Today Brett Lorenzo Favre celebrates his 45th year of life. Unfortunately, over the course of the last five or so, Brett has managed to tarnish some of the earlier shine of his career. There was the constant retiring/un-retiring that fed the ESPN machine for hours a day, the terrible late-game interceptions, and, of course, the dick pics.
But there's way more to Brett Favre than dick pics, cheap electric shaver commercials, and multiple retirements. Once upon a time, Brett Favre was not only one of the most exciting players in the NFL to watch, but statistically one of the greatest to ever line up behind center. There were Super Bowls and MVPs and emotional Monday Night victories long before there were reports of him texting his junk to a female reporter. And until Peyton Manning throws five more touchdowns, Brett is still the league's all-time leader in touchdown passes to go along with the dozens of his other passing records. How soon we all forget, right?
So, to honor the Gunslinger on his born day, we present 12 Reasons Why Brett Favre Deserves More Credit.
From Seventh-String To Hall of Fame
Had 30 Inches of Small Intestine Removed Before Senior Season At Southern Miss
Diagnosed With Avascular Necrosis After '91 Season, the Same Condition That Ended Bo Jackson's Career
Brought Reggie White (And Championship Football) Back To Green Bay
Only Player To Win Three-Straight MVPs
The King of the Cold Weather Game
Threw For At Least 30 Touchdowns in 9 Seasons
More Yards, Touchdowns, & Completions Than Any Quarterback In NFL History
NFL Ironman: More Consecutive Starts Than Any Player In NFL History
Speaking of records, the most impressive Brett Favre stat may have nothing to do with his ability and everything with his toughness. Favre started an astounding 297-straight regular season games and 321-straight games if you count the postseason. The feat of starting that many games without a week off is all the more impressive when you consider the number of injuries he battled throughout his career. Here's a taste:
first-degree shoulder separation, deep thigh bruise, severely bruised left hip, severely sprained left ankle, wind knocked out coupled with coughing up blood, sprained right thumb, right elbow tendinitis, left mid-foot sprain, sprained lateral collateral ligament of the left knee, broken left thumb, softball-sized bruise of the left hamstring, mild concussion, sprained right hand, injured ulnar nerve of the right elbow, bone spurs on the left ankle, torn right biceps, pulled groin, stress fracture of the left ankle coupled with an avulsion fracture of calcaneus, and a sprained sternoclavicular joint of the right shoulder.
Peyton may break his touchdown record this season, but there's a chance nobody will ever top this one.
Cameod In One Of The Most Popular Comedies Of All-Time
Threw Four Touchdowns In One Half On MNF a Day After His Father Died
One day after his father died of a heart attack/stroke, Favre decided to play on Monday Night Football in Oakland against the Raiders. Simply lacing them up in the face of such a tragedy would've been a feat in itself, but not only did Favre overcome his emotions to start the game, he threw four touchdowns (and a perfect QB Rating) in the first half to eventually finish the game with 399 yards and a 41-7 victory. His quote, afterwards:
"I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight."
That, right there, is the stuff of legend.