FAVRE: STILL ONE OF BEST NFL QB?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2872249
Is Brett Favre still one of the best QBs in the NFL?
Len Pasquarelli: From a solely statistical standpoint, Brett Favre certainly appears to be a quarterback whose physical skills are in decline. His 70.9 quarterback rating in 2005 was the worst of his career since becoming a starter, and the 72.7 rating he posted last season was the third-lowest. His 56.0 percent completion mark in 2006 was his poorest ever and the 2005 and 2006 seasons represented the first since he moved into the starting lineup in which he had not thrown more touchdowns than interceptions.
Those, obviously, are key numbers. And here's another one: 38. Favre will turn 38 years old in October, at about the midway point of the season, and one has to wonder about the effects of oxidation on the NFL's all-time iron man.
But all the numbers aside, including just a dozen wins the past two seasons, Favre arguably remains among the league's top 10 quarterbacks. The critics point to his dubious judgment at times, but Favre has always been a gambler and a risk-taker, a guy typically capable of making a big play out of nothing. In terms of arm strength, his velocity might not be what it was five years ago, but on those occasions when he throws the ball with timing on inside routes, the zip is still there. It's difficult to assess Favre in some ways, because the talent surrounding him has diminished, and that has played some role in his decline as well. The Packers have lost three starting offensive linemen the past three years, and deep-threat wide receiver Javon Walker has departed, too. Favre played most of 2005 without an injured Ahman Green and now the star tailback has exited in free agency. There's been a talent drain in Green Bay, and not much has been done to supplant the playmakers on offense. At this point in his career, Favre is still good enough to win. But not even a much younger Favre might have been able to singularly compensate for the defections on offense.
Matt Mosley: In the interest of self-disclosure, I should probably start by saying that Brett Favre is my favorite quarterback, which led to some very questionable fantasy draft decisions earlier this decade. That's why it pains me to say that he's no longer among the top quarterbacks in the league. Sure, there are still flashes of his past brilliance, but the truth is that he's now a slightly above-average quarterback in the league.
I could spend the next several paragraphs blaming this on Packers general manager Ted Thompson (not a bad idea), but for now, let's take a look at the facts. Even after bouncing back from an awful 2005 season in which he threw 20 touchdowns and 29 interceptions, Favre was by no means great last season. He threw 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, and his quarterback rating ranked 25th in the league -- one spot behind Chicago's Rex Grossman. Favre should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but when you talk about the league's top quarterbacks right now, he probably doesn't crack the top 10. His 56 percent completion percentage last season was caused, in part, by his team's horrendous start. The Packers were outscored 138-77 in their 1-4 start. The fact that Favre often makes poor decisions by trying to fit the ball into ridiculously tight spots is nothing new. It's just that he no longer has the ability -- or the offensive weapons -- to always dig his way out. In my mind, Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. But as hard as it is to acknowledge, he's in the middle of the pack right now.
John Clayton: Favre is still good enough to be a Pro Bowl quarterback. The question is whether he has the supporting cast to get him there. The NFC is wide open for top quarterback play. Though Favre may not be able to match the play of the two top AFC quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning and Tom Brady -- he can still compete with the best in the NFC. When he's healthy, Donovan McNabb is the NFC's best quarterback. Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck is a close second. But Favre's arm strength is exceptional, and getting back together with Mike McCarthy, who was his quarterbacks coach years ago, worked well last season. McCarthy helped Favre cut down his interceptions early in the season. Favre's completion percentage dropped to 56 in 2006, but that was largely because of the loss of receivers to injuries. Greg Jennings, one of the best rookie receivers of 2006, suffered a high ankle sprain at midseason, leaving Favre with few options. With a healthy receiving unit, Favre should be a 62 percent thrower again and have a chance for 20-25 touchdowns. That would put him in the top five in the NFC and among the best in the league. Favre still has it.
Eric Allen: There's no doubt Favre has the ability to be a great player, but I think he pushes the envelope too much with his passes, and that leads to mistakes. For him to make the list of the best quarterbacks in the league, he would have to be a better game manager, and too often he hurts his team with poor downfield decisions. That said, he's still better than a lot of quarterbacks in the league. He's just not one of the best anymore.
