12 Reasons Why Brett Favre Deserves More Credit

Image via Complex Original

Brett Favre went to the only college that offered him a scholarship–Southern Miss. The only problem is Southern Miss wanted Brett to play defensive back. Because Brett was sold on being a quarterback, he started out his freshman year as the SEVENTH-STRING QB on the team. Fast-forward three games and Brett not only took over the starting position in the second half of a game against Tulane, but led the Golden Eagles to a comeback victory with two touchdown passes despite vomiting in warm-ups due to a hangover. Or, as Michael Jordan calls it, "the flu." 

Before the start of his senior season at Southern Miss, Brett was involved in a near-fatal car accident. While driving around a bend only tenths of a mile away from his parents' house, Favre lost control as his car flipped three times until it came to rest against a tree. It took one of Favre's brothers smashing out a window with a golf club to get him out of the vehicle and to the hospital. In the ambulance with his mother sitting next to him Favre could only ask her, "Will I be able to play football again?" Doctors would later remove 30 inches of his small intestine.

Six weeks later, on September 8th, Favre led Southern Miss to a comeback victory over Alabama.

During a physical after being traded from the Falcons to the Packers in 1992, Favre was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the hip, the same degenerative condition that ended Bo Jackson's NFL career. The doctors recommended that Favre fail the physical to nullify the trade. Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf overruled them.

During a November game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Brett Favre showed his grit by leading the Packers to a 27-24 upset victory, despite suffering a first-degree separated shoulder early in the game after a sack from Reggie White. White was so impressed with Favre's toughness that he later admitted that the game had a direct impact on him joining the Pack. Reggie wanted a Super Bowl, and felt his best chance to get one was with Favre.

1995: 11-5 record. 4,413 yards, 38 touchdowns, 99.5 rating, threw at least two touchdowns in 12 consecutive games, got the Packers farther in the playoffs then they had been since 1967.

1996: 13-3 record. 3,899 yards, 39 touchdowns, 95.8 rating, won Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots 35-21. Became the first and only quarterback to score 3 touchdowns and not win MVP.

1997: 13-3 record. 3,867 yards, 35 touchdowns, 92.6 rating, lost Super Bowl XXXII to John Elway and the Denver Broncos even after throwing for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Reminder: this was before breathing on wide receivers resulted in a defensive holding penalty.

The idea that Brett Favre was great in the cold weather isn't just an old myth, it's a statistic. The man was 44-17 all-time in games played below 40 degrees, and was 39-6 during his first 45 starts at those temperatures. All hail the king of the Frozen Tundra.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call consistency. Brett also owns the record for most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes.

For reference, Eli Manning has only thrown for 30 touchdowns once...in 2010...when he threw 31.

Let's talk records. Can you guess who is the NFL's all-time leader in pass attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns? I bet you can.

Not only did Brett Favre play a long time, he played a long time effectively. How effectively? Well, at the time of his retirement, he owned or shared over 200 NFL records and still owns or shares over 140.

Touchdowns: 508

Completions: 6,300

Attempts: 10,169

Yards: 71,838

What the hell is Brett Favre doing here? Winning, that's what.

Was he good in his cameo? No, he wasn't. But the movie was still hilarious and the fact that Brett Favre was the "Brett" Cameron Diaz referenced throughout the movie made up for any acting deficiencies. Hate on, Ben Stiller. Brett Fav...re was the climax of one of your biggest movies.

Think about how good Favre was at the age of 40. At 40 years old with the Vikings, Brett Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns and lead his team to a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship game. In the process not only did he become the first 40 year-old to win a playoff game (he actually won two), but he broke Joe Montana's playoff records for pass completions and yards, broke Dan Marino's record for four-touchdown games, became the first QB to defeat all 32 NFL teams.

Tom Brady is 37 and Peyton Manning is 38. It is yet to be seen if either of them can continue their winning ways after their fourth decade.

Salue. Happy Birthday, Brett.