Why Didn't Favre Go to His Primary Receiver?

Here is the video of Brett Favre's last throw in the 2009 NFC Championship game:



After the game, Favre was asked about the play. Here is what he says:

After the penalty we were out of field goal range. I am not even sure what the exact yardage was that we needed, but the play was designed actually to go to Bernard (Berrian) in the flat – man coverage – they checked out of it and we went in motion.

Now, re-watch the play. Bernard Berrian is #87, going in motion. He is to Favre's immediate right at the snap. He does a delayed release out to the right flat. The defender on him is in horrible position. Then Berrian adjusts his route up the sideline. Again, his defender adjusts horribly and is STILL in horrible position.

If Favre actually goes with his primary receiver - Berrian - he has at least a 10 yard completion, if not longer, and the ball out of bounds. It looks like Berrian gets to roughly the 28 yard line without much resistence. That makes it a 45 yard FG, which was well within Longwell's range.

P.S. Here is a pretty prescient interview question asked of Favre last week Thursday before the 2009 NFC Championship game:

Having lost the championship game two years ago, kind of with the ball in your hands, how does that affect your thoughts going into this game and having another chance at it?

Well, I've got another chance. That's all you can ask for really. For me, I'm honored by just having this chance and being able to redeem myself. Unfortunately, the game didn't go in our favor. There were a lot of good plays in that game. That obviously was not one of them. So, that's a good example of limit the mistakes, limit the turnovers. It's easier said than done but you've got to go out. I'm going to prepare as hard as I can. I'm well aware of this opportunity. I have no idea how the game will unfold, how it will end, but I'm just thankful for this opportunity. This is, I've said, a once in a lifetime deal. Now that's not true but at least in my case, I hope to make the most of it.

Green Bay Packers are Finally Vindicated

Giving the mainstream media (RE: ESPN, NFL Network, FOX) their comeuppance on their fawning Favre coverage in 2008-2010 is very satisfying.

Of course, there will be apologists. But the reality is what we the entire nation saw today. Brett Favre threw 2 costly INTs and partly to blame for 1 lost fumble when in scoring range 3 times in a game that was won in OT. He lost. And he failed in his stated goal (to win another Super Bowl). That is what happened. Anything else being said (oh, but did you see how he got up even after being hit; look how well he played this season with the Vikes; he is 40 years old but plays like a kid; etc.) is just a sideshow. Why they will continue to do so (e.g. to protect themselves so that they still get "special access" when he decides to announce his retirement/unretirement; so they can hire him to be an in-game or in-studio commentator for their channel, etc.) is beyond me.

The story that should be written is how prescient the Green Bay Packers organization was to cut ties with Favre when they did. Whether the "we have left the station" moment with Favre in late June 2008 was form over substance is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the Packer organization was confident that Favre did not have the capacity to lead their team (at the time, a youthful, deeply flawed team, with holes in the Oline, Dline, and LB corp) to the Super Bowl and that Aaron Rodgers was the real deal who could fit within their rebuilding plan. They were also prescient to know that 2008 was the year they had to give him the reins.

Flash-forward to 2009. Favre lands with the Vikings - his preferred location. It is a team, that entering 2009 without Favre, was probably a better overall team than the one Favre played with the Packers in 2007. It came equipped with the solid Oline, elite running attack, highly effective Defense, and an offense he famously claimed, "to know better than the coaching staff". He has a highly successful season. We get to the playoffs, he clicks and has a great divisional round playoff game. He then gets to a highly winnable NFC Championship game in his hometown stadium (a dome, for that matter). And yet even when the highly proficient Saints offense was shutdown, he could not do enough to win the game for the Vikings.

(From JSOnline)

So, where do we find ourselves now, Packers fan? Our warm memories of Favre still in tact and untarnished. And a very promising future with Rodgers on the near horizon. I consider that vindication.

Gut Reaction - Week 4, 30-23 loss to Vikings

From Cheeshead TV:

• Going to be a long two weeks in Packerland
• Brett Favre and Brad Childress embarrassed Dom Capers tonight
• Clay Matthews – I take it all back. What a play.
• THERE’S the Jermichael Finley we’ve been waiting for
• Aaron Kampman looked awkward all night
• Where was Ryan Grant for the 2nd and 3rd quarters?
• Deshawn Wynn is not an NFL back. Period.
• Jerius Wynn had some quality snaps
• The Vikings didn’t have a penalty until the second half. Hmmmm….
• TJ Lang was much, much better than Daryn Colledge at left tackle
• Speaking of the offensive line – Epic. Fail.

NFL.com's Top 10 Moments in Favre's Career

Madden 2009 Cover Goes to...

Bret Favre? Accoring to this internet rumor, yes.

Favre will be appearing on Letterman tonight and will hopefully confirm or dispel this rumor.

Mathematics To Retire Favre's Number

CAMBRIDGE, MA—Mathematicians, statisticians, number theorists, and members of numeral-oriented professions held a press conference at MIT...

Packers Tell Fans They Gave Favre To A Nice Farm Family

GREEN BAY, WI—The Green Bay Packers addressed questions concerning the current status, future plans, and whereabouts of recently retired quarterback Brett Favre by announcing Monday that they had sent him to the country to live on a...

Well, maybe he is hanging out with Trajan.

RE: Favre Retires

Here are my thoughts, explained to a co-worker:

It has been a tough day today. I honestly felt like crying in the shower this morning. I am sure my older brother was just as inconsolable. Yep, here we are, 28 and 30 respectively, and as pathetic as we were at 12 and 14.

Since I was a boy, Favre has been in my thoughts and dreams. He has been a part of some of my fondest memories. He has caused me so much happiness and enjoyment. Honestly, one of my top 5 dreams in life - right this moment - is to see him win another Super Bowl. It is kind of hard to imagine a day from September-January from 1992-2008 where the man didn't dominate my thoughts for the day. Heck, probably during the off-season as well.

It is going to make the NFL and the Packers much different to watch. It is kind of hard to explain. But, I am sure you know what I mean.

In a sense, I am excited for the "newness" of it all. I am also relieved to not have to worry about him getting hurt, tarnishing his "Iron-Man" reputation. Or watch as his skills diminish and fans forget how good he is.

But in reality, I am just sad and a little scared.

Meet Brett Favre

Here is an article written by Bob McGinn about Brett Favre, dated August 17, 1992.

RE: Favre Retires

Here is a great article on ESPN.com:

Brett, We Miss You Already.

Favre's Voice Mail to Mortensen

Or you can access by clicking here.

Favre Retires

He walks away with every record in the NFL Record Book and his starting streak in tact. Apparently, he was too tired to give it another shot, without the guarantee of a Super Bowl victory.

"I know it shouldn't feel unsuccessful, but the only way to come back and make that be the right decision would be to come back and win a Super Bowl. And honestly, the odds of that, they're tough. Those are big shoes for me to fill, and I guess it was a challenge I wasn't up for," said Favre in a telephone conversation with ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Today is a sad day for Packerland.

Mortenson: Moss + Shockey + Packers = Favre

According to ESPN's Chris Mortenson, Favre's future may hinge on whether the Packers pursue additional offensive weapons this offseason, namely WR Randy Moss and TE Jeremy Shockey.

Don't believe me? Check out the video yourself:

Packers... Cowboys...

It is gonna be a game.

Brett Favre Demands Trade To 1996 Packers

GREEN BAY—Three-time MVP and undisputed future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, disappointed with the Packers' refusal to aggressively pursue receiver Randy Moss and frustrated with his team's apparent indifference to making immediate...