Look at Favre's Contributions and Family

A couple weeks ago, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016 induction ceremonies and speeches were held. There was a big crowd from Green Bay on hand to see Bret Favre become a Hall of Fame member. Favre gave the audience his personal reflections on the people who supported him in life including in his father Irv who was his high school football coach.  Favre was the worst nightmare of Packer's opponents, but one that visitors or home team could not take their eyes off.  I certainly couldn't, even as die-hard Bears fan.

There was also much to Favre that is contrary to today's quarterback lesson plans. Coaches seem to call for a machine-like ball tosser who is exploiting the opposing team by throwing with precision when the plan calls for deadly dull plodding up the field. Eliminate mistakes and win. Favre was too fun-loving for such an approach. And on most Sundays his methods worked.  

Brett Favre was certainly one of the best quarterback ever, although he sure threw a lot of interceptions.  In his 20 seasons, he led the league in interceptions 3 times.  His 29 interceptions in 2005 gives him the 12th highest mark for the single season interceptions for all time. If you watched Favre play, you knew he had a gunslinger mentality and he was going to do his best to resurrect a game even if it made him look foolish. And as good as Favre was, sometimes he did look foolish.

Favre threw 336 career interceptions. In this way, Favre was a QB equivalent of Babe Ruth. Ruth led the league in strikeouts, but holds several other more coveted records.

But the final tally on Favre has to be a winning number for fans, not his missed marks. Fahre's 1996 Packers won the Super Bowl; his 1997 Packers lost it. In his post-Packers years, in the 2009 season with the Vikings,  his team came within 3 points of winning the Conference Championship against the New Orleans Saints and going on to another Super Bowl.   The Saints were the only team to possess the ball in overtime and won the game on a field goal--this was before the rules were changed to give the opposing team another possession under such circumstance.

Packer fans had to be "in for a penny, in for a pound" with Favre.  He would work miracles in one game with his efforts, though heroic in some ways, and then in the next contest he might take more risks than necessary. But for Favre it was always a game, a sport, and a lifelong love--never a business.

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Copyright 2016 Sporting Chance Press 
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Greatest Coaches of the NFL

Pillars of the NFL looks at the great coaches and brings the reader into their world.  The coaches early life, schooling, playing days, coaching days and their contributions to the game are all there for you to see and examine.  Packer fans will appreciate Pillars of the NFL, which includes coverage of Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau.  Order this classic title from the publisher or order from Amazon. 

About Sporting Chance Press:

Our goal at Sporting Chance Press is to provide entertaining books that can give readers a lift in sports and in life. We publish books that give readers insight into the hero within each of us. When sport is at its best, there is a payoff constantly taking shape – a payoff "at work." We are improving—whether it is building self esteem, improving health, developing strong social skills, or learning the habit of achievement. There is a discipline needed in preparing for sports contests and life contests. Getting our bodies and minds in shape for the competition is critical. If we can approach sports training and life with enthusiasm, the contest is pure joy. If we can approach sport and life with passion and not pressure, we can achieve and release that fearless hero within. 

Lawrence Norris