The final tally on Brett Favre's one year with the New York Jets now reads nine wins, 22 interceptions, one broken playoff dream and $12,100,000. A $100K add-on came Wednesday when the NFL fined the Jets and general manager Mike Tannenbaum for not listing the aging Wrangler model on their injury report after Favre tore his bicep last season. For anyone who missed this episode of As The Favre Moans, here's a recap: The quarterback claimed last week that he told the Jets to bench him because of his injury, triggering a NFL investigation because his name wasn't on injury reports for a bunch of games he ended up playing in anyway.
Former Jets coach Eric Mangini was also fined $25,000 for his role in the subterfuge, but you get the feeling that part of that fine was for the ridiculous charade he tried to play with the Browns starting quarterback job this summer.
If you're wondering what the big deal is, you're not alone. In the past, the NFL has treated the injury report as a way of making public the likelihood that particular players were going to play in that week's game. If a player is absolutely, positively going to play, they don't go on the injury report which is why you don't see 46 players listed as "definite" for each team in the league.
Players have been hurt in the past, gone unlisted and played without any kind of punishment from the league office. That's because the report has never been meant as a way of determining the actual health of players, because that information is absolutely and totally unimportant if the player is going to be on the field.
New York Jets Photos
New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss (81) runs a drill during practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) leads the offensive unit through a drill during practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stretches as head coach Bill Belichick, right, kneels down to tie his shoe before practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) leads the offensive unit through a drill during practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New York. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Houston Texans defensive line coach Bill Kollar yells out instructions to his defense during the game against the New York Jets at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bill Kollar
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rex Ryan
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Running back Leon Washington #29 of the New York Jets breaks the tackle of free safety John Bussing #40 of the Houston Texans as linebacker DeMeco Ryans pursues on the play at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DeMeco Ryans;Leon Washington;John Busing
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Tight-end Dustin Keller #81 of the New York Jets complete a reception in the third quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dustin Keller
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Running back Thomas Jones #20 of the New York Jets celebrates with quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 and center Nick Mangold #74 after scoring on a 38 yard run in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Sanchez;Thomas Jones;Nick Mangold
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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Houston Texans cheerleaders peform at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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We'd digress here into a discussion about why even the likelihood of player X playing is something that is vitally important to the league when they refuse to acknowledge how much of its popularity derives from gambling and fantasy leagues, but we'll stay on topic.
Why the difference in this case? Probably because Favre made it a sufficiently large issue that Roger Goodell and the Good Time Gang had to take some kind of action lest people begin to doubt the sanctity of the blessed injury report. Favre made it seem like the Jets were trying to pull a fast one on the rest of the league, even though the rest of the league was the only beneficiary of their playing an injured quarterback who enjoys throwing interceptions almost as much as he enjoys indecision.
So, basically, the Jets wound up paying $100,000 because Favre wanted to make an excuse for playing like garbage in the last five games of the 2008 season. Zygi Wilf and Brad Childress might want to go ahead and put some money in escrow now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-16-2009 @ 6:05PM
dhefu said...
Just another Brett Favre jealous writer. BF has given more to NFL Football and the Fans than you can imagine, if you find to time to write this drivel and he is absolutely one of the toughest players ever to play the game. It is possible that no one will ever equal his consecutive starts record.
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9-16-2009 @ 8:02PM
ivo610 said...
No one will ever equal his consecutive starts record?
Oh you mean like Jim Marshall? Idiot.
9-17-2009 @ 12:02AM
dhefu said...
You wouldn't say that to my face, so you can keep your insults!! It is a different position...but I guess I have to explain that to you.
Jim Marshall:He played in 282 consecutive games, a record since surpassed by Jeff Feagles. He is tied with Brett Favre for documented consecutive starts with 270[1] although there is a question as to whether his consecutive starts streak is 270 or 282 due to a lack of documentation of his streak as a member of the Cleveland Browns.
9-20-2009 @ 2:29PM
dhefu said...
It's the idiot again. Here is the latest. I wonder if Jim Marshall will be adding to his record?
Favre sets NFL record with 271st start in a row
Posted Sep 20, 2009 1:09 PMPrint Text Size A AADETROIT -Brett Favre has another NFL record. Favre started Sunday for the 271st straight time in the regular season, playing for the Minnesota Vikings against the Detroit Lions. He handed off to running back Adrian Peterson after taking his first snap.
