A thought on the Circus by the name of Favre
- Brett Favre can still play! (look at last season)
- The Packers KNOW he can still play! (look at last season/not letting him go to NFC)
- The Packers were going to pay him NOT to play!
- Favre's replacement, Aaron Rodgers, has never started a game in the NFL
- The Packers are coming off a 13-3 season WITH Brett Favre
I'm sure there are more things you can add to that list. So now that we're done with all this, what's going to happen this season now that Favre is with the Jets? Here are a few things to think about:
- Favre has been in basically the same, if not the same, offense for the last 16 years (meaning he'll have to learn a new one with the Jets)
- The Jets are coming off a 4-12 season and allowed 53 sacks (Favre was sacked 15 times last year)
- Chad Pennington, who compiled a decent passer rating of 86.1, was 1-7 as a starter
- The Jets averaged 3.8 yards per rush in 2007 as a team (the Packers averaged 4.1 yards per rush)
Basically Favre is an unknown commodity at 39 (in October) in the Jets' system (just so you know, i realize it sounds stupid to call Favre an unknown commodity, but i kind of feel that way, especially since he's been with one team and in one offensive system for so long). The learning curve is going to be very large, especially for someone who hasn't had to learn a new system in so long. He'll need to learn some new plays, new naming system, new protections, not to mention new opponents. That means a lot of work for someone who wasn't sure if he even wanted to play this season. Now you're throwing him into the largest market in the NFL and expecting him to thrive. Not many quarterbacks thrive this late in their careers at 38 or 39, if they even make it that far (see Marino, Dan). Favre is definitely the exception. You can't ever count him out. He still has zip on his passes and has always played with a passion unrivaled.
So what's my prediction? If he stays healthy (yeah, i know the consecutive games played streak...but he's not getting any younger!) and doesn't waver in his decision to play this year here's what i see:
- 3500 yards passing
- 23 touchdowns
- 20 interceptions
- 58% completion percentage
- 9-10 wins
I don't see this being a really good team, but i think they'll be way better than they were last year. They should be good, but i just think Favre makes too many mistakes at times. The fact that he will have to learn the system and gain a rapport with his teammates extremely quickly makes me question how well he's going to play this year. If he keeps his composure and doesn't feel the pressure to carry the team i seem him lowering those interception numbers. You have to remember that last year was a big change from the previous two years where his passer rating was just above 70 and he threw 47 interceptions compared to 38 touchdowns combined from the two years. Which Favre will we see? I'm looking forward to the season, i'll just say that!
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