Brett Favre Says Jets Hid Injury; NFL Should Investigate His Hypocrisy

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The gunslinger cannot be silenced, no matter how hard you try to ignore him.

In Brett Favre's latest discussion with the media, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback said the New York Jets declined to disclose his torn right biceps tendon on weekly injury reports last season.

While Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum did not refute Favre's claim, the situation does straddle a fine line between the unspoken rules of confidentiality between a player and his team.

"It was a decision that we made collectively and Brett was part of it," said Tannenbaum.

"As general manager of this team I should've handled that differently and listed him on the report. We didn't because he wasn't getting treatment every day and we knew he was going to play."'

While Tannenbaum appears willing to handle any repercussions stemming from their collective decision, the words that sparked this latest controversy stand as another testament to Favre's waning integrity. 

"I was receptive to [sitting] last season," said Favre, according to the initial report from ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Receptive to sitting, he says. Receptive to sitting when the Jets were favorites to win the AFC East? Receptive to sitting when the playoffs were a near certainty and the Super Bowl a possibility?

Wait a second. Receptive to sitting at the price of the very streak that's redefined his career?

When Favre lines up against the Cleveland Browns in Week One, he will tie Jim Marshall's 270 consecutive start streak—the coveted record he's relentlessly pursued since initiating his retirement charade years ago. Now that the record is within reach, Favre insinuates he would have been receptive to sitting.

Okay. Whatever, man.

Would this be the same Brett Favre who called Tony Romo last October, offering words of encouragement before a broken finger sidelined the Dallas Cowboys quarterback?

Ed Werder of ESPN wrote, "Predictably, Favre advised Romo to do everything possible to avoid the sideline, explaining how he played though the agonizing pain of a fractured thumb to maintain his streak with the Green Bay Packers.

"'The only thing I said was, it's worth trying [to play] if you can deal with the pain and can function good enough with a splint,' Favre said."

Everyone already knows Favre is indecisive. Sadly, these latest remarks leave evidence of delusion, or worse yet, blatant hypocrisy.

"[The Jets] knew I had a torn biceps, which we backed off in practice," Favre continued. "I took cortisone shots a couple times to try to relieve the pain."

And the difference between functioning "good enough with a splint" and relieving the pain with cortisone would be what?

There should be no tolerance for grown men who parade themselves as misunderstood victims. The decision to suit up and play every snap was one Favre made of his own will, not one where he was strong-armed by the Jets.

"I felt like, with about four or five games left, that even though I was making some pretty good throws and some decent plays, I felt like I was doing the [Jets] more harm because I was missing on some throws," Favre added.

Football fans are supposed to believe Favre's collapse in December was the New York Jets' fault for "persuading" him to play despite injury. Unfortunately, revisionist history is reserved for his dedicated apologists.

Looking at the last "four or five games" Favre has played in over the last four seasons shows a distinct pattern of an aging quarterback. Torn tendon or not, Favre has declined significantly when playing in wintry conditions.

Since 2005, Favre has thrown 31 interceptions and 11 touchdowns in December games.

Those who subscribe to the belief that he was legitimately injured in 2008 are free to subtract his two touchdowns and eight interceptions with the Jets if it favors any argument.

The portrait of a resilient quarterback Favre has tried to paint throughout his career is irreparably tarnished. It only exists as a masterpiece in his own mind.

The latest illustration is that of a deceitful man who sidesteps the truth and deflects blame for his own errors in judgment.

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