Brett Favre Q&A

[TampaThunder]

I don't know about you guys but as much as I love the Bucs, I'll miss Brett Favre when he retires. I get the feeling that if he couldn't have played for Green Bay all his career he would have loved to have been down here with the Bucs. And boy would we have loved to have him.

Going deep: A Q&A with QB Brett Favre

Aug. 28, 2003

He has three NFL Most Valuable Player trophies, a Super Bowl ring and graying hair. He has defeated the rebel within and the rebel across the line of scrimmage. He is opinionated, knowledgeable, amusing and honest.

To kick off the season, the man who gives the best interviews in the league sat down with NFL Insider Dan Pompei in a Lambeau Field meeting room to talk about the state of the league -- and the state of Brett Favre.

Sitting here before the season starts, which teams do you expect to be standing in late January?

What's great about today's game is the last five years, there have been five different Super Bowl winners, as opposed to Dallas winning three in four years or Buffalo going to four in a row. It's wide open, and I think that's what people want to see.

From my standpoint, why would you not say the Packers? Every year I've been here, we've been in the playoffs or it came down to the last game three times. Compared to our teams in the past that went to the Super Bowl, we're much more inexperienced, but I think we have more talent.

In the NFC, I would think Tampa, obviously, will be there. San Francisco. The Saints have a good shot. That division, what do they call it?

The NFC South.

With Atlanta, the Saints and the Bucs, that, in my opinion, is probably the best or hottest division in football. Those teams definitely have a shot of going all the way. In the AFC, you always have to throw Miami in there. I think New England will rebound. Denver will always be there with (Mike) Shanahan, as well as the Raiders. I don't think there will be that dramatic a drop-off. I would think San Diego, too. They have a very good group of young players. Now those young guys know they can compete, and you've got Marty (Schottenheimer), who always has been a coach who has been in the thick of things. Pittsburgh with (Bill) Cowher, too. He's there every year. Why should this be any different?

You are commissioner of the NFL. What would you change?

It doesn't pertain to me, but I think fans and, for the most part, players would like to see some of the fun back in the game, like what the Redskins used to do with the Fun Bunch. I can understand taking some of the individual celebrations away because it's not an individual game, but bring back some of the fun in football. That's what it's all about.

The most important thing would be to shorten the preseason down to two games. You run the risk of getting injured, and it's not worth it.

Matt Millen said to say hello. What did you think about the NFL fining him for not interviewing a minority candidate when he hired Steve Mariucci?

I think that's bull. I know he called five guys. If I'm one of the five he called, like Denny Green, and I already knew Mooch was the guy, I'm not going (to be interviewed). But why fine him because he already knew who he wanted? It's his business.

Let's talk about some of your adversaries. Earlier this year, you called Vikings defensive tackle Chris Hovan an idiot and criticized him for being obsessed with you. What do you really think of him?

He may be the most underrated defensive lineman in the league. Yeah, we have our worries and stuff like that, but that doesn't bother me. I don't hold a grudge. I just know he's a great player. He's very underrated because that team hasn't had that much success.

Have Warren Sapp's skills diminished in your opinion?

That talk kills me. I play against him, and he may not sack me, but every time I get the ball, he's in my lap, and more than a sack, that is the most disruptive thing that you can face as a quarterback. Every time you go to throw, you can't step, you can't move, he's on your feet, he's grabbing your leg. He's a game changer, a game breaker.

Michael Strahan sacked you on a controversial play for his NFL-record sack in the 2001 season (No. 22 1/2). What do you think of his record?

It's amazing. They can put a question mark by it if they want, say it's 21 1/2. Well, 21 1/2 is still pretty damn good.

Who is the best cornerback in the league?

I'm a little biased because of who I play against all the time, but I kind of like Ronde Barber.

And the best safety?

Our guy is pretty good here, Darren Sharper. I wouldn't want to play against him. I think the guy down in Chicago is pretty damn good, Mike Brown.

How about the best linebacker?

Brian Urlacher and Derrick Brooks.

Who's the best pass rusher off the edge?

