FAVRE: TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND
THE ORIGIN OF A LEGEND:
I am a Packers fan by birth.
I’ll be the first to admit that at times, it was often difficult being a fan of the most storied franchise in NFL history. My family is from Wisconsin, however I did not grow up in the land of cheese, so it was a rarity to have the opportunity to watch my beloved Packers play on the local channels. In fact, it was hard to watch sometimes, even when it was on.
There were few bright spots during those years, better known as the "dark-ages" of Green Bay annals. My father would be the first to tell me of this so-called venerable team. Monumental stories of Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke, and Forrest Gregg being led by the immortal Vince Lombardi in many legendary battles such as the "Ice Bowl." He even handed down his Bart Starr autographed football to my brother and me, as though he was trying to prove that this team was once existed. I vaguely remember sitting around the television set watching Lynn Dickey tossing the ball to James Lofton, then later Don Majkowski - The Majik Man - throwing it to Sterling Sharpe in what appeared to be a slightly promising future for the Pack. Were these moments to be the end of our decades-long slump? Not just yet, patience, maybe next year…over and over again…maybe next year.
Then a strange thing happened in 1991. After only two short years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Green Bay Packers, Bob Harlan hired former New York Jets Director of Personnel Ron Wolf as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Packers football operations. Wolf brought 29 years of scouting experience to the organization, and in 1992 would prove his keen sense of instinct by making a trade with the Atlanta Falcons - a first round draft pick for second year backup quarterback Brett Favre, a small-town southern boy (Kiln, Mississippi) who spent his college days at Southern Mississippi.
Brett "Faver"? Who is this guy Brett "Fav-re" who had zero completions on four attempts, two of which were intercepted in his rookie season? Wolf solidified his exceptionally keen scouting aptitude when this Brett "Farver" finally completed his first pass on September 13, 1992 to none other than…himself. Good thing he was only the backup, right?
In the ensuing week, "this kid" would be called upon again to cover for an injured Majik Man in the first quarter. Brett rallied the Packers to a come-from-behind victory vs. the Cincinnati Bengals 24-23. Redemption, not quite, but a good beginning, for sure! Hell have another chance next week when he gets his first start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and little did I know, the following 252 games (275 including playoffs), 3 NFL MVPs (1995, 1996, 1997), 2 Super Bowl appearances (XXXI, XXXII; won XXXI), 3 NFC Championship appearances (1996, 1997, 2007; won 1996, 1997), 7 Division Championships (NFC Central 1995, 1996, 1997; NFC North 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007), 9 Pro Bowl selections (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007), and countless NFL and Packers records after that.
DEFINING A LEGEND:
"Any given Sunday" is a term used to describe the fact that no matter your teams record, skill or health, anything can happen in any game. This term is easily re-defined by #4, because on any given Sunday I knew he would be under center. A testament of his resiliency and discipline, both physical and mental, which to me is the true characterization of a man.
The March 2004 issue of Mens Journal dubbed Brett Favre "Toughest Guy In America." Its hard to argue with that, when at the time his consecutive starts was 189 in a game and position that tests the mettle of even the toughest of men with constant bodily engagement from adversaries that can weigh upwards of 100 lbs more than he. He finishes his career with 253 consecutive starts, an NFL record for quarterbacks (Peyton Manning is 2nd, almost 6 full seasons behind him), a record that will most surely stand for decades to come.
He has had his share of injuries though, but his imperviousness and fortitude allowed him to play through them. An example that remains personal to me comes from the 2002 season. Early in the third quarter against the Washington Redskins on October 20th, Brett sprained his left knee on a LaVar Arrington tackle. I absolutely held my breath as he was carted off of the field, pushing a towel into his face, uncertain whether or not he would be able to start the next game. I was especially concerned because I received tickets to that next game at Lambeau Field vs. the Miami Dolphins on Monday night as a Christmas present from my parents.
This was to be my very first live Green Bay Packers game, and my father was going to be there, savoring the excitement and tradition right beside me. What would my first live game be like during the" Brett Favre era" without Brett Favre? Luckily, the following week was a bye for the Pack, which allowed more time for Favre to heal while the team evaluated the extent of his injury. Sure enough, just as every week since September 27th, 1992, #4 came running (with a light limp this time) out of the tunnel, knee brace and all, and the Pack beat the Dolphins 25-16. Also, keep in mind that this is the same man who had 30 inches of his intestines removed due to injuries suffered in a car accident while in college; he would return to play football only a month later.
But his physicality was only half the story. Throughout his long career, he was met with just as much mental adversity. Whether it be his addiction to pain killers and alcohol as an eventual result of his college accident, the pure week in and week out stresses of studying playbooks and game film for 17 seasons, or the news that his wife had breast cancer, Brett Favre tackled these obstacles as if they were opponents on the football field.
