I have a simple question...
What makes fans of football hate Brett Favre?
As a loyal Patriot/Eagles fan, a northeastern resident most of my life, I am baffled when I hear fans of football, those who really know the game, say they cannot stand number 4 for "The Pack". Is it because he is just that good that he seems to have the New York Yankee curse that all consistent winners have until they start to lose? Or is it because people believe he stayed in the game too long? Do some honestly believe that this man broke so many records, including Marino's TD record which will be shattered this season, simply because he played for 17 years?
Dan Marino piled up 4967 completions on 8358 attempts in his 17 years in the league. Favre has 5101 completions in 8349 attempts. Favre has also played in a Super Bowl in which he won (1999 v. My New England Patriots). John Elway is loved because he loyally stayed with a Broncos team that wasn't always a winner. Well, ask Favre about winning and losing, especially in the past few seasons. Ask Favre about loyalty about playing with a Packers team that got him following his 2 games with Atlanta as a rookie where he accounted for 2 int and 1 fumble.... in 5 passing attempts (16 plays). Favre was not a first pick holdout, did not make promises of quitting if drafted by a certain team, did not automatically get traded. He came into the league, and worked to get where he wanted to be. He changed from a gunslinger to a poised and precise passer who is having fun in a 3-0 start in his 17th season. He has overcome addictions, he has been an MVP, and has won rings. He is tough, he plays every game to win, and he knows that the moment he sits out is a moment for someone else to take over the team. Favre will eventually break every record held by Elway and Marino, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, and more importantly, he will leave when he is god damn ready to.
So why do fans of the game hate him?
The answer; he isn't what we want in a legend. He doesn't have the Dan Marino suit and tie look. He doesn't threaten his receivers, like Marino. He doesn't have a storied legacy of failure leading to a triumphant Super Bowl victory like Elway. He is simply the kid from Mississippi who played every game like it was backyard football. The guy who everyone wanted to quit because in their eyes he was "destroying his legacy". He was unprofessional, funny, and spoke with a southern drawl which let us know football wasn't a business, it was a great game...
Brett Favre is the guy we all wanted to be when we grew up dreaming of the NFL.
For him, continuing to play football is about being a football player. It's what he does. The idea that the only football he wants to watch is his team's defense when he just led a scoring drive. And the only football he wants to view on a television is game film on this weeks opponent.
In a time when guys like Michael "Too busy in court" Vick, Pac Man "$3000 to make it rain" Jones, Tony "I'm dating Carrie Underwood" Romo steal the spotlights on Monday through Friday for their off the field behavior and gossip stories as Hollywood stars, the kid from the south steals the spotlight on Sunday, and there ain't no body besides Wisconsin that enjoys watching him like this guy.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Duh Bears Finally Benching Grossman? DUH!
On the 27th day of September the Lord (Lovie) came down he saideth unto the press that there will be a new quarterback in the Midway. And unto us there will be fewer turnovers, longer drives, more intelligent audibles and he will indeed hit the checkdown when needed... the peasants of Chicago cheered!
Ok ok ok... so it's just Griese. But the thing is that Grossman definitely wasn't doing it for the Bears who are now 1-2 with the 30th ranked offense. 1 TD and 6 Ints is not good... in fact, I am pretty sure that I could stand back at 6'2'' 265 lbs, and lob the ball up a few times until someone caught it. In fact, with Grossman's 52% completion percentage, if I threw nothing but Clock Killers and hitches, I bet I could have better projected ratings than he does on ESPN.com. According to ESPN.com, he is on pace (though early) to have 6 TDs and 32 Ints and only 2600 yards of passing. I'd say Coach Lovie was smart is making sure that never happened.
"The frustrating part is I know this offense is close to getting in a rhythm and clicking, and I just wish I could have been the one pulling the trigger," Grossman said Wednesday afternoon, hours after the Bears announced the change according to ESPN.com.
Yeah, they are close... you were the only one pulling them from the finish line. In fact, I don't even know if Rex knows where the finish line is. And that clicking, was Coach Smith's jaw from stress watching you floats balls to your receivers and watching defensive ends picking you off in the flats. In fact, I believe the only reason the Bears defense is not slowing anyone down is last year Lovie held onto to you simply because "If you are winning, don't change anything." Well the Defens is done carrying the team, expect them to allow ten (10) yards of offense this week as their dreams of a QB who can score AND hold onto the ball for more than a quick water break has finally come true.
As for Grossman, the Bears believed with a full season as a starter and with a deep set of receivers, Grossman would find the consistency he lacked last season. Instead, last year's NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September was neither impressive nor inspiring. he is pretty much out of the loop. . well, he needs to realize that if he isn't going to improve his reads, his arm strength, his mobilitity, his ability to miss open receivers, his ability to overlook WIDE open receivers, and his inability to simply not throw interceptions....Overall he must nimprove every aspect of being a quarterback in the NFL.
Now as for Griese, a 10-year veteran, the 32-year-old Griese has passed for 16,564 yards with 104 touchdowns and 80 interceptions and a 63 percent completion rate. He was a starter with the Broncos, Miami and Tampa Bay, but all three teams released him. Why? Let's see.... for jake Plummer, Dante Culpepper, and the 7 quarterback that will start for the Bucs this year. But what Grossman has in overall attitude and tenacity, Griese brings a how do you say... confidence?
"He's calm. He's a real confident guy." Tight End Desmond Clark was quoted by ESPN.com.
Well, let's see how calm he is when his fourth team tells him he needs to win ... or they will add themselves to the impressive list of teams to have released Griese. In either case, Brian gets his start versus the Detroit Lions this weekend.
Ok ok ok... so it's just Griese. But the thing is that Grossman definitely wasn't doing it for the Bears who are now 1-2 with the 30th ranked offense. 1 TD and 6 Ints is not good... in fact, I am pretty sure that I could stand back at 6'2'' 265 lbs, and lob the ball up a few times until someone caught it. In fact, with Grossman's 52% completion percentage, if I threw nothing but Clock Killers and hitches, I bet I could have better projected ratings than he does on ESPN.com. According to ESPN.com, he is on pace (though early) to have 6 TDs and 32 Ints and only 2600 yards of passing. I'd say Coach Lovie was smart is making sure that never happened.
"The frustrating part is I know this offense is close to getting in a rhythm and clicking, and I just wish I could have been the one pulling the trigger," Grossman said Wednesday afternoon, hours after the Bears announced the change according to ESPN.com.
Yeah, they are close... you were the only one pulling them from the finish line. In fact, I don't even know if Rex knows where the finish line is. And that clicking, was Coach Smith's jaw from stress watching you floats balls to your receivers and watching defensive ends picking you off in the flats. In fact, I believe the only reason the Bears defense is not slowing anyone down is last year Lovie held onto to you simply because "If you are winning, don't change anything." Well the Defens is done carrying the team, expect them to allow ten (10) yards of offense this week as their dreams of a QB who can score AND hold onto the ball for more than a quick water break has finally come true.
As for Grossman, the Bears believed with a full season as a starter and with a deep set of receivers, Grossman would find the consistency he lacked last season. Instead, last year's NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September was neither impressive nor inspiring. he is pretty much out of the loop. . well, he needs to realize that if he isn't going to improve his reads, his arm strength, his mobilitity, his ability to miss open receivers, his ability to overlook WIDE open receivers, and his inability to simply not throw interceptions....Overall he must nimprove every aspect of being a quarterback in the NFL.
Now as for Griese, a 10-year veteran, the 32-year-old Griese has passed for 16,564 yards with 104 touchdowns and 80 interceptions and a 63 percent completion rate. He was a starter with the Broncos, Miami and Tampa Bay, but all three teams released him. Why? Let's see.... for jake Plummer, Dante Culpepper, and the 7 quarterback that will start for the Bucs this year. But what Grossman has in overall attitude and tenacity, Griese brings a how do you say... confidence?
"He's calm. He's a real confident guy." Tight End Desmond Clark was quoted by ESPN.com.
Well, let's see how calm he is when his fourth team tells him he needs to win ... or they will add themselves to the impressive list of teams to have released Griese. In either case, Brian gets his start versus the Detroit Lions this weekend.
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