The NFL has seen a lot of great players come and go over the years. There have been guys that we as fans watch every Sunday, and in some way look up to. Guys that strap on the pads and love the battle in the trenches, guys that thrive on the great competition throughout the league, and gamers that well simply put, hate to lose. Not many though can say that they gave what Brett Farve gave to the game and his team every Sunday. Brett Favre is everything that is great about football. He, if to look up (football player) in the dictionary is what you would find. Completely dedicated to winning, and was as professional as it gets throughout his entire 17 year career.
Born in Gulfport, MS. in 1969, Brett Favre grew up in a football environment, and through his amazing 17 year career was always able to somehow make it look as easy as he did in his own backyard as a youngster. Farve played his college ball at Southern Mississippi, and in 1991 the Atlanta Falcons made him the first pick in the second round, 33rd overall, and the beggining of something very special was about to begin. Like most young players coming into the NFL, Favre was trying prove that he truly belonged, but like others in the past Favre got caught up in the lime light that comes along with becoming a professional athlete.
He was more concerned with the party scene, rather than his playbook. He had not yet figured out that there was work to be done off the field in order for his game to improve come Sunday. Favres stay in Atlanta would be a short one, finding himself in a trade that would send him to the most storied team in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers. Packer fans at this point could of never guessed that they had just landed a quarterback that would rewrite the record books and give his heart and soul to a city that bleeds yellow and green. Before arriving in Green Bay, the packers had been going through a long stretch of frustrating to watch football that had Packer faithful itching for a winner again. Brett Favre was just what this city desperately needed.
What's more impressive, the fact that he played his whole career in one city for one team, or some of the ridiculous numbers he would put up?. During Favres career he had 8 seasons with 30 or more touchdown passes, and 16 consecutive 3,000 yard seasons. He completed 5,377 of 8,758 passes, threw for 442 touchdowns to his 288 interceptions. He collected 160 wins by a starting quarterback, 172 including playoffs. He had 18 straight playoff games where we saw him throw a touchdown pass. He finished his career with 61,655 passing yards. He has received MVP honors three times, {1995-1997},he lead the Packers to a Superbowl victory over the Patriots in 1996. He went to the pro bowl 9 times, and has 253 consecutive starts at the quarterback position, a record that may never be touched. Brett Favre loved everything about football. He is the guy that every organization needs.
He dedicated himself like no other and was the ultimate team player, and you always knew that he was going to give his team a chance to win every time out. Who could forget the courage of Favre during a Monday night game against the Raiders during the 2003 season. Twenty four hours had not even gone by as Favres father had passed away ,but there Brett was, on a plane rejoining his team in Oakland ready to go to war. On a day where most would have taken the day off, there Favre was lining up behind center like we had seen a hundred times. When asked why he decided he should play, Favres response was that "it's what my father would have wanted".
With the circumstances they way they were and his emotions all over the map, nobody was ready for what Favre was about to pull off. He put together one of the most couragous performances by a pro athlete ever. Favre threw 4 touchdown passes and picked up 399 yard through the air, while delivering a good old fashion butt kicking {41-7} to the Raiders. Team mate {tackle} Earl Dotson says,"you look into those eyes and you know he thinks it can be done, so you start to think it's possible". This is what Favre brought to the table week after week. He made everyone around him better. He had the ability to make you believe.
So on March 6th, 2008, the NFL says goodbye to one of greatest of all time as Brett Favre decided to finally hang it up. After 17 seasons of watching him in a Packers uniform, we will have to let him go with only memories of him throwing snowballs and high-fiving officials. Never again will we be able see him tackle one of his own players in the end zone after throwing a pass he had no business making. It is very possible that we will have to give a pinch to assure ourselves that this is not a dream and Aaron Rogers, not Brett Favre will be the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers in 2008-09. We are going to have to accept that the next time we see number four at Lambeau it wont be on the field, but it will be retired with other Packer greats.
We are truly saying goodbye to one of the best of all time and when it comes time for Favre to make his trip to Canton, Ohio five years from now he will still be as pure and professional as he saw for 17 years, and the Hall of Fame will welcome him with open arms and put the final period on a career that we thought would never end.
