OFFICIAL BRETT THE LIVING LEGEND THREAD

[cheesner]

Do you play QB in the NFL? do I? No, but from what I understand (having played QB in HS a bit) is that you have a read progression, and if your first read is open, 99% of the time you throw it right away, without even looking at anything else. Why? You may not have time to survey the whole field,a nd when option one is open, what else are you looking for? You throw it to option 1.

Yes, others were "more open" - but when your frist read is open, from what i understand, you throw it pretty much right away. Driver WAS open. It may be a half step, a full step, whatever, but he was plenty open. Favre throws it to the outside like he is supposed to and it's a completion.

And in glancing at that photo, there was a guy just about ready to give favre a nice pop. Note our blocker apparently tackling the one giant right to the right of favre. He pulls the ball back in and starts lookjing around, he gets creamed. Best case you could of hoped for that didn't involve a throw to driver was him glancing and seeing grant.

However, his pocket was "gone" (see picture) and driver was open and was the clear first read of the play.

The only reason we even talka bout it is because of how bad the throw was. Start breaking down game tape of every qb's pass, and I am sure you will find multiple other WR's who may have been more open, but because the firsty read was open "enough", that is where the throw went.

The best throw is a dump off to grant, driver blocks his guy, he goes outside driver down the sideline and gets pushed out by the saftey, about a 15 or 20 yard gain, asuming grant actually catches the ball, something he isn't the best at.

Again though, favre makes a better throw to driver and were not even talking about it. This is football. First read is open, you throw it. You don't know if anyone else is open and by the time you scan the field and come back, driver may not be open (in terms of thought process. You look, driver is doing an out, he has the defender behind him leaving an outside pass for a easy catch, and favre blew the throw.

I am not going to call that a poor decision. First read, he's open, you throw it.

I disagree that Driver is open. They may complete it only if its a perfect pass, but he isn't open. The CB has the angle and can easily jump the route in this situation. Driver is down field about 15 yards on the out route. That route probably took over 2 seconds to develop. Driver was not necessarily the first read. I believe that the play was meant for a short dump to Grant - looks like he passed up his block to get open - all the WRs are taking their coverage out of the middle to open it up. I think they keep Grant in if Driver is the first read and the pass is likely to go there.

My take: Very bad decision. Very bad throw.

[MJZiggy]

Favre drops back in a clean pocket, has plenty of time to throw, has several open recievers including the one he eventually threw the ball to. It was an awful throw - good decision, but an awful throw. It was picked off and immediately put the Giants in position to steal that victory. End of opportunity.

You're being kind. DD was double covered. Grant was wide open. It was a discusting decision and a miserable throw.

Had it of been the last throw of his NFL career, we would collectively remember him fondly around here. But the fact is, Bert is bigger than the team or the NFL. His conduct off of the field is disgraceful.

Na, he was single covered and he had a yard or two cushion between him and the defender. Problem was, Favre threw it behind and to the side the defender was playing him. I had no problem with the decision. Driver was Favre's go to guy and appeared to have a step on the defender. Just a god awful throw. That's how I remember that play anyway.

Yeah, I think people are trying to make the decision to throw it to his first read as being a worse decision then it really was. Yes, there were a few other options that were more open than Driver, but his very first read did have a few steps on his defender, and if the ball wasn't thrown so badly behind driver, it's a nice completion and no one is the wiser.

I mean, I don't blame favre for who he threw it too - I have no doubt that Driver was his first read, and his go to guy, on that play. He was also open enough to warrant a throw. Favre just made a bad pass.

It's one of the few situations in his career where the int wasn't really due to a bad decision, just a shitty throw, which is not something we are really use to seeing, as favre has always been pretty accurate with his passes. I think in this you saw the cold really affecting him. Not that it's a real excuse, but clearly the ball didn't go where he wanted it too.

To be read: Every other receiver on the play was more open than Donald Driver.

I just looked again at the photo. The pocket was there. Driver had half a step on his defender. Grant was alone with 20 yards of daylight behind him. Two other receivers have at least two and five steps on their defenders. It was a disgusting decision and a digusting throw.

http://archive.profootballtalk.com/FavreThrow.jpg

Do you play QB in the NFL? do I? No, but from what I understand (having played QB in HS a bit) is that you have a read progression, and if your first read is open, 99% of the time you throw it right away, without even looking at anything else. Why? You may not have time to survey the whole field,a nd when option one is open, what else are you looking for? You throw it to option 1.

