AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > March > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFalcons lost Favre to city night life
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Frankly, you could cover Brett Favre’s career as a Falcon on a postcard. In fact, maybe no more than a postage stamp. He came, was rarely seen, gone after one season, and Atlanta hasn’t been able to shake him out of its hairy memory to this day.
When he retired from the Packers on Tuesday, it was black-type front page stuff. Kings and queens have vacated thrones with less of a stir. And there in the background of his NFL biography loomed the ever-pathetic image of the heavy-handed, intolerant Falcons who in barroom myth ran off the mudcat from Mississippi, described by all the crooning broadcast voices as “one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all quarterbacks of all time.”
You should forgive them, for they are short of perspective that comes with vintage. In their grasp for ear-ringing superlatives, they forget, or are unaware, that there was an Otto Graham, a Johnny Unitas, a Bobby Layne, a Joe Montana, and more who could sing in that choir of the “greatest.” Make no bones about it, Favre had the same kind of stuff, and records that back him up. But throughout it all, the Falcons weren’t able to shake the image as the dullards who dumped him.
They have one substantial authority on the subject who backs them up — Favre himself.
This is the way it was: Here was a small-town guy from Kiln, Miss., present-day population 2,040 (it has sprawled since Brett was a kid), who had never “been to town” before. Atlanta was the new rage of the South. Temptations on every corner. Open bars. Booze on the hoof. He should have been in Green Bay, larger than Kiln, but his kind of town.
In a book under his byline, he takes the blame. “I drank Atlanta up,” he says. He later spent some time in a center that wrings out drunks.
He missed the sitting for the first team picture. Hung over, he was late. He wasn’t married yet, and Atlanta was already a magnet for southern beauties looking for a big time. Jerry Glanville was the Falcons’ coach, and he was looking for a quarterback to back up Chris Miller, who had a good career going. Ken Herock had drafted Favre out of Southern Miss, and Favre was the GM’s “boy.” Glanville soon had enough of Favre’s libertine life pattern and demanded that he be traded. Herock resisted.
The story is that Glanville asked that his offensive coach, June Jones (the same), be allowed to cast the deciding vote. Jones was with Glanville, and the deal was made. Favre went to Green Bay for the Packers’ first-round draft pick in 1992, and the Falcons drafted another player from Southern Miss, Tony Smith, a running back. He lasted a season.
Favre got the news sitting at his parents’ table in Kiln — usually he could be found at the Broke Stroke, the town social center — eating crawdads and drinking beer. His “career” in Atlanta amounted to five passes, two caught — by the other team — zero yards. The Packers saw what in this country playboy?
Ken Herock was borne out. Glanville could build a case for himself, but on the other hand, had he not been able to see the talent raging inside this Cajun from Kiln? Put the whip to him, send him on the field instead of clumping along with Billy Joe Tolliver as his backup? Truth is, Glanville didn’t like him, didn’t like his habits, didn’t like his addiction to the playboy life. Curse Glanville, if you choose, he who often rode onto the field aboard a motorcycle, but what he missed was “one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback of all time.”
Favre himself gives the Falcons a pass. And in passing, let it be said that his presence on the national scene has corrupted the preferred Cajun pronunciation of the name — it’s “Fov,” not “Farve.”
Permalink | Comments (48) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Furman Bisher
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By T to the D
March 4, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
Raising Glanvilles’ mirrored front glasses and saying ” I’m here Coach, BURRRRRRRRP! If you want to win, start me.” Didn’t set well with the future coach of the CALI state champs…
Any iron I need in the future will be ordered as ” Give me that tough as Farve Iron.”
Damn good job Brett.
By Bowie
March 4, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Great job Bisher. Now The Falcons need to ship D. Hall out of town. I will not pay to way him ever play again for Falcons.
By T K
March 4, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
Used to frequently run into Brett at favorite watering holes in Buckhead. He was a regular at many of them. Me and my buds would never think he would be into the Hall of Fame?
Great Guy!
By Miranda
March 4, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Oh…so it was the city’s fault because there’s a nightlife here?? Wow.
By Ray
March 4, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Good for Favre! Had he stayed in Atlanta he would have had to retired long before now! and would NOT be going to the Hall of Fame!!! enjoyed the good years in Green Bay Brett! Look forward to seeing you on Sunday’s on a pregame show!!!
By Jim
March 4, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Favre—just another example of the Falcons’ bumbling ways in drafting and trading. The tradition continues.
By las
March 4, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
Typical Bisher! The greatest QB of all time retires and all he can do is liken him to some former QBs that couldn’t hold Favre’s jock and then spotlight the low points of the most wonderful career ever. Can Bisher ever say anything good about anyone without dwelling on the negative. I hope that when Furman retires all anyone writes about is his reprehensible behavior when he maligned, libeled and slandered Bear Bryant and Wally Butts back in the 1960s. Is it not time we washed our hands of this sorry charlatan!
By Spike
March 4, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
I love him.
By Jeff
March 4, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
You could argue both ways that Favre would’ve been great here. The fact is, except for maybe Reeves, in the past 20 years the Falcons coaches have been horrible. I like what were doing in the offseason so far…now trade DeHALL for another first round pick.
By flee hound
March 4, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Jeff you know good and well nobody is going to give a first rounder for De hall he ant worth it.
By albie
March 4, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Great piece…I was always in the stands when the G man in black coached Miller and co…we always had a good laugh..Falcons,Glanville and the DANCIN MAN in the isle…not nec in that order..I still have seats…but…if they do not get rid of that pompous, self serving idiot deangelo..I HAVE SPENT MY LAST NICKEL ON THE FALCONS.. Thanks for all your observations over the years…you’re special,,,Chicago Al
By andrew
March 4, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Is it not true that in 1989,the falcons had an interview with Mike Holmgren for the Falcons head coaching job and turned him down in favor of Jerry Glanville,who in turn traded away Brett Favre? Just think if they had hired Holmgren and already had Favre in Atlanta!
By Chikara
March 4, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that if Holmgren and Favre were here it would’ve made them as great as they were in Green Bay. I just think that Brett was able to benefit from being in an area where all he could think about was football. He admitted it as much, so people need to stop riding the Falcons’ brass for trading him. If he stayed here and became a wreck, not to mention out of the league in three years because he couldn’t control his drinking, then what would you have said Bisher?
For the last time let it go. This organization has been burned a lot I’ll admit, but from what i’ve seen so far this offseason they are looking to create an era that doesn’t rely on flashy QBs and instead on a team concept, something that this city hasn’t experienced since the ‘98 Super Bowl team.
As for DHall, you may not like his brash personality, but he is definitely worth a first round pick. He has the talent to be a supreme cover corner in this league. I think that if Atlanta works more on drafting defensive studs in the draft then it may convince him they are serious about winning. He wants to win just like the rest of us.
By mighty mike
March 4, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: “It might have been!”
John Greenleaf Whittier
By John Madden
March 5, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
I love you Brett.
By Gwinnett Dad
March 5, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this
Greatest QB ever? One QB stands out, without question, without competition. Forget yards passing. Forget number of completions. Forget every statistic, except one. What did he win? How many years did he play in the pro championship game in a row? The answer is 10, which is every season he played. What other QB never stopped playing until the title game every season he played? Incidentally, he won seven out of 10! If you don’t know the answer, you don’t know as much about football as you thought you did. For those that don’t, be bit careful about claiming greatness, since you just might not know the whole story. Now, who can come up with the name?
By barfly
March 5, 2008 12:50 AM | Link to this
Now wait a minute! They have bars in Green Bay. They drink a lot of brew up there in Wisconsin to go with all those brats! You can’t tell me Brett couldn’t have access to just the same booze and broads in cheesehead land than he could in Hotlana’. Dat jes don’t make no sense!
By Bill
March 5, 2008 2:12 AM | Link to this
When Bret threw his 420th TD pass they made a photo o fhim coming off the field with a big player draped over his shoulders. They made 420 copies with 1” square of a jersey worn by him. It also has a plaque with the record and couple of other items. Do you have one!!!! Only 420 made and I was fortunate enough to buy one. Well done Bret. I’me from Atlanta and I think you will go down as the best.
By mowreck
March 5, 2008 5:38 AM | Link to this
I saw Glanville at a George Jones concert when he was here … him and Bobby April. They were there at least til 2:00am with a girl on each arm. That was on a Saturday nite and the Falcons lost the next day on a kick-off or punt runback. Glanville said him and Bobby work late Saturday on those special teams … yeah right, talk about nite life.
By mowreck
March 5, 2008 5:41 AM | Link to this
My sister-in-law was from Houston where Glanville came from … she said she would give us around 2 years of him riding around on his motorcycle and WE would run him out of town …
By hd
March 5, 2008 5:50 AM | Link to this
If too much partying was the reason for Favre’s release, why was Steve Bartkowski kept on?
By hd
March 5, 2008 6:02 AM | Link to this
To Gwinnett Dad: Johnny Unitas.
By hammerstone
March 5, 2008 6:13 AM | Link to this
Ryan Leaf, right?
By Gwinnett Dad
March 5, 2008 6:25 AM | Link to this
hd, no, not Johnny Unitas, though I watched him at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1968 defeat the Browns 34-0 prior to the famous Colts Superbowl loss to the NY Jets 16-7. Thanks, though, for guessing. It was a cold, nasty day, and that was the ugliest, most unhappy large crowd that watched the Browns be so bad that they finished their flasks by half-time.
By Scott
March 5, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
Just so you know, the bar in Kiln (pronounced Kill) is actually called the Broke Spoke. Yes, Brett had his troubles in ATL, but you can’t fault the Falcons for trading him. He was wild, but who can say that he would have had the legendary career he did, if it wasn’t for the fact he was traded to Green Bay? Mike Holmgren helped to make Brett the QB that he was and the QB Matt Hasselbeck is now. I don’t think Brett would have done well in a non-west coast offense.
By Johnny B
March 5, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Woul it have been Y A Tittle or Otto Graham?
By fatz
March 5, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
the real story here is not that we cut favre- everyone can understand why glanville wouldn’t put up with it, and apparently June Jones felt the same way. but, as is typical of the Falcons, we get a 1st round draft pick for sending him to GB, and we draft a guy who lasts one season. Now THAT is the real story of the Atlanta Football Falcons franchise…….
By Johnny B
March 5, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Yep…Otto Graham.
Also the only pro football player to have also won a Pro basketball championship, the only year he played with the Rochester Royals.
By mark
March 5, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Haha its so funny to think Farve was once a Falcon….Im still laughing..Hes a lucky man he got out of this organization..He retires with Fame , Money and in one peice…no Falcon can ever say that…HaHa…The best thing Falcons can do change their name start over act like they are a new team..
By Jogger
March 5, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Brett is my dads favorite player. I admire Brett. I was said that he lost the NFC this past year- but, was happy to see the Gaints go on and win the Superbowl.
Brett is a great football player. He will be missed.
By TURTSNAP
March 5, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
las Greatest QB of all time? Give me a break. I like Favre, but in no way would I tag him the greatest of all time!!! Think of all the big playoff games over the past few years where Favre has choked, this includes when our Falcons went to the Frozen Tundra to play a playoff game. No way in the world that the Falcons should’ve won that game, but Favre came up mediocre at best in that game.
Now, think of Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, (throw in other greats), and think of how many times they choked in big games. Favre was great, don’t get me wrong, but the greatest? He is in the second tier, at best, of great qb’s.
By Will
March 5, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Packer fans thank Atlanta for its thoughtfulness and a glorious 16 years with an icon as quarterback!
By 59bulldawg
March 5, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Glanville was an idiot but probably the best thing that could have happened to Brett in Atlanta was the trade to Green Bay. He would never have been a HOF quarterback, 3 time MVP, or Super Bowl winner had he been stuck with the dysfunctional Falcons for the last 17 years.
By Fondy JW
March 5, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
I lived in the Atlanta area and had time to thank the people for sending Brett to Green Bay! It has been a great run and wonderful time to see a young kid grow into a man on and off the football field. Brett more than football to Green Bay … he brought hard work and a desire to win like that will not soon be forgotten.
By Doug B
March 5, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Favre’s move to Green Bay made him a champion and visible. Had he stayed in Atlanta, I can’t imagine him being a record breaker. The Falcons have never known how to assemble a quality team and keep it together. He would have been just another Falcon quarterback that disappeared save for the recollections of the Falcon faithful
By chuck
March 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
great job falcons, now go ahead and mess in the draft this year, GO BUCS
By JackP
March 5, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
I’ll take the good life of the Atlanta hot spots over some hall of fame honor for throwing passes with a football. These are not the kind of passes I like to throw.
By Peter
March 5, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Yes Glanville is really a judge of talent……
He did so well as a coach this year !
By Koron
March 5, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Schaub a HOF??? I don’t see it. But in light of the Vick drama, he is most def. missed by the Falcons.
By Gwinnett Dad
March 5, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Johnny B wins the fully immersible used pop up toaster! Otto Graham played for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-55. Four years in the All-America conference and they won it all each year until the league folded. Two other teams, SF and the Colts, along with the Browns went into the NFL in 1950, and the Browns went 3-3 in the championship games through 1955, when Graham retired as a kind of winner rare in all of sports. Bill Russell, John Wooden as a coach, and Otto Graham are in a class of their own. Nobody, not Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Y.A. Tittle, whats-his-face from Pittsburgh or John Elway, even played in the NFL Championship for even 6 years in a row.
By Bart Starr
March 5, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Gwinnett Dad must be talking about the guy whose stats were not that exceptional but who won a lot of championships for Coach Lombardi. Of course, all he had to do was toss the ball out to the backs on those power sweeps.
By Steve
March 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
I am reading this article and the comments from Milwaukee. Because of all of the boneheaded comments, I am demanding that the Braves are returned to us immediately.
By Workinlkeadawg
March 5, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Now that Lewis is hurt should make the Falcons 1st pick easier. The DT from USC seems reasonable or even Long as a first pick would be better than taking Ryan or Brohm. We can get another “one that got away with one of the 2nd round picks.Maybe Henne is he another Mich QB who regularly plays in SB’s. Whatcha say out there in cyberland?
By Rick
March 5, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Glanville was and still is a retard !! Young QB’s like Favre need a smart coach ( not a Glanville )to get them started. Best thing that happenned to Brett was getting traded!!
By mayretter local
March 5, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Thanks Bish for another great column!!!!
By don
March 5, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Time for the Falcons to bring back Glanville.
By don
March 5, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Glanville is one of the greatest minds in the history of football.
By Workinlkeadawg
March 5, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Glanville and Jones happy go sorry S!@# the bed offense are history with the new Falcons regime. Had Farve stayed in Atlanta, Bart would and still is ,be the best dang QB Atlanta has ever had.