douche bags. Could you imagine the media frenzy if Mangini was the first coach to bench Favre? Instead of looking at it realistically, the media would've threw Mangini under the bus in this situation. Mangini's career would've been ruined. Favre was probably looking out for the best interests of himself as well as this team when he waited 'till the end of the season to announce the injury.

4. I don't believe that Favre directly had a hand in getting rid of Mangini. I mean, he was a reason, but it was an outside reason dictated by upper management. They wanted Favre to start, regardless of what happened! We could see that at the press conference at the end of the season...you know, the one where they announced they were letting go of Mangini? Mangini obviously wanted Favre benched. It's not the QB that Mangini wanted out there, you can see that at the press conferences when he spoke about Ratliff, or even Clemens; praising them as much as he could! Johnson simply didn't like the opposition of Mangini telling him that he refused to work with Favre. Of course, this created animousity between Favre and Mangini, even though I'm sure personally they were friends. Favre probably got picked on alot due to Johnson and Mike T. even though Mangini liked him, because let's face it; shit rolls down hill. So if Mangini was gonna' get yelled at, then so was Favre. Then of course, the news came out that there was this animousity between the two of them, and the media ate it up. Forced Woody into a corner, and reinforced the discomfort he had telling Mangini to play Favre no matter what, thus leading to his execution. Of course, it also was icing on top of the cake for the 4-12 season

 

Seems this post looks to be putting the blame on the wrong person, what's going on?

Now, I was never a Favre supporter from the get go - I knew as well as everyone that's been paying attention with the game that Favre is bascially a 'what you see is what you get' player. We knew going in what his capabilities were/are - warts and all.

So guess what? So did the Jets management! Favre can't be blamed for losing his skills as the years go by..every one gets old.

What's Jets management excuse for being so blind? They must take the blame. Favre is just the victim in the scheme of the things.

 

Didn't you already make this same thread?

 

I could win this hands down, but I've done it so many times I simply don't have it in me any more. But I will give you the short, short, short version.

1: Why He's selfish - Different set of rules, one more than one occassion making the Packers wait and wait and wait before deciding what to do, finally retiring and then changing his mind forcing the Packers' hand, trying to tell the front office how to do their job.

2: Why he sucks - As a player he doesn't suck. Never did, never will. But at 39 he's clearly past his prime and simply not worth the draft pick. He is no longer capable of carrying a team and he compounds this problem by making absolutely terrible decisions with the football. In all the years I've watched football (and that's more years than Brett's been alive) I've never seen anyone just toss a ball up for grabs so frequently. In addition, he has stalled the Jets search for a true franchise quarterback, when it should have been clear the Jets weren't going to the Super Bowl with or without him.

3: Why you know he was faking the injury - I don't think he's faking an injury. However, if he were significantly injured he would have had an MRI when the shoulder first started to bother him and not after the season. It's clear that even if he does have an injury it didn't have a major impact on his play, and the only point in harping on it up now is to make excuses.

4: OPTIONAL: Why He got Mangini fired - I don't think he directly got Mangini fired other than with his poor play contributing to the Jets collapse. However, it may well be true that he didn't like being called out for his mistakes and made that fact known to management, who for their own greedy motives want him back.

 

I know this is for complaining: And I agree with your analysis entirely, however you omitted that the fact favre has come back injury after injury and played well cannot be overlooked. Broke his thumb on his throwing hand? No problem! Outside of the increased fumbles, Favre played pretty darn well.

Severly sprained ankle? Wasn't able to practice all week? No problem, he starts, throws 4 TD passes, Packers win. Concussion in a must win game? Not even medically cleared to re-enter the game, favre walks out of the field on 4th and 5. Immediately the offense spritns on the field, and the punts team runs off. At this point, you couldn't stop him. Throws a bomb in double coverage to Javon Walker for a TD before getting abck to the sidelines and not being allowed to return (he didn't even remember the play after the game).

Seriously, he has a HISTORY of not just playing with the pain, but playing well. This would be one of the few times in his career that injury may have actually caused him to play bad, that is, if it really exists. Could be nothing more then being 39 years old, and arm got soar for allt he hits he took while throwing hte ball this year.