Warning Minnesota Vikings Fans: Don't Be Burned by Brett Favre

(Photo by Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images)

It happened to me. Just last summer and fall actually.

I bought a No. 4 Brett Favre jersey. I bought a "Jet Favre" shirt. I even got a Favre hat.

And then he burned me. Now, I would like to burn his memorabilia, currently thrown in the back of my closet.

Vikings fans, I am a real live victim. Favre syndrome took hold of me. The hype was overwhelming, my expectations soaring. He signed with the Jets and I thought my team had finally found its guy. He led the Jets to an 8-3 start and I believed 2008 could be the year.

And then everything fell apart. I wore my Favre jersey in growing shame, as the anointed savior could not lead the Jets to more than one win in the final five weeks, facing teams likes San Francisco and Seattle.

Look at Favre’s stats in the last five games on his NFL record:

Week 13 vs. DEN: 23-43, 247 yds, 0 TD, INT
Week 14 @ SF: 20-31, 137 yds, 0 TD, INT
Week 15 vs. BUF: 17-30, 207 yds, TD, 2 INT
Week 16 @ SEA: 18-31, 187 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Week 17 vs. MIA: 20-40, 233 yds, TD, 3 INT

In these meaningful, end of season games, with the Jets’ destiny in their own hands, Favre threw nine interceptions to just two touchdowns. Favre was not the team’s only problem but he was one of its biggest.

He finished the season with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, average stats. But every media outlet, every analyst is proclaiming Favre as the man who will lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

My advice for you Vikings fans: don’t believe it. If you get to the Super Bowl, it will probably be because of your strong defense, offensive line, and Adrian Peterson. Evaluate Brett Favre based on his performance, not what the talking heads say about Brett Favre.

Favre is a Hall of Fame player, no doubt.  But let’s not kid ourselves; he was an average quarterback last year. Some will attribute Favre’s struggles late last season to injury. Well, he still has a tear in his rotator cuff.

So, Minnesota faithful, I caution you, as the purple Favre jerseys, shirts, and hats come hot off the presses, resist the urge. Don’t buy into the hype until you see the good version of Favre. Or else you may be left filling a corner somewhere in the back of your closet come January.

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