Why Brett Favre will be (co-)MVP
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Logic question: If a fellow has already won the MVP award three times, and now he’s playing better than he did in any of those seasons, does that mean he automatically deserves to win it again? A few days ago, I might have said yes. Then I watched Drew Brees dismantle the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Hoo, boy.
There’s still nearly a third of the season yet to be played, but the talk has already turned to who’s the league’s most valuable player, and who’s the defensive player of the year (assuming it’s not the same person, which, this year, is a pretty safe assumption). Packers and former Packers figure prominently in both conversations.
On the MVP front, assuming everyone keeps up their current level of play, the award is almost sure to go to Favre, Brees, Peyton Manning, or some combination of the three. Let’s exclude Manning from this discussion because I’m sick of him.
Statistically, it’s pretty much a wash between the two remaining guys — Brees has more touchdowns and (thanks to his clinic vs. the Patriots) a marginally better QB rating, while Favre has an insanely un-Favre-like 8-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio — so it comes down to intangibles and what-if hypothesizing: Who’s more indispensable? Who does more with less? Who’s overcome more obstacles? It’s a tough call. I’d say Brees has less talent around him, but maybe that’s deceptive. Would Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin have come into their own this year with anyone other than Favre throwing to them? On the other hand, having Adrian Peterson counts for a lot. Even now, teams continue to sell out their pass defense to stop Minnesota’s ground game, a luxury you can be sure Brees seldom enjoys.
My guess is that Brees and Favre will end up sharing the award. I don’t see how you don’t give it to Brees. He’s clearly having one of those special once-in-a-lifetime years where everything he tries seems to go right. It’s like he grabbed the Starman in Super Mario Bros. and now he’s invincible for a spell.
But Favre, as always, makes for the better story. To the great annoyance of those who hate him, Favre has no more devoted constituency than sportswriters and broadcasters, and it’s sportswriters and broadcasters who choose the MVP. Barring the late-season fade that is looking less and less likely, Favre will win his fourth MVP.
Next up: Is Charles Woodson a lock for defensive player of the year?
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If Favre makes it through the end of the season continuing to play like this, then yeah, he’s MVP. But that is one hell of an IF (says the Vikings fan who’s been feeling completely bipolar on his team all season).
Chris Johnson might deserve it more than any of these guys but I’m generally biased toward awesome running backs and incredibly bored of QB hagiography.
(And if Elvis Dumervil breaks the sack record I’d be shocked to see him lose DPOY but that is actually another great big if.)
While there are a number of national sports writers who love Favre to a fault, the Wisconsin media has made it clear he was, is, and always will be a jerk and there are others who agree. I think overall, his antics over the past few years will hurt him when it is time to vote for MVP and if it is a close race, Favre will not win.
It is also hard to compare his previous MVP years to this year, they are almost different eras. In that time, there have been many rule changes. It is even more QB friendly in the league and offenses, I would guess, have all been averaging more yards, points, ect. than in 96′.
Great point, scohart. Yeah, the way they’re calling pass interference and roughing these days makes a 4,000-yard season a lot easier to come by.
Mr. Pareene, how can you feel bipolar about your team? What more could you ask of them?
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