New Silverstein article - Favre Vs. Rodgers in their prime - WHO is better?

[Fritz]

I actually met a woman last month that dated Tagge in college.

But she broke up with him because he couldn't complete, even when she was wide open.

http://instantrimshot.com/

[ThunderDan]

Until this year, Rodgers hadn't had a year to compare with Favre's best. This year though, he's having a season for the ages and if it continues many will say it eclipses anything Favre did. It's hard to make comparisons like that though. In 1996 Favre was the only QB in the NFL to have a passer rating over 90. This year there are 8. Last year there were 13. The one thing that can certainly be said is that both were clearly the NFL's best QB when at their best. My guess is that Rodgers' inner discipline will enable him to stay on top at least as long as Favre. That is, if he can stay healthy. Favre's physical toughness is something I'm not sure Rodgers (or anyone else) can match. He needs to find a way to reduce the hits he takes.

Joe, thanks for the post it got me thinking about your first sentence.

Favre's 2 Best Years
1995 4,413y 63.0% Comp 38 TDs 13 INTs 99.5 QBR 3 Rush TDs
2009 4,202y 68.4% Comp 33 TDs 7 INTs 107.2 QBR O Rush TDs

Rodger's 2 Best Years
2009 4,434y 64.7% Comp 30 TDs 7 INTs 103.2 QBR 5 Rush TDs
2010 3,922y 65.7% Comp 28 TDs 11 INTs 101.2 QBR 4 Rush TDs

[ThunderDan]

Joe, thanks for the post it got me thinking about your first sentence.

Favre's 2 Best Years
1995 4,413y 63.0% Comp 38 TDs 13 INTs 99.5 QBR 3 Rush TDs
2009 4,202y 68.4% Comp 33 TDs 7 INTs 107.2 QBR O Rush TDs

Rodger's 2 Best Years
2009 4,434y 64.7% Comp 30 TDs 7 INTs 103.2 QBR 5 Rush TDs
2010 3,922y 65.7% Comp 28 TDs 11 INTs 101.2 QBR 4 Rush TDs

Thinking a little more, it's interesting that you have 19 years to pick for BF and 3 years to pick for ARod.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Rodgers is out of his mind good right now. Only season that compares is Brady's in 07.

That said, Favre is so unique. The thing that sticks out to me about Favre was that he played the QB position unlike any other hall of fame caliber QB and we may never see that again, from anyone.

He wasn't Aikman, Montana, Elway or any of the other HOF'ers. I hate the cliche but he really did play the position like he was a linebacker. He wasn't a technitian, he wasn't a student of the game, and he definately wasn't a great role model for kids or even teamates to look up to. But unlike anyone else who approached the game the way he did, he was succesfull.

Every few years we'd see people coming out of college who were the next Favre. They were gunslingers, wild and unrefined, but they had a cannon for an arm and could make all the throws so people drooled over them. They never pan out. One inparticular, Jay Cutler, has had a succesfull NFL career but, to me, personifies why Favre was so special. Jay can be great at times, but he can never seem to put it together for more than a few games at a time before the gunslinger mentality blows up in his face. Then he throws 12 picks in three games and costs his team a playoff spot or something.

But Favre made it work, to the tune of 3 MVPs, numerous Division titles, 4 NFC championship games, 2 superbowls and 1 ring. I'm not sure that anyone else could accomplish that the way he played.

I thought Elway and Favre were quite similar in playing styles, arm strength, toughness, etc.

[ThunderDan]

Favre's Worst Year (Starting All 16 games giving BF a pass for 2010)
1993 3,303y 60.9% Comp 24 TDs 30 INTs 72.2 QBR 1 Rush TDs

Rodger's Worst Year
2008 4,038y 63.6% Comp 28 TDs 13 INTs 93.8 QBR 4 Rush TDs

[Fred's Slacks]

I thought Elway and Favre were quite similar in playing styles, arm strength, toughness, etc.

Maybe. Definately similar in arm strength and toughness. But I see Elway as more of a student of the game and role model type. Less of a risk taker and less likey to mix it up with the oposing team's nose tackle. Favre seemed to want to throw it into double coverage just to prove he could. Maybe Elway was like that too but I don't remember it.

[yooperfan]

It's to early to compare. Who knows maybe Rogers hasn't reached his prime yet. Through most of
Favre's years with the Packers I'd tell my friends I'd rather watch Favre play in a wheelchair then
watch most other quarterbacks play healthy.

It's like that again with Rogers. And it is FUN!!!

Brees and Brady are OK but man, Tebow may be winning but he
throws a ball like a shotput and it's no fun to watch and everyone else
is fair to middling.

[Pugger]

Rodgers' play is spoiling us big time! When I watch other QBs - either in the NLF or the top collegiate ones - they just don't/can't do what Rodgers does and ARod makes it look so easy! This is what makes Rodgers so great.

[Joemailman]

Maybe. Definately similar in arm strength and toughness. But I see Elway as more of a student of the game and role model type. Less of a risk taker and less likey to mix it up with the oposing team's nose tackle. Favre seemed to want to throw it into double coverage just to prove he could. Maybe Elway was like that too but I don't remember it.

There wasn't much difference between the two. Elway definitely was prone to throwing into double coverage at times. For their careers, Favre had 3.3% of his passes intercepted, Elway 3.1. Elway did avoid the 20+ INT years that plagued Favre a few times.

[George Cumby]

Rodgers' play is spoiling us big time! When I watch other QBs - either in the NLF or the top collegiate ones - they just don't/can't do what Rodgers does and ARod makes it look so easy! This is what makes Rodgers so great.

+1

Watching Rodgers is like watching a surgeon who is the master of his craft. Watching Brett was like watching a jazz musician on a mad improvisational riff.

Rodgers seemingly spent his time well carrying the clip-board. He doesn't make the errors Brett did but you see Brett in his play when he's making it up on the fly.

We are so lucky.

[Pugger]

+1

Watching Rodgers is like watching a surgeon who is the master of his craft. Watching Brett was like watching a jazz musician on a mad improvisational riff.

Rodgers seemingly spent his time well carrying the clip-board. He doesn't make the errors Brett did but you see Brett in his play when he's making it up on the fly.

We are so lucky.

Thanks Ted!!!

[Packers4Glory]

so yeah. we've had really really really really really really good QB play for the better part of 20 years.

One thing that is different from Favre's earlier seasons is the lg is doing more and more to protect the QB and gearing the game towards offense. The game is def a lot different this yr than it was even 5 years ago much less 10. Favre made some really crappy WR look decent.

All I know is we have been extremely fortunate to have had both guys and in succession. I find what AR has done following a NFL legend absolutely astounding. Very little precedent for what he's done and how he's done it.

[Pugger]

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7272995/rick-reilly-rodgers-better-favre

[Brandon494]

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7...s-better-favre

Yes, Favre is one of the most unforgettable quarterbacks of all time. He's Halle Berry in a bikini. But Rodgers is Halle Berry in a bikini carrying an ice-cold 12-pack and the keys to a free Maserati.