This being the first piece I contributed to FiyaStarter.com, I wanted it to be special so
I thought about going over one of The Source’s do-over 5 mic albums (laughable) or little nerd praised video-games like The Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy, when I started flipping stations on my television only to run across one of those “Greatest Super Bowl Moments,” recaps on ESPN 14. They were showing highlights of Super Bowl XXXI between the Green Bay Packers and The New England Patriots. This show seemed to go out of its way in praising Brett Favre when I had a flashback to watching the actual game at my domicile.

I remember it like it was yesterday; because I had been out of town on undisclosed business all week, I didn’t know of any parties that were going on, except for one my friend Stanley was throwing. Stanley’s television at the time was about 19-inches and the picture was always lousy. He had also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend Jenny and his little black book needed a major update. Jenny’s female friends were hot. Stanley’s, not so much. So I decided to pick up a box of KFC Honey BBQ wings and just watch the contest by myself. Besides those extraordinary wings, I remember one thing specifically, about this game. It was an exchange between John Madden and Pat Summeral during the final moments of the Packers 35-21 victory over the Pats. Forgive my memory but I’m pretty sure it went a something like;

John: “Well, Pat! It’s getting close to that time where ya got your MVP and ya choose that guy to go up there and get that big ‘ol trophy to put in the back of his pick-up truck, there and then unload it and move it up to his mantel next to his hunting rifles and other stuff, don’t ya think?”
Pat: “I think Desmond Howard deserves this one, John. I mean he has ran back two kicks. One was… 99 yards, by golly!”
*uncomfortable pause*
John: “Errrrryeaaah, but I think that all Brett stands for and his smile, ehh, look at that smile on that sideline, how about that? He just loves the game so much. Ya gotta just root for a guy like that, Pat.”
Pat: “Look, YOU asked me John. It’s just fine with me if you want to campaign for the man’s jewels for the next 1:30 of regulation. I told you who I thought should----- Hold on, what’s this? Dammit, I said a DRY martini, where’s the friggin’ olive? Get me to a real bar, already! I’m in New Orleans and can’t get a decent---”
*inaudible*

As I was getting out the final remnants of the BBQ sauce I dropped on my carpet after hearing Summeral go off, I didn’t think too much about how Brett Favre nuthugging would become prevalent in the next few years. I mean Desmond got his MVP award for the game and it was a sealed deal, right?

Watching that Super Bowl recap, I couldn’t help but notice how anybody who didn’t see that game would think that Favre was a one man gang out there. Um, doesn’t anyone remember Desmond won the MVP? If anything the close ups and dramatic shots should have been of Reggie White (R.I.P.), who came and turned that poor franchise back into a contender in the first place. No sir, it seemed like a camera was on Brett at all times like he was a cast-member of the Real World.

That’s when I woke up and realized that the NFL has been trying to make Brett Favre into an all-time great when he isn't. Something must be done, immediately! Now don’t get me wrong, I know the man has three regular season MVP’s to go along with thousands of yards and hundreds of touchdowns, but let’s be honest here, he won his one big game because of Desmond and his dancing machine moves up and down that damn field in January of ’97.

Since the Vince Lombardi era of football, which I personally don’t think should be included in conversations concerning today’s athletes (hiding the ball on your hip during play-action was a legitimate “trick-play" back then for pete sake), the only quarterbacks that should be mentioned as great in the modern day era are Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw (four rings...four), John Elway, Phil Simms (go read that SB record book), Troy Aikman and Tom Brady. If you’re wondering about Steve Young, he’s in limbo on my list, right now. I want throw him in, but unless he had a four touchdown lead against the Cowboys in the playoffs, he seemed to wilt like a dandelion. That’s always bothered me.

In any event, the point here is that Brett Favre is a very good quarterback, but he has never been the reason his team won at least one of their “Big One’s.” It’s not difficult, that simply is my criteria. If we’re not using the biggest stage in the game to measure one’s greatness, then sure we could have Favre on the list. Put Marino, Jim McMahon, Jim Kelly and his backup Frank Reich on this list while you're at it. See what I mean? Well, what about the past few years? Yes, the Packers have reached the playoffs, but don’t you agree that they have lost in some of the most embarrassing ways BECAUSE of quarterback play instead of despite it? Surely, you haven’t forgotten the Pop-Warner like reads on those interceptions against, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the damn Vikings secondary the last three years, have you?

I mean seriously, Favre is a fine passer with a canon arm, resiliency out the tucas, has the gift to make standard receivers look better than they are and a flair for the dramatic in the regular season. But, like I just stated, that’s the regular season. You can argue until you’re blue in the face, but the fact remains that without Desmond returning those kicks like the Tasmanian Devil, the following year, Brett lost to an 0-3 Super Bowl quarterback in the big game. My uncle Steve always says if you wouldn’t put your money on a guy in a big game, then he’s not a money guy. Would you really bet against Montana in a big game? Staubach? For all the losses Elway took in those Super Bowl’s wasn’t he the favorite in most of them? All I know is that if Brett was playing in the big game this year and I had odds, I would probably rather invest in a box of Honey BBQ wings, instead. At least I know they would show up and be great.