Midnight Thoughts: Brett Favre was Overrated

He’s the country boy from the deep south, with a sweet accent, and a sense of humor that still has us football fans laughing whenever we hear clips of him mic’d up. He’s the man who stole our hearts, and captured the imagination of football fans everywhere with his love of the game that he portrayed every Sunday. He’s a Super bowl winning quarterback, multiple MVP winner, and the king of making nothing plays into instant classic highlights. I’m of course talking about the legendary Brett Favre.

 

Throughout his 19 year NFL career, America could not get enough of number four, and neither could I. Though he played for the Packers most of his career, he developed into one of my favorite players in league history, mostly for his down home style, and incredible humor that exemplified how every football player should play the game.

 

As the years have passed since his retirement, I’ve watched a lot of Favre games, and studied his career probably more in depth than any other NFL player.  Throughout this fun process, I’ve come to the conclusion, a sad reality, that Brett Favre is the most overrated player in NFL history.

 

Before you rip me to shreds, believe me, I’m in just as shock as all of you are. I love Favre, but I also have to come to the facts.

 

1. His performance in big games:

In 1996, Brett Favre could absolutely do no wrong. He had just won the Super Bowl for the Packers, and seemed destined to bring home several more Lombardi trophies back to Green Bay. A lot of people don’t take this into consideration, after that one Super Bowl, Favre sucked in games that mattered. Take for the instance the very next year. The Packers in 1997, make it back to another Super Bowl, and their opponent? A Denver Bronco team that was quarterbacked by John Elway, who completed just 12 passes the entire game, and no touchdowns. The Packers entered that game as 11 ½ point favorites, and Favre was just coming off another MVP year. Favre was less than stellar, and the Packers were upset in that game 31-24.

 

Fast forward to 2002, Green Bay is hosting the Falcons in the wild card round of the playoffs. Remember, prior to this game, the Packers had NEVER lost a home playoff game at Lambeau Field EVER. Plus, it was January, and the Falcons were a dome team. As you could probably guess, the Pack were heavily favored. As you could probably guess however, given the nature of this article, the Falcons whooped Green Bay, behind the play of a guy named Mike Vick. Favre turned the ball over three times, and the Packers were embarrassed 27-7.

 

Five years later, it’s the 2007 season, and Green Bay had a magical year, going 13-3, and looked as if Favre would return to another Super Bowl. The Packers were hosting the NFC Championship game, at home, against the Giants, a team that even though went on to win the Super Bowl, lets be honest, the Packers were better than. In what would be his final game as a Packer, Favre threw two costly interceptions. His last one, coming in overtime to Corey Webster, which put the Giants in Green Bay territory, setting up a game winning field goal, shocking the Packers 23-20. That Webster interception, was his last throw wearing yellow and green.

 

2. He’s the all-time leader in interceptions!

Yes, in 2007, Favre broke the NFL record for career touchdowns, and passing yards, a record that some believe makes him the greatest quarterback who ever lived. As the Grinch who Stole Christmas would say, “wrongo.” Here’s another record for ya, Favre threw 336 interceptions over the span of 19 seasons, putting him number one all time. To make matters worse, in 24 postseason games, Favre threw 30 interceptions in those games.

 

Whenever fans think of Favre interceptions, there’s just too many to think of! The first one for me that comes to mind, brings us to the 2003 NFC divisional round of the playoffs, when the Packers were looking like they could upset the Eagles in Philly. Green Bay had the ball on their 42 yard line, and it seemed as if Favre and the Packers could knock off the Birds. Insert the gunslinger. In his only pass of overtime, Favre threw one doozy of a toss. I can only describe this throw, I’m laughing as I write this by the way, in two examples. One is a punt, kicked right to the defender, and the other is when you’re playing catch with a young kid, and you throw it real high as if you’re bombing a touchdown. Luckily for Brian Dawkins, he was the recipient of probably the worst pass of Favre’s career, and Brett out threw the receiver by probably fifteen yards. Dawkns made the easy interception, and the Eagles went on to win.

