Favre or Vick: Who's the Better Signing?
Written by B-Dub, Sunday June 14 2009
The biggest stories of this NFL offseason have been the futures of two free agent QBs; Brett Favre and Michael Vick. You have read novels about both men for various reasons this offseason, but I want to delve into which one an NFL team looking for a QB should sign.
I have read many more articles about Vick being the better option for teams than Favre. The thing is, I think those writers should put down the crack pipe and step away from the keyboard. Oh sure, we're all tired of the endless Favre retired / unretired soap opera. And we're all even more tired of the shameless man-love that members of the national media have for Favre. The thing is, the national media was even more smitten with Vick during his playing days and I have no idea why.
Michael Vick was never a good QB, let alone a great QB. Brett Favre is a sure-fire Hall of Famer, who holds countless NFL records and has won a Super Bowl. There should be no question who an NFL GM should sign if his team needs a QB. It should be Favre. Let's look at some of the numbers shall we?
Brett Favre owns the NFL record book. Here is a quick look at the records that he holds:
* Career TDs: 464
* Career passing yards: 65,127
* Career pass completions: 9,280
* Career INTs thrown: 310 (Gotta be fair)
* Career games with at least 3 TDs thrown: 65
* Consecutive starts by a QB: 269 (291 including playoffs)
* Career regular season wins by a QB:169 (Regular season record 169-100)
Favre also won three MVP Awards (1995-97). He led the Packers to seven division championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007), four NFC Championship games (1995, 1996, 1997 and 2007), two Super Bowl appearances (1996 and 1997) and one Super Bowl Championship (SB XXXI). In two Super Bowls Favre's stats were fairly impressive. In a SB XXXI win over the NE Patriots, Favre completed 14 of 27 passes for 247 yards and 2 TDs, with Zero INTs, while also rushing for a TD. In a Super Bowl XXXII loss to the Denver Broncos, Favre completed 25 of 42 passes for 256 yards and 3 TDs, with 1 INT. And he also did not thrown up on the field late in the 4th quarter like another certain QB I know.
These are some incredible statistics that I have rolled out, so surely everyone agrees that Favre is far superior to Vick on the field. Well, not really. There are those that say Favre is at the end of his career and is a shell of his former MVP self. OK, he is older, but maybe I've been watching a different QB the last two years.
In 2007 Favre led a young Packers team to the NFC Championship game, while throwing for 4,155 yards with 28 TDs and 15 INTs. Doesn't seem like a washed up nothing to me. OK, that was a fluke, he sucked in 2008 right? Not so fast. In 2008 with the Jets Favre had the team at a 8-3 record before he injured his throwing shoulder. In the last five games the Jets lost 4 of 5 games and Favre threw 8 INTs and only 2 TDs. He finished the 2008 season with 22 TDs and 22 INTs. That's not so good until you realize that Favre played those last five games with a torn biceps tendon in his right, throwing shoulder. While some question Favre playing hurt, I'll take the guy who plays through the pain. It's why a guy like Chase Utley, who played most of the 2008 season with the same hip injury that A-Rod needed surgery for, is my favorite Phillie. It's also why Utley has a World Series Championship ring and A-Fraud never will. Sorry, back to football.
OK, enough about Favre. I'm just some idiot Favre lover, like John Madden right? I hate Michael Vick because of the dog fighting or I'm a closet racist right? Um, No! Michael Vick is one of the most overrated marketing creations in the history of sports. He is the Kimbo Slice of the NFL. He is famous for being famous, while having no obvious talent to speak of, like Paris Hilton. He is, in my opinion, a complete and total Fraud.
Don't believe me? Let's look at Vick's "awesome" stats.