Yes, others were "more open" - but when your frist read is open, from what i understand, you throw it pretty much right away. Driver WAS open. It may be a half step, a full step, whatever, but he was plenty open. Favre throws it to the outside like he is supposed to and it's a completion.

And in glancing at that photo, there was a guy just about ready to give favre a nice pop. Note our blocker apparently tackling the one giant right to the right of favre. He pulls the ball back in and starts lookjing around, he gets creamed. Best case you could of hoped for that didn't involve a throw to driver was him glancing and seeing grant.

However, his pocket was "gone" (see picture) and driver was open and was the clear first read of the play.

The only reason we even talka bout it is because of how bad the throw was. Start breaking down game tape of every qb's pass, and I am sure you will find multiple other WR's who may have been more open, but because the firsty read was open "enough", that is where the throw went.

The best throw is a dump off to grant, driver blocks his guy, he goes outside driver down the sideline and gets pushed out by the saftey, about a 15 or 20 yard gain, asuming grant actually catches the ball, something he isn't the best at.

Again though, favre makes a better throw to driver and were not even talking about it. This is football. First read is open, you throw it. You don't know if anyone else is open and by the time you scan the field and come back, driver may not be open (in terms of thought process. You look, driver is doing an out, he has the defender behind him leaving an outside pass for a easy catch, and favre blew the throw.

I am not going to call that a poor decision. First read, he's open, you throw it.

I'm no QB having never played but was under the impression that under this circumstance, you're supposed to throw it to your own player...

[HowardRoark]

Just got back from my evening run.....and who do I run into? None other than Bert, Deanna and Hutch (lives down the street). At least Steve has the decency to say hello. Bert acts like something is in his eye. And yes Rand, he could stand to toss in a salad once in a while.

Deanna looked good.

[Joemailman]

The dump off to Grant was the best option. There were guys open to the left, but Favre was getting pressure from the left, and it might have been tough to get a pass off in that direction. Keep in mind that the photo everyone sees is after the ball has been released, not what things looked like as Favre made his decision.

Here's a bigger version of the infamous photo:

[retailguy]

honestly, I'd have probably done the same thing with the ball, but... well... that might explain why I don't play football. :P

[mraynrand]

Just got back from my evening run.....and who do I run into? None other than Bert, Deanna and Hutch (lives down the street). At least Steve has the decency to say hello. Bert acts like something is in his eye. And yes Rand, he could stand to toss in a salad once in a while.

Deanna looked good.

That's funny. On my last run I ran into a family of skunks. (You write the rest of the joke)

[Fritz]

Just got back from my evening run.....and who do I run into? None other than Bert, Deanna and Hutch (lives down the street). At least Steve has the decency to say hello. Bert acts like something is in his eye. And yes Rand, he could stand to toss in a salad once in a while.

Deanna looked good.

Tossing a salad? Hmmm...shouldn't this thread be moved to the garbage can??

[gex]

Because I had SO many psych evaluations to compose b/c prince george's county schools start next week i was just now able to watch the favre presser. and i gota say i enjoyed it; especially when he said "no one deserves or is worthy of this hoopla or attention..."

i know some morons around here (hehe, j/k) and even schmucks in the media like tedy bruschi will be naysayers but i actually believe with wisdom, enlightenment, life's trials, etc brett and others of his ilk (even the "common" person) can gain some perspective. all he does is chuck a football like all lebron does is put a ball thru a hoop! how significant is that REALLY? not like they're curing cancer, poverty, hate crimes, etc. im actually a "fan" of special ed teachers who take the extra time to help the difficult children from drug abusing families who cant sit still. these heroes get paid pennies, yet favre is given a raise with incentives? incredible - not favres fault of course; bus cook just did his job and took advantage of the vikes desperation (the same thing any one else would do if their employer beg them to come to work and take more loot!)

im a staunch favre supporter b/c of the memories with the pack, i dig his swag, and he's ENTERTAINED me for TWO DECADES. but once he finally retires pro sports will be WAY down on the totem pole for me. someone sent email to espn last month stating my sentiments: with roids, free agency, newbies lack of passion ala haynesworth, dez bryant lackn respect for the shield to a certain extent, lebrons "decision" making bill russell turnover in his grave, redic salaries, loss of integrity amongst nba players, etc etc the allure of pro sports is lessening for the evolved being. clearly, it's just a microcosm of society in general which is going to hell in hand basket. but i cant get up for much of this any more save favre and rondo/celts for about 18 more months. so many more worth while entities in which to put my energy/passion...maybe i will do peace corps; im almost 40 now and am increasingly becoming concerned about MY legacy (to hades with favre's lol)..dont want to be known merely for the women ive been with, loot ive made, and the teams i cheered for

ok, that was my therapy

all who let brett (and any other person you dont know) get under your skin need therapy as well. im SO free of my disdain for TT and its refreshing,,he's actually a GREAT gm and im impressed with the handling of the pack - should be great for years!

