Monday, December 26, 2005, 08:19 PM EST
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General]
He is known as the "gunslinger", the good ol' country boy from Kiln, Mississippi who puts footballs in places where receivers can get them and defenders can't. The atypical signal-caller who throws across his body while on the move - defying all sorts of quarterbacking conventions. He also happens to be well past his prime, and it may be time for the cowboy to put the guns away for good.
Brett Favre was the third quarterback selected (33rd overall pick) in the 1991 NFL Draft, 17 spots behind Dan McGwire and nine picks after the Raiders selected "Robo QB" Todd Marinovich. He was drafted by the Falcons, but threw only five passes in his rookie year, buried on the depth chart behind such luminaries as Chris Miller and Billy Joe Tolliver. The Packers traded a first-round pick for Favre prior to the 1992 season, and that's when the legend of the gunslinger began.
Over the next decade-plus, seasons of 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns quickly became the norm for Favre as he led Green Bay to more than a handful of playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XXXI victory over the New England Patriots. He has started every Green Bay Packers game since September 27, 1992 - a consecutive games streak that is well over 200 games and counting. Along the way, he's battled through numerous injuries, off-field issues and an addiction to the painkiller Vicodin to give gritty performances every Sunday he steps onto the football field. This season, however, has been different from the past.
Watching Favre this year has been like watching Michael Jordan during his final season with the Washington Wizards. Jordan was so talented and competitive that he would make the occasional play or two that would defy his age and supposed ability. And then he would do something that made it painfully obvious that his best years were behind him. Same with Favre.
Favre has always been one to force balls into coverage but, this year more than others, those balls are finding their way into the hands of the opposition. Part of the reason behind Favre's erratic play this year may be because his primary receiver - Javon Walker - tore his ACL on opening day, leaving Favre with only Donald Driver as his primary threat. Some of it can be attributed to the fact that the Packers have lost several running backs (Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Samkon Gado) to season-ending injuries, forcing Favre to rely on his arm to move his team down the field. Whatever the case may be, Favre isn't making the plays he used to make, racking up a league-leading 28 interceptions as his team has spiraled to a 3-12 record. Commentators who in the past made excuses when Favre forced ill-advised passes into double coverage can't justify some of the poor decisions made by #4 this year. The 21-14 loss to the Bengals in Week 8 immediately comes to mind - Favre threw five interceptions that afternoon and effectively killed a possible game-tying drive with an underhanded toss thrown after Favre ran well past the line of scrimmage.
To be fair, the Packers' failures this year shouldn't rest solely on the arm on Brett Favre. And normally, a 3-time MVP who is a first ballot Hall of Famer should be able to go out on his own terms. But Favre is 36 years old and it's time to look toward the future, especially since Green Bay already has first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers waiting in the wings. Yet the Packers won't know whether or not he's even capable of the task until Brett decides to hang it up. Farve is too much of a competitor to do that under normal circumstances, but even he can see that, unfortunately, the writing is on the wall.
It's been a great run, Brett. Now it's time to say goodbye.
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