Favre’s ominous fourth-quarter fumble

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, October 10, 2006  |  Comments( 9 )

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Willie Mays dropping an easy fly ball in the 1973 World Series; Michael Jordan missing on the breakaway dunk in the 2002 All-Star Game; Brett Favre fumbling away another one for the 2006 Green Bay Packers.

The good news about such sports lowlights is that they are typically forgotten against the brilliant backdrop of a Hall of Fame career. The bad news, of course, is that the situation in Green Bay is getting more and more painful.

Sunday's 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams at Lambeau proved to be another test for Packer backers, who are reportedly giving up season tickets at a record rate. Though never out of the game, Green Bay led only once in the game, 10-7, for about 10 minutes in the second quarter.

The fourth quarter, however, would prove to be the dagger in the green-and-gold hearts of those who love Brett Favre.

With the score 23-13, Favre channeled the Favre Of Old. (And how much longer can the QB and his publicist stand to hear this comparison?) As has happened on occasion this year - the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, the Week 3 win against the Detroit Lions in general - Favre showed these Green Bay Packers potential.

Younger guys (this is supposed to be rebuilding, isn't it?) Noah Herron and Greg Jennings accumulated over 100 yards of offense apiece, and were crucial to Favre's five-pass drive for a touchdown to draw the Pack to within three.

Getting the ball back with under three minutes, Favre and the Green Bay faithful found themselves in a familiar position. Unfortunately, the flesh was weak where the spirit was willing, and this time Favre would ultimately more resemble the guy who couldn't get it done in Week 2 rather than the one who had so, so many times in the past.

Putting together a steady set of short passes, Favre drove his guys 68 yards to the 11-yard line with 40 seconds left. Of course, his Packers would be playing for the win in Lambeau, where the QB had gone undefeated in his 40 interception-free games. It didn't take an interception this time, nor did Favre throw four incompletions to seal the deal as he had against the Saints. Instead, Favre fumbled the ball, the Rams recovered, and time ran out in Green Bay.

Two questions: Should Mike McCarthy have called for conservative play and gone for the field goal? Would this second-guess have been thinkable, say, 10 years ago?

"I wonder, sometimes, what I'm doing here," Favre said existentially after the game, giving voice to sentiment many others feel.

Green Bay desperately needs to begin rebuilding and, whereas an old hand might prove a nice steadying factor, with one fumble, Favre non-verbally reiterated that he is no longer that hand.

History will forget these moments of 2006, to be sure; but right now, the Packers are a dismal 1-3, hope for postseason play is already dismal, an heir apparent is collecting dust on the sidelines, and a legend is tarnished further nearly weekly.

The sad conclusion that few are willing to admit is this: It's over for Brett Favre.

With the Green Bay Packers from start to finish at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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