packinpatland
07-23-2007, 06:53 PM
The New York Times isn't known for it's sports. BUT, this was in Sunday's edition. The last line says it all.
By AARON SCHATZ
Published: July 22, 2007
Historic records in professional football do not hold the same emotional weight as historic records in baseball. Nevertheless, like Barry Bonds’s pursuit of the career home run record, Brett Favre’s assault on the N.F.L.’s passing records will be a major story line of the 2007 season.
Favre has already surpassed one of those records, throwing his 4,968th completion during Green Bay’s 17-9 win over Detroit last December. This season, he may break the other two.
Favre could own the career touchdown record by the end of September; his total of 414 touchdowns is only six short of Marino’s 420. Favre will have a harder time breaking Marino’s record for passing yardage (61,361), because the 3,862 yards he needs is just below the 3,885 he passed for in 2006 and the 3,881 he accumulated in 2005. As long as he plays at his established level, Favre will break the yardage record in late December.
Those milestones will mean more attention for a player who already gets his share of the spotlight, but the N.F.L. should write his totals into the record books in pencil, not ink.
Favre has something else in common with Bonds: We have a pretty good idea of who will break the records they are about to set. Many baseball analysts believe that Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees will be the eventual home run king. And few commentators will want to spoil Favre’s story by saying it, but Favre is only keeping the record-breaking seat warm for a player who could far surpass all other N.F.L. quarterbacks in a few years — Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.
Manning turned 31 in March, but he already ranks seventh in career passing touchdowns and 13th in passing yardage. When it comes to amassing statistical totals by the age of 30, Manning is light-years ahead of any other quarterback in N.F.L. history.
Only four quarterbacks have completed at least 2,100 passes through age 30; Manning is the only one with more than 3,000 completions. Only four quarterbacks have passed for at least 30,000 yards through age 30; Manning is more than 2,000 yards ahead of the second-place Marino. Only four quarterbacks had more than 200 passing touchdowns through age 30; Manning’s total of 275 leads this category as well.
Many observers believe that 2007 will be Favre’s last season, especially if he surpasses the two passing records. If Manning’s performance declines slightly each year as he ages, at a rate similar to Favre’s and Marino’s declines, he will pass Favre’s touchdown record around the middle of the 2011 season, at the age of 35. It will take Manning longer to break Favre’s records for passing yardage and completions, but he could reach them early in the 2013 season, at 37.
Favre will be 38 this year. That is the same age Marino and the quarterback whose records he broke, Fran Tarkenton, were in their last seasons. If Manning retires at 38, he could do so with roughly 20 percent more touchdowns than any other quarterback in N.F.L. history. Just as Rodriguez is the first player with a legitimate shot at 800 home runs, Manning is the first player with a legitimate shot at 500 touchdown passes.
When Bonds breaks the home run record, those fans who find him unlikable will talk a lot about Rodriguez’s chances of surpassing him.
There probably won’t be as much talk about Manning should Favre break the two passing records, because Favre is one of the most beloved players in the N.F.L.
By AARON SCHATZ
Published: July 22, 2007
Historic records in professional football do not hold the same emotional weight as historic records in baseball. Nevertheless, like Barry Bonds’s pursuit of the career home run record, Brett Favre’s assault on the N.F.L.’s passing records will be a major story line of the 2007 season.
Favre has already surpassed one of those records, throwing his 4,968th completion during Green Bay’s 17-9 win over Detroit last December. This season, he may break the other two.
Favre could own the career touchdown record by the end of September; his total of 414 touchdowns is only six short of Marino’s 420. Favre will have a harder time breaking Marino’s record for passing yardage (61,361), because the 3,862 yards he needs is just below the 3,885 he passed for in 2006 and the 3,881 he accumulated in 2005. As long as he plays at his established level, Favre will break the yardage record in late December.
Those milestones will mean more attention for a player who already gets his share of the spotlight, but the N.F.L. should write his totals into the record books in pencil, not ink.
Favre has something else in common with Bonds: We have a pretty good idea of who will break the records they are about to set. Many baseball analysts believe that Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees will be the eventual home run king. And few commentators will want to spoil Favre’s story by saying it, but Favre is only keeping the record-breaking seat warm for a player who could far surpass all other N.F.L. quarterbacks in a few years — Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.
Manning turned 31 in March, but he already ranks seventh in career passing touchdowns and 13th in passing yardage. When it comes to amassing statistical totals by the age of 30, Manning is light-years ahead of any other quarterback in N.F.L. history.
Only four quarterbacks have completed at least 2,100 passes through age 30; Manning is the only one with more than 3,000 completions. Only four quarterbacks have passed for at least 30,000 yards through age 30; Manning is more than 2,000 yards ahead of the second-place Marino. Only four quarterbacks had more than 200 passing touchdowns through age 30; Manning’s total of 275 leads this category as well.
Many observers believe that 2007 will be Favre’s last season, especially if he surpasses the two passing records. If Manning’s performance declines slightly each year as he ages, at a rate similar to Favre’s and Marino’s declines, he will pass Favre’s touchdown record around the middle of the 2011 season, at the age of 35. It will take Manning longer to break Favre’s records for passing yardage and completions, but he could reach them early in the 2013 season, at 37.
Favre will be 38 this year. That is the same age Marino and the quarterback whose records he broke, Fran Tarkenton, were in their last seasons. If Manning retires at 38, he could do so with roughly 20 percent more touchdowns than any other quarterback in N.F.L. history. Just as Rodriguez is the first player with a legitimate shot at 800 home runs, Manning is the first player with a legitimate shot at 500 touchdown passes.
When Bonds breaks the home run record, those fans who find him unlikable will talk a lot about Rodriguez’s chances of surpassing him.
There probably won’t be as much talk about Manning should Favre break the two passing records, because Favre is one of the most beloved players in the N.F.L.