Brett Favre? Really?
It’s amazing. Just when he was officially retired once again, Brett Favre “un-retired”, agreeing to come back to Minnesota for two more years of football. This move is getting all kinds of media attention and generating excitement in Minnesota, but I really don’t see the big deal.
As a QB turning 40 during the course of this season, Favre is simply old. Very few quarterbacks can be effective at 40 years old and while Favre is tough, every body begins to wear down as it gets older. Additionally…
He was operated on last season. His bicep injury put him under the knife, and he still has his torn rotator cuff. None of these things bode well for someone Favre’s age. Sure, he’s accomplished a lot through the course of his career, but he’s 40 years old. He can’t go on forever. A perfect analogy to Favre is John Smoltz, who’s finally starting to give after seeming ageless for so many years.
Look at the way that Favre looked during the second half of 2008 with the Jets. So many picks, his injuries, and everything led the team to implosion. He threw 9 interceptions during the last five games of the season. While he’ll obviously play over Tarvaris Jackson in Minnesota, I have to say that Jackson’s last four games consisted of just one interception.
Then there’s the whole issue of team chemistry. It seemed like Jackson had a close bond with his wide receivers. This is a critical element to a team’s success. Favre, on the other hand, is coming into a team that he doesn’t know, missed an entire training camp, and will have no rapport with any of his receivers.
Aside from his chemistry with the receivers, how about his chemistry with the rest of the team? Last year after the Jets missed the playoffs (largely thanks to Favre’s poor play down the stretch), many Jets players, including Thomas Jones, commented about how Favre didn’t dress with the team and didn’t stay in the same hotel room, among other things. Oh yeah, Favre seems like a real team player. Just the kind of guy I want to be the leader of my team. The Vikings were already “expecting” a playoff berth and were even considered one of the top teams in the NFC, without Favre leading the team. With the addition of Favre, many people have elevated the Vikings to Super Bowl contender status, which I believe is preposterous. As I showed earlier, Favre faded down the stretch. So what does that mean about the playoffs? He hasn’t been very good in the playoffs recently, and if the Vikings don’t win the Super Bowl, or at least make it there, the season will be considered a bust, and the Favre acquisition a waste. I mean, they already have arguably the best running game in the NFL and the best run defense in the NFL, so they have the foundation for a playoff team in place. If Favre can’t get them a Super Bowl, and only gets them into the playoffs, then what was the point of adding Favre in the first place?
I understand where the Vikings are coming from. They probably won’t contend without Favre. This will increase ratings, sell more tickets, and might give them a shot to go big this year, but I don’t think he’s the future in Minnesota and you have to wonder what they’ll do after him.
Due to his aging, his chemistry issues, and everything else, I don’t see why Favre will be the answer in Minnesota this year. He’s more of a name than a major talent at this point in his career, and he’ll remain one of the greatest to ever play the game. But not these games.
The 2009 NFL season is almost here! It’s a matter of time before it starts, and the best way to prepare is by playing some football pick ‘em at RootZoo Sports. Additionally, the NFL forum is booming, and you may want to check it out.
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