Brett Favre: Browns Guest Instructor

In a shocking development, Brett Favre is back in the news. Apparently, it doesn't matter if he's pretend retired or legitimately done with football, he refuses to go away.

But this time, it's not his self-absorbed fault. Nope, it's all Eric Mangini's doing. Favre's head coach last season during a regrettable stint with the Jets, Mangini is now running things in Cleveland and has kindly asked the ol' Wranglers-wearin' gunslinger if he'd serve as a guest instructor during the Browns' camp this summer.

Mangini told the New York Daily News that he and Favre have been text messaging since they last saw each other December 29, the day the Jets fired Mangini and the day after Favre played his final NFL game. ...

"I don't think it would be anything formal," Mangini told the newspaper. "It's not like we are hiring him to run the scout team. I don't think he would be interested in that. He would be more like a visitor. An open invite."

Right. Because if ever Favre should've been running the scout team, it was last year.*

Naturally, the thought of a Mangini-Favre reunion -- even an informal one -- raises questions about the state of their relationship; word on the street was that things were strained, but that could've had more to do with a late-season implosion that ended up costing Mangini his job than anything personal between the two. (Plus, Mangini named his son after Brett which unofficially makes them BFFs. Make note, Josh.)

For me, the bigger question is why Mangini thinks Favre would be a good instructor. He's the same dude who pointed out that, after the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005, it wasn't in his contract to mentor the rookie. Not only that, but what's he going to tell Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn? How to maximize the number of ill-advised passes or game-changing interceptions you can squeeze into a season?

I'm sorta kidding (like Favre or not -- and, surprisingly, I do -- he's rightfully going into the Hall of Fame), but I'm also sorta serious: it's not like we're talking about Joe Montana or Troy Aikman -- two guys already in Canton whose success was largely dependent on being fundamentally sound.

Favre is -- as Peter King will so gleefully tell you -- a free spirit, a gunslinger. Not sure how that will make Anderson or Quinn, two young quarterbacks who have struggled with accuracy and decision making, better.

Of course, there's also a more sinister reason for Favre's presence in Browns' camp. Via Ciskie, Packers fan and resident Favre conspiracy theorist: "On the bright side, [He] could spill all the beans about the Packers to a team that actually plays them in 2009, and may be capable of taking advantage of the information."

That's also a possibility, I guess.

If nothing else, Favre's appearance in Berea should distract us, if only momentarily, from the impending train wreck that's sure to be the Browns' 2009 season. And I mean that in the most laudatory way possible.

* Kidding. Unless he had stayed in Green Bay, in which case he definitely should've been scout-teaming it up.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-25-2009 @ 4:57PM

John said...

I am under the impression that if Favre has had successful surgery to alleviate the problems with his throwing arm, then Mangini will do more with Favre than having him "mentor" Anderson, or Quinn.

I believe Favre will be able to redeem himself from the 2008 season, which wasn't so bad considering the limited time he had to acquire rapport with a very average receiving corp and an understanding of the play book. The horrible ending had nothing to with favre's skills, but rather his deteriorating arm strength.

Once the Jets beat the Titans in mid-season (2008) to improve to 8-3, I was convinced that this Jets team was going places.

We all know the ending. Remember one thing though. A QB can play in this league until he's 42 or 43 years-old as long as his legs allow him to move. Favre's arm isn't a problem if has surgery to repair the problem, and more than just three weeks to learn a new system and to get into rhythm.

If he's healthy, then my bet is he is the Browns starter for 2009. Braylon Edwards (when he catches the ball), and Stallworth (assuming he doesn't go to jail) are much better than what Favre had to throw to last year.

3-25-2009 @ 7:58PM

Josh said...

Seriously, Ryan Wilson, stick to writing about your favorite team, the Steelers. Your expert opinion on the AFC North as a whole is duly noted, but every one of your articles are ridiculously biased. You have no journalistic integrity; especially, when you get your digs at the Browns in EVERY single article you post about them. I'm not even going to mention your fanboy fascination with Tiger Woods.