now, we KNOW brett never imagined he would do the things he did in the nfl back when he was in middle school. so im sure he's pleased with wat he accomplished and at the end of the day THATS wat matters; not wat the rats here think..everyone cant be VICK DA GREAT and RUN FOR THAT DARN 1ST DOWN IN NFCCG FOOL!

dayum

You speak the truth....everybody else will get over the hurt feelings when its all done and said.

[pbmax]

Great hold by the fullback in that photo. I wish there was a way to have that camera for the whole game (or the coach's one) without having to wait for an NFL Sunday Night Game.

I agree with the read that it is odd that he used the phrase "favor" in his press conference multiple times. Favre has talked about football like this for some time, as though it is not the world to him and that he could leave it at any moment because of the trouble it causes him.

In his younger days, Favre preferred to talk about football as though he would play it even if they didn't pay him.

Both are exaggerations uttered to deflect attention. But it is an odd place to be as a football player that you need to pretend that playing the game holds no meaning for you other than to help teammates. It certainly makes it seem like you are not committed.

But the likely reason for this is that he doesn't want to get the Willie May/Joe Namath/John Unitas treatment of an athlete hanging around the game too long, and having no clear idea about his own limitations. By uttering phrases like this, he makes it seem like it isn't even his idea. Its like his neighbor stopped by to see if he wanted to come over for dinner.

But I am still fascinated by the why. What is the most important reason? Is it one more Super Bowl? One more season to ratchet his records up? Or is it because there is nothing like it, certainly nothing that pays like it? Probably a mixture of each.

But any of those reasons sufficient? He is so guarded about playing he is obviously very concerned about what he could lose. As a young man, he wanted it all and would pay any price. Can being a veteran make an effective substitute for his youthful thirst for glory?

I would argue that in one way, it cannot. As a young player, he feared Holmgren and learned to subsume some of his nuttier inclinations while Holmgren was coach. But as Favre got older and won more accolades, even Holmgren saw his turnovers ratchet up. He clearly now is willing to tolerate coaching only to a certain degree, when it meets his needs. If he is not willing to subsume himself to the team, to truly take a personal risk for the team (run for 5 yards instead of throw on a bum ankle and hamstring), can you win a title with him?

For this reason alone, I think his presence makes it harder to run though the playoffs. If he has to do something out of his comfort zone (which is always getting smaller) he is less likely to do what it takes to succeed. He may be a better choice than TJack or Sage, but there seems a limit to his upside. It seems odd to consider that Favre may have been only get to the playoffs QB since early this decade.

[RashanGary]

I think he stays away from football in the offseason so he can do a cycle of steroids outside the NFL testing policy. It's the reason that best fits his bizzare decisions.

[HowardRoark]

The Peter Principle is the principle that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence". In Brett's case, I think this equates to his departure from the NFL will be a complete train wreck.

[mraynrand]

I think he stays away from football in the offseason so he can do a cycle of steroids outside the NFL testing policy. It's the reason that best fits his bizzare decisions.

That's a pretty solid conspiracy theory.

[bobblehead]

I think he stays away from football in the offseason so he can do a cycle of steroids outside the NFL testing policy. It's the reason that best fits his bizzare decisions.

That's a pretty solid conspiracy theory.

I probably started this one a couple years ago, but I said HgH. Ruddy facial skin. Wears down as the season progresses (and he is tested). I was half joking, half serious. I have to admit he has managed to keep his skills longer in life than most before him....almost clemenesque.

[MOBB DEEP]

I gota feeling bretts fat tail may look bad tonight

cant blieve its on national tv!

[RashanGary]

Favre said he is 11 pounds heavier than last year but his waist is smaller. Favre said he has not been eating red meat or desserts and drinks only water.


But in addition to some expected soreness in his groin and hamstrings, Favre is suffering the effects of a sinus infection that is being treated with steroids and other prescription medication.



41 year old men don't gain 11 lbs of muscle and lose fat on their waste while working on the ranch. Then he gets these prescriptions for this nasty cold that happen to be steroid. . . .

Yeah, I have a strong suspicion what this guy does in the offseason, why he wants to avoid being around football so badly.