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The Irk of Favre's Smirk
Why Brett’s beatdown of Green Bay really stings.
by Howie Magner | Tuesday 10/6/2009
He wouldn’t stop grinning.
That’s what had to bother Packers fans the most. Not that Brett Favre beat the gumption out of Green Bay, but that he had so much fun doing it.
Look back through the tape of Monday night’s game (if you’ve got the stomach for it) and you’ll see everything that made Favre such a hero for the Packers. The laserlike touchdown passes. The triumphant finger pointed skyward. The hugging and laughing with his teammates. The cheerleader exhorting his passionate fan base to scream impossibly louder.
Yes, Brett was doing all that and more. But he was doing it for the other side.
He was doing it for the Vikings side.
And he loved every single, glorious minute of it.
Short of throwing a brick through the TV, Packers fans had no choice to watch the whole sordid scene play out. It was betrayal of the highest order, and there was nuthin' they could do about it. Now they know how the cast of "Saved by the Bell" feels. (Curse you, Dustin Diamond, and your myth-shattering ways.)
Pack fans didn’t even get the temporary satisfaction of a Favrian sack. And my guess is they haven’t felt sicker about losing since… well, since Denver ruined Favre’s quest for a second Super Bowl title.
Favre might still get that second Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota clearly has all the makings of a Super Bowl contender. The Vikings have the NFL’s best running back in Adrian Peterson. They can dominate opponents with both their offensive and defensive lines, a fact the Packers witnessed first-hand. And now, finally, the Vikings have a quarterback to stitch it all together.
Yes, Favre obviously has plenty left in the tank. So much, in fact, that the annual retirement circus seems all the more mind-boggling. And there’s plenty of zip on the passes, so that arm injury is a thing of the past. On Monday, he looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
That doesn’t mean the Packers were wrong to hook their wagon to Aaron Rodgers. Given a choice between two more years of Favre (complete with his retirement waffling) and a decade of Aaron Rodgers, the franchise’s long-term needs won out. Favre going to the Vikings was just the unfortunate collateral damage.
And given that damage, it’s easy to see why Favre would enjoy a little vengeance against his old team. What’s much harder
to understand is Favre’s reluctance to admit as much this week. After the win, he was asked several times about revenge, a dish best served under a dome. Favre continued to deny that payback played any motivational factor. The closest he came to acknowledging it was a directive that “You [the media] make that decision.”
Well my decision is an easy one. I think Favre earned his vengeance, and I think he enjoyed it. I saw too many how-do-you-like-me-now smirks to think otherwise. The only thing missing was a headband with "Ted Thompson" written on it.
What Favre freely admits, however, is what's so problematic for Packers Nation. He's having fun again, and he doesn't need Green Bay to do it. While Wisconsin still obsesses over him, he's the ex-wife who's moved on. “Anytime you’re 4-0, it’s a blast,” he said.
And speaking of blasts, how about that Packers offensive line? Eight torturous sacks on Rodgers? Were they filming new scenes for Saw VI?
Blame Rodgers for some of it. He still holds the ball too long. But Rodgers’ line is treating him like he stole something.
That's just one of many problems the Packers will try to fix over their bye week, which will now feel interminably long. You know, like "The Jay Leno Show." Green Bay's running game still doesn't scare a soul. Mike McCarthy looked a step behind Brad Childress (and his beard) when it came to halftime adjustments. And the Packers' pass defense, supposedly one of the team's strengths, was shredded Monday night. Poor play from an ever-thinner safety corps was part of the reason, but more concerning has to be the lack of pressure on Favre. He had more time than Methuselah in the pocket.
Which meant plenty of time to flash those maddeningly smug smiles.
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8 Comments
Last night, the better team won fair and square. Favre demonstrated the talent and enthusiasm that made him a fan favorite when he played for the Packers and it's unreasonable to expect him to turn things down a notch now that he wears purple. His off-the-field histrionics the last two years may have alienated many of his longtime fans but last night he once again showed why he's the guy you want under center when the game is on the line. Let's see if the guys in green and gold can acquaint him with the hallowed turf up close and personal next month.
THE difference in the game was the play of the two offensive lines. Give Rodgers credit for a fine performance under heavy pressure. While not always successful, he repeatedly raced away from the pressure and got off fine passes while on the run. Yes, Favre had a great game but I for one am very happy that Rodgers is our quarterbackand will be for the next 10 years!
Packer fans, almost all of them employees or former employees of somebody, should have rallied to Favre when he was basically told by 'the boss' (no passes thrown or caught - by the way) that he was done. It's amazing that by and large they backed management.
Why not just face up to the fact that 'boss man' Thompson made an awful decision by pressuring the best quarterback in pro football off the team. Incidentally, young quarterbacks galore have had to sit while the number one man did his thing. And Favre was no "Babe Ruth" - whose abilities had long since eroded when the Yankees let him go. He can play! But was he treated like Michael Jordan?
No, thanks to the Packers 'boss man'.
I watched the game from beginning to end. I believe you overstate when you say that Favre embarrassed the Packers. If you will look at the stats of the game, you will see that the Packers had better overall stats than the Vikings.
If the Packers had an O-line, they would have won the game but its hard to throw a pass downfield while lying on your back.
Favre had one of his better games but he didn't embarrass the Packers, as you say.
AT last!! I've found someone who hates that Judas smirk as much as I do. Unfortunately, our D players apparently didn't mind it enough to throw him to the ground. They won't even need to wash his jersey to remove sweat.
Dave, I think you overlook two key points: 1) Favre played poorly last year and is now
blessed to be on a very good and balanced team and 2)just who do you think would quarterback the Pack when Favre finally decides he means it when he tells the team that he is retiring? No player is bigger than the team. Rodgers was a faithful backup for three years and is far too good to be content on any team's bench indefinitely.
Favre was never forced out by Thompson or McCarthy. He retired remember? He retired. He cried! Later he mentioned he might want to play again and Thompson told him OK but make up your mind before the the draft. No, I'm retired he said. They used two draft picks on quarterbacks. Then he decided again he might want to play. OK again Thompson said but you must make the team, it won't just be given to you. That wasn't acceptable to Favre so he became a Jet. I don't see where Thompson is a villain in any of this. Find me some Packer or Jet teammates that will testify that Favre is a team player. Good luck doing that. You do know he refused to dress in the locker room with the rest of the team. He's a selfish jerk who at one time was the best quarterback in football. You fell in love with the man because he did such a great job as your home team quarterback. It was a one sided love affair folks.
Observer and Don Noel could not be more clueless. To Don: 1) BF took a 4-12 team that couldnt beat NE, beat them and a 10-0 team, and put this 4-12 team in super bowl discussions. Then he got hurt. Yeah, he sucked. 2) line, line, line. someone please explain to me about 16 BF years, and how there was no line whining . . . ever. And while youre doing so, please outline all the pro bowlers and HOFers on his lines. Dont hurt yourself.
To Observer: Why did he retire? Because Ted didnt want him. When he realized he was 38 and still had it, and became po'ed that Ted didnt give a rats ass about him even though he saved this laughing stock of a franchise (please dont expose yourself as the King of Dolts by arguing that it wasnt - did you watch GB through the 70s and 80s?), he made it clear he was going to play. He is a 3-time MVP, clearly the Packers best player of the last 40 years (and arguably longer than that), and had the team an OT from the Super Bowl the previous year. As a fan, unless the guy is a complete dovche criminal, I want the best players on the team, period. And your feelings being hurt by a pro athlete not loving you also speaks volumes.
You are a typical Wisconsin small thinking sheep. Enjoy your mediocre Packers for years to come.