Fran Tarkenton Gets in One More Shot at Brett Favre

[Big Dakota]

Fran Tarkenton Gets in One More Shot at Brett Favre
1/29/2010 4:30 PM ET By Ryan Wilson

Up until his final throw of the 2009 season, Vikings fans happily accepted Brett Favre and all the baggage that came with him. That changed in the time it took him to heave a typically Favre-ian late-game, across-his-body, back-breaking interception.

Vikings radio guy Paul Allen didn't mince words seconds after the fateful play, screaming into his microphone: "Brett Favre goes back to pass, he pumps ... intercepted. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now. ... You've gotta be kidding me, I can't believe what I just saw. ... WHY DO YOU EVEN PONDER PASSING. I MEAN, YOU CAN TAKE A KNEE AND TRY A 56-YARD FIELD GOAL. THIS IS NOT DETROIT, MAN. THIS IS THE SUPER BOWL."

Former Vikings great and purple and gold fan Fran Tarkenton was one of the outspoken few who never bought into the Favre hype. Last May when rumors swirled that Brett was headed to Minnesota, Tarkenton offered this: "I think it's despicable. What he put the Packers through last year was not good. ... I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail."

​

It took 20 weeks, but Tarkenton got his wish. And in a recent interview with a Philly radio station, he weighed in on Favre's end-of-game pitch-and-catch with the Saints' Tracy Porter:

"... If (Favre) didn't make that stupid play at the end of the game they would have won the game. Now you (radio hosts) are in Philadelphia, remember a few years ago when Green Bay played you guys? . . . I mean he throws the ball straight up in the air, free falls. Do you remember that?​

I have never seen any quarterback much less, well he is going to be a Hall of Fame quarterback, make plays like that at a critical time. He has done the same thing in the Giants' game (2007 season). He plays at home, has the better team and plays against Eli (Manning). He was a young kid right? And he throws the pick.... and then he does what he did the other night which was just shameful because great quarterbacks, and he is a great quarterback, they don't do that. You don't see Peyton Manning do that."​

No you don't. But Peyton's not a gunslinger, either.

Tarkenton added, "My gosh, I have never seen great quarterbacks make that many bad plays in a critical moment in a playoff game."Packers fans nod knowingly.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Fran has been all over Favre the last week or so. He obviously isn't a fan at all. Listening to him crack on Lord Favra is priceless. I love it!

 

[Biggems]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

 

[Rampage]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

I agree.

 

[CF74]

That's sum serious venom...:laugh2:

 

[THUMPER]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

Actually, Tarkenton was the Vikings QB in only 3 of those losses. He had been traded to the Giants for a few years and Joe Kapp & Gary Quozzo QBed the Vikes during that time. It was Joe Kapp who was the QB in 1969 when they lost to the Chiefs in the SB.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Fran has been all over Favre the last week or so. He obviously isn't a fan at all. Listening to him crack on Lord Favra is priceless. I love it!

I do as well. You cannot count me in as part of the Favrerere is a God crew. The man has a serious seizure in a hospital due to his pain killer abuse and isn't fined a single dollar and isn't required to sit out so much as a single practice.

Madden still has dreams of a hot shower where Favrere throws the soap to Hines Ward and they play keep away with him. His man love for Brent was nauseating through the years.

 

[jimmy40]

Never could stand Fran I'm glad he's not doing anything to change that. Pathetic old man.

 

[Brooksey]

Tarkenton, have some class seriously. Great QB's don't talk of other great Qb's like that. Someone is jealous. Did Favre break every Tarkenton single season record this year?

 

[Idgit]

Never could stand Fran I'm glad he's not doing anything to change that. Pathetic old man.

***? Can't stand Fran Tarkenton?

Plus, Fran's right. Brett's thrown away a lot of close games with his style of play, including the Saints game this year.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

I agree.

I remember the week we were going to play the Vikings, I was listening to The Common Man Radio Show in Minnesota and he said that if Favre won a Super Bowl, he would be considered the best Quarterback in Vikings history by most fans, even though it was only 1 Season.

Fran Tarkenton does have legitimate gripes as Brett Favre has done some outrageously foolish plays at big times but I think part of it is jealousy.

I think a lot of the older players are bitter and a little jealous of the younger players because the older players definitely played in a much rougher time, had less options and made far less money then the players today.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I've never looked it up but I wonder what Fran's numbers were in the 3 Superbowl games he lost.

He always just sounds like one of the most bitter, crybaby, players I've ever heard speak.

Favre made bonehead decisions, and I can't imagine anyone denying that, but Fran talks about things like this like he's a jilted lover or something.

I pretty much ignore anything that Fran say cause he always comes off as a giant crybaby.

 

[Rampage]

I've never looked it up but I wonder what Fran's numbers were in the 3 Superbowl games he lost.

He always just sounds like one of the most bitter, crybaby, players I've ever heard speak.

Favre made bonehead decisions, and I can't imagine anyone denying that, but Fran talks about things like this like he's a jilted lover or something.

I pretty much ignore anything that Fran say cause he always comes off as a giant crybaby.