Strahan and Simeon Rice.

Best defensive coordinator?

Monte Kiffin (Tampa Bay) and Jim Johnson (Philadelphia).

Why do you think Mike Holmgren hasn't had the same success in Seattle that he had in Green Bay?

He hasn't had the personnel he wanted. It's starting to fall into place. I think he's a tremendous coach, the best I've ever been around, and I've been around some good ones. He's an unbelievable play-caller. A lot of people say I helped him out. Well, maybe so, but he helped me out. I just know without him, I wouldn't be here today, not in the position I'm in.

Did you see Jon Gruden's success coming when he was a receivers coach with the Packers from 1995 through '97?

No, I didn't. I saw the makings of a great coach. He was a hard worker. It was almost like, "Get a life, Jon." That doesn't make a great coach, just because you spend all your time in the office. But he was determined, dead set on doing the right things to get to where he wanted. I'm not surprised at his success, but I didn't think he would move up the ranks that quickly.

Pick a team to be traded to.

It wouldn't happen. If I got traded, I'd give it up.

Why is that?

I have too many great memories here, and I'm too far along with my career. It's not worth it to me to get traded, to start all over with a new offense, a new city and new teammates. Why would I want to leave here?

You've been in the same place, in the same system for 11 years. Boredom has to be a factor.

I used that word in the last minicamp, and I got in trouble for it. They told me to watch what you say. I said that I got bored in meetings. It's really not bored, but I don't know what to call it. Redundant? I can tell you this: I wouldn't trade it for anything, because I would not want to go to three or four different offenses. No quarterback would, but most have to. Yeah, I kind of doze off from time to time. I never fall asleep, but I just kind of daydream. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Have you ever thought about how your career might have been different if you had played in a big city like New York or Chicago?

I have. I don't think it could have been any better anywhere else than it was here. It probably would have been a lot worse. Everything fell into place here. It's way more than I ever dreamed of. I was embraced by this city. Even if I had that success in New York, it still wouldn't have been the same.

It seems like stories about your retirement are a weekly issue. Are you sorry you ever mentioned the retirement issue last year?

No, I'm not. I'm surprised on how it's taken on a life of its own. Somebody just asked the question if I thought about retirement, and I said, "Yeah, I do." I know I'm closer to it now than I was five years ago. I know I don't have 12 more years, and I don't want to play 12 more. But it's impossible to sit here and say, at the end of this year, that's going to be it even though I'm at the top of my game. I'm sure when I retire, I'll look back and say I could have played another year or two. I don't think I'll say I knew that was it. A year from now, I may think a totally different thing. It's like drinking. I thought I'd never quit. I was the life of the party. Now I haven't had a drink in five years, not one drop, and I can't believe I ever drank. I honestly can't believe I was a jackass like I was. I don't miss it one bit.

How were you a jackass?

Typical. Get drunk, think you're cool with the things you do and say, but the reflection it is on your family and your organization. All the things I used to hear from people, my mom and dad, Coach Holmgren, they were right. Not that I'm perfect now, but I'm so much better without it.

You obviously have special talent and mean a great deal to the Packers. Do you feel a responsibility to the Packers, and even to the league, to play for as long as possible?

No, honestly, that's never played into my mind because I know for a fact that for every dollar someone spent at the ticket office to watch me play, they've gotten their money's worth. I'm not saying I'm great or anything, but I play the game one way, regardless of how much money I make. People watching in the stands, I think they say, "If I was out there, that's the way I'd play." I've busted my *** in practice and done everything I've been asked to do and then some and taken it to a different level. I've remained the same as far as my personality. I'm very respectful and understand where I am, what I've done.

You're almost old enough to have a generation gap between yourself and some of your teammates. Do you find yourself relating less to younger players?

Absolutely. I used to hang out with Jim Kelly and John Elway, and I would hear them talking about how it kind of happens where you find yourself separated. In preseason, you look around and say you don't know half this team. And you really don't make an effort to know them. It's not being a bad teammate, but you have other things going on. I would consider everyone in that locker room a friend, but I don't know all of their names. I hear guys talking about going partying. If they only knew. I don't want any part of that. I don't want to know where they're going or who they're with.

