Brett Favre went back to Green Bay with his new team and made them eat their boo’s. Not bad for an old man… read more about the game from ESPN.com:
GREEN BAY, Wis. — If it were up to Brett Favre — and these days, I’m pretty sure everything is — fans departing Lambeau Field late Sunday would have had one collective thought.
“I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, ‘I sure hate that that joker is on the other side, but he does play the way he’s always played,’” he said.
Favre’s renaissance was never more apparent than Sunday, when he took control of a seesaw game at precisely the moment the Minnesota Vikings needed him most in an eventual 38-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
A 23-7 run had allowed the Packers to pull within 31-26. The clock showed 5 minutes and 38 seconds remaining in the game, and it was time for someone to grab the moment and for someone else to slink back.
On that count, Favre again proved there is no one better. He pushed the Vikings into the end zone in four plays, the last a 16-yard scoring strike to receiver Bernard Berrian on third-and-11. The touchdown pass, Favre’s fourth of the day, put away the Packers as only a seasoned winner can do, putting an exclamation point on Favre’s return to Lambeau and providing further documentation of his impact on the Vikings.
You’ve probably heard, once or twice, that Favre played 16 years in Green Bay. Trust me when I tell you he took special satisfaction in beating the Packers for the second time this season. But to me, it’s important to focus on the bigger point as well: Not only has Favre put the Vikings (7-1) exactly where they hoped to be, but he has left the Packers (4-3) precisely in the place they have most feared: Below him in the standings.
“The largest storyline was who was going to be in first place in the NFC North,” said Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman.
Favre has almost single-handedly eliminated his former team from that race. In two games against them, he completed 69 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns. He was neither intercepted nor sacked. Sunday, he was two steps ahead at every turn.
“We tried to put pressure on them with blitzes,” Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. “And he either pointed them out and set the protection the right way, or threw the ball quick and we weren’t able to get to him. We felt like we had enough things called — and still we can’t get to him for whatever reason. Right now we can’t win the big game.”
There’s little doubt Favre is in the Packers’ heads. They know he has fallen prey to his emotions before, and they hoped a raucous Lambeau crowd — combined with more pressure — would jar him into some early mistakes. Instead, the opposite occurred. The Packers choked in the early going, falling behind 14-3 early in the second quarter and taking more sacks (four) than first downs (three) into the halftime locker room.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers escaped the pocket a few times in the second half, the biggest reason why the Packers offense briefly sprung to life. But on this night, he was no match for a rival who was too focused to let the opportunity fall away.
“I can’t tell you how many text messages I’ve gotten from guys just in passing today and yesterday,” Favre said. “’Hey, you’re going to play great. I know you’re nervous.’ I’m like, ‘Easy for you to say.’ But they were right again. I don’t know. It’s awful stressful to feel that way every week. I’d like to feel a little more relaxed. But I’m also pleased with the way I’ve played in these games.”
I suppose it’s possible the Vikings would have won Sunday with one of their other quarterbacks, Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. The Vikings hadn’t won here in the Brad Childress era, so I’m dubious of that possibility. Regardless, there’s no one I’d rather have right now, with 5:38 remaining and the game in the balance, than Favre. And here’s one thing I am sure of: If Favre were not with the Vikings, there is no way there would be a 2.5-game difference between the teams in the standings.
Perhaps that’s why Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell, 35, mobbed Favre, 40, after the final gun. Longwell, who kicked for Green Bay for nine seasons, knew how special and unique Favre’s accomplishment is.
“Unless you play here and have gone through it you just don’t know,” Longwell said. “It goes beyond just winning. It’s a special victory.”
Favre said his emotions began rising Sunday morning near the end of a 30-minute bus ride from the team hotel to Lambeau Field. He saw “a few fingers” as the bus pulled into the parking lot, he joked, but there was never a time when I thought Favre was close to letting the crowd get the best of him.
He celebrated heartily after tight end Visanthe Shiancoe’s 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and at one point he appeared to be jawing with Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Otherwise, however, Favre remained stoic. After the game, he spent several minutes embracing former teammates — Rodgers, Donald Driver and Al Harris among them — and said he was had no intentions to throw any “daggers.”
