2008 Woodie Awards
Broadway Brett Lands in New York
Brendan McHugh
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: OpEd
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Brett Favre is on the New York Jets.
The Madden Jinx wins again
Every year since the popular football game, Madden, was released EA Sports has put an athlete on the cover. That athlete always seems to experience either an injury or a sub-par year.
This year Brett Favre, retired Green Bay Packers quarterback, was that athlete. EA Sports seemed to have found a loophole. No way could Favre have a sub-par season if he is fishing at his home in Mississippi, right?
Wrong.
Favre came out of retirement, and is now gainfully employed for the New York Jets. Madden Jinx strikes Green Bay, and Favre flawlessly debuts with the Jets.
After watching Chad Pennington cringe while trying to throw further than twenty yards all last season, New York has welcomed Broadway Brett with open arms.
On August 8, the day before Favre suited up for his first Jets practice, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented Favre an empty key ring. If Favre does what Broadway Joe did he'll get the key to the city.
New York State even lowered the hunting age from 16 to 12 for small game so Favre's youngest 8-year-old song, Breleigh, won't have to wait as long.
Favre has erased any questions of whether or not he can play with Gang Green after finishing his Jets debut against the Washington Redskins 5-of-6 for 48 yards and a touchdown. After second guessing himself and complaining of a fatigued arm, Favre put on a performance worthy of, well, Brett Favre.
The future is now. I don't have 17 more years to play, I don't think. I want to give the New York Jets and the people of this city the best year possible," Favre said during his City Hall visit.
Maybe Favre's preseason performance was a fluke, and his 38-year-old body will break down four games into the season.
Maybe by Week 11, Favre will be too tired to contend against Bill Belichick's New England Patriots, possibly a season-defining game for the Jets.
Or maybe Favre leads the Jets to a 10-6 record and (hopefully) a playoff birth. He had one of his best statistical seasons last year, this year he could have one of the Jets' best seasons at quarterback.
The same year Joe Namath guaranteed - and delivered - the Jets only Super Bowl win, Brett Favre was born. Coincidence? Probably about as much as the Madden Jinx.