Brett Favre not ready to quit just yet
There is a saying ‘quit while you’re ahead’. Brett Favre has never heard that saying. He played against the Green Bay Packers with two fractures, made worst by linebacker Brad Jones and he still wants to go to New England and face the Patriots.
It’s almost like an obsession for him. He has had 291 consecutive starts without missing a single game. He has played while in pain before but with a broken ankle? Even Favre might not be able to pull that off. He is wearing a walking boat for his ankle
and had to miss out practice because of it. Favre might return to practice on Friday but ruled out going on the field before then. Yet, he wants to start against New England.
The 41 year old's ego might finally be getting the best of him because he appears to be in no shape to play. When Brad Jones grabbed Favre by the leg and ended up twisting it, he reinjured Favre’s ankle. Favre limped a bit but fought through the pain with
sheer will. He finished the game but at what cost? He was intercepted three times. He played a game that was uncharacteristic of the Favre we all know. In fact, the entire season fails to even be a silhouette of last season’s performance. He has already thrown
10 interceptions this season compared to 7 he did in all of last season. Last season, he was ranked second in passer ratings but this season, he has fallen to 30th place. Age and a long list of piled up injuries have taken their toll on the quarterback.
Even if he can somehow push himself enough and be ready to play New England, would he play again like he did last Sunday? Throw away the game in more interceptions and more botched plays? It’s a real possibility. Favre insists that he would not jeopardize
the team for the sake of stretching out his streak. “It probably should have ended a long time ago”, said Favre.
He added that no matter when his streak ends, he would be proud of it. “I would love to play, for no other reason but I'm in this, committed to this team. I'd love to get this back on track and be a part of it, and more than anything function at a level
that gives us a chance to win. That's basically it.”
Vikings’ coach Brad Childress, who was furious with how Favre played against the Packers, hasn't ruled out letting Favre back on to the field. Childress admitted that Favre always had the ability to recover quickly, something that is absolutely necessary
to be able to start over 300 consecutive games, if you include the playoffs. However, he stated that unless Favre can show that he is physically fit enough to play professional football, he wouldn’t be considered to start on Sunday. “I'm going to need to see
some movement skills, to see that he can do that.”
Favre went for an MRI after playing the Packers which revealed the fractures. The quarterback consulted with the doctors who said that he does not need surgery to repair them. Favre is sure that his injured ankle wouldn’t get any worse if he played again
and that he could do it. He maintained that if he played on Sunday, it would be painful but he was sure he could handle it. He even suggested that with age, his tolerance to pain had increased. “Either that or I’m completely a knucklehead. A lot of people
probably agree with that anyway.”
If Favre is unable to play, Tarvaris Jackson would take over for him. The backup hasn't had an opportunity to start in an NFL game for Minnesota since Favre came along. He might finally get his opportunity this Sunday. We’ll know more in the next few days.
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