A scene near the end of ESPN’s "Monday Night Football" broadcast summed things up for Brett Favre.
With the final moments ticking away in a 34-24 loss to the Seahawks, ESPN’s cameras found Favre, standing on the sideline with his helmet on and his head sagging slightly.
For those who are astute on their photographic history of the NFL, it conjured up the famous image of Y.A. Tittle, bruised and bloodied at game’s end, and the famous shot of a dejected Joe Namath after his New York Jets lost to Cleveland in the first MNF contest ever played.
It was a sad sight to see Brett Favre -- who suddenly looks more and more like the 37-year-old quarterback whose best days have past him than the young gunslinger leading a team to greatness -- looking sullen after a loss.
The Favre fans want to remember is the young kid leaping fully-extended into the south end zone at County Stadium to beat the Falcons and close out the Milwaukee era of the Packers’ storied history. Or, the Brett Favre who sprinted down the Superdome field after finding Andre Rison to give Green Bay an early lead in Super Bowl XXXI.
That’s the Favre that epitomizes what the Packers, at the pinnacle of their recent success, were all about.
A lot has gone wrong since that nightmare in Philadelphia during the 2004 playoffs. Poor drafting, bad signings and horrible player evaluation have left Favre with just a handful of teammates ready for the bright lights of the NFL.
Sure, Favre has been having fun this year -- or so the pundits like to tell us during each and every game when the topic of Favre’s decision to return for another season is broached. Yes, it’s almost nauseating to hear it every week, but... what else is there to talk about this season?
Favre throws a touchdown and sprints downfield to celebrate with his receivers. A big stop on defense and you'll see Favre pump a fist. Yes, he’s having fun. But the question needs to be asked: is he still as good?
Coming off his worst season as a starter, Favre threw a career-high 29 interceptions compared to just 20 touchdowns while amassing a passer rating of 70.9; his worst since taking the reigns in 1992.
Maybe it was the supporting cast, or lack thereof, or maybe he’s just not the same Favre anymore. It’s not easy to guess, and only Favre can give the honest answer.
Nobody can ever question his toughness or durability. Playing through injuries and pain has been the hallmark of Favre’s career. Personal tragedy hasn't even kept him off the field, as we all saw that night in Oakland a few years back.
No doubt, Favre will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. His number will be retired; his name will go up on the Lambeau Field Ring of Honor. Favre will be mentioned in the same breath as Starr and Lombardi.
But with the way things have gone for him the last few years, and the way this team has struggled, will Favre be remembered as the win-or-bust kid willing to take the game into his own hands, or the aging veteran who just couldn't walk away from the game he loved?
With the final moments ticking away in a 34-24 loss to the Seahawks, ESPN’s cameras found Favre, standing on the sideline with his helmet on and his head sagging slightly.
For those who are astute on their photographic history of the NFL, it conjured up the famous image of Y.A. Tittle, bruised and bloodied at game’s end, and the famous shot of a dejected Joe Namath after his New York Jets lost to Cleveland in the first MNF contest ever played.
It was a sad sight to see Brett Favre -- who suddenly looks more and more like the 37-year-old quarterback whose best days have past him than the young gunslinger leading a team to greatness -- looking sullen after a loss.
The Favre fans want to remember is the young kid leaping fully-extended into the south end zone at County Stadium to beat the Falcons and close out the Milwaukee era of the Packers’ storied history. Or, the Brett Favre who sprinted down the Superdome field after finding Andre Rison to give Green Bay an early lead in Super Bowl XXXI.
That’s the Favre that epitomizes what the Packers, at the pinnacle of their recent success, were all about.
A lot has gone wrong since that nightmare in Philadelphia during the 2004 playoffs. Poor drafting, bad signings and horrible player evaluation have left Favre with just a handful of teammates ready for the bright lights of the NFL.
Sure, Favre has been having fun this year -- or so the pundits like to tell us during each and every game when the topic of Favre’s decision to return for another season is broached. Yes, it’s almost nauseating to hear it every week, but... what else is there to talk about this season?
Favre throws a touchdown and sprints downfield to celebrate with his receivers. A big stop on defense and you'll see Favre pump a fist. Yes, he’s having fun. But the question needs to be asked: is he still as good?
Coming off his worst season as a starter, Favre threw a career-high 29 interceptions compared to just 20 touchdowns while amassing a passer rating of 70.9; his worst since taking the reigns in 1992.
Maybe it was the supporting cast, or lack thereof, or maybe he’s just not the same Favre anymore. It’s not easy to guess, and only Favre can give the honest answer.
Nobody can ever question his toughness or durability. Playing through injuries and pain has been the hallmark of Favre’s career. Personal tragedy hasn't even kept him off the field, as we all saw that night in Oakland a few years back.
No doubt, Favre will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. His number will be retired; his name will go up on the Lambeau Field Ring of Honor. Favre will be mentioned in the same breath as Starr and Lombardi.
But with the way things have gone for him the last few years, and the way this team has struggled, will Favre be remembered as the win-or-bust kid willing to take the game into his own hands, or the aging veteran who just couldn't walk away from the game he loved?
