Brett Favre: Mr. Discriminated

Brett Favre has been called the most overrated football player and most overrated quarterback in football today. He just got through a three-interception performance against the Miami Dolphins, who have the 25th-best pass defense.

And I'm sticking up for him? You betcha. Bryn Swartz, Nick Caso, and many others have been quick to point out the recent playoff losses, the massive amount of interceptions, the fumbles.

I am in no way excusing the losses, fumbles, or picks. I can't take them away.

But the bottom line is, this is a quarterback who has won a Super Bowl, three MVPs, has a 160-93 record as a starter, has thrown 464 career touchdowns, and has over 65,000 yards. While you can mention that he has "choked" in the playoffs, my question is this: Does Brett Favre play defense? Not many of those nine playoff losses have been very deserving.

Let's take a rewind.

Last year in the playoffs, against the Giants, Favre threw a crucial overtime interception that gave the Giants the ball. The Giants scored plays later on a 47-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal. But what people fail to point out is that Favre kept Green Bay in the game the whole time.

In horrible weather and snow flurries, he threw two touchdown passes, including a 90-yarder to Donald Driver. After the pick and return, New York had the ball on the Packers 28, and after a penalty, had the ball on the 34. So how is it Favre's fault that Lawrence Tynes had the ability to hit a 47-yarder?

In 2004, Brett and the Pack lost to the Vikings, 31-17. Yes, Favre threw four picks. But were any of those picks returned for touchdowns? No. Did Brett himself allow 31 points? Nope. Did he help the Vikings? Yes. But did he throw a pick-six or fumble in a crucial moment? No, he actually didn't.

The bottom line is, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre did not lose the game. They lost as a team, but of course, since Brett is the quarterback, he naturally gets blame. He should get a portion of the blame. But all of it? Come on. He didn't have a good game by any means, but there is no line saying if your quarterback throws four picks, you can't win. And if he throws four picks, yet puts up 17 points, something has to be said.

In 2003, Brett and the Packers lost to the Eagles, 20-17. Now, how can it be considered a bad game if he goes 15-for-28 with 150 yards and two touchdown passes? The Packers were victims of the devastating 4th-and-26, but not of Favre apparently "choking."

If anybody choked in this game, it was the Green Bay Packers' defense. Favre put the Packers out to an early 14-0 lead. The defense choked, not Favre. He was also facing a Philadelphia Eagles team that went on to the Super Bowl, though they lost to the New England Patriots. Should Brett get some blame? Yes. After putting up 14 quick points, he managed just a field goal. But should he get all of it, or even the majority of it? Of course not.

In 2002, Favre and the Packers finished 12-4. However, they lost to the Falcons, 27-7. Favre was just 20-for-42 with 247 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. A very bad game, yes. This game, he did "choke." He didn't put his team in a position to win, and that's what a quarterback needs to do in the playoffs.

Now, this was one of the only playoff games he deserved most of the blame. But just because he deserved the majority of the blame in this contest doesn't make him Mr. Overrated. One of the most clutch quarterbacks ever, John Elway, was just 2-3 in the Super Bowl, including three blowout losses. If you're saying that, you might as well claim Elway and Montana are Mr. Overrated.

Montana suffered playoff losses throughout his career: a 49-3 loss to the Giants in 1987, a 19-3 loss to the Giants in 1985, a 24-21 loss to the 'Skins in 1984, a 36-24 loss to the Vikings in 1988, another loss to the Giants in 1991, a 30-13 loss to the Bills in 1994, and a 27-17 loss to the Dolphins in his last playoff game.

That is seven playoff losses in 16 seasons. Favre has 10 playoff losses in 18 seasons. That means Montana averages a playoff loss every 2.3 seasons, and Favre does it every 1.8 seasons. So how does that make Favre Mr. Overrated?

In 2001, Favre had a horrible day against the St. Louis Rams. In a 45-17 loss to St. Louis, Favre threw two touchdown passes and six interceptions, including three for touchdowns. But he did put up 17 points with two touchdown strikes and a field goal.

Did he allow 45 points? No. Favre himself allowed 21 with the interception returns, but Favre and the Pack could've had a lot more momentum then, and who knows what would've happened? The Packers may have won. I wouldn't have to fire back with articles saying Brett is not overrated.

In 1998, Favre led the league in completions and led the Packers to a playoff berth, though they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs, 30-27. Calling him overrated when it comes to this is just nuts. He put up 27 points, threw for 292 yards and two touchdown passes.

Yes, he threw two picks, but neither was returned for a touchdown, so the defense lost this game. And 27 points is a lot more manageable than 17 points. And is it his fault the Packers were facing an offense with Steve Young, Garrison Hearst, a young Terrell Owens, J.J. Stokes, and Jerry Rice?

The people who say he is 3-6 in the playoffs since 1997 fail to mention what he did before 1997. Despite those six losses (very few of which were his fault), he finished 12-10 in the playoffs. Not comparable to Joe Montana, but very deceptive at the same time. Also, during that span of 1998 to present, he's never had an incredible Colt-like or Patriot-like offensive line in front of him.

In 1996, he got sacked 40 times. In his career, he's been sacked 469 times. This year, he was taken to the turf 30 times. So the fumbles are a little more understandable. So the media needs to get off Brett's back. Yes, he's a mediocre 12-10 in the playoffs. Yes, he's 3-6 in the playoffs after a Super Bowl victory. Yes, he's thrown 310 interceptions.

But yes, he's thrown for 65,127 yards. Yes, he set a record for most consecutive starts. Yes, he has 464 total yards and a 5.0:3.3 touchdown-INT ratio. Yes, he had a 160-93 record as a starter. Yes, he's won as many Super Bowls as the greats (Peyton Manning) and one less than other greats (i.e. Bart Starr, John Elway, Roger Staubach). He's won more Super Bowl rings then Dan Marino.

Mr. Overrated? How bout Mr. Discriminated?