“I’d like to think I always handle myself with class,” he said. “It’s always tougher when you lose. I understand that. Never been one to rub it in anyone’s face. Guys I’ve played with as a Packer, I’ve got a lot of respect for. As I do this organization and these fans.”
So where does this leave us? For the first time that I can remember, Favre used the words “Super Bowl” in talking about the Vikings’ prospects this season. Up until Sunday, Favre had been saying he hopes to get the team “where we want to be.”
With a 7-1 performance in the first half of the season, the Vikings have pushed themselves onto the short list of favorites for this year’s championship.
“I want to lead this Viking team to the Super Bowl,” Favre said. “Believe me. I do. I’m going to do everything in my power. … At this point, we’ve put ourselves in a good position.”
They wouldn’t be there, of course, were it not for two victories over his former team. And the Vikings would not have swept the Packers without him.
“Am I pleased with the way these two games have turned out?” Favre said. “Yes, absolutely. I knew I could play. My arm feels great. My arm is in a good place. The team has welcomed me in. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. It makes a good story. I know it. [But] I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad we won them both.”
I’ll admit it, I made fun of Brett for coming back for a 3rd go at it, but damn if he doesn’t prove me wrong with incredible plays like this to win football games… also, props to Greg Lewis for a spectacular catch. Wow:
Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre has set yet another NFL record.
Favre started Sunday for the 271st straight time in the regular season and threw two touchdown passes to help the Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions 27-13.
His 271st start put him ahead of defensive end Jim Marshall’s previous mark of 270 games in a row for Minnesota from 1961-1979.
It has yet to be officially diagnosed, but Favre told ESPN before the Minnesota Vikings’ game on Monday that he suspects he may have a cracked rib.
According to ESPN, “The three-time MVP says he has no plans to wear any kinds of special padding, saying “the damage is done.” Favre started and is expected to play the entire first half against the Houston Texans.”
From Yahoo! Sports:
The Minnesota Vikings will not sign free-agent quarterback Brett Favre(notes), a source close to the team told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday.
In a phone call that took place sometime in the last day, the source said Favre told Vikings coach Brad Childress that he wanted to remain retired. Favre is expected to publicly explain his decision soon.
Favre, who announced his first retirement in March 2008 after spending 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, decided to resume his career last summer and was traded to the New York Jets in August. After one season in New York, Favre retired again and was subsequently released by the Jets on April 29.
Just days after his release from the Jets, speculation began that the Vikings were interested in bringing in a veteran to compete with Sage Rosenfels(notes), who was acquired this offseason from the Houston Texans. Rosenfels is atop the depth chart heading into training camp, with Tarvaris Jackson and John David Booty(notes) also on the roster.
From ESPN.com:
Maybe it was the cowardly teammate who anonymously ripped him in print. Maybe it was the absence of a game-breaking wide receiver or running back. Maybe it was the prospect of playing for a fourth different head coach in five years.
Or maybe Brett Favre simply decided it was time. Time to retire after defying age and injuries for 18 seasons in a league where NFL means Not For Long.
This is Favre’s second retirement in 12 months. There are those who think he should have stopped at one — his March 4, 2008, supposed career-ending announcement with the Green Bay Packers. (Remember all that management nonsense about wanting to protect his football legacy? Sure, just as long as that legacy didn’t include Favre’s playing for, say, the NFC North’s Minnesota Vikings.)
But Favre did a reversal, unretired, got traded to the New York Jets, won nine games (three more than the team that traded him), played with a torn biceps tendon, missed the playoffs and 45 days later called it a career.
It wasn’t the way he wanted to go out — an 8-3 Jets start, a 1-4 finish — but his legacy survived just fine. I think he could have played another year. So did the Jets and, I’m guessing, so did Favre.
And maybe he would have returned had it looked like the Jets were going to sign linebacker Ray Lewis, or make a real run at wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Maybe, but who knows for sure? Plus, it’s not like Jets fans, numbed by 40 years without a championship, were clamoring for his return. It was more indifference than anything — perhaps on both sides.
