Any way you look at it- Favre is one of a kind

We all know who Brett Favre is, what he represents, what team he’ll really be remembered by, and everything that has to do with this summer-long saga that has, for the time being, been put to rest.

But what you don’t know is that Brett Favre is not Joe Montana. Not because he didn’t win three additional Super Bowls or didn’t have Jerry Rice, but because he, at 38, still has it.

Brett is not Dan Marino. Not because he’s better in every meaningful statistical category after passing Marino, and not because he actually won a Super Bowl, but because nearing the end of his career, he isn’t playing with hobbled ankles.

Our beloved number four is not John Elway. Not because the odds are against him to go out on top winning a championship, let alone two in a row, but because he isn’t limping into the 2008 season, and he doesn’t look like he’s 50 when he’s only pushing 40.

Brett Favre is Brett Favre, and there has been no one like him, and undoubtedly we will never see anyone like him again. And because of that, I will explain to you why Favre and the Jets will shock us all.First, what needs to be understood, despite every biased writer’s plea to the opposite, is that 2007 and Brett Favre’s magic was not an aberration. What you saw was not a fluke. Don’t believe me? Indulge with me in a little time-line.

Favre’s career has had it’s up and downs, which is natural, but never truly without reason. If you look at Favre’s years with Mike Holmgren at the helm, he was completely on fire. Once Favre started throwing 30 touchdowns a season, he didn’t stop until Holmgren jumped ship for Seattle.

After a stint with Ray Rhodes as coach and Mike Sherman’s rookie year, Favre got back to normal and tossed 32 touchdowns in Sherman’s second year as coach. Favre was comfortable, had receiving options, and Ahman Green was at his peak.

Then Favre threw 27, 32, and 30 touchdowns, all in consecutive seasons. Then came Favre’s so-called regression. Then came the retirement talk and all the critics with their “he’s done.”, “he’s washed up” comments, and everyone saying he stayed too long.

But you can’t just look at his numbers at balk at a future Hall of Famer. He deserves a little more respect than that. He deserves a closer look.

In 2005, Favre’s worst season as a pro, and Mike Sherman’s final season, the Packers went 4-12 and Favre threw a career high 29 interceptions.

But if you take a closer look, you’ll see that the year before, when Favre threw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, he had a healthy Javon Walker, Ahman Green, and his two guards, Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. What changed heading into 2005?

Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, thanks to Ted Thompson, were not brought back, leaving a great offensive line without it’s two biggest run blockers, and leaving Favre with rookies Jason Spitz and Darren Colledge to take on the load.

Then, in the first week of the season against Detroit, Javon Walker, Favre’s deep threat, is lost for the season with a torn ACL. Weeks later Favre loses his run support when Ahman Green, who was already in decline, tore his quad.

These three huge factors led up to Favre’s worst season as a Packer.

The next season Favre adapted to a new coach, a severely declined Ahman Green, and a first year receiver in Greg Jennings, and no Javon Walker for the second year in a row. Oh, yes, and the offensive line is by this time only average.

Finally, last year everything fell back into place. Favre had a solid, if not stout offensive line blocking for him, and he had up-and-coming Greg Jennings break onto the scene with 12 touchdown receptions.

With a rejuvenated line and solid rush attack improving near the end of the season, Favre led the Packers to several come-from-behind victories, and to the top of nearly every passing category in the league.

Now, with all that’s been said, with all the FACTS in place, how can anyone, especially all these EXPERTS out there, still say that Favre doesn’t have it anymore?

Easy. Because it’s easy to hate on a guy who spent his entire career dominating defenses. It’s an ideal situation as a writer to jump on Favre and say he’s over the hill, simply because he regressed under trying circumstances.

But what about last season? Are those numbers any less proof than writer’s all across the nation claim that the numbers from 2005-2006 are? I argue not.

And with all that’s been said, and all that anyone can see on tape, I don’t see why Favre’s success and outstanding play should stop.

With New York, he has a veteran offensive line, (through key off-season additions)two better than average receivers, a solid tight end corps, and an improving run game.

The ONLY reason not to like this team and Favre’s chances is the New England Patriots.

But don’t worry, I get the feeling Favre will be up to the task.

4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns tells me so.

With all that we’ve read, seen, and thought, does anyone out there believe that maybe 2005-2006 were aberrations, instead?