Gotta love Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ message to fans over the weekend: “I’m not Brett Favre.”
I haven’t exactly hidden my distaste for Favre on this Web site. I’ve never forgiven him for beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl some years ago. I had been hoping the Patriots would have been able to send him into retirement with a smackdown this past February (but I’m also thankful that Favre didn’t get the chance to claim his last win as a Packer against the Patriots, too).
But the bigger reasons I’ve never liked Favre are many: His awe-shucks press conferences that always rang as fake to me; his penchant for ignoring coaches and throwing ill-advised passes at the absolute worst time. The best quarterback in NFL history? With the record for most interceptions thrown in NFL history, I call him the most overrated.
So what to make of Rodgers’ statement that he’s “not Brett Favre”? While fans are probably worried, there’s certainly reason for optimism. They now have a quarterback who’s coachable, a good coaching staff, and a young team ready to be molded. I’m actually excited to see what they can do without the gunslinger. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Never responded before, but distaste for Favre? His “aw-shucksish” mien is the real thing and his talents are of record. Overrated? Hardly. But rather than enter into a pissing contest about records, I simply suggest you look deep down inside and ask youself what’s missing? A heart? Sensibility? Common sense? Class?
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 7:15 AM
Can’t forgive Favre for winning the Superbowl 11 years ago? Wanted the Patriots to give him a “smackdown”? It is a petty, vindictive attitude. You may not recognize or appreciate an honest athlete without ego. The most overrated QB? The records speak for themselves. They are not biased.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Oh, calm down. Cyd’s a Pats fan and didn’t like that Favre beat his team.
And check this out:
http://tinyurl.com/34fa8f
It’s an article at ESPN.com adapted from the book “The Paolantonio Report: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Teams, Coaches and Moments in NFL History” by Sal Paolantonio with Reuben Frank.
I guess not everyone’s kneeling at the altar of St. Brett.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 10:20 AM
you’re bitter. i’m glad you don’t like Favre. if everyone did it wouldn’t be that special to like him. you missed out on the joy Favre brought his fans. i feel sad for you that you’ll never experience what his fans did. your loss.
and your Patriots have won 3 SB’s since. get over yourself.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I don’t know as ‘bitter’ is the right word. We all have players and teams we don’t like because they beat our team. Jim hates the Patriots in large part because of the way they once handled Peyton Manning. With a Super Bowl ring on Manning’s finger, it’s hard to call Jim ‘bitter.’
But, of course, anyone who dares question the Sainthood of Brett Favre gets attacked. That’s cool. At the end of the day, he’s got as many Super Bowl rings as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson and two fewer than Tom Brady.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 2:52 PM
That’s one of the most ignorant articles I’ve read as of late. Clearly you are not a football fan, which I realize most Patriot fans are not. Patriot fans seem to have this ridiculous notion that they are owed some amount of respect simply because they ended up with Brady. True football fans appreciate Brett Favre for more than just his football skills. They appreciate what he’s overcome and who he’s become from a character perspective. A true football fan can appreciate a decent human being that is good for football no matter what team he’s on or who he’s beat in the past. Get on board or start writing for a sport you actually follow.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 6:46 PM
I really hate to be on Cyd’s side
but the Favre worshippers are overreacting more than they think he did.
on Mar 10th, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I’m a cheesehead born and raised in Wisconsin so of course Favre can do no wrong in my eyes. However, I live in Viking country now, Minneapolis and the news and radio stations here gave him the utmost RESPECT when he retired. I believe you call that unbiased reporting?
Yes he was a renegade on the field but I’d pay top dollar to watch him any day over the other so called superstars! He had a great work ethic, passion and true love of the game.
Let his achievements speak for themselves.
on Mar 11th, 2008 at 3:15 AM
At the end of the day, he’s got as many Super Bowl rings as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson and two fewer than Tom Brady
Cyd 1, haters nil.
They appreciate what he’s overcome and who he’s become from a character perspective.
No sports fan I know or have ever known cares about that stuff more than results. Not a single one. I don’t give a shit that by all accounts Darin Erstad is a really nice guy who does great community work, he started becoming an automatic out for the Angels and that’s all I needed to know when they let him leave.
Get on board or start writing for a sport you actually follow
Oooooohhhhhh, Cyd, you MUST start thinking like Michele does or else you’ll have to do something that you’ve been doing for the all the years I’ve known you! Be strong, Cyd, be strong!
From the link Joe provided above:
Indeed, a decade after his last moments of glory, the football hype machine continues to paint Favre as a hallowed icon of Americana, a symbol of all that is right with sports, a Wild West gun-slinging good ol’ boy. There’s Brett on the farm! There’s Brett with his family! There’s Brett on the cover of Sports Illustrated! There’s Brett throwing another overtime interception! Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone. Only the idolatry remains.
He forgot to add: There’s Brett beating a drug addiction! Damn you, Sal, why do you hate Brett Favre so much that you leave that out?
on Mar 11th, 2008 at 2:18 PM
“At the end of the day, he’s got as many Super Bowl rings as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson and two fewer than Tom Brady.”
But Favre still has more untainted Super Bowl rings than Tom *** Brady.
on Mar 12th, 2008 at 5:59 PM
he over come everthing.
and done everything in the nfl. yea your right he stinks
people who are weak fear the best
on Apr 20th, 2008 at 1:38 AM
ok guys he was good…let that be said and listen to schuelz up there he definitely was worth the money to see….cuz you either knew things could be going perfect for him and then choke he throws the errant one and the whole place burns down or you knew he would be magical and chuck a 40 pass downfield to a wideout down the line with a minute left…best quarterback no or maybe…I would say a definite yes..someone should do research since he does have alot of stats out there…..yep
on Apr 20th, 2008 at 1:39 AM
that should actually say “wouldn’t say a definite yes”