Joe Theismann: Favre still has the tools to be a top quarterback and he definitely has the mind-set and knowledge, but I'm not sure he has the weapons surrounding him to take him and this team to the next level. That's why he's not a top-five quarterback in this league anymore. The elite quarterbacks are able to put a team on their backs and lead it to the playoffs, even without great playmakers. Just look at Tom Brady last season. Favre is still an outstanding quarterback and a dangerous playmaker on the field, but I'm not sure he's in that upper echelon anymore.
ESPN FAVRE SPORTS NATION POLLS
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sports...tranker?id=709
Rank 'Em: Where does Favre rank?
Is Brett Favre still a top tier QB?The last few seasons in Green Bay have not been easy for future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Mediocre final records, along with "un-Favre" like stats have led some to suggest that Favre should just hang it up or at least move over and let Aaron Rodgers develop as the Packers' new starting quarterback. The most recent controversy took place this week when reports suggested that Favre had demanded a trade out of Green Bay after the Packers failed to acquire wide receiver Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders. What we want to know, SportsNation, is where you currently rank Favre among next year's speculated starting quarterbacks. Is the Green Bay legend still among the top 10 signal callers in the league? Or has his star fallen much further than that?
RESULTS: FORTHCOMING
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http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sports...?event_id=2929
Vote: What's going on in Green Bay?
Is Brett Favre on the outs in Green Bay?BBrett Favre really wanted Randy Moss on his team on the field, but is the Green Bay legend starting to act like the troubled wide receiver off the field? Favre said earlier this week that he wasn't going to attend the Packers' upcoming mandatory minicamp. While Favre changed his mind Wednesday and will attend the minicamp, it was just the latest story in a recent string of incidents suggesting the relationship between Favre and the Packers isn't exactly healthy. Favre talked down reports he demanded a trade after the team failed to obtain Moss from the Packers and has said all the right things about liking the outlook for the team this season, but what's your take on the present situation for the future Hall of Famer? Does Favre have a right to be ticked off? Should the Packers trade him? And what is all this doing to Aaron Rodgers?
ESPN HUGE SPORTS NATION POLL RESULTS:
1) Does Brett Favre have a right to be angry with the Packers for their offseason moves?
78.7% Yes
21.3% No
2) How much would Randy Moss have helped the Packers?
52.7% Made them a playoff team
36.0% Still would have missed the playoffs
11.3% Made them a Super Bowl contender
3) What impact has Favre's continued presence had on Aaron Rodgers?
35.8% Mostly positive; he's been around the best.
33.4% Mostly negative; he needs snaps.
30.8% Favre hasn't helped or hurt Rodgers.
4) Who will be the next quarterback to lead the Packers to the playoffs?
65.8% Someone else
34.2% Aaron Rodgers
5) Should the Packers trade Brett Favre?
73.3% No
26.7% Yes
6) Where does Brett Favre rank on the list of all-time best QBs?
43.7% 2-5
29.8% 6-10
12.4% 11-20
11.0% No. 1
3.1% Not in top 20
7) Where does Brett Favre rank among QBs for the upcoming 2007 season?
40.4% 6-10
33.1% 11-20
17.9% 1-5
8.7% Not in top 20
8) Where will Brett Favre finish his career?
87.7% Green Bay
12.3% Somewhere else
9) Will the Packers make the playoffs this season?
68.7% No
31.3% Yes
Re: FAVRE: STILL ONE OF BEST NFL QB?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TopHat
the 2005 and 2006 seasons represented the first since he moved into the starting lineup in which he had not thrown more touchdowns than interceptions.
Where was Len in 1993 (19 TD 24 INT) and 1999 (22 TD 23 INT)?
Good article though..
I especially like the part Jon Clayton wrote..I would agree that Favre could still be a pro bowler...
LIGHTER SIDE: ONION'S TAKE
TOP HAT'S NOTE: AMUSING. THREAD DEALS WITH LEGITIMATE HOT ESPN, SPORTS SITES & OTHER FORUMS TOPIC ON QBS RANKINGS. DUH! AS LOMBARDI SAID, "WHAT THE...IS GOING ON OUT HERE?"