I’m glad Favre played in 2008. I just wish it had been for the Packers. Still, in a different uniform, with different teammates, coaches, playbook and opponents, Favre finished 9-7. That’s five more games than the Jets won a year earlier.
Read the rest HERE
From ESPN.com:
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Brett Favre insists he’s no Benedict Brett.
The New York Jets quarterback denied reports that he called former Detroit president Matt Millen a few weeks ago and gave him and Lions coaches information they could use in a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Favre, who had a bitter split with the Packers in the offseason, said Wednesday that Millen called to invite him to go hunting. The friends then briefly talked about football.
“I didn’t give him any game planning,” Favre said Wednesday. “I haven’t been in that offense in over a year. I don’t know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple.”
FoxSports.com’s Jay Glazer first reported the story on Sunday. ESPN had not independently confirmed it. After the FoxSports.com report surfaced, Favre issued a denial via text message on Sunday, which was reported by Peter King on NBC.
Favre’s news conference Wednesday, which is regularly scheduled by the Jets, yielded his first public comments on the report.
Favre also said on Wednesday that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo called him last week — not the other way around — to ask for suggestions on playing through injuries.
Read the rest of the article at ESPN.com
It’s official: it looked like Brett Favre would continue his career in Tampa Bay as a Buccaneer, but in the end, he’s off to Manhattan to become a Jet. That’s right: Brett Favre is now a member of the New York Jets!
MSN/FOX Sports has a great Top 10 Memorable Moments, all good. I’ll never forget the day he started:
Legend begins: September 22, 1992
Favre replaces the injured Don Majkowski in the first quarter of a game against the Bengals at Lambeau. He leads two late scoring drives and caps a 24-23 comeback win with a 35-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds. The rest is history.
I was 15 years old in high school, working at the time at a convenience store on Sundays. Green Bay was one of the teams I liked, and I actually loved Dan Majkowski - I would keep track of the scores on the radio when they announced that Brett Favre - spelled Fav-ray, pronounced Farve - had replaced Majkowski. Indeed, the rest, as they say, is history.
“NFL Commissioner Goodell understands how this looks. And make no mistake, image matters to the NFL. What you had here is a water balloon fight between one of the game’s greatest players and one of the league’s greatest franchises. It’s like watching a brawl in church.”
Very interesting…from ESPN.com:
The New York Jets have received permission to talk to retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, a source told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Friday.
Also Friday, a Packers source told Mortensen that Favre informed Packers general manager Ted Thompson by phone on Thursday that he was planning to report to the team’s training camp this weekend.
The Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have expressed interest in Favre, according to a Packers source.
Favre, who retired in April, hasn’t made a decision on whether to send in his reinstatement letter but would need to do so in order to report to camp.
Favre has asked to be released from his contract and is aware of the Jets’ and Bucs’ interest, the source said. The Packers have no intention of releasing Favre from his contract, which expires after the 2010 season.
At training camp on Friday, Jets coach Eric Mangini did not deny that the Jets have been given permission to talk to Favre.
“With all discussions, those things are internal and that really hasn’t changed,” Mangini said, adding that he and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum talk every night about “a lot of different things” but always keep them internal.
Mangini reiterated that he was happy with the team’s top quarterbacks, Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens.
“I feel the same way as I felt yesterday and nothing’s changed,” Mangini said. “With any conversations me and Mike have, Mike likes to talk about a lot of different scenarios and he enjoys a good chart, he enjoys a good graph and he enjoys a lot of scenarios. That’s what he does, and that’s what he’s supposed to do.
“So, just normal discussions that we always have.”
The Packers made phone calls Tuesday to several teams after being encouraged by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to resolve the controversy surrounding Favre before camp opens, according to league and players’ union sources.
On Wednesday, NFL officials said privately that Favre and the Packers have been talking about which teams he’d be willing to go to in a potential trade, according to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.
Read the rest of the article HERE
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