With Jets, Favre tries to turn back Father Time
Will N.Y. QB be among the NFL greats who have hung around for too long?
Rob Tringali / Getty ImagesBrett Favre, who turns 39 on Oct. 10, has played 15 consecutive seaons without missing a start. Still, the Green Bay Packers chose to go with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback.
By Ethan J. Skolnick
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 8:31 p.m. ET Sept. 3, 2008
The first Sunday of the NFL schedule offers the usual share of compelling storylines.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open in New Orleans, against a Saints squad predicted by many to reclaim the NFC South title. The New England Patriots try to start another streak of perfection, at home against the rebuilding Kansas City Chiefs. The Indianapolis Colts open their new stadium in a Super Bowl XLI rematch against the Chicago Bears.
Yet the featured matchup of the day will occur in South Florida, between two revamped division rivals that finished 5-27 last season, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. That's because a 38-year-old quarterback, whose offseason retirement and unretirement saga put most soap operas to shame, promises to be the signature storyline of 2008.
"The pressure is going to fall on Brett Favre with the Jets," said Ron Jaworski, the lead analyst on ESPN's Monday Night Football. "They have really raised the bar as far as expectations."
The Green Bay Packers, coming off an NFC Championship, chose to promote a fourth-year man, Aaron Rodgers, who has never started a regular-season game. The Jets, seeking their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly four decades, acquired the proven veteran to lead them to the playoffs.
When a team in the nation's largest media market trades for a living legend, hype happens. How 'bout hope? How hopeful should Jets, and Favre, fans really be?
After all, for Favre to become the NFL's all-time leading passer, something else had to pass:
Lots of time.
With time, athletes inevitably wear down.
So does Favre, who turns 39 on Oct. 10, have another playoff run left in him? Can he continue his remarkable streak of longevity, one that stretches 15 seasons without missing a start? Can he continue defying age the way swimmer Dara Torres did at the Olympics, Nolan Ryan did as a fire-balling pitcher, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did as a sky-hooking center and John Elway, Rich Gannon and Warren Moon did as NFL quarterbacks?
Or will he limp around like Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Sammy Baugh and other luminaries who played one or two or three years too long?
"I think that Favre will have a really good year," said former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg. "He has got that extra fire in him now. With all his knowledge and talent, and now he has the passion to make something special happen. I just think he will."
Favre isn't making any promises.
"I understand most people think the odds are against me," Favre said Wednesday, shortly after his teammates voted him as one of the team's two offensive captains. "If it doesn't work out, so be it."
Favre said he would have liked to have played more in the preseason, but said he felt "OK" and that "I can be in great shape and still get tired."
As long as the right arm still works.
"Brett can still sling the ball with the best of them," Jaworski said.
Jaworski has learned the folly of doubt. A year ago, the former NFL quarterback wasn't sure that Favre still possessed the necessary physical attributes. It was natural to wonder. Favre had not played well, by any reasonable standard, in 2005 or 2006.
Favre heard Jaworski's concern. On the field before the Packers played the Broncos, the two men stood together on the field at Invesco Field in Denver. Favre planted his toes on the 50-yard line, rotated his hips, and struck the goal-line pylon with a laser that never rose above 10 feet off the ground.
"How's my arm strength?" Favre asked.
"Obviously, very good," Jaworski replied.
As if Jaworski needed more evidence, Favre closed the contest by opening overtime with an 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings.
"He kind of put me in my place," Jaworski said.
![]()
advertisement
More news SportsTalk: 49ers quarterback Alex Smith rips on Panthers' second-year QB Cam Newton.
SportsTalk: Is Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez concerned about being benched for Tim Tebow? It's possible.
