|
Favre's
Return To The Packers Puts Focus On The Quality Of The Team
He Will Be Leading
by Bob Lowe
March 11, 2005
Green
Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has ended speculation
about his possible retirement and announced he is coming
back for the 2005 season. Despite the short-term euphoria
generated by this development, it is pertinent to ask a
simple question.
What is Favre coming back to?
It
is clear that Favre is returning to a Green Bay Packer
squad that will be considerably different, if not worse,
than the one he left back in January when the Minnesota Vikings
eliminated the team from the playoffs.
At
the same time they announced Favre’s return, the
Packers released safety Darren Sharper, arguably their best
defensive player. Among the teams he is considering joining
is the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers main NFC North rivals.
The
Packers also lost two premier components of their offensive
line, guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, both of whom did
a superb job in protecting the quarterback from ferocious
linemen. Last season, the Green Bay offensive line allowed
a franchise-low 14 sacks. Wahle signed with the Carolina
Panthers last week and Rivera joined the Dallas Cowboys.
Center/guard
Grey Ruegamer was cut, along with defensive backs Michael
Hawthorne and Bhawoh Jue and tight end Sparky Hamilton.
These moves indicate that the Packers have some gaping
holes to fill on the roster if they hope to transform the
team into a Super Bowl-caliber squad.
As
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sports columnist Dale Hofmann
stated, "what was billed as an off-season retooling
was starting to look like a prison break." In addition
to the defections, "the Packers have turned their coaching
staff upside down on defense, but that could easily turn
out to be like rotating the tires when you need a ring job," Hofmann
said.
Unless
the team is fortunate enough to come up with competent
replacements in the upcoming draft or through free agency,
the burden will once again fall on Favre to carry the team
on his back – something he is no longer able to do.
Last year, Favre, 35, continued to perform at a very high
level. He completed 346 of his 540 passes (64%), scored 30
touchdowns, tossed 17 interceptions, garnered 4,088 total
yards and attained a 17-game quarterback rating of 89.7.
This was the eighth time Favre has thrown for 30 or more
touchdowns in a season, twice as many as any other quarterback
in NFL history.
The
Packers set franchise records for total offense and net
passing yards in 2004. Thanks in large part to Favre, the
Packers won the NFC North championship for the third straight
season. Even more impressive, Favre extended his starting
streak to 225 games.
Since he made his first appearance with the Packers on
Sept. 27, 1992,
183 other quarterbacks have started their first game in
the NFL. Despite his age and three serious injuries he sustained
last year, Favre would hardly fit the description of a washed
up quarterback overdue for retirement.
Head
coach Mike Sherman served notice that this won’t
necessarily be Favre’s final year and it would be premature
to start counting down the days to his retirement.
At
the press conference following the loss to the Vikings,
Favre raised an interesting question on whether or not "the
game has passed me by."
The short answer is no. A quarterback who is able to put
up the kind of numbers Favre did last year is far from finished.
I still believe he is capable of leading the Packers into
another Super Bowl.
But
to do so, he needs a great supporting cast – on
offense, defense and special teams. He is no longer the magic
man who could toss touchdown bombs at will, scramble like
Fran Tarkenton, run the ball like a halfback or block opposing
players like a linebacker. Because age, injuries and the
changing nature of the game and its increasingly bigger,
stronger and faster players, Favre can no longer be counted
upon to carry the team with a bunch of underachieving teammates.
At
this point, Favre can be considered a great transitional
quarterback, one with the physical abilities, innate intelligence,
passionate desire and remarkable work ethic to lead the team
back to the glory days.
Favre will be at Lambeau Field this weekend for the first
annual Packers Fan Fest, which will include interviews with
current and former players and coaches, autograph sessions,
photo opportunities and fantasy play-by play.
###
For
comments or questions, boblowe@juno.com or by phone at
(920) 731-4603.
|
