My Donald Driver Blog

For the last 16 years, Brett Favre has not only been the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, but he has also been the "face" of the franchise. It's difficult to think about the Packers without thinking about Brett Favre, too. Favre and the Packers go together like a hand in a glove.

Some would say that there has never been another football player that meant as much to their team and their fans as Brett Favre did. In any case, there's no denying that he was the "face" of the Green Bay Packers franchise.

So, if Favre was the "face" of the Packers and he is now retired, that brings up an interesting question. Who will be the new "face" of the Packers? This is a question that I've seen kicked around quite a bit lately by Packer fans. And when the question is brought up, some great names are thrown around. Barnett, Tauscher, and Driver are just a few of the more common names I often hear.

But I have to disagree, respectfully.

If asked, "Who will be the new face of the Green Bay Packers?", I'd have to answer, "No one - at least not anytime soon!"

My favorite active Packer player right now is Donald Driver, but I don't think Driver or any other player on the team right now could be referred to as the new "face" of the Packers.

We have some talented players on our team right now, and we have even more up-and-comers with a lot of potential, but I think you have to be careful before you go calling a good (or even a great) player the new "face" of the franchise. I just don't think it works that way.

I think when someone is the "face" of the franchise, it's obvious. There's little room for differing opinions or dispute. It's just a fact, whether you like it or not. I don't think we vote for such a player. I think such a player has to earn that position. They have to step up into that position and claim it. They become the face of a franchise through leadership, through performance, through attitude, through commitment, and through domination. You don't earn that just by being a good player - or even a great one. You earn it because you have something special, something spectacular, something above and beyond the norm.

Brett Favre was (and is) special. I think people like him are few and far between. They are one in a million. When the next one comes along, we won't have to vote him in as the new "face" of the team. We'll just know that he is - and so will everyone else. It will be undeniable.

It's too early to declare someone else the new "face" of the Packers. It may not happen for a long time to come. I'm in no rush to do so. Besides, Brett Favre will always be the "face" of the Green Bay Packers to me - retired or not!

That's one guy's opinion - worth what you paid for it!

Chris M. Smith owns http://www.Favre4Sale.com, a Brett Favre fan and memorabilia site. He specializes in Brett Favre merchandise, including jerseys, autographs, helmets, footballs, cards, photos, game-used items, and other Brett Favre gear. He also features the latest in Brett Favre news, videos, articles, pictures, bio info, and retirement information. Visit his site: http://www.Favre4Sale.com

Copyright 2008 Chris M. Smith

Brett Favre is inarguably one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. In addition to holding nearly every passing record there is, he also has a Superbowl win under his belt, and he has won 3 league MVP awards.

But perhaps his most impressive accomplishment is his consecutive start record.

Brett Favre began his consecutive start streak in 1992 and kept it alive for 16 seasons, all the way up to his retirement announcement on March 4, 2008. He started in 253 consecutive regular season games. If you count the post season, then he started 275 consecutive games.

As of November 2006, the other NFL teams started 374 quarterbacks in the same time period that the Packers started 1. Chicago started 20 quarterbacks by itself in that same time period.

Favre's streak is quite an impressive record, no doubt. But, have you ever really stopped to think about it? Let me help put it in perspective.

Favre started his consecutive start streak on September 27, 1992.

In 1992:

Tony Romo was 12 years old, Eli Manning was 11 years old, and Ben Roethlisberger was 10 years old. Aaron Rodgers was an 8 year old kid growing up in Chico, California.

Donald Driver, Chad Clifton, and Mark Tauscher were already playing football - IN HIGH SCHOOL, that is.

Trolls were the best selling toy.

Nafta was signed.

CDs surpassed cassette tapes as the preferred medium for recorded music.

Cell phones were practically the size of small suitcases, so they were typically installed in vehicles as car phones.

The internet just started to become popular.

Microsoft shipped Windows 3.1

The Dodge Viper and Jeep Grand Cherokee were introduced.

The Rodney King verdict was announced.

Mike Tyson went on trial. He was charged with raping Desiree Washington, a 1991 Miss Black America contestant.

The "Long Island Lolita", Amy Fisher, was arrested for shooting her lover's wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco.

Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison.

Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love.

War began in the former Yugoslavia.

President George H. W. Bush ordered troops into Somalia.

Bill Clinton was elected as the 42nd president of the US.

Sam Kinison and Dick York died.

Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) was born in 1992.

If you had a baby on the first day of Favre's consecutive start streak, they would be driving now.

Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.29; Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.13; Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.93; Cost of a gallon of Milk: $2.78; Cost of a car: $16,950

Prince became the highest paid pop artist in the country.

Popular songs in 1992 were: I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred; Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot; This Used To Be My Playground - Madonna; End Of The Road - Boyz II Men

Popular movies in 1992 were: Wayne's World; A Few Good Men; The Bodyguard; A League Of Their Own; Sister Act

Popular TV shows in 1992 were: Murphy Brown; Coach; Cheers; Full House; Murder, She Wrote; Roseanne

'Mad About You' and 'The Real World' premiered on TV, while 'The Golden Girls' and 'Night Court' ended.

Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show.

Wow - that brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it? It's been a long time since Favre began his streak. The next closest player to Favre's consecutive start record is Peyton Manning, with 160 consecutive starts.

If Manning remains uninjured, he has a chance to break Favre's record 94 games from now in the 2013 season. Or maybe it will never be broken at all.

"His record for most consecutive starts will never be broken. It's one of the most amazing records in sports. I guarantee you, he gets an immense amount of respect from every quarterback in the NFL for that record." Carson Palmer - Bengals Quarterback

Chris M. Smith owns http://www.Favre4Sale.com , a Brett Favre fan and memorabilia site. He specializes in Brett Favre merchandise, including jerseys, autographs, helmets, footballs, cards, photos, game-used items, and other Brett Favre gear. He also features the latest in Brett Favre news, videos, articles, pictures, bio info, and retirement information. Visit his site: http://www.Favre4Sale.com

Copyright 2008 Chris M. Smith