Defensive end Jim Marshall had the previous mark, starting 270 games in a row for Minnesota from 1961-1979.
9-16-2009 @ 8:19PM
bobbyroastbeef said...
hey the jets broke the rules and now they goota pay,its not bretts fault they didnt disclose the injury,these writers are unbelievable,he obviously played like crap for a reason...stupid
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9-16-2009 @ 8:37PM
leoganz said...
Anything to cause the many NY jackass fans a problem is fine with me......Go Queens..........
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9-17-2009 @ 12:43AM
packerbf4tb said...
Favre didn't tell the NFl to go and fine
the Jets or Mangini...he just said that
they knew about his arm and he would have
sat out so as not to hurt the team...he said
let Clemens be the QB....but again they said
they had a better chance at winning with
Favre....Favre took the heat from two or three
teammates when they badmouthed him after they
lost the last 5 games...the team sputtered not
only Favre....Favre has nothing to do with the
NFL decision to issue fines...again Favre just
telling it the way it is ...another story the
media can go with and start the Favre bashing...
Why does the Patriots coach try to gloss over
injuries?....everything is a big secret in NE
too....Mangini will keep his starting QB for
week two a secret....seems like there is a
pattern here...........
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9-17-2009 @ 4:25AM
Laura said...
Get your facts straight before trying to bring other teams into this. Bottom line is Favre doesn't want everyone to think it was his fault the team sucked so bad in the end. If he was really sore and couldn't play why didn't he go to the commissioner and tell him Jets wanted him out there even though he was injured? And like the reporter said....what could the Jets possibly accomplish by not listing him on the injury report? The teams trained and planned for Favre...something they may not have done if they knew he was injured!!
9-17-2009 @ 10:05AM
roseinbloom said...
You are so right on!!!! It is a joke around the league that the Pats do gloss over their injury reports lol
I guess Brett was going to go to Goodell and say I can't play, but they are making me play... hehehe Let anyone try that with the one who signs their paycheck at the end of the day....that would go over well ;)
I'm tired of the Favre bashing! He is a better quarterback at the end of his career than most are now.
BTW, wasn't Brady a "class act" after the Pats barely won over the Bills LOL
9-17-2009 @ 6:14AM
Paul said...
The word is BICEPS. How can someone tear a "bicep?" There are two muscles there. When will sports writers get this right?
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9-17-2009 @ 7:17AM
bobbyroastbeef said...
maybe he only tore one of them...hence bicep
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9-17-2009 @ 8:03AM
shipmate05 said...
just the comments of another clueless sports writer who feeds at the nfl trough
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 10:27AM
jayandtiti said...
just a farve bashing article, there are alot of writers who want him to fail, and i am not a farve fan but i find his whole soap opera humorous. i wonder do alot of these writer remember the end of last year? yeah he did throw alot of picks which definitely could be attributed to the injury but having watched the game watching the ENTIRE team fall apart was good...do any of you remember that none of the jets recievers could catch the ball even when it was right in their hands, even when he was still apart of the team the blame was solely on farve. the jets recievers could catch a cold when it mattered, but farves just easy fodder. i'm interested in the afc east this year it may be fun to watch, the jets made a good move with sanchez, the pats got some work by the looks of it, the bills for what's happened there seemed to play with heart for a young team,and the dolphins may struggle to repeat as champs of the east. and i think chancy stucky is one of the best football names for a reciever in football today.ha-ha great name
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9-17-2009 @ 1:14PM
a-m0x^ said...
the writer of this article had one purpose; to make money. Nobody could actually bash and ridicule one of nfl's greatest players of all time and actually think they're credible.... .can they?
Reply
9-21-2009 @ 2:40PM
angryguy77 said...
One word describes this author: Hack. You are a moron. What are you going to say when he and the viks are in the playoffs?
Reply
9-22-2009 @ 2:31AM
knight said...
I'm a football fan, I'm a Brett Farve fan, I'm a Jim Marshall fan because I saw almost every one of those 270 games he played. Jim is glad for Brett because he knows first hand what it takes to achieve that milestone, and Jim would be the first to tell you he played some of those games hurt, but it was better to be on the field rather than next to it on Sunday. I know where Brett is going to be come Sunday even if he was listed on the injury report, and I don't expect a five game losing skid at the end of the year because he is playing with a better team than last year. Like I said I'm a football fan so I'll be watching some Jets action when I get a chance, this season they have done some improving and it isn't just about the Quarterback.
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