There's such a wide age difference. It's hard for a 21-year-old to relate to Frank Winters, and vice versa. Frank's like, "Hey, you ain't paid your dues." And I guess I can throw myself in there. They don't respect or appreciate all you've put in. They're like, "How did you get out of meetings today?" And you think, "I've sat in those meetings for a hell of a lot longer than you ever will."

You were always known as a cutup in the locker room. Are you still like that?

I'm still a jokester, not practical jokes, but I like making people laugh. That's probably a big secret to my success -- that I go into the huddle and crack a joke. In the back of my mind, I know how serious the situation is, but I want the other guys to play like they're in the backyard. Guys make their best plays when there is no pressure on them. If you turn the lights on and say, "Guys, we've got to have this," you'd be amazed at how many mistakes are made. Keeping guys relaxed is important, including myself. I have to talk myself out of a lot of things.

After 12 years in the NFL, you probably have a number of aches and pains. Do you have long-term concerns about your health?

I do. I consider myself old at 32. It takes me an hour to get walking right in the morning. My feet are killing me, my toes, my hip. What's it going to be 10 years from now? Even if I stop playing today, it's still going to bother me 10 years from now. If I play five more years, what are the chances of those injuries getting worse and getting new ones? The body is not built to take those collisions that we take. I've been very fortunate in one way, but in another way, it may come back to haunt me. When I'm 45 years old, I'd like to play golf and not waddle back to the cart. I'd like to go play with the kids.

Great piece. I love Favre, and man, he sure has a lot of respect and love for the Bucs: Sapp, Gruden, Kiffen, Brooks, Barber.

[Y2A]

Yup, the guy is ****ing amazing, simply amazing. He is always fun to watch, more electrifying than... I wont ruin this thread with that name

He is the best quarterback I have ever seen. Now I am only 22 but he is the best by far. I have so much respect for him. He is the only QB who could actually scare me when he played against the Bucs D.

[randombuc]

Class act. Dangerous QB. The only reason to watch the Packers play anyone besides the Bucs.

He is ALL Class !!!!!!! Good article from a great QB !!!!

Awesome! Thanks for posting that. Will that be printed in a magazine somewhere, or is it just online? I'd love to have a hardcopy.

[TampaThunder]

Originally posted by Favre4MVP
Awesome! Thanks for posting that. Will that be printed in a magazine somewhere, or is it just online? I'd love to have a hardcopy.

I may be wrong but I think it's online only. It came from an email I got from the Sporting News.

Great Guy and QB!! Always, always liked him.

96--first year I played Fantasy FB, had 3rd pick and couldn't believe he was on the table. He was my #1 QB pick and I grabbed him. By the end of the season I had a lot of GB players, came in 2nd. Thanks for the $$ Brett!

[ChuckyWins4TB]

Man I love Favre!! THe classiest player in the NFL and one of the best to step on the field. Future HOF player that will make it to Canton on the first ballot....I wish he was a buc.

[Big D]

Watching him beat us year after year hurt, but kind of like watching Walter Payton or Barry Sanders beating us hurt. You know you just got beat but you were amazed at the way they beat you and almost felt honored to be there to see it. Like the time Barry beat us on an 80yd sweep with only one shoe on. It sucked but we were seeing greatness.

And he always has been a true class act , with all of my respect.

[Kimono Dragon]

Brett's a man's Quarterback. Tough as nails, and pretty sharp, too. Good luck to him in whatever he chooses.

there are lots of players with as much and more talent and skill than Brett but you find a guy like him that has the heart toughness and desire to make all those comebacks and be such a clutch player, he's a true legend.

[Cold Buc Fan]

Originally posted by Favre4MVP
Awesome! Thanks for posting that. Will that be printed in a magazine somewhere, or is it just online? I'd love to have a hardcopy.

It should appear in the next edition of T.S.N. I was going to post it but he beat me to it!