 

The second one is almost painful to type, because its such a bad pass. I said that the Eagles pick was the worst throw of his career, but this one probably is. Brett, in 2009, turns into a Purple People Eater, and is a member of the Vikings. Miraculously, he takes them all the way to the NFC championship game, in a showdown in New Orleans against the Saints. In a game where Favre took an absolute beating, he was leading the Vikings down the field for a potential game winning field goal that would put Minnesota in the Super Bowl. Does this scenario sound familiar? (2007 NFC Championship game) Any who, Favre and the Vikings were on the Saints 38 yard line, with Brett flushed out of the pocket trying to gain more yards. Instead of throwing the ball away, or running to gain a few more yards, Favre commits a quarterback sin, and throws across his body, which was then intercepted by Tracy Porter. The game went into overtime, and the Saints wouldn’t give Favre another chance, ultimately kicking a game winning field for themselves.

 

3. Everything else.

I only gave two legitimate reasons to support my claim, but by golly I believe I’ve done it. Yes, Favre is headed to the Hall of Fame, no doubt about it. Though I think the aspect of Favre I hated most, was how he ended his career. Favre retired not once, not twice, not three times, but a grand total of four times! The first time Favre Watch would come on, it was exciting. Though after he pulled a Fredo Corleone and became the biggest trader in the history of Wisconsin, joining the Vikings, then it just became ridiculous. Favre is like the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movies, when you see them they’re awesome, five years later you realize how stupid you were.

This Day in the NBA, June 28th

So in case you’ve been living under a rock, or backpacking and trying to find yourself, a lot has happened today in the NBA. Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets, and Phil Jackson was let go from the Knicks.

 

Now this NBA off-season, which has lasted barely two weeks, has had more drama than Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl, any other fans out there, no? ok.

 

Now this Rockets trade does mean certain things, both for H Town and the Clippers.

 

First of all, lets start with happy news, and if you’re a Rockets fan, today was a wonderfully happy day. This is a team that fell to the Spurs in six games, during the second round of this years playoffs. Even without Paul, this Rockets team very well could’ve defeated San Antonio. What Paul brings to the table, is his competiveness, along with his 18 points and 9 assists per game he averaged during this past season. James Harden averaged 28.5 points per game this year, and the next closest in that category was Eric Gordon with 12.9.  Chris Paul walks into Houston, and immediately becomes the team’s leading passer and second leading scorer. Without Paul, Houston still managed 55 wins and a third seed in the competitive Western Conference, and with this addition, I firmly believe that the Rockets will jump ahead of their rivals in San Antonio and grab that second seed. Though lets be honest, nobody is beating Golden State, its just not going to happen. Houston gave up a 2018 first round pick, as well as Sam Dekker, Lou Williams and Patrick Beverly, but honestly, once the trade was made done, fans of the Rockets couldn’t even tell you who those players were. In 2017, Houston produced the second best offense in the league, and that was with Harden leading both in scoring and passing. Now just think about the effect that Paul will have, the man who is tenth on the all time assists list.

 

Now for the sad news, and that is the Clippers. This is a franchise that has always been a little depressing. In the early 2000’s, it was a franchise that had no hope, and played the red headed step child to the Lakers. Then, when they acquired Paul and drafted Blake Griffin, they became a legitimate threat in the Western Conference, or so we thought. In the Paul and Griffin era, the team never reached the finals, and most recently got knocked out in the first round by the Jazz, in a seventh game at home. With Paul gone, the team’s future depends entirely on what Blake Griffin does, who is a free agent come Saturday. Though they weren’t left completely bare after the trade this morning, it sure does feel like it. If the team re-signs Griffin, the group of players they inherited from Houston could allow LA to develop young talent, and take advantage of next year’s draft and free agency period. Now, what Clippers fans are dreading, is to see Griffin sign somewhere else, and if that happens, this next season will be a long one, and they will again become the second team in the town, behind the Lakers.

