I, however, find a problem with this judgement. Everyone remembers the good Brett Favre. He was the one who would run a two-minute offense and lead the team to a game-winning score. He was the one who can make the critical play when the team needs him the most. This is all true about him and it is the reason why Packers fans hold him in such high regard.
When he was good, he gave the team the chance to win. However, when he was horrible . . . do I need to remind the other die-hard fans? The bad Brett Favre forced a pass to a receiver in pressure situations and broke the record for number of interceptions. He was the one who could lose the game for you as much as he could win it. In fact, reflecting on some of the Packers losses in the past, you could say that Brett Favre played a large role. This is what is meant by "living and dying on how Favre performed." With all the respect in the world toward Favre, how many people will deny that they felt just as much fear toward him throwing that fatal pick as they did excitement for his ability to lead comebacks? I admit I always had a sinking feeling in my stomach that anticipated a mistake.
In other words, as much as I loved Brett Favre, his play did not always inspire hope. When you find yourself telling a friend "I hope he doesn't throw an interception" during the end of every close game (and, sadly, this was true for me), well, that is not the hope that inspires. Instead, it shows that Favre demonstrated a trend that frustrated many fans: he evoked negativity within his positives. He was good, but he could be bad.
Why did this happen? Because he tries to carry the team on his back.
For every person who credits Brett for carrying the team and leading them to victory, very few seem to acknowledge that this was not always a good thing. When did he throw game deciding interceptions? When he tried to force the ball. Why would he want to force the ball? Most likely its because he thought he had to win the game on his own. It was better when he played as a part of the team and just stuck with the gameplan. I certainly got discourage when he made plays that suggested he had to win.
Look at how the Packers won last season. The Packers won by establishing a team mentality. When they played well, everyone played a role. The line would make holes for Ryan Grant; the wide receivers--Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones--made clutch receptions and large gains out of short routes (emphasis on "short routes," because that is the type of system in which a young quarterback can excel); the defense scored touchdowns when they needed them; even the special teams played a part. Favre played best when he acted as a piece of the whole. True, he was a large piece with talent and leadership ability, but he fit the grand plan.
What happened when he did try to force completions? Look no further than the NY Giants game. He had no reason to throw it to Donald Driver when he was so well covered by Corey Webster. Brett Favre struggled that whole game and while many people point out Al Harris' struggles, they neglect the fact that it went into overtime! Even with the horrendous play of Favre and the struggles on defense, the team still was close to a Super Bowl berth. When Favre threw that interception, can you guess what my reaction was? "I knew it." Not a good sign when defeat this way is expected.
For those who claim the Packers can't win without Favre and that they are not a good "team," look at how they played when Favre struggled. Look at the Redskins game. It was the defense, particularly Charles Woodson, who carried that game. Finally, lets refer to the infamous Dallas Cowboys Thursday Night game. Favre tried to score quick and played uncharacteristically, throwing deep passes that led to a horrible game. They loss that game because of Favre's efforts to win with his arm alone instead of trusting the short routes. However, when did the team succeed? (We all know this answer):
When Aaron Rodgers stepped in.
Everyone points to this game as the indication that Rodgers can be a success in this league. I agree, but I think the reason why they came close to winning that game was because they worked together as a team and followed the gameplan. This is why I think the Packers will still be successful. As legendary as Brett Favre was, he came into this offense with baggage. True, he played well when he followed the gameplan, but he still had that tendency to force passes when he thought he needed to. Aaron Rodgers comes in under the guidance of an excellent QB Coach by the name of Mike McCarthy. Therefore, Rodgers will probably be more receptive to the plan, without trying to do too much. The pieces are all there; he just needs to be a part (albeit major one) of the whole.
The message, then, to all sports fans and to Rodgers himself is this: trying to carry the team will not win games. Allowing yourself to fit into a team and play the required role is how to succeed. We will miss Favre, but we don't need a quarterback who wins games for us by feeling the need to carry the team on his back.
We need one who knows that losing can be contributed to the same mentality and that wins, and losses, are achieved by a team.