* Drafted #1 overall in 2001
* In 2006 became only QB to ever rush for 1,000 yards
* In 2006 set record for most yards per carry in a season (8.4)
* #33 in Forbes list of top celebrity endorsements in 2005
* Won an ESPY for NFL Player of the Year in 2003
* Drafted in 30th round of 2000 MLB draft, even though he never played college baseball
A few things stand out to me, and frankly, should also stand out to anyone with a brain. There doesn't seem to be any mention of throwing stats there. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at least a small fraction of determining whether or not a QB is good is how well he can throw the ball right? Apparently not. Vick's draft rights were traded to the Falcons in 2001 by the San Diego Chargers for a 1st rounder in 2001 (#5 overall), a 3rd rounder in 2001, a 2nd rounder in 2002 and WR Tim Dwight. The Chargers pick at #5 in 2001? Oh just some stiff named LaDanian Thomas or Thompson or Tomlinson or something like that. I don't think he amounted to much. Certainly not as much as Vick. While Favre was winning those three meaningless MVP Awards, Vick won that ESPY Award. Yeah, that's right Mike, You Da Man. In your face Favre.
Let's compare the stats of the two players head to head now shall we? I'm sure that's why Vick was so popular right? Favre's worst year in passing yardage was his first year as a starter in 1992. He threw for 3,227 yards. That's better than Vick's best year in passing yardage in 2002, with 2,936. Favre has never thrown for under 3,000 yards in a season, while Vick has never thrown for more than 3,000 in any season of his illustrious career. Favre's career completion percentage is 61.6 %, while Vick's is 53.8%. Yeah, but Favre is a INT waiting to happen you say? Well, Favre's career TD to INT ratio is 464 TDs and 310 INTs, while Vick's is 71 TDs and 52 INTs for his career. That means that Vick has thrown more INTs per TD than Favre. But how can that be? OK, let's look at their playoff stats instead. Surely that's where Vick is better. Favre is 12-10 in the playoffs, while Vick is 3-3. Favre has gone to two Super Bowls and won one. Vick got as far as the NFC Championship game in 2005 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick went 10 for 27 in that game for 136 yards, with zero TDs and 1 INT. He admitted after the game that it was too cold. I was at that game and I can confirm that it was probably the coldest I have ever been at a game. And I can also confirm that Vick thought it was cold because you could see him quit on his teammates like a dog (no pun intended).
Vick also has a little more baggage these days than Favre. Sure Favre is a complete Douchebag with his "I'm retired, no I'm not, yes I am, no I'm not, look at me, look at me" drama queen act, but that's nothing compared to the shit-storm surrounding Vick. Everybody knows he is currently serving out the last month of his conviction related to financing a dog-fighting operation. He is set to be released on July 20, 2009, but has yet to be reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Even if he is reinstated, the team that signs him is sure to get some negative publicity. But Vick has a long history of being a scumbag of a human being even before it came out that he liked to torture and kill dogs. Remember the incident in 2007 when he flipped the "Bird" to his own fans in Atlanta? How about when he was stopped in an airport in 2007 with a water bottle with a hidden compartment? Yeah Mike, I believe it was for your jewelry. Or what about the "Ron Mexico" incident, where it came out that Vick had infected several women with genital herpes and used the name "Ron Mexico" at clinics to get treatment? Loved the Falcons jerseys with "Mexico" on the back before the NFL banned them from being produced. And this is the guy that NFL GMs would rather have than Brett Favre?
I simply can't see any reason why any GM in the NFL would choose to sign Michael Vick over Brett Favre. Favre is the better player and the better human being. Even in the twilight of his career, Favre is twice the QB that Vick is. Plus Vick has been away from the game for a few years. Vick would bring nothing but bad publicity to any team that signs him. And for what, a few plays as the QB in the "Wildcat" formation?
Michael Vick was and is nothing but a marketing creation, dreamed up by his agents. The media bought into it and the Atlanta Falcons traded the rights to a Hall of Famer for him. Favre is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer, if he ever decides to finally retire. So I don't think there should even be any debate who the better free agent signing is this offseason. It's Favre. Although, as an Eagles fan, I think the Cowboys should sign Vick as soon as possible. Believe the hype Jerry.
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15 comments
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Any of you morons want to question my brilliance now? Didn't think so.
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