A Mississippi NFL Legend Announces his Return to the Packers

This is my first "request blog", hopefully one of hundreds more.

On April 26, 2006, the NFL world finally got it's answer to the question that it had been asking itself for weeks, even months. "Will Brett Favre return for the 2006 season?". Well folks, we have an answer now. I doubt if i have ever seen a more determined, energetic, passionate, and tough quarterback in all the football I have ever watched. I must say, however, I was very surprised. In the Chicago Bears' Christmas Day defeat of the Packers, I remember seeing Brett's eyes and just thinking that they looked different, that something wasn't there. Brett had a very lackluster performance and I have to honestly say that's the only time I've seen him with the ball at the end of the game and I knew he wasn't going to win. It was definitely a strange site for a player that has been a hero to so many youngsters across the great state of Mississippi and the whole country. Brett closed out the 2005 campaign with a career high 29 ints. All looked bleak in the frozen tundra.

Besides being the game's ONLY three time MVP, and being on nine pro bowl teams, and winning Super Bowl 31, Brett has singlehandedly won more games with individual efforts that I believe any player I have ever seen. Brett has been called by ESPN analyst Steve Young "the best quarterback in the game today." and Chris Berman called him "my favorite player to watch." Besides this, Brett Favre has started a whopping 221 straight regular season games, and if you count the playoffs, he's started 241 in a row. He is also second all time in touchdown passes with 396 (only 24 behind Dan Marino's 420- some think this could be a reason he returned). Second in passing yards, second in completions, and unfortunately, second in interceptions.

You can feel however you want about Brett Favre and the Packers, but here are some points I would like to make.

• Brett has the opportunity to walk away from the game as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Even if winning isn't the #1 thing on his mind, this distinction has got to be. In 1999, Sports Illustrated had a special issue which determined the greatest quarterbacks ever. Brett Favre was 4th on this list, (Johnny Unitas was #1- and if you ask me, rightfully so, and no Michael Vick was not on there) and one would have to think, that he would have had to move up since then, because eventhough Brett had a really really weak 2005, (his only losing season) he has still clmbed up the statistical ladder to the point that would put him a position, for argument's sake, to have a shot at being called the best ever.
• I think Brett Favre was the first quarterback in the new era of the NFL which features quarterbacks from smaller schools. In case you have been living under a rock, Brett Favre and I have the same alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. If you think about it, the following quarterbacks had very similar situations to Brett Favre in college: Ben Roethlisberger (Miami Ohio), Chad Pennington (Marshall), Byron Leftwich (Marshall), Alex Smith (Utah- #1 pick in 2005 draft), Daunte Culpepper (Central Florida), J.P. Losman (Tulane), Jeff Blake (East Carolina), Jeff Garcia (San Jose State), Jake Delhomme (Louisiana- Lafayette), and David Carr (Fresno State- #1 pick in 2002 draft). You can make the argument that if Brett Favre doesn't make the impact that he does, none of these quarterbacks, which were all drafted in the 90's or 00's are in the position that they are in today.
• Brett Favre set all of these records with no future hall of famers around him. At least Michael Jordan had Pippen. Reggie White doesn't count- he played defense.
• Brett Favre has had so many wide receivers, I've lost count. Some have been nice players like Sterling Sharpe, Andre Rison, Robert Brooks, and Antonio Freeman, but none had the star power of a Rice, Harrison, Moss, or Largent that could have really put him over the top.
• Every Pro Bowl lineman Brett has had with the exception of Frank Winters has left as a free agent.

Boys and girls I strongly suggest you enjoy what could be Brett Favre's final season, you probably won't ever see another one like him. However, I do think I know the real reason Brett Favre returned this season.

In a 2001 interview with ESPN, Brett was asked the question "who is your backup?". Brett Favre being the team leader he is, responded "I ain't got one."

There you have it folks, the only reason you need. Here's to you Brett.