3-25-2009 @ 10:27PM

The Other John said...

John1 - You make some fantastic points, but will the Jets let him go? Remember, he is under contract through 2010. Don't know it it would ever happen, but it sure would be interesting it did!

3-27-2009 @ 3:08AM

I forgot about his contract with the Jets. I was under the impression that it was a one year deal to prove himself, ad that he was free after 2008. Thanks for the clarification.

3-26-2009 @ 3:00AM

melissa said...

I talk to Brett last week. He told me his favorite color was Orange and Brown!!!

3-26-2009 @ 9:47AM

becarefulangel said...

Um, did you guys SERIOUSLY list Montana as one of the best ever? It's pretty obvious that his stats were inflated by the 49ers' stupid 2-yard slant passing system. Note that if Young and Garcia could put up similar numbers, that means Montana's performance can't be the "best ever." It means that anybody can throw 2-yard dinks and dunks.

Getting that rant out of the way, how is Favre - the poster child for poor decision-making and the human pick-six machine - supposed to set a good example for the Browns' young, upstart QB's? More likely, his advice will ruin them as they go on to throw unbelievable amounts of interceptions.

3-26-2009 @ 12:13PM

Get off the Favre-Bashing. He didn't break just about every record a quarterback an break by being a dunce. Fact is, He was one of the best decision making quarterbacks in the history of the game. If you really looked at his 17 years of pass picks, a large number of them were because the Receiver let it go through his hands. Those was because they couldn't handle his missiles, not because of bad decision making.

3-26-2009 @ 3:29PM

I'm not saying Favre was never good in his career, but seriously - 157 career fumbles and 310 career interceptions aren't very good statistics. Those are signs - like it or not - of poor decision-making.

4-23-2009 @ 8:59PM

torker said...

"becarefulangel said...

I'm not saying Favre was never good in his career, but seriously - 157 career fumbles and 310 career interceptions aren't very good statistics. Those are signs - like it or not - of poor decision-making."

Hey jerk, considering that he had over 150 more touchdowns than interceptions, I don't think the statistics are that bad and, like it or not, he wasn't that bad of a decision maker. People like you just like to f'n label others, even though you probably can't even throw a football 40 yards and Brett Favre is amazing. Have some respect...look at a person like Vinny Testaverde, his Int's and TD's are about equal...why don't you rip on him? How about John Elway? So many people are on his bandwagon, when the first 10 years of his career were atrocious...Favre's TD-INT ratio was far better than Elway's, look at Favre's 3 MVP seasons, not that many INT's at all, look at Elway's, um, 0 MVP seasons, plenty of interceptions. And Favre, who played much longer than Elway, has a far better career rating than Elway. What argument could you possibly make for Elway being better than Favre? One more Super Bowl that was barely won? Really? So, like it or not, Favre was not the king of bad decisions, and you are more arrogant than the author of this article. That's my rant, thanks.

4-02-2009 @ 4:39PM

LilNiggie019 said...

your all a bunch of haters. Favre had alot of turnovers. But for every mistake how many game winners did he have. When people said he couldnt. he did. Injury finally got to him. but the Line let him get trashed alot. the defense sucked down the stretch. thomas jones bashing him was even worse. he was mad because he barely avg 2 yards per carry in that game. and kerry rhodes is mad because the defense blew. now lol the jets are scary. if Favre came back. I would be so happy. BUt then again lol will the patriots beat the jets like that

4-02-2009 @ 5:32PM

Favre is not coming back, because I think he realizes now that if he continues to pull un-retiring antics, his Canton stock will decline immensely. He's also too old for the game and will only get more prone to injuries if he continues.

4-15-2009 @ 9:33AM

yeldarb9guitar said...

People are wrong about BF. He only threw about 3% ints.. Over 9200 attempts and only 310 ints., check any players that have been in the league for more than 10 years, you will find him to have one of the least ints.(percentage wise), people who hate Brett don't know jack about football.