Brett Favre - Best Ever QB?
Look Beyond the Stats. The Answer Is Yes!
This week Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre formally announced his retirement. And with that started the Great
Debate -- Who is the NFL's best quarterback of all time?
In New York (Hint: I'm not a Cheese Head) it captured the spotlight on both major New York sports radio talk shows.
From there it rippled into the newspapers and by now every sports blogger in America has written a convincing article as
to why or why not Favre is the greatest of all time.
Granted it's a great debate -- Brady, Manning, Montana, Elway, Marino, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Unitas, Graham, Baugh, Starr, Title.
I'm sure I missed one. Who do you pick ... as number 2?
For me it's not only statistics and wins, but a combination of things. Statistically? Marino and Peyton Manning. In terms of winning?
Elway, Montana and Unitas. Longevity? Tarkenton. However, put these 3 factors together and Favre's name starts to bubble to the top.
Finally, I started thinking of all the talent that played along side these great quarterbacks. Granted, some very good players
complemented Brett Favre, but no real superstars come to mind.
Statistically
Brett Favre is NFL's all-time leader in every significant career passing category - touchdowns (442), completions
(5,377), attempts (8,758) and yards (61,555). Granted over 17 seasons, you're going to compile big numbers. However, what impresses
me is the efficiency with which Favre accomplished this and the Packer's offensive system.
He is the NFL's only three-time MVP
Winning
He's the all-time leader finishing his career with 160 wins. Since taking over as the Packers' starter in the fourth week of the 1992 season, he led Green Bay
to a 160-93 regular-season record. That's the best in the NFL over that period.
Favre has led the Packers to 11 NFL playoff appearances, including seven division crowns, four NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls (winning
Super Bowl XXXI).
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:
"[Brett Favre] has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League. He is able to
walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that. The Packers owe him a tremendous debt
of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will
live on forever."
Longevity
17 seasons. But not end of story. Consider, 253 consecutive starts; 275 if you include the playoffs. This kind of
durability borders on the mathematically impossible.
Since September 27, 1992, When Favre started his streak, a total of 212 other quarterbacks have started an NFL game.
Players Around Him
Any great offensive players that complemented Brett for more 2 seasons? Some very good players, but no one great.
An above average offensive line over the 17 years at best.
NFL 2007: Maybe Brett Favre's Best Season
At age 38, Brett Favre compiled arguably his best year statistically and advanced the Green Bay
Packers to the NFC Championship. His interception in OT against the Giants ends his career on a sour note. Yet, still
alot to admire:
Leads the Packers to NFC division title, NFC's number. 2 seed and NFC Championship.
Brett Favre named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Only the fourth NFL player
Week 2 versus the NY Giants:
Brett Favre records his 149th career win and surpasses
John Elway as the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Favre retires with 160 career wins.
Week 4 versus the Minnesota Vikings:
Brett Favre surpasses Dan Marino as the NFL’s all-time
leader in touchdown passes with 421. He ends his career with 442.
Quarterback | Team(s) | TD Passes |
|
Brett Favre | Atlanta, Green Bay | 442 |
Dan Marino | Miami | 420 |
Fran Tarkenton | Minnesota, NY Giants | 342 |
Peyton Manning | Indianapolis | 306 |
John Elway | Denver | 300 |
Warren Moon | Hou., Minn., Sea., K.C. | 291 |
Week 15 versus the Saint Louis Rams:
Favre surpasses Marino as the all-time
leader in passing yards. He ends his career with 61,655 total passing yards.
Favre starts all 16 games at QB for the Packers
253 consecutive regular-season starts. His streak ranks second in NFL history.
Brett Favre - Summing it All Up
The statistics, wins, longevity, durability and lack of superstars around him in combination is what makes Brett
Favre the best quarterback of all time. What makes you feel good about it is best summed up by Green Bay Packers General Manager
Ted Thompson:
"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one
of the enduring figures in NFL history. ... His legacy is cemented as one of the most beloved players of his generation. Favre's hard-working approach and
down-to-earth attitude appealed to football fans across the nation"
Click Here to Continue ... Brett Favre's Career Statistics
NFL 2008: Player Scouting Combine and NFL Draft
The NFL Network's Mike Mayock is considered by many to be the best NFL draft analyst bar none.
Over the course of last week Mike debuted his player rankings heading into the 2008 National Football League Scouting Combine
in Indianapolis. The guru provides a list of his top 20 and also an expert break down by position.
