FOR THOSE OF US who still turn first to the sports page each morning, last weekend provided one of those rare moments when greatness makes just a temporary stop on those pages en route to a more permanent place in history books and sports almanacs. And once again, Brett Favre was involved. No, I’m not talking about Favre’s unfortunate decision to give Michael Strahan his record-breaking 22nd and one-half sack. On that play, Favre called a run to Ahman Green in the huddle, then took the ball himself and fell unceremoniously at Strahan’s feet, giving the New York Giants defensive end the all-time NFL single-season sack record. It was a poor decision on Favre’s part, to be sure. The Packers and Giants fans with me at Sunday’s game let out a groan when Favre slumped to the turf. But the near-hysteria in the days since has been amusing. Normally reasonable people have worried aloud that the NFL is becoming no better than professional wrestling. A colleague of mine called Favre a “vile human being.” Sports pundits devoted hours to hand-wringing about “the integrity of the game.” Please. Favre is one of the most competitive men in the NFL. He plays the game with a child-like enjoyment that is missing from much of what passes these days as “professional” sports. Other players brag about taking plays off. Favre throws blocks for his running backs on fourth-quarter screen-plays with the Packers up by three touchdowns. What’s more, these arguments about the “integrity of the game” and the “sanctity of the record” resonate more when the previous record-holder achieves greatness without being jacked-up on steroids, as the New York Jets’ Mark Gastineau was when he set the sack record in the ’80s. And the real record-holders–Deacon Jones, Merlin Olson, and others–played before the league kept an official tally of quarterback sacks. Those of us at Giants Stadium on Sunday did, in fact, witness history. But it had nothing to do with Strahan’s sack. Favre’s performance brought to a close a regular season that should assure him his fourth NFL Most Valuable Player award. No one else in the history of the league has more than two. The game also marked his 171st consecutive start as quarterback (including playoffs) and ended the tenth season in which Favre has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, and the sixth in which he has tossed 30 or more touchdowns–all NFL records. There are other legitimate MVP candidates this year. St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk had an impressive season, rushing for a career-high 1,382 yards despite missing two full games because of injuries. Faulk’s quarterback, Kurt Warner, also had an outstanding year. Warner’s touchdown-to-interception ratio (36/22) shows some slippage from his previous MVP season in 1999, when he threw a remarkable 41 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions. But he posted a league-high 101.4 quarterback rating, leading the Rams to a league-best 14-2 record. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart led his team to a 13-3 record, after spending much of last year on the bench. He deserves much of the credit for keeping the Steelers on track despite injuries to their other key player, Jerome Bettis. Similarly, New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady deserves mention. Two years ago, Brady wasn’t even considered the top quarterback at the University of Michigan, playing in the shadow of super-athlete Drew Henson. This year, Brady unseated one of the league’s highest-paid players, when he took Drew Bledsoe’s job after Bledsoe went down with an injury. He guided the Patriots from an 0-2 start to an 11-5 finish, and the second seed in the AFC playoffs. But Faulk and Warner both benefit from one of the best offensive lines in the league. In one of the games Faulk missed, his replacement Trung Candidate was able to rush for 195 yards. Warner also has three big-play receivers in Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Az Hakim. Each would be the first option on virtually any other NFL team. In addition, while both Faulk and Warner made major contributions to the Rams’ success this year, the team also boasts the league’s second-rated defense. All which explains why the Rams are a good bet to win the Super Bowl. But the MVP is an individual award, and while it may seem unfair to punish Warner and Faulk for the strength of those around them, their accomplishments must be seen in that context. Stewart is a great candidate for comeback player of the year (along with San Francisco’s Garrison Hearst). He rushed for 537 yards this season. But his passing numbers–rated twelfth best in the league, with just 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions–should take him out of serious MVP consideration. Brady may have the best case. His team struggled before he began playing, and there is little argument that he is most responsible for the Patriots’ turnaround. His supporting cast consists mostly of no-name, blue-collar players, and the team’s one star, Terry Glenn, has been more of a distraction than a help. Accomplishing what Brady did in his second year is astounding, but his numbers, like Stewart’s, are not MVP quality. (And recognition from the league is probably a long shot when your own team doesn’t view you as The Man: The Patriots’ website still features a picture of Bledsoe on its homepage.) Which leaves Favre. He was once again among the league leaders in completions, yards, touchdowns, and quarterback rating. He started every game of the season. While most pre-season projections had the Packers as a .500 team, they finished 12-4. What’s most impressive about Favre, however, is that he did all of this with an inexperienced offensive line, an underachieving receiving corps, and special teams and defensive squads that struggled just to remain ranked in the top half of the NFL. Bill Schroeder and Antonio Freeman, Favre’s starting wide receivers, finished the season with 52 and 53 catches, respectively, putting the pair behind Detroit Lions fullback Corey Schlesinger and Minnesota Vikings tight end Byron Chamberlain, among many, many others. And they account for just half the total number of receptions of league leader Rod Smith of Denver. Remember, too, that Favre compiled his numbers playing in less-than-ideal weather. It’s one thing to rack up completions and touchdowns in a dome–where “making adjustments” means tweaking the thermostat. It’s quite another to throw three touchdowns and no interceptions, with steady snow and a wind-chill of -11. (Favre did that on December 23, against Cleveland.) The bottom line is this: Take Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers, and the team goes from being a Super Bowl contender to a 6-10 doormat. No player was more valuable to his team than Favre. And that’s what the MVP Award was designed to reward. What happened Sunday with Michael Strahan will make its way into the history books. Give Strahan’s record an asterisk, if you like. But if the MVP voting turns out as it should, most people will remember the Strahan incident as an unfortunate but well-meaning gesture by the league’s only four-time MVP. Stephen F. Hayes is staff writer at The Weekly Standard.
