Favre Lives Up To the Hype
Flash back for a moment to the start of the 2009 NFL Football Season. The dominating headline spiraling through blogs, newspapers, sports shows and other media networks was the ‘Brett Favre Saga’. Everyday we watched, listened and waited as Favre declared retirement one day, came out of retirement the next day and returned to retirement once again on the third day. It was anyone’s guess whether the 2009 NFL season would start with Favre in a team jersey or sitting on the sidelines watching the game as a spectator. Supporters cheered for his return. Critics called for his retirement.
Not one to let public opinion get the best of him, Favre pressed on and soon reached the NFL playing field sporting a Minnesota Vikings jersey marked with the infamous #4 for all the sports world to see. Supporters cheered. Critics jeered. Many wondered, either out loud or in silence, whether Favre had what it took to play another round of NFL football. And so the 2009 NFL football season began with all eyes on the man dressed in the #4 Minnesota Vikings jersey and the football placed in his hands.
What a season it was! Favre completed 33 touch-down passes with only 7 interceptions on the books. He threw for an impressive 4,202 yards and earned a QB rating of 107.2, the highest of his career. Not only did he reach personal accomplishments, he managed to lead the Vikings to an equally impressive 12 – 4 record and the divisional championship title. Impressive numbers sure to quiet the critics and encourage the supporters. Taking a look at what Favre accomplished this season makes the heart wrenching loss to the Saints in overtime last Sunday almost bearable.
I for one am very impressed with the performance that Favre gave the sports world this season. I have found myself on the ‘Brett Favre critics’ bench a time or two in the past. As the season started I thought for sure he would give a less-than-impressive showcase leaving the Vikings unsure of why they went the extra mile to bring him aboard. Favre proved me and any other doubter wrong and not just by a little bit, by a landslide. I watched that divisional championship game against Dallas. Favre showcased an impressive amount of power and presence on the field that day. He could do no wrong. Every pass was a perfect display of football perfection. Time and time again Favre connected with a receiver who soon found his way to the end zone. The score increased by 7 so many times it became an embarrassment to the Dallas Cowboys. Even Favre’s loudest critics could not find much to complain about that day.
If only the game the following Sunday against the Saints would have played out the same way. We would be talking about Favre returning to football’s glorious game instead of what could have been. Maybe there will be another chance for him next year. Maybe this season was all Favre needed to find peace with the world of football. Reports are already indicating that Favre has said he more than likely will not return next year. Until the first game of the 2010 NFL football season starts without Favre wearing a team jersey and holding a football, we should not play into the retirement talk. Not just yet. For now we need to take a look at what Favre did for the world of sports this season. In more ways than one Favre cleaned up his tarnished reputation and took his rightful place as one of the greatest football players of all times. Yes my friends I do believe that Brett Favre certainly lived up to the hype!
