This past weekend, Brett Favre (at right) of the Green Bay Packers broke the all-time touchdown record previously held by Dan Marino. This record has stood for a long time, and few thought that it would be possible to break, but here stands Brett Favre, an old-fashioned gun-slinging quarterback who’s never been afraid to hurl the ball downfield. Brett Favre is the NFL’s all time winningest quarterback, and holds the record for most number of consecutive games started by any player at 241. Favre is a man to look up to for sports fans of all ages, and in a time of Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, and Mike Vick, Brett Favre breaking the record is something that this sport needed dearly.
Brett Favre is old school. He started playing in 1991 with the Atlanta Falcons, was traded to the Green Bay Packers the next season, and hasn’t looked back since. He has led his team to two Super Bowls in that span, winning one and losing one. He celebrates every touchdown as if he just won the Super Bowl. He’s not afraid to take a hit. And winning a game is more important to him than any record. Why is this important? Because the media is obsessed with records. The coverage surrounding Barry Bonds home run chase to break Hank Aaron was ridiculous. Every game switched over to Bonds’ at bat just to see if he would break the record. Favre on the other hand, downplayed his achievement, claiming that he was happier that his team was winning than he was that he was about to break the all time touchdown record. His team, and I do mean HIS team, is now 4-0 after going a mediocre 8-8 last season. This offseason, there was speculation that Brett Favre might hang up his cleats and retire. He’d thrown a lot of interceptions, his team was young and inexperienced, and it looked like there was no chance of the team having a real significant season. Despite all this, Favre stayed around and decided to play. And look at all the amazing things that have happened.
Brett Favre is headed to the Hall of Fame, there should be no doubt in anybody’s mind about that. He has set amazing records in his time in the NFL, and has been a role
model for fans of the game throughout his career. When he broke the record on Sunday, however, Favre still paid homage to the great quarterbacks of our time, stating “I would never put myself up there with Dan Marino. He’s one of the greatest of all time.” I don’t know anybody who has this kind of humility in sports anymore. Just the other week we saw Chad Johnson sport a jacket in the endzone after he scored claiming “ Future [Hall of Fame] 20??.” That is the opposite of humility and respect for the game. The most Brett Favre has ever done to celebrate one of his 422 career touchdowns in run down the field with his arms over his head and celebrate with the receiver (seen at right), or just pat the linemen on the helmet, praising them for a job well done. This is something rarely seen in sports and Brett Favre should be acknowledged for his never-ending respect of the game.
In a time of so many sports scandals going on, Brett Favre breaking this record with pride and humility couldn’t have come at a better time. He is a well-respected player; both by the fans and players alike. He has never asked to be put in the limelight, but rather lets his play do the talking for him. He is a stand up guy, and hard worker, and a man that deserves unending respect. In the words of one of the greatest coaches of all time, former head coach of the Green Bay Packers Vince Lombardi (pictured at left), “hard work is the price we must pay for success.” Brett Favre has showed us this truth through his illustrious career. This record could not have come at a better time for a sport that truly needed it. And for that, Brett Favre, the sports world as a whole gives you thanks.
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