If soccer’s failure to establish in America has taught us anything, it’s that Americans don’t like ties.
I mean we really don’t like ties.
The NFL suffered its first tie in six years this season in a thrilling 13-13 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals. A feat so impressive, 10-year veteran Donovan McNabb wasn’t even aware it was possible. The MLB has only suffered one notable tie in recent memory — the 2002 All Star Game — and the outcry was so severe a rule was passed to ensure it would never happen again. Even the NHL has taken up the mantle lately, ending games with a shootout since the 2005-06 season to decide on a victor.
In short, Americans need a winner and a loser.
With that in mind, it is time to look at the scoreboard between the New York Jets, the Green Bay Packers and the recently retired (insert snarky comment here) Brett Favre.
Taking all the factors into account, it’s actually pretty obvious who came out on top. It wasn’t a “win-win” — the best thing to come of a bad situation or any other phrase that pundits have been throwing around. One team won, and one team lost (hence the random tangent to lead this column).
Like he did 169 times previously for the Packers, Favre gave Green Bay one last victory when he fled to don the Jets uniform.
And really, it’s not even close.
Favre threw 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 2008 for New York on his way to an equally average 81.0 passer rating. Rodgers on the other hand, put up 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and he finished the season with a 93.8 passer rating.
Advantage Packers.
Without a doubt, quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, perhaps in any sport. It is actually so obvious, I feel dumb putting it into writing. Ron Wolf — the man who brought Favre to Wisconsin — once said, “My philosophy is, if you don’t have a quarterback, you’re in for a long Sunday afternoon.”
So how do the futures look for each team under center?
The Packers have a 25-year-old who has been through more pressure than any other first time starter in NFL history and he came out relatively successful. Basically, they have a confident young QB with reasonable potential to join the game’s elite.
The Jets counter with a trio of Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge and someone named Brett Ratliff. There isn’t a joke clever enough to describe how poor that quarterback situation really is. When the Chicago Bears boast a better QB combo with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman, you know you are in trouble.
To their credit, the Jets did win three more games than the Packers this year, so the trade wasn’t a total loss. But even with a winning season, New York missed the playoffs and was bitch-slapped by karma when it fell in the season finale to the Chad Pennington-led Miami Dolphins. On top of all that, the Jets have to hand over their third-round pick to the Packers. So how much do those nine wins really mean?
While it may seem cruel how much pleasure I am taking in the Jets’ misfortune, it is hard to feel sorry for them when the signs of Favre’s impending drop off were so obvious.
He turned 39 in October this season, and it’s not like he was the final piece for their Super Bowl puzzle. They mortgaged the future on someone who (predictably) had a huge decline due to age and injury in December.
Furthermore, his image didn’t match his production. While we always heard how clutch Favre was, and no game was out of reach with him under center, that reputation was built on the first five years of his career. In reality, No. 4 only went 3-7 in his last 10 playoff games. While John Madden may not have been aware of Favre’s faults, the Jets certainly should have been.
To top if off, Favre told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, “Part of me coming back last year, I have to admit now, was sticking it to Ted [Thompson].” Doesn’t it feel good Jets fans, that you had to suffer through an epic collapse this December because Favre was spiting the Packers’ general manager?
All in all, the risk to take on Favre made little sense then and makes even less sense in hindsight. The Jets got exactly what Favre has been delivering the last five years; he started every game, made some exciting plays and threw a lot of interceptions.
So as Favre rides his lawnmower off into the sunset, the Jets are stuck looking for a franchise leader once again with Favre helping the Packers put up a win one final time.
?
Michael is a junior majoring in journalism. Think the Jets got a better deal than he gives them credit for? Do you enjoy ties in athletic competitions? Let him know at [email protected]
