Favre is one of a kind

I said something during the Packers-Eagles playoff game that I guarantee never had been uttered on the air before. During the second quarter I said that Brett Favre is underrated. I said it, and I believe it--which, by the way, is rarely the case.

When Favre began to make a name for himself in the NFL, there were about 47 great quarterbacks in the league. Some, like Joe Montana, were on their way out, with the accolades and the NFL Films tributes to follow. Some, like Steve Young and Troy Aikman, were hitting their stride. And some, like John Elway, already were legendary but still were able to play at an unreal level. Favre came in under the radar from Southern Mississippi, got traded by the Falcons to the Packers, took over for a guy nicknamed Majik (Don Majkowski) and started to fill out a gold blazer that will fit perfectly someday in Canton.

The day was Sunday, September 27, 1992. The opponent was Pittsburgh. Favre was the starting quarterback for the Packers in that game, and he has been ever since. Week after week, year after year. Including the playoffs, Favre has started 208 consecutive games. No quarterback in the history of the NFL has ever come close to that total. Does anybody care? Is that record even on anybody's mind when the Packers take the field? My answer would be no. But to me, it is even more impressive than Cal Ripken Jr.'s iron man streak.

The true mark of a great quarterback is how he elevates the play of everyone around him. You could make a strong case that none of the quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame was surrounded by less talent than Favre. Ahman Green is by far the most dynamic player Favre has played with. Sterling Sharpe was on the verge of greatness until his career was cut short by injury.

Most of the great quarterbacks were blessed with greats around them in the huddle. Johnny Unitas played in the same offense as four Hall of Famers. That is certainly not brought up to try to diminish anything he did in his career but rather to prove a point. Until Green came along, Favre was the Packers' offense.

You want to know the best part of the Favre package? Of all of the superstars in the NFL today, Favre cares the least about the attention he is due. He doesn't want it; he doesn't need it. He is genuinely a good person. He has been through a lot off the field but never has let any of it affect what he does on the field. He is approachable and not at all full of himself.

Last week, I witnessed something that doesn't happen often. The day before the Packers' game in Philadelphia, in a hotel room next to our meeting room, we asked Brett at the last minute to change from his sweater to his game jersey, take off his hat, turn and look into the camera with a smoke machine spitting into his face for a taped introduction to our telecast. He did it without one complaint and thanked the crew that shot it for FOX. So what, you say? Try getting Roger Clemens to do that the day before a playoff start. Who could blame him if he said no? Guys don't do it. Favre did.

Brett Favre has every intangible a quarterback can have. He is tough. He has the total respect of his teammates. He makes those around him better. And be has a great work ethic. I think people take what he has done for granted, and that the true appreciation for what he has accomplished in the NFL won't come until after he hangs it up. Pay a little closer attention next time he's on the field--he won't be around forever.

Joe Buck is FOX Sports' lead play-by-play announcer for the NFL and MLB. You also can hear him as a guest on Sporting News Radio.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning