I watched Brett Favre take a pounding Sunday. New Orleans made sure he got beat up. When he got tackled or "bumped", the defensive line man would make sure all 350 pounds came down directly on Favre. Again and again and again. By the end of the game, I was still encouraging him to get up like the warrior he is but secretly I had the hope that he would just stay "down".
"Stay down"? You are talking Favre. In the third quarter, he personally thought he might have broke an ankle. He almost crawled to the sideline. They retaped the ankle, probably found some pain killers and there he was, running back onto the field. You are talking "heart" here. His Dad had taught him if you can get up, you can play. The team depended on him. All it would take was a few more passes for a win. His competitive juices were flowing. His team was depending on him.
And then when the game was on the line at the end, Favre had the chance to use his head as he rolled out to pass. All his receivers were guarded. He could try to force the ball to a receiver (as he always did in critical moments) or he could have limped 10 yards forward because nobody was anywhere near tackling him. The limping 10 yards foward would have given his team a chance at a field goal by Ryan Longwell (who is terrific in critical situations) and a trip to the Super Bowl. We witnessed the famous "brain fart". Favre tried to force the ball down the field and it was intercepted. The game changed on that play. So many games changed in the late moments because Brett thought he could do the impossible. Now the Vikings can wait until next year to see if he will return. Packer fans know the feeling.
I will say this! Favre is fun to watch. He may be the toughest son-of-a-bitch I have ever watched. In Brett's view, the game isn't over until the clock runs out. He has had the enthusiasm of a little kid. He is "human". He has tasted victory but way too many defeats. Favre is always standing at the end of the game. After 309 consecutive starts, he may just be the "last warrior". He is a good guy. He is my hero.
We will know in August whether Favre will play again. We will have to wait again? Yep we will have to wait again.
Stay warm.
Love,
Dad
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