Continue ...
Super Bowl XLII - "One of the Greatest Games of All Time"
He ought to know. He’s a player in the NFL who knows its history. He’s another Manning maybe you’ve heard of -- Peyton -- and that was his summary of Super Bowl XLII last Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona:
"One of the greatest games of all time."
In the game, his brother, New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING, engineered one of the most memorable
late-game-winning drives in Super Bowl history for a 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots at University
of Phoenix Stadium. That drive included what many are calling the greatest play in Super Bowl history.
Continue ...
Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17 Patriots 14
Road Warrior Giants Bring It Home
Undefeated Destiny Disrupted for the 18 -1 New England Patriots
With 2:49 left in Super Bowl XLII it seemed to be yet another perfectly scripted comeback victory for the
New England Patriots as Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss for a 7-yard TD completion. However, the
Giants went off script as Eli Manning drove the Giants 83 yards for the game winning touchdown.
Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning ended the 12 play 83 yard winning drive when he found Plaxico Burress (17)
in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds to play.
Continue ...
NFL 2007: Countdown to Super Bowl XLII - 1 Day to Go
Slightly more than 24 hours before the big wait is over as the Giants are set to face the Patriots in Super Bowl
XLII.
NFL 2007: Giants Pull Off The Unthinkable to Advance to Super Bowl XLII
In frigid temperatures of the frozen tundra of Green Bay, the New York Giants completed the unthinkable of winning 10 straight games on the road.
They battled the cold. They battled the crafty veteran quarterback, and they battled expert panels of sportscasters who gave them no shot. When it was all over, kicker Lawrence Tynes, booted the Giants into Super Bowl 42.
NFL 2007 Conference Championships: Chargers Take on Patriots in AFC, Giants Confront Packers in NFC
Win and you're on your way to sunny Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl XLII on February 3. Lose and it's the sudden beginning of a long offseason.
"Our whole season is at stake and so is theirs," says New England Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK in describing his AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers. The same can be said for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.
"It's a one-game season," says Belichick. "One team moves on. One team goes home."
NFL 2007: DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS WEEKEND
Fans will be watching this weekend as the NFL takes the next step on the way to Super Bowl XLII
with its Divisional Playoffs. The remaining eight teams in the 2007 playoffs have a combined record of 101-31.
NFL 2007: AFTER ONE WILD SEASON, HERE COMES WILD CARD WEEKEND!
Here we go – on a high-speed highway to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona on February 3!
After a grueling, consistently exciting regular season, the 12 teams to qualify for the playoffs are an impressive bunch indeed:
NFL 2007: Regular Season Had It All
There was an undefeated season . . . the highest per-game scoring average in 25 seasons . . . big games . . . coveted records set . . . classic quarterback play . . . rookies excelling . . . touchdown runback after touchdown runback . . . an acclaimed overseas game . . . and so much more.
NFL 2007: MIAMI DOLPHINS HOLD FIRST PICK IN 2008 NFL DRAFT
The Miami Dolphins will make the first choice of the 2008 National Football League Draft on April 26-27. The order of the
first round of the 2008 Draft was announced by the NFL.
NFL 2007: FIVE CLUBS SCRAMBLING FOR FINAL TWO PLAYOFF SPOTS
PATRIOTS GO FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON SATURDAY NIGHT VS. GIANTS
NFL 2007 concludes the regular season this week with five teams fighting for 2 playoff spots
and the New England Patriots seeking to end the regular season undefeated.
NFL 2007: BEST GIFT THIS WEEKEND? A PLAYOFF BERTH! PATS SEEK FIRST 15-0 START IN HISTORY
With two weeks to go, seven clubs have made the playoffs, all by winning their divisions. Nine teams are vying for the remaining five playoff spots. All told, 16 clubs are in contention for Super Bowl XLII with two weeks to go.
NFL 2007: AFC - NFC 2008 PRO BOWL Selections
Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety SEAN TAYLOR, who died last month. Taylor received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team.
2007 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS - Week 16
PATRIOTS CHASE 12-0 START; PACKERS - COWBOYS 10 - 1 NFC SHOWDOWN
Heading into December, many interesting games are on the NFL Week 13 schedule.
On Thursday, only the eighth meeting in history between teams with 10-1 or better records takes place
as the Green Bay Packers (10 - 1) visit the Dallas Cowboys (10 - 1).
On Monday night, the New England Patriots look to become only the sixth team in NFL history to go 12 - 0.
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