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http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.../70517050/1989
'Onion' parodies Favre frustration, trade reports
Leave it to “The Onion,” a newspaper that parodies events in the news, to put a comical spin on the recent news surrounding Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and his frustration with management. The story, published today at www.theonion.com, is headlined “Brett Favre demands trade to 1996 Packers.” The headline and story reference the Super Bowl champion team and says Favre “is demanding a trade to the team he feels will give him the best shot at winning a last Super Bowl ring before his retirement: the 1996 Green Bay Packers.” Favre told a Mississippi newspaper last weekend that he was frustrated after the team’s failed attempts to sign wide receiver Randy Moss. “Nothing against Donald [Driver] and Greg [Jennings], but if I can't throw it to Randy Moss, then I want to throw it to Antonio Freeman, Robert Brooks, and Don Beebe," Favre says in the story. “The Onion” also gets in a dig on the national report that Favre wanted to be traded because of the Packers unwillingness to trade for Moss: “Although the Packers had no immediate comment, head coach Mike McCarthy said the team would be ‘heartbroken’ to part with its greatest player, although in deference to Favre's long service, and for the good of the current team, they would be willing to consider a trade package including a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft and the 1996 Brett Favre.”
http://www.theonion.com/content/news..._trade_to_1996
Brett Favre Demands Trade To 1996 Packers
Three-time MVP and undisputed future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, disappointed with the Packers' refusal to aggressively pursue receiver Randy Moss and frustrated with his team's apparent indifference to making immediate improvements on offense, is demanding a trade to the team he feels will give him the best shot at winning a last Super Bowl ring before his retirement: the 1996 Green Bay Packers.
"I just don't think this Packer team, and GM Ted Thompson especially, is thinking in terms of winning with me," said Favre, speaking to reporters at his charity golf tournament in Mississippi Sunday. "On the other hand, 1996 Packers GM Ron Wolf is committed to building the team completely around me. I don't think it's out of the question to say that with me behind center, the 1996 Packers are looking at going all the way to the Super Bowl."
Early reports had indicated that Favre was so upset that his team failed to close a draft-day deal for Randy Moss with the Oakland Raiders that his agent called Packers GM Ted Thompson and requested a trade to a team with capable receivers. "Nothing against Donald [Driver] and Greg [Jennings], but if I can't throw it to Randy Moss, then I want to throw it to Antonio Freeman, Robert Brooks, and Don Beebe," Favre said. "I bet with them, I'd have more of a chance of throwing for, say, 3,899 yards and 39 touchdowns, with maybe as few as 13 interceptions. Who knows? That kind of production could even get me another MVP award, although of course that's much less important than leading the '96 Pack to another Super Bowl victory."
Favre also noted that, unlike the young and unproven 2007 Packers, the 1996 Packers boasted seasoned veterans on both sides of the ball. "It sure would be great to play alongside Reggie White again—I get chills just thinking about seeing him in the locker room," Favre said. "That whole '96 defense is great, too. Santana Dotson is a force in the middle. That LeRoy Butler, I tell you, he's one of the most underrated safeties in the game. Desmond Howard isn't a bad kick returner, either. And unlike the Packer backfield I got now, the '96 Packers still feature William Henderson at fullback."
"Mark Chmura, though, I don't know," Favre admitted. "Decent tight end, but something about him isn't quite right." In addition to the more elite personnel, Favre praised the aggressive attitude of the coaching squad and front office of the Packers of 1996, saying he was a fan of head coach Mike Holmgren's West Coast offense and Wolf's aggressive recruiting strategies. "I think Holmgren and I would make an interesting team," Favre said. "He could teach me a lot. We could learn from each other. And I know Ron Wolf would have my back. If, say, our number-one receiver gets knocked out for the season in Week 7, I believe Wolf would go right after a great veteran free agent, like maybe Andre Rison, to give us an edge in the playoffs. I can almost guarantee that."
"It would really be something," Favre said. "We'd be one of the all-time great teams, a once-in-a-lifetime thing, you know? I'm going to have my agent look into it right away." Although the Packers had no immediate comment, head coach Mike McCarthy said the team would be "heartbroken" to part with its greatest player, although in deference to Favre's long service, and for the good of the current team, they would be willing to consider a trade package including a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft and the 1996 Brett Favre.
Re: FAVRE: STILL ONE OF BEST NFL QB?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BF4MVP
Quote:
Originally Posted by TopHat
the 2005 and 2006 seasons represented the first since he moved into the starting lineup in which he had not thrown more touchdowns than interceptions.
Where was Len in 1993 (19 TD 24 INT) and 1999 (22 TD 23 INT)?
Good article though..
I especially like the part Jon Clayton wrote..I would agree that Favre could still be a pro bowler...
I AGREE.