Superbowl 8 (lost to Miami 24-7)

18/28 182 yards 0 tds 1 int

2 rushes 17 yards 1 td

Superbowl 9 (lost to Pittsburgh 16-6)

11/26 102 yards 0 tds 3 ints

1 rush 0 yards

Superbowl 11 (lost to Oakland 32-14)

17/35 205 yards 1 td 2 ints

he played like crap in all of them and threw for 1 td(2 total tds) and 6 interceptions in 3 Superbowls. he's got some nerve talking about Favre the way he has cause Favre has a ring.

 

[DFWJC]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

I always liked Fran, but I think it would have killed him if he got so close so manny times as the Vikes QB...and then here comes a QB for hire with the chance to pull it out. As big a Vikes fan as Fran is , I have a sick feeling he rejoiced when Favre thre that pick.
BTW, I do not at ALL think that pick cost them the game. They would have still gone to OT after missing the 56 yarder...but we'll never know.
Go Saints

 

[BeWare94]

I've never looked it up but I wonder what Fran's numbers were in the 3 Superbowl games he lost.

He always just sounds like one of the most bitter, crybaby, players I've ever heard speak.

Favre made bonehead decisions, and I can't imagine anyone denying that, but Fran talks about things like this like he's a jilted lover or something.

I pretty much ignore anything that Fran say cause he always comes off as a giant crybaby.

He's been bitter since CBS canceled "That's Incredible".

Seriously, God forbid anyone say anything bad about Wrangler wearing, Ford F-150 driving, pick up football in the old muny lot playing, redneck quarterback Jesus Brett Favre...especially if it's true. Did anyone take the time to realize that what Tarkenton said was DEAD ON? Probably not...LOL

 

[Idgit]

I always liked Fran, but I think it would have killed him if he got so close so manny times as the Vikes QB...and then here comes a QB for hire with the chance to pull it out. As big a Vikes fan as Fran is , I have a sick feeling he rejoiced when Favre thre that pick.
BTW, I do not at ALL think that pick cost them the game. They would have still gone to OT after missing the 56 yarder...but we'll never know.
Go Saints

It didn't have to be a 56 yarder had Favre tucked the ball and limped as far forward as he could go.

That pass was about as bad a mistake as a QB can make in that game situation. Favre's got enough glory on his resume, he should own it when he tanks a shot at the Superbowl like he did in New Orleans.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Superbowl 8 (lost to Miami 24-7)

18/28 182 yards 0 tds 1 int

2 rushes 17 yards 1 td

Superbowl 9 (lost to Pittsburgh 16-6)

11/26 102 yards 0 tds 3 ints

1 rush 0 yards

Superbowl 11 (lost to Oakland 32-14)

17/35 205 yards 1 td 2 ints

he played like crap in all of them and threw for 1 td(2 total tds) and 6 interceptions in 3 Superbowls. he's got some nerve talking about Favre the way he has cause Favre has a ring.

So basically he doesn't have a clue what it means to play well in big time situations and should probably just keep his mouth shut.

He's never seen a big time player play so poorly in big situations? Then he should probably go back and look at the game film of his 3 Superbowl appearances.

He's been bitter since CBS canceled "That's Incredible".

Seriously, God forbid anyone say anything bad about Wrangler wearing, Ford F-150 driving, pick up football in the old muny lot playing, redneck quarterback Jesus Brett Favre...especially if it's true. Did anyone take the time to realize that what Tarkenton said was DEAD ON? Probably not...LOL

No it's perfectly acceptable for someone to say something about him. it's stupid for a guy like Fran to come around, commenting on what Brett has done in big game situations, when you can look up there and see exactly what Fran was capable of in big game situations.

Which is to say that Fran was capable of exactly nothing. Favre has choked quite a bit, no one can deny, but guess what? He's actually gotten the job done before. A player like Fran who did nothing but choke probably shouldn't be casting any stones in a glass house.

 

[BeWare94]

So basically he doesn't have a clue what it means to play well in big time situations and should probably just keep his mouth shut.

He's never seen a big time player play so poorly in big situations? Then he should probably go back and look at the game film of his 3 Superbowl appearances.




No it's perfectly acceptable for someone to say something about him. it's stupid for a guy like Fran to come around, commenting on what Brett has done in big game situations, when you can look up there and see exactly what Fran was capable of in big game situations.

Which is to say that Fran was capable of exactly nothing. Favre has choked quite a bit, no one can deny, but guess what? He's actually gotten the job done before. A player like Fran who did nothing but choke probably shouldn't be casting any stones in a glass house.

Then by your logic, none of us should be here casting dispersions on Fran Tarkenton, seeing as how he's an NFL HOF and none of us have even actually played in the NFL.

 

[burmafrd]

Bottom line is that Tarkenton was never on a winning team in the SB and Favre was. And it can be said that Tarkenton contributed to each loss.

 

[Hook'em#11]

i despise Favre, but maybe Fran is bitter cause in 4 chances, he couldnt get what Favre has, a SB ring.

I think he is also still pissed because his parents named him Fran.



I mean,come on? Fran?