 

Finally, we go to the Big Apple, to the toxic situation that is the New York Knicks. This morning, the team parted ways with their team president, legendary coach Phil Jackson. While Jackson was pure magic as a head coach, winning 11 titles with Chicago and the Lakers, his three year tenure with the Knicks was depressing and extremely disappointing for New York fans. In his three seasons as GM, the Knicks went 80-166, in comparison, Jackson’s 95-96 Bulls team went 72-10. In an off-season that has the basketball world on its heels, the timing of departing for Jackson was surprising, just 72 hours before the start of free agency. While his record as team’s president is a clear indicator that a change needed to be made, Jackson’s recent feuds with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis gave the Knicks no choice but to move on, as Jackson was preparing on moving one, or both players to make way for his triangle offense. Jackson walked into Madison Square Garden, with hopes to capture the franchise’s rich history, but instead he stunk up Manhattan even more, with the icing on the cake coming when Porzingis skipped out on his exit meeting with Jackson back in April. With Jackson’s departure, the Knicks suddenly have a brighter future than they did 24 hours ago, with a promising coach in Jeff Hornacek now allowed to run his fast paced offense that brought the Phoenix Suns success.

 

Dwight Howard got traded, and nobody cares

If Paul George, DeAndre Jordan, or several other NBA players would’ve been traded yesterday, you would have sat up in your chair and take notice.

 

As you were scrolling down on your Twitter feed yesterday, right in between the latest of Trump’s profile and what’s happening in Georgia, you saw that Dwight Howard had been traded. You looked at it for a split second, then kept scrolling.

 

Why is that? I remember, and I know you do too, when he was the best center in the league and absolutely tearing the league apart when he was playing with the Magic. Still to this day, Howard averaged 13.5 points a game, and over 12 rebounds a game. Statistically, Howard is right up there with DeAndre Jordan, and is considered one of the better centers in the game.

 

Interesting though, when Jordan’s name was thrown around with trades, it would be to Phoenix for the NO. 4 overall pick. When Howard was actually traded to the Hornets, it was for a sack of marbles and a few baseball cards.

 

Alright alright, here are the real stats of the trade. The Hawks gave away Howard and the 31^st pick of Thursday’s draft, and the Hornets gave away Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli and the 41^st pick of the draft.

 

After signing a three year deal, worth $70.5 million with his hometown team, Howard didn’t perform up to the expectations. In the playoffs, he averaged just eight points and 10.7 rebounds, in a series that the Hawks could have won, but instead lost in six games.

 

Howard, who turned 31 this past year, will earn $23.5 for each of the next two seasons. Howard, who is still an All-Star caliber player, can certainly make a difference with the Hornets, who still have Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum.

 

What still baffles me is the fact nobody seemed to care about the trade. Worse yet, people were tweeting about how much they didn’t care about the trade. It makes you think about what Howard did to get such a bad rep, and all this negativity. The case is definitely still out there as to whether or not Dwight can perform at such a high level, as for me, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Howard in yet another jersey in about two years from n

Durant shines, Warriors up 2-0

If there was one takeaway from game two of the finals last night between the Warriors and Cavaliers, it’d be this, Kevin Durant is hungry for a championship.

 

Coming up on the year anniversary of Durant’s signing with the Warriors, he now stands just two wins away from capturing his first title. Coming off an impressive 38 point performance in a game one win, Durant was hot again on Sunday night, scoring 33 points, helping Golden State to a 132-113 win, going up two games to zero in the series.

 

One of the biggest storylines coming into the game, was the return of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Kerr had been out six weeks, due to health issues. He was back on the sideline to witness his team put up one of the most impressive offensive performances by a team in recent finals history. The Warriors exploded, as well as the Cavaliers in the first quarter, with Golden State putting up forty points in the first twelve minutes.

