HarveyWallbangers
11-15-2007, 02:41 PM
Favre still 'good old country boy'
By Mike Vandermause, Green Bay Press Gazette
When Koren Robinson arrived in Green Bay last year, he noticed something different about Brett Favre.
"Other icons and legends and stuff like that are kind of full of themselves," Robinson said. "I thought he was going to be the same way. As soon as I met him, I had a totally different opinion about him."
Robinson recalls his first impression of Favre. "Just a straight shooter country boy," he said. "A good old country boy; that's what I thought."
Robinson, who was reinstated last month by the NFL after a yearlong suspension, has noticed something else about the Packers' 38-year-old quarterback. Despite his age, Favre is a little kid at heart and likes to have fun.
That explains why Robinson is reluctant to turn his back to Favre, whose reputation as a locker room prankster hasn't waned.
"Yeah, he has a thing about pulling people's pants down, mostly the offensive linemen," said Robinson, trying to contain his laughter. "They don't like it too much. But that's Brett. It breaks the monotony around here.
"Ain't no telling when Brett is going to do it. But he will surprise you."
Favre has been a surprise on the field in 2007. No one expected him to be on pace to break single-season career records for passing yards and completion percentage. Favre has a better quarterback rating (96.2) than he posted during MVP seasons in 1996 and 1997.
He has shattered just about every significant NFL career passing record, and remains as durable as ever with a starting streak of 266 games.
His exploits have been touted so often that an editorial in one state newspaper recently called for an end to the "incessant tributes" of Favre every time the Packers appear on TV.
Thankfully not everyone takes such a dour attitude toward life. Favre certainly doesn't.
"He's a relaxed guy," said Robinson, adding that it's easy to follow his leadership. "Everybody looks at him and says, 'OK, he's not stressing. We shouldn't be stressing either.'"
It would be easy to get caught up in the adulation, but Favre doesn't operate that way. He refuses to take anything for granted.
"You're only as good as your last play," he said on Wednesday when asked how he handles success. "You're only as good as your last game."
Throughout his career, Favre has lived with the notion he was one injury away from losing his job after his career took off in 1992 when Don Majkowski got hurt.
He takes a similar approach to the Packers' success this season. "It's great we're 8-1, but it could easily go right away, for any team who's in the position we're in," Favre said. "People will easily forget that you were 8-1 if you lay an egg. So, that's all you have to remember."
What his teammates will remember is how Favre never was affected by success.
"That's the thing I love about him so much," receiver Donald Driver said. "As time goes on, and you get to know him, he never has changed. I don't think he ever will."
Favre doesn't blame others when things go wrong, and he isn't a glory hog when things go right. He remains grounded and humble.
"He has never had a big head," Driver said. "He looks at every guy in this locker room, every person in the world as the same. He looks at them as equals. He doesn't think he's better than anyone."
Some sourpusses are tired of hearing it, but the fact is, Favre has been better than just about everyone else on the field for a long time.
By Mike Vandermause, Green Bay Press Gazette
When Koren Robinson arrived in Green Bay last year, he noticed something different about Brett Favre.
"Other icons and legends and stuff like that are kind of full of themselves," Robinson said. "I thought he was going to be the same way. As soon as I met him, I had a totally different opinion about him."
Robinson recalls his first impression of Favre. "Just a straight shooter country boy," he said. "A good old country boy; that's what I thought."
Robinson, who was reinstated last month by the NFL after a yearlong suspension, has noticed something else about the Packers' 38-year-old quarterback. Despite his age, Favre is a little kid at heart and likes to have fun.
That explains why Robinson is reluctant to turn his back to Favre, whose reputation as a locker room prankster hasn't waned.
"Yeah, he has a thing about pulling people's pants down, mostly the offensive linemen," said Robinson, trying to contain his laughter. "They don't like it too much. But that's Brett. It breaks the monotony around here.
"Ain't no telling when Brett is going to do it. But he will surprise you."
Favre has been a surprise on the field in 2007. No one expected him to be on pace to break single-season career records for passing yards and completion percentage. Favre has a better quarterback rating (96.2) than he posted during MVP seasons in 1996 and 1997.
He has shattered just about every significant NFL career passing record, and remains as durable as ever with a starting streak of 266 games.
His exploits have been touted so often that an editorial in one state newspaper recently called for an end to the "incessant tributes" of Favre every time the Packers appear on TV.
Thankfully not everyone takes such a dour attitude toward life. Favre certainly doesn't.
"He's a relaxed guy," said Robinson, adding that it's easy to follow his leadership. "Everybody looks at him and says, 'OK, he's not stressing. We shouldn't be stressing either.'"
It would be easy to get caught up in the adulation, but Favre doesn't operate that way. He refuses to take anything for granted.
"You're only as good as your last play," he said on Wednesday when asked how he handles success. "You're only as good as your last game."
Throughout his career, Favre has lived with the notion he was one injury away from losing his job after his career took off in 1992 when Don Majkowski got hurt.
He takes a similar approach to the Packers' success this season. "It's great we're 8-1, but it could easily go right away, for any team who's in the position we're in," Favre said. "People will easily forget that you were 8-1 if you lay an egg. So, that's all you have to remember."
What his teammates will remember is how Favre never was affected by success.
"That's the thing I love about him so much," receiver Donald Driver said. "As time goes on, and you get to know him, he never has changed. I don't think he ever will."
Favre doesn't blame others when things go wrong, and he isn't a glory hog when things go right. He remains grounded and humble.
"He has never had a big head," Driver said. "He looks at every guy in this locker room, every person in the world as the same. He looks at them as equals. He doesn't think he's better than anyone."
Some sourpusses are tired of hearing it, but the fact is, Favre has been better than just about everyone else on the field for a long time.