Favre Was Worth Paying To See Play

Before Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego I wrote this about Brett Favre.

As surely as John Wayne was an American hero, the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre is the best quarterback ever to play the game.

The good ol' boy from Kiln, Miss., is a man's man. The kind of guy the deer-hunting, coon-skinning, possum-trapping, four-wheel-driving, pool-shooting guys down at the local bar will toast to a can of cheap beer. And the type the bespectacled yuppies who run two miles a day and do spin classes at the YMCA will adopt as a hero.

He's a quarterback for all ages and all types. Former Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bobby Layne was a tush-hog. Favre is tougher.

In the NFC playoffs, Favre challenged Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp time and time again -- face to face, jawing back and forth. Again two weeks ago in the NFC title tilt, Favre went toe-to-toe with legendary bad boy Kevin Greene of the San Francisco 49ers after being sacked.

Favre jumped to his feet and head-butted Greene, telling him all the time, "Come on, come on."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw had that same fire in his gut that made him play with the same type intensity. The great Johnny Unitas was mentally and physically tough like Favre. Y.A. Tittle, who in an award-winning photograph was etched in history on his knees, helmet off, blood pouring down his face, was a warrior like Favre.

But Favre has a little bit of all those old greats in his makeup.

That was back on Jan. 20, 1998.

In the past 10 seasons, Favre has done nothing to change my opinion of him.

Some have had more polish. Others have more super bowl rings.

However, Brett Favre is the quarterback that I would pay the most money to watch play.