 

While the Warriors were lighting up the scoreboard all night, LeBron James had himself another spectacular game, tying Magic Johnson’s record with his eighth triple double in a finals game. James finished with 29 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. Kevin Love quietly had 27 points, while Kyrie Irving struggled, going 8-23 from the field shooting.

 

As well as Durant having another big night, Steph Curry was again masterful. Curry also finished with a  triple double, with 32 points, 11 assists and ten rebounds. Though the best news for Golden State might have been the reemergence of Klay Thompson, who woke up from drought, shooting 8-12 for 22 points.

 

Now, coming off back to back double digit losses, the Cavs know that game three on Wednesday back in Cleveland is a must win. Never has the home court advantage of the Quicken Loans Arena meant more than the next two games for the Cavaliers. To avoid another possible 3-1 deficit, or even a sweep, Cleveland will have to win the next two games at home to even the series. The one main difference in being down 2-0 in 2017 compared to the same situation last year, is Kevin Durant.

 

We all know that these are the best two teams that basketball has to offer, and its pretty special to think about. Recently retired player Paul Pierce in a postgame show, told a national audience that Durant had surpassed Lebron James as the worlds best player.

 

While Pierce may stand by his comments, LeBron is still the undisputed king of basketball, and also the reigning champ, and Durant is still looking for his first ring. Game three on Wednesday will serve as Durant’s biggest game of his life up to this point, and he’ll have to go through the king to get the title.

The Power to Believe

“And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my laws thou shalt bear their infirmities.”

 

This scripture, taken from the 52^nd verse and the 42^nd section of the Doctrine and Covenants, struck me to my heart as I was doing my daily scripture study.  This verse perfectly describes the mentality that we, disciples of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, must have in all doings in our life.

 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the first principle of the gospel is in fact Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Most people who are not members of our faith, tend to believe that us Mormons worship Joseph Smith, and are not Christians, when in fact the Lord’s name is in our church’s name.

 

Faith is such a strong word, and like we’ve heard so many times before, its an action word. Having and demonstrating faith in Jesus Christ allows us to accomplish things that we cannot see with our mortal eyes, but that the Lord can see through His eternal vision.  Isn’t it interesting how the church can send out 18 year old missionaries, who don’t really know anything about the gospel, and through their faith in the Lord, can convert people through the spirit? Missionaries walk into the MTC on their first day, and their first thought is, “there is no way I can do this.” However, as time goes on, their thought turns to, “you know what, I can’t do this by myself and my own merits, but through the Man I’m representing, I can do it.”

 

Can you imagine how much we could accomplish if we had that perception through everything we did? I believe that developing faith in Christ is the single most important thing we can do in this life, because it is the foundation of everything. It is our starting point, and what keeps us going. Though I’ve made many mistakes in my life, I’ve come to understand that the greatest task we can accomplish, and the most important thing, and the most rewarding thing, is to be on the Lord’s errand. Through my trials, and the things I’ve been through and from experiencing the things I’ve seen, I know for a fact that the Lord requires our faith, for us to be truly happy.

 

All He asks of us is to believe in Him. However, it’s a lot easier said than done. I’ve been in stages of my life, where I thought I believed in Him, but really was saying that just so I could convince myself that I was.  Other times though, I truly felt that I believed in Him and His teachings, and I saw the greatest difference in my entire life.

 

His words are real, and they mean something. I’m not sure what perfect faith is, because I know I haven’t achieved it yet, but I do know what believing is. I know the power that believing brings, and what faith is, and what it can do. Faith isn’t thrown around in nearly every scripture, every church talk for no reason, its for us, for us everyday. Paul didn’t believe he could accomplish missions, but he believed in Christ, and so he did it. Joseph Smith didn’t believe that a 14 year old could be called as a prophet, but he believed in Jesus Christ, and so he did it. I didn’t believe I could serve a mission, but through time I believed in Christ, and it happened. You and I are faced with decisions everyday, and the answer lies within our ability to trust the Lord, and when we do that, we’ll find our answer, and believe him.