Of all the ways we could have seen Brett Favre go out, this is the way it shouldn’t have happened. But there he was Sunday, not playing. Not doing the one thing that will ultimately be the defining memory of Favre 20 years from now: The guy was gritty and for good or bad, always memorable to watch.
Seeing him standing on the sideline during the Minnesota Vikings’ 20-13 loss to the Lions in Detroit for what will be the last game of his NFL career (seriously … it’s really over now), makes all of us losers this week. Because for whatever we thought of Favre, there was no denying that for nearly two decades he made the NFL better. Did he have his peccadilloes? Most definitely. I have long been critical of his ego and how he related to some teammates over the years. But history will remember his contributions to the NFL far longer than what he allegedly did with his cell phone, or what date he showed up for training camp.
Wait and see: Even in the age of an internet search engine that never forgets, Favre’s legacy will ultimately be one that is left with a positive afterglow. Decades from now, when many fans my age have grandchildren, they’ll talk about all the crazy games Favre pulled out, and all the injuries he played through. We’ll still use the “gunslinger” term that was beaten to death during Favre’s career. After all, this is the nature of NFL fans. We like to remember what made guys special. It’s the same reason my grandfather used to tell me stories about the greatness of Bobby Layne but rarely mentioned that his favorite Detroit Lion was a legendary carouser. And even in those rare times he talked about Layne’s wild life off the field, even that seemed to have a comical, somewhat positive spin on it.
Twenty years from now, the one memory that will stick out most for me about Favre was the 1993 NFC wild-card playoffs. I was a 15-year-old Lions fan and Favre was a second-year starter for the Packers. With just under a minute remaining and trailing by three points, Favre rolled left, threw across his body and snapped a 40-yard bomb to Sterling Sharpe down the Pontiac Silverdome’s right sideline. The Packers won 28-24, and I spent the next several years mad at Lions cornerback Kevin Scott. I also spent that time lying about how my parent’s 36-inch television screen had gotten a chip in it (I threw a screwdriver at it when Sharpe caught that touchdown. Sorry mom.).
I didn’t see the tape of that game again until a few years ago. Favre and then-Packers coach Mike Holmgren had a lot more hair, but Favre was the same jubilant, emotional guy. And I had to crack a smile when after that touchdown, Brent Musburger said: “Call it what you will, but this could be a defining day for Brett Favre.” He was right. Every once in a while, early greatness is actually a sign of things to come.
So that’s why we all lost this weekend. Because it would have been better to see Favre play against Detroit, and win or lose, run off the field in full pads rather than a knit hat and sweatshirt. Even for those of us who considered Favre an unyielding drama queen the last few seasons, we’d rather have seen him throw one more ridiculously risky shovel pass, or pound one more fastball into triple coverage. One last memory, and a real retirement walk-off that erased the last few pump fakes we’ve endured with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.
But we didn’t get it. And this time, there will be no next year.
On to this week’s other winners and losers …
(FIVE THINGS I LOVED AND FIVE THINGS I LOATHED)
Loved: Baltimore’s stunning designed tight end screen off a flea flicker in the first quarter. Escorted by lead blocker Michael Oher, the superb misdirection resulted in a wide-open field for Todd Heap, who went 37 yards and set up an eventual field goal. Tip of the cap on this clever play.
Loathed: The dropped interception by Raiders linebacker Quentin Groves in the first quarter against Kansas City. Groves’ stone hands negated a perfect defensive play that should have resulted in an easy 90-yard interception return for an Oakland touchdown. Instead, it ultimately allowed the Chiefs to kick a field goal.
Loved: The patience and smarts shown by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on his 6-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter against Carolina. Ryan scrambled to his left and toward the line of scrimmage, luring linebackers out of coverage and opening a pocket of space for Gonzalez. It was a Pro Bowl play.
Loathed: The one-handed catch attempt by Browns tight end Ben Watson that landed in the arms of Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. The pick will go into quarterback Colt McCoy’s stats, but it was all Watson, who tipped the ball into the air twice, allowing Polamalu to make the play.
Loved: The amazing speed of Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace. He roasted speedy Browns cornerback Joe Haden on a 56-yard touchdown, then showed speed and elusiveness on a 41-yard gain later in the first quarter. At the start of this season, it was hard to believe Wallace could fill the void left by former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. Not only did he fill it, he has arguably been an upgrade over Holmes.
Loathed: Seeing the Falcons go for it (unsuccessfully) on a pair of fourth-down plays while leading Carolina 14-0 in the second quarter. The Falcons could have taken field goals and a 20-0 lead. Not sure why you don’t play it safe with the No. 1 seed on the line.
Loved: Drew Brees’ amazing first-quarter dump off through traffic to Reggie Bush that went for a 19-yard gain. I can’t believe Brees snuck the pass through the middle of the defensive line – at shoulder level – and past Bucs defensive end Stylez G White. It was like a Magic Johnson touch pass.
Loathed: Watching Buffalo’s Brian Brohm struggle against the Jets’ second-string secondary. Every time I watch Brohm, I scratch my head over how he was once considered a potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft during his college career. It shows you why pre-draft work is so important to scouts who are sorting out quarterbacks.
Loved: The spectacular 2-yard fade route touchdown from Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman to wideout Dezmon Briscoe. Not only did Freeman throw the perfect fade, Briscoe somehow worked behind extremely tight coverage to catch the pass and keep his feet in.
Loathed: Seeing Rashard Mendenhall step out of bounds about three yards before he would have been touched by a Browns defensive back on a dump off and 24-yard run early in the second quarter. You have to give Mendenhall a mulligan, since he has shown the ability to be a physically punishing back. But stepping out of bounds to avoid a defensive back was un-Steelerlike.
