Tag: Brett Favre
Brett Favre Signs With the Minnesota Vikings
He’s back! Chris Carter seems a little pissed.
The 39-year-old quarterback turned his back on retirement for the second time in as many years, agreeing Tuesday to play for the Minnesota Vikings.
The deal is worth between $10 million to $12 million, according to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.
The Vikings made it official with a news release early Tuesday afternoon. A news conference to introduce Favre is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
The first inkling that something was afoot came early Tuesday, when two television stations in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Minneapolis reported that the Vikings had sent a private plane to Hattiesburg to pick up Favre.
Favre and his wife, Deanna, arrived to cheering fans outside the team’s practice facility and was in a helmet and pads less than 90 minutes later. His red practice jersey was the familiar No. 4, the same number he wore for years with his now-rival Green Bay Packers.
Coach Brad Childress, who greeted the Favres at the airport, had confirmed the planned meeting in an early Tuesday e-mail to The Associated Press. Asked if the plan was to sign Favre, Childress replied: “In a perfect world.”
Childress’ wish came true shortly afterward, when the Vikings announced the signing.
The day’s developments and Favre’s arrival were a surreal tableau, with a throng of fans who somehow learned early on of Favre’s deal with the Vikings and ran alongside the SUV as it arrived at the Vikings’ practice site from the airport, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, with a lone police officer trying to maintain order.
ESPN analyst Cris Carter reported that Childress already has told the Vikings that Favre would be starting in Friday night’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last Ball That Brett Favre Threw Owned By An Army Officer Who Lost Both Legs
This is the feel good story of the day! Football Hero’s meet a REAL American Hero.
Wounded O-5 has last ball thrown by Favre
The ball that Brett Favre threw on his last play in the NFL is owned by an Army officer who lost both legs in a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, who has been an inspirational figure for the New York Giants during their Super Bowl run, was given the ball by Corey Webster after the cornerback intercepted Favre’s pass in overtime in the NFC title game Jan. 20.
The pick set up a game-winning 47-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes in a 23-20 win that sent the Giants to Arizona, where they beat the New England Patriots 17-14.
“That Saturday practice before the Super Bowl, I told Corey he could have the ball back,” Gadson said in quotes provided by the Giants after Favre announced his retirement on Tuesday after 17 seasons.
“I said, ‘Just let me know and you can have it back,’ but he told me that he wanted me to keep it, and that really symbolized to me what this Giants team was about,” Gadson said. “That was such an unselfish act.”
As a fan, Gadson said he is going to miss watching Favre play.
“He should be proud of the run he had last season. Getting his team to the championship game just shows what type of competitor he is,” Gadson said.A 1989 graduate of West Point, Gadson played football for the Cadets along with Mike Sullivan, the Giants’ receivers coach.
After Gadson was wounded in an attack on his convoy May 7 and eventually lost both his legs, Sullivan told coach Tom Coughlin about his friend.
After losing their first two games of the season, Coughlin had Gadson address the team in Washington before a game with the Redskins. His message was to concentrate on the mission, never give up and believe in each other.
The Giants won the game and turned their season around. Gadson was on the sidelines for most of the playoffs and he addressed the team the night before the Super Bowl, speaking of “pride, poise, team and belief in each other,” according to Pat Hanlon, a team spokesman.
Previously:
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre Retires After Brilliant Career
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre Retires After Brilliant Career
I consider Brett Favre to be one of the greatest, most inspirational, tough as nails quarterbacks of all time. He was truly an asset to the game.
Congratulations to him on a brilliant career.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has retired after 17 record-breaking seasons, saying the stress of living up to his high standards had become too much.
“I know I can still play but it’s like I told my wife, I’m just tired mentally,” the 38-year-old told ESPN television on Tuesday.
“Physically I feel okay but the stress of studying (game film) every week has gotten too much and the more stressful it got, well I’m always trying to top what I’d done the previous week.”
Favre’s decision came as something of a shock following one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career, as he passed for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The veteran had strongly hinted he would return for at least one more season after leading the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC title game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in overtime.
FINAL CAMPAIGN
Favre, who started 275 consecutive regular season and playoff games, broke NFL records in his final campaign for most touchdown passes (442), passing yards (61,655), pass completions (5,377) and games with at least three touchdown passes (63).
“He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms, not many players are able to do that,” general manager Ted Thompson told the team’s Web site (www.packers.com).
“The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live forever.”
The league’s only triple Most Valuable Player, Favre led the Packers to the 1997 Super Bowl title and was named to nine Pro Bowl teams.
While Favre’s records, titles and numerous honors mark him out as one of the all-time greats, it was his grit and passion for the game that made the cannon-armed quarterback a fan favorite.
“Brett’s many accomplishments on the field are legendary,” said Thompson. “He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated.
“The uniqueness of Brett Favre, his personality, charisma and love of the game, undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history.”
11 Year Old Boy Hasn’t Stopped Wearing His Brett Favre Jersey Since Christmas Four Years Ago
Now this is what you call a die-hard fan. His parents could probably afford the trip to Lambeau Field with all the money they didn’t spend on clothes.
David Witthoft, 11, of Ridgefield, Conn., who hasn’t stopped wearing his Brett Favre jersey since Christmas four years ago, finally attended his first Green Bay Packers game Sunday.
11-Year-Old Boy Wearing Brett Favre Jersey Since 2003 Sees First Packers Game
The boy who hasn’t stopped wearing his Brett Favre jersey since Christmas four years ago finally attended his first Green Bay Packers game.
David Witthoft, 11, of Ridgefield, Conn., traveled with his family to Lambeau Field to watch the Packers’ 34-13 victory over the Detroit Lions Sunday.
Witthoft admits he will probably soon have to hang up the jersey, which he received for Christmas in 2003.
“I thought I would keep wearing it as long as I could get it over my head,” Witthoft said after the game. “But I’ll probably take it off in the next year, certainly. Then I’ll hang it up in a frame or maybe send it to the (Packers) Hall of Fame.”
His mother, Carolyn, washes the jersey every two days and has had to do some mending of the jersey.