New Vikings quarterback Brett Favre completed one pass in four tries against the Chiefs on Thursday. It was his first action since singlehandedly running the Jets' once-promising season into the ground last winter. Now, after eight months at the ol' fishin' hole, Favre is the guy tasked with saving Brad Childress' job. (Nope, that doesn't sound any less ridiculous when read instead of spoken aloud.) One man's trash is another man's ... well, trash. Or at least it should be.
The Daily News' Gary Myers writes that new Jets head coach Rex Ryan's decision to not pursue Favre meant that the team could go after linebacker Bart Scott in free agency and trade up for Mark Sanchez on draft day.
"Here's the biggest clue [the Jets didn't want Favre back]: Ryan was hired on Jan. 19. Favre didn't quit until three weeks and two days later. Not once did Ryan pick up the phone to encourage Favre to return, to suggest a summit meeting in Hattieseburg, or just to say hello, what's new on the ranch? If Ryan wanted Favre, he would have lobbied for him to come back.
The Jets wanted, as one source said, a 'fresh start.' It made sense in Year One of the program to go in a different direction."
And I don't think many Jets fans were clamoring for Favre to return after how things ended the first go-around. Maybe Sanchez never evolves into a franchise quarterback, but Favre's clearly not that guy, either, not at this stage of his career. Which makes Childress' decision even more illogical.
And Myers writes that at least one NFL general manager (and countless fans, no doubt) agree:
I thought trading for Favre last year was a brilliant move by the Jets. But a GM told me at the time, "I do not see a hero here. I see a disaster. I see the Titanic sinking," he said. "This will be the second Y.A. (Tittle) picture - Brett on the field with his head bleeding." He didn't miss by much. What does he think of Favre-to-the-Vikes? "This is even more absurd and won't work either," he said.Wow. More absurd. That's saying a lot.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-23-2009 @ 12:26PM
mitch said...
Lets not forget the Jets had alot better season last year than the year before.They beat the Titans who were 10 and 0 and Brett threw for 6 touchdowns for the win against the superbowl bound Cardinals.He was obviously hurt in the last few games and should have been benched.which of course not many coaches including Mangini would have the guts to do.I wonder if Childress will if and when things go horribly wrong.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 12:40PM
Brian said...
Let me take a wild guess- this has to be a New Yourk based writer- the land of the whiners and moaners. If you are indeed a true NY fan then you should be glad that favre was brought in to sink the vikings. That is one less team in the NFL to get in a NY teams way. I mean lets face it - NYC has 2 teams in every sport- which gives them twice as much chance to win- one in each conference- now take away minnesota based on your belief that favre will sink them and boom your even closer. All NY fans are whining liitle girls- Just ask any mets fan- Ha Ha go Phillies and eagles and flyers- good bye NY losers
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 1:14PM
czarny said...
Wow, another "let's rip on Brett Favre because we can't think of anything better to write about" article.
Yeah, Favre is terrible. Went 13-3 with the Packers, who then went 6-10 without him. Started 8-3 with a Jets team that was 4-12 the previous year prior to injuring his arm.
He "singlehandedly (ran) the Jets' once-promising season into the ground last winter." Are you serious? It surely wasn't the terrible play calling, poor performance by other players and the ineptitude of the coaching staff (which was, may I remind you, fired after the season).
It amazes me that the people who write these articles have a job. It is even more amazing that somebody actually deemed this worthy to be published.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 1:31PM
JFCJR said...
Aw shucks.......
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 1:45PM
aervoenj said...
--I think the owner fo the Jets actually wanted him back. Farve retired than asked for his release.
--Look at his playoff loss against the Giants at Green Bay. He was awefull.
--Players do not improve with age, they get worse.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 4:36PM
sjones7285 said...
It's obvious that those who write these columns never played the game. The fact that all players have a physical before they even sign on the dotted line new brett Favre was hurting. The fact that he was sore in spring training should have thrown a flag. The jets had the best year they have had in a long time and they can blame farve for that. Goes to show you that the future hall of famer plays better than most even when he was hurt. The Jets wanted a championship so badly that they sacrificed the health and career of a legend, who is the ignorant one now.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 6:01PM
butohigh said...
If he is too sore and hurt to endure training camp. Then I don't think other players should be sacrificed to let him play.What you have is a weak coach and a narcisitic old quarterback.Now you have disloyality amongst them.Thats felt not said. They won't make the playoffs.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 10:12AM
saboyles3 said...
Forget about all the hype, preseason warm up, no training camp and BS directed at Farve. All I can is when the rubber meets the road...Farve will prove his heart was here for the right reason...he was in it to win it.
The Vikes have never won a Super Bowl and if by chance this was the perfect storm...the best shot they've had since '98 and before that '77...why not now and why not Brett Farve. This situation will only accentuate his legend.
If you all thought John Elway ended his career in style...you haven't seen anything yet. So be careful of what you wish for. :)
Reply