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<blockquote data-quote="BryanAschenbrenner" data-source="post: 216405" data-attributes="member: 700"><p>Mike Vandermause column: Paolantonio's slam on Favre lacks merit</p><p></p><p>Brett Favre’s retirement announcement last week was greeted with tributes, magazine covers, newspaper special sections and every form of adulation imaginable.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The legendary Favre is a lock to become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. When all-time great NFL quarterbacks are debated, Favre will be part of the discussion.</p><p></p><p>However, not everyone is fawning over Favre. With the ferocity of a blindside sack, ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio called Favre overrated and argued the last decade of his career was pedestrian. Paolantonio not only attacked Favre’s credentials, but blasted the media for heaping undeserved praise on the quarterback.</p><p></p><p>It’s an absurd notion, particularly coming from an experienced pro football observer.</p><p></p><p>Having witnessed the Packers’ starting quarterback first-hand since 1992, my job has been to call it like I see it, with no vested interest in defending Favre and no reason to inflate his career accomplishments. The unemotional, objective facts show clearly that over the wide arc of his career, Favre was brilliant.</p><p></p><p>Paolantonio bases the bulk of his argument on the quarterback’s playoff record in the past decade, when the Packers were 3-7 and Favre posted a mediocre passer rating of 77.8. He cites Favre’s overtime interceptions in playoff losses to Philadelphia in 2004 and the New York Giants in January as examples of a player not nearly as good as his press clippings.</p><p></p><p>That narrow view fails to acknowledge that without Favre, the Packers in many cases never would have qualified for the playoffs. One measure of a great player is how he makes his teammates better, and Favre was the master at elevating players around him. </p><p></p><p>For example, Favre’s starting receivers in 2001 were an aging Antonio Freeman and an ordinary Bill Schroeder. Yet the Packers produced a remarkable 12-4 record, largely due to Favre and his 94.1 quarterback rating.</p><p></p><p>Paolantonio would discount that season because the Packers lost a divisional playoff game to the St. Louis Rams. Yes, Favre played poorly, but the Rams were a superior team and it would have taken a perfect game to beat them on their home field.</p><p></p><p>Consider that in 2007, Favre was surrounded by the youngest roster in the NFL, but on the strength of a career-best 66.5 completion percentage and quarterback rating of 95.7, he willed the Packers to a jaw-dropping 13-3 record and berth in the NFC championship game. </p><p></p><p>Yet Paolantonio defines Favre’s season by a playoff interception, and concludes: “Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone.”</p><p></p><p>Huh? Was Paolantonio too busy blow-drying his hair to notice that Favre, at 38, was among the top three quarterbacks in the league?</p><p></p><p>Sure, Favre threw his share of costly picks. But his gun-slinging approach is the reason the Packers were the winningest team in the NFL during his starting tenure and suffered just one losing record in 16 years. </p><p></p><p>In Paolantonio’s view, Favre was a failure every year the Packers didn’t win the Super Bowl. </p><p></p><p>But during Favre’s long stint in Green Bay, only one teammate — Reggie White — was a Pro Football Hall of Famer. That more than anything explains why the Packers captured just one championship with Favre.</p><p></p><p>Is that making an excuse for Favre, as Paolantonio would suggest? </p><p></p><p>In reality, Favre doesn’t need excuses. He has more victories, passing yards, completions, touchdowns and consecutive starts than any quarterback in NFL history. </p><p></p><p>His record speaks for itself.</p><p></p><p>Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BryanAschenbrenner, post: 216405, member: 700"] Mike Vandermause column: Paolantonio's slam on Favre lacks merit Brett Favre’s retirement announcement last week was greeted with tributes, magazine covers, newspaper special sections and every form of adulation imaginable. The legendary Favre is a lock to become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. When all-time great NFL quarterbacks are debated, Favre will be part of the discussion. However, not everyone is fawning over Favre. With the ferocity of a blindside sack, ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio called Favre overrated and argued the last decade of his career was pedestrian. Paolantonio not only attacked Favre’s credentials, but blasted the media for heaping undeserved praise on the quarterback. It’s an absurd notion, particularly coming from an experienced pro football observer. Having witnessed the Packers’ starting quarterback first-hand since 1992, my job has been to call it like I see it, with no vested interest in defending Favre and no reason to inflate his career accomplishments. The unemotional, objective facts show clearly that over the wide arc of his career, Favre was brilliant. Paolantonio bases the bulk of his argument on the quarterback’s playoff record in the past decade, when the Packers were 3-7 and Favre posted a mediocre passer rating of 77.8. He cites Favre’s overtime interceptions in playoff losses to Philadelphia in 2004 and the New York Giants in January as examples of a player not nearly as good as his press clippings. That narrow view fails to acknowledge that without Favre, the Packers in many cases never would have qualified for the playoffs. One measure of a great player is how he makes his teammates better, and Favre was the master at elevating players around him. For example, Favre’s starting receivers in 2001 were an aging Antonio Freeman and an ordinary Bill Schroeder. Yet the Packers produced a remarkable 12-4 record, largely due to Favre and his 94.1 quarterback rating. Paolantonio would discount that season because the Packers lost a divisional playoff game to the St. Louis Rams. Yes, Favre played poorly, but the Rams were a superior team and it would have taken a perfect game to beat them on their home field. Consider that in 2007, Favre was surrounded by the youngest roster in the NFL, but on the strength of a career-best 66.5 completion percentage and quarterback rating of 95.7, he willed the Packers to a jaw-dropping 13-3 record and berth in the NFC championship game. Yet Paolantonio defines Favre’s season by a playoff interception, and concludes: “Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone.” Huh? Was Paolantonio too busy blow-drying his hair to notice that Favre, at 38, was among the top three quarterbacks in the league? Sure, Favre threw his share of costly picks. But his gun-slinging approach is the reason the Packers were the winningest team in the NFL during his starting tenure and suffered just one losing record in 16 years. In Paolantonio’s view, Favre was a failure every year the Packers didn’t win the Super Bowl. But during Favre’s long stint in Green Bay, only one teammate — Reggie White — was a Pro Football Hall of Famer. That more than anything explains why the Packers captured just one championship with Favre. Is that making an excuse for Favre, as Paolantonio would suggest? In reality, Favre doesn’t need excuses. He has more victories, passing yards, completions, touchdowns and consecutive starts than any quarterback in NFL history. His record speaks for itself. Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette. [/QUOTE]
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