MITCHELL BLATT

I have been one of Brett Favre’s harshest critics the past three years, on this blog and on other places I have written. I was happy when he decided to retire, and I pointed out that his past three seasons have been a testament to his demise. He lead the Packers to a 13-3 record last season, though, and had relatively good stats–but still much worse than in his prime–so I’m wondering if he still has game, if he wants to come back, as some stories hinted at a few weeks ago. I say he shouldn’t come back if he’s going to be a backup or low quality starter. He’s Brett Favre, not Kurt Warner, you know. Anyway, here’s a comment from my post a few days ago on Brett Favre’s demise, arguing that Favre had one of his best season’s last year:

Why do people like you keep bringing up the season the Pack went 4-12? he had one losing season in 16 years (two 8-8 years). he helped the Pack rebound to an 8-8 season then they go 13-3 and still you naysayers pound on him. he had one of the best years of his career this season and yet YOU say he was still deteriorating overall and that it was good he retired.

Now, I didn’t just mention his 4-12 season, I also mentioned his 8-8 season, because he had a pretty bad season that year, too. I’m going to bring up some stats to defend why Favre hasn’t been good. I know stats don’t mean everything, but when it comes to arguing sports, you need to use them, because they provide concrete fact, whereas arguing over what kinds of passes he’s been throwing is just opinion.

Anyway, here are his stats starting in 2004:
Year-Comp. Pct.-Yd.-TD-INT
2004-64.1%-4,088-30-17
2005-61.3%-3,881-20-29
2006-56.0%-3,885-18-18
2007-66.5%-4,155-28-15

(And he played all 16 games in all those seasons. He is Brett Favre, after all.)

As you can see, in 2005 and 2006 both, he threw the same or more interceptions than touchdown passes. Even with his interception abilities, he hasn’t done that since 1999. He hasn’t had two such seasons like that ever.

Just watching him, like on the final drive of his playoff loss to the Giants, you could see he was missing more passes and not throwing as well as he has in the past.

But again, that’s opinion. So back to the stats.

In 2007, did Favre have one of his “best season’s ever?”

His 28 touchdowns ranked eighth all-time for single season Brett Favre touchdown passes.

His 15 interceptions tied for fifth all-time for least Brett Favre interceptions in a season (for seasons when Brett Favre started 13+ games).

His yardage did rank third all-time for single season Brett Favre passing yards.

Draw what conclusions you may. But I think it’s time that the NFL moves on from the Brett Favre era.

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