Posted by b in 
Here is the bad news. This is another Favre story. I’ll try to make it quick …
Favre used to represent a certain kind of player that was hard to find in the NFL. A solid leader and sportsman that played the game as well as any before him, on and off the field. But that Brett is long gone. He doesn’t quite fit in those humble, working-class Wrangler jeans anymore. He has retired twice (officially, lets not count the back and forth’s), and if you think this is his last year in the league you are wrong. He may not be signing a reality tv show deal, or tweeting a couple hundred times a day, but he did finally discover the thing we all assumed he was just never that into: attention.
No one can deny that there are serious fantasy implications here, but I’d like to offer a slightly different spin. Most analysts are saying you have to immediately upgrade the wide receiving corp. While this is true, you also should really temper your expectations. Last year Coles ended up with a bump of about 200 yds and a single touchdown over the year before. Cotchery on the other hand went down in yards and still wasn’t able to match his ‘06 high of 6 TDs (he was also battling a shoulder injury). The variables don’t look a whole lot different in Minnesota. Both have good-to-great defenses, decent offensive lives and very solid running games.
Where the Jets went wrong was constantly putting the game in Favre’s hands. Brett’s best asset is scaring the hell our of coordinators with his willingness to try for the big play at any time. The problem is when you are an aging QB looking for glory you throw as many picks as you do touchdowns (22 TDs, 22 INTs in ‘08). If Minnesota is smart they will play to Favre’s strength of intimidating defensive coordinators while continuing to do what they do best, run the ball and play hard nosed defense. This isn’t to say Favre won’t be passing in the Red Zone, but I’m not buying the 25-28 touchdowns I’m seeing tossed around online. Put me in the book for 18 (more in line with seasons ‘05, ‘06 and ‘08).
Adrian Peterson is going to get his 2000 yards, and Favre is going to let him. Because as much as Brett wants to throw for six touchdowns in a game, what he really wants is to take a team into the playoffs and he knows he can’t rely on his arm to do that anymore. In week 15 of ‘08 Rich Cimini reports:
New York Jets QB Brett Favre looks shot. At 39, it is very possible Favre is wearing down near the end of the season. He attempted to hit WR Jerricho Cotchery deep during Week 15, but he couldn't get the ball to him and it was intercepted. "Maybe I don't have the arm I once had. I don't know," Favre said after the game.
Nothing is going to get the press machine rolling like a 40 year old Brett Favre marching through December with a strong team. And nothing is going to start the 2010 Brett Favre Spring Speculation Circus off with a bang like a successful charge. He wants to come back and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get him back. Here’s to hoping he helps your starters (AP is looking so sick right now). In the mean time we will try to find some other things to write about.