The most remarkable of these was when his coach, mentor and father, Irv, died from a sudden heart-attack. Less than 24 hours later, Favre did the only think he knew he could do to both get himself through it and honor his father at the same time, he played the game which they both loved so much. On Monday Night Football, December 22nd, 2003 in Oakland, California, Brett would play the game of his life in front of the entire world. Everyone was pulling for him on this night – the entire Packers organization, family, and all Packers fans were on that field to help him through his heartache. Even the Raider Nation, known as the most unfriendly and unruly fans amongst teams, tipped their hats off to Favre and gave him their full respect where that respect was understood.
This night belonged to him. I watched that game in pure awe of him, the throws he made and his receivers who could not miss. #4 performed surgery that night, when the margin of error would be no less than zero. By the end of the first half, Brett Favre had completed 15 out of 18 passes for 311 yards with no interceptions, 4 touchdowns and a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3. He ended his illustrious night completing 22 of 30 passes for 399 yards with no interceptions, 4 touchdown passes and a career-best quarterback rating of 154.9, before backup Doug Pederson relieved him to kneel on the ball. Such an emotional ride, one which few would even attempt to give thought to, Brett Favre paid homage to his father while exemplifying the mental steadfastness which makes him a great man.
Ironically, I lived in the San Francisco Bay area at the time, and in the weeks prior had established a bet with a few Raider friends of mine, that I would attend this game, wearing full green and gold. Unfortunately, I declined in an attempt to keep my body in tact. In hindsight, its a decision that I will most definitely regret for the rest of my life.
COMMENCEMENT OF A LEGEND:
Today, I have suffered a loss. The news came to me at 9:03 am CST on March 4th, 2008 via an e-mail at work. The message was so matter-of-factly and yet, seemed so eerily nonchalant. My heart immediately sank, time stood absolutely still and even now, I wait for the familiar "tick-tock-tick-tock."
There had been much speculation in the weeks prior, including a "snafu" by the Green Bay Packers official website just a few days before in which a "Brett Favre Retires" page was accidentally posted for just a few short minutes. I read an article mentioning this just a few short hours later which even had a screenshot of the mistaken page. It didn’t affect me though, because for the last few years, Packer fans go through this roller-coaster ride every off-season, "Will Brett retire?" Only to hear the one-sentence answer to all of our sleepless nights: "I am returning for another season."
No, I took it in stride with all the other "talk" that goes on here in Wisconsin, at the bars, on all the media outlets, around every dinner table. I even played a prank and sent this very screenshot to all my friends, as an official looking e-mail, causing many hearts to skip a beat, and causing a few tears to flow. That was funny, albeit temporary. But this time…everyone, including myself, cannot stop the tears nor come to pull our hearts out of the depths of our stomachs. The Cheesehead Nation is in mourning.
For those of us who can truly appreciate what this one man has done for this team and league for that matter, it is especially difficult. I barely remember what it was like before Favre began his unprecedented journey into legendary status, but the point is, I remember. Those days when you never really knew who was going to start at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers each season, let alone each and every Sunday. I remember what it was like as if it were before electricity had been discovered…very dark, indeed.
Brett Favre has been a luxury for not only us Packer faithful, but for anyone who loves the game of football. He was staple to our weekly diet of beer, testosterone, bloodshed and broken bones. We have lost an ambassador to the game and someone so special to us, we would consider him part of the family and leave a place for him at the kitchen table. #4 not lining up under center come next season will be like…hell, we cant even begin to fathom what it will be like, but that day is approaching that much quicker then before his un-anticipated announcement. It appears as though Brett is able to accept the future of the Packers and the NFL sans the green and gold #4, like it or not. Are we?
A LEGEND LIVES ON:
What does the future hold for Favre? Besides the sure fire first ballot Hall of Fame spot being cleared for him at Canton, Ohio in 2013? I feel that this question may be hard for most people to peg than any other.
Conventional wisdom would tell us that a former NFL superstar of his caliber would seek out new avenues of glory through multiple endorsements, perhaps an analyst spot on ESPN next to his former position coach and good friend Steve Mariucci, or maybe an eventual coaching or even executive position somewhere within the National Football League.
Nah, my money is on Brett Favre staying home in Kiln, Mississippi and sitting high atop that proverbial tractor while sipping a refreshing lemonade. Just sitting there soaking up the sun and basking in the memories of a dream that couldn’t possibly have really happened. The dream which lasted 17 years, all the while stacking up record after record, honor after honor, smile after smile. Enjoying the ride every single step of the way with his beautiful wife and daughters.
For now he can finally awake to find himself back in reality because no man is lucky enough, nor is his body capable of playing professional football for 17 years, let alone on the same team for 16 straight years.
No man can own all of the "immortal" passing records by himself.
No man could ever be so loved by a little-big city called Green Bay, by a state in the frozen tundra called Wisconsin, or by a nation which unites the fans of 32 great teams.
Not one single man could offer so much of himself on and off the field, to entertain us and give us inspiration week in and week out.
Never could a man serve as our safety blanket even when times looked so bleak.
And there’s absolutely no way that one man can be the hero of so many tales which will be handed down from generation to generation, right beside the legendary tales of Lombardi, Nitschke, Hornung, Lambeau, Hutson and Holmgren.
Not unless he is one of those legends. |
