Selfish

By John McMullen

Jim Mora Sr. got quite a bit of play a few weeks ago when he called Michael Vick a “coach killer.” Of course, the only reason Mora spouted off about Vick is the coach he perceives as being “killed” is his own son.

But let’s be honest, while Vick has not developed into the signal caller people hoped for, the Atlanta Falcons are a far more competitive team since he sauntered into town.

That said, Mora’s words got me thinking about the real “coach killer” in pro football. A player that is quite frankly, uncoachable...

Brett Favre.

In my years in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of seeing Favre play twice a year and it was breathtaking. In his prime, Favre was one of the best ever -- second only to Joe Montana in my mind.

Year in and year out, the Vikings had more talent than the Green Bay Packers but when people asked for my prediction, I always went with Favre. He was that good.

In fact, Favre created the monster that is Andy Reid when he led a Packers team with Edgar Bennett as the primary running threat to a Super Bowl championship. It was then and there that Reid developed his legendary disdain for the running game.

Today, I feel silly for ever lauding Favre -- a pariah that may even trump T.O. as the most selfish player in the NFL.

You can debate the reasons Favre is hanging on -- whether it be ego, Dan Marino’s records or staying far away from that loving family his groupies drone on and on about.

Whatever the reason is immaterial -- what is germane to Green Bay is that Favre's reason for staying isn't winning.

And, his apologists that dot the network airwaves look more and more foolish when defending him at the expense of every other player on his team -- most of which actually listen to their coaches and try to carry out an assignment.

Of course the future Hall of Famer’s status in the game makes it impossible for his own coaches to call him out for his willful ignorance of their game plan -- something every other NFL quarterback would get lambasted for on a weekly basis.

In the woeful NFC, the Packers would likely be a playoff contender if Favre would just manage his own ego. Instead, the gunslinger just hurls the ball into coverage whenever he likes and waits for his minions to blame his young receivers who aren’t “playmakers.”

Nonsense -- Favre’s play is the ultimate act of selfishness on the football field.

No matter what Joe Buck and John Madden tell you.