Last December, Sports Illustrated named Brett Favre their 2007 Sportsman of the Year. He was awarded this honor for his dedication to the people of Green Bay and for his leadership. When interviewed about the award, Favre described leadership as "somehow getting 52 other guys to raise their level of play. To get them to believe in what we're trying to do. You do that by setting an example, by doing things the right way. I've always shown up, I've always been prepared, I practice every day. I practice hard. I study. No matter what happens on the field, I never point blame at anybody else. Everything I do comes back to leadership, the example I want to set."
"No matter what happens on the field, I never point blame at anybody else. Everything I do comes back to leadership, the example I want to set."
Is it too late to get an asterisk on this award?
As the Globe and Mail's Mark Healy outlined in his most recent article, the past six weeks has seen Brett Favre become the poster boy for classlessness.
Favre announced his retirement from the NFL at the conclusion of the 2007/2008 season to much fanfare and publicity. The Green Bay Packers, in preparation for the 2008 entry draft, made a point of repeatedly asking Favre if he might change his mind and come back. They made it clear that this was a point of no return. He confirmed that he was staying retired, and so they drafted a quarterback in the draft and announced that they were making Aaron Rodgers, Favre's back-up for the past three years, their guy.
Suddenly, Favre was asking to be the starter again, or for his unconditional release, likely to play for NFC North Division rivals the Minnesota Vikings or the Chicago Bears.
After a prolonged soap opera of he-said-they-said, Favre was traded to the AFC East New York Jets for conditional draft picks.
In my mind, this forever tarnishes Favre's legacy, starting with his Sportsman of the Year honors. His actions in the past six week totally negate what was said in the glowing ten page article about Favre's character and career.
Donald Driver, a wide receiver with the Packers for the past nine seasons said of Favre ""He means everything to these people. He's not only our leader -- he's the symbol of the franchise, of the whole town. There's a generation of fans in Green Bay who don't know this team ever existed without Brett."
Who'd have though that just nine months later the team would be without Favre, and would be glad for it.
