Brett Favre Needs to Finish All Plays, Even the Bad Ones

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

At one point, it was really hard to hate Brett Favre. Unless you were a fan of his current opponent, there was something to love about Favre's game. He's been labeled a gunslinger, and it was that mentality that made many admire Favre.

Sure, he was turnover prone, but more so than not Favre has a tendency to will his team to victories. Even in defeat, you always felt Favre gave it his all.

Not anymore.

Favre's reputation has taken quite a hit in the past two years.

First, there was the ugly divorce with Green Bay. The constant waffling on his retirement. His initial success, followed by collapse with the New York Jets. Another ugly divorce. More waffling. Final goodbye. And then he signed with the Vikings.

After a 6-0 start, all seemed forgiven. In fact, I can even probably get over Favre's actions over the past two years. It's not like the sporting world isn't rife with egomaniacs.

But Favre's actions in the loss to the Steelers, the Viking's first of the year, are indefensible.

He's in it just for himself.

It took all of two plays to show Favre's true colors. Both resulted in Pittsburgh touchdowns.

In the first play, Favre was stripped of the ball. Linebacker LaMarr Woodley scooped up the ball. Yes, he had several blockers with him. But Favre made a feeble effort to get to him. When he failed, he jogged away from the play and stopped.

He stopped!

It's one thing to be egotistical and constantly draw attention to yourself with the media. But it's a completely different story to simply give up on a play.

Watch the replay. Several Vikings had caught up to the play by the time Woodley scored. Favre would not have made the tackle, but he could have slowed up Woodley enough to allow someone to catch up. Instead, he just jogged himself out of the play.

Favre does this again at the end of the game. When a screen pass intended for Chester Taylor ends up in Pittsburgh's Keyaron Fox's hands, Favre again gives up on the play.

Sure, he runs with them for awhile. Again, instead of trying to slow up the play, Favre slides. His slide had no hope of getting to Fox, but looked as if it were intended for one of Fox's blockers.

I understand that Favre could risk injury by attempting to make a tackle. But for someone that has alienated two franchises in 24 months, you think he would do a little more to help his current franchise.

Instead, Favre showed the Vikings and his fans that he has no desire to sell himself out to save a play.

You'd think he'd be used to selling himself out by now.

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