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Quintessential QB
Favre's legend grows with 200th straight start tonight
By Jeff Reynolds (jreynolds@pfwmedia.com)
Nov. 29, 2004
Only a few subtleties were worth storing in his long-term recall from Brett Favre’s first career start at Pittsburgh on Sept. 26, 1992.
Nevermind that Favre’s 144.6 passer rating was the fourth-best of his trophy career. Or that he won.
“I remember being extremely nervous,” said Favre last week. “I had a lot of uncertainty. From my standpoint, ‘What will happen?; How will I play?; Will we win this game?’ Things I couldn’t control. As I look back now with so much experience under my belt, those were normal feelings. Now I know what I can control and what I can’t.”
More than 12 years and 198 starts later, Favre embarks on his 200th consecutive career start tonight vs. St. Louis. And some 131 wins, 365 TD passes, 39 300-yard games, one Super Bowl ring, 11 former backups who became NFL starters and 40 appearances on the injury report later, Favre maintains the mentality of a kid playing ball.
“My only goal, this dates back to as a kid, until I took my first snap as an NFL football player, my goal was to play NFL football. That was it,” Favre continued. “As I finally achieved that goal, there are smaller goals along the way — become a starter, make my name right up there with the best of them, set some standards that are hard to play by — and you go with it. I never thought about 200 straight games.”
Perhaps no face is more recognizable in football than Favre’s. His No. 4 jersey sells like a $1 cheddar block in the state of Wisconsin and is the top seller according to the NFL’s licensed products data. Favre has become Packers football. He’s never had a losing season, including an 8-5 mark as a rookie. His voice, throwing arm and exuberance are distinctive trademarks.
I’ve always felt Favre’s path to greatness made him the player he is. Drafted 33rd overall in 1991 and then traded by the Falcons, Favre never was subjected to a courtship — or paycheck — like the top picks demand. The silver-spoon treatment isn’t for Favre. He played quarterback, strong safety, punter and placekicker at North Central High School in Kiln, Miss., for his father, Irvin. It was a power-running offense in which Favre’s passing chances were few and far between. On at least one occasion, Favre went to his father to talk strategy.
“My dad was a running football coach,” Favre said. “I’d say, ‘What about throwing it, dad?’ He’d say, ‘Get your ass in there and worry about blocking right now.’ That’s the coaching points I got.”
Favre never discussed mechanics with his father. He could hand off with the best of them and, on the rare occasion he was told to throw the ball, Favre did whatever it took — even tossing the ball underhand or leaving both feet to get more oomph on a throw. To some, Favre’s style is peculiar. To Favre, it’s a livelihood.
“I probably escaped a lot of injuries by throwing with both feet off the ground, backpedaling when I’m throwing, leaving the pocket when I’m throwing,” Favre said. “I’ve never been concerned about injury. I know that sounds crazy. If I’m asked to block, I’ll block. There’s times when Ahman (Green) breaks it backside or something and I have a split-second decision to make, and I’ll block. If you play not to get hurt … there’s a good chance you are going to get hurt.”
Favre turned 35 in October and said, reportedly, retirement might be in his future if the Packers won the Super Bowl at the end of this season. Each week, Favre meets with the media for the opposing team and dodges the question. Fed up with giving the token response?
“I would think that everyone else would be,” he said. “Where it all stemmed from, I’m not quite sure. Why it’s taken a life of its own, I’m not quite sure. What has changed since we started talking about it? I’ve played every game. I’ve always said dating back to when this began that I am closer to the end of my career than the start. But that’s not a statement that I’m retiring.”
“In some ways, honestly, I wish the decision was made for me. I don’t want to walk away and think that I left too early. I don’t want to stay too long and think I should have left a little bit earlier. And I don’t want to go by injury. There are so many factors that go into staying or going, the business decision from the team standpoint that has to be made. Look what happened to Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, guys like that have been traded and bounced around.”
The hayseed from Mississippi is bound for Canton, a first-ballot lock if ever there was one. His impact on the Packers, football and generations to follow is not yet tangible, at least not for Favre.
“That’s not for me to decide,” Favre said. “So often (Deanna, his wife) tries to make me aware of, as she says, the impact I have on football fans and people in general.
“I’ve always considered myself a football player — that’s it. Not an ambassador to the league or a spokesman for this or that. I’m very proud of the fact that I have remained the same and played this game. When people say, ‘How do you want to be remembered?’ this is the best example I can give. If anyone sitting in the stands would say, ‘If I was able to play the game, that’s the way I would play it. I can’t help but appreciate the way that guy plays.’ (That) Joe Blow down at the gas station could say, ‘If I was able to play, I could see myself playing that way.’ ”
The visual memories of Favre — hands extended above his head, fists clinched, signaling touchdown in the Super Bowl or bumping facemasks with Warren Sapp — are eternal. His playing career has to end sooner rather than later. For his sake — and no NFL player is more deserving of a Hollywood ending a la John Elway — let’s hope No. 4 goes out on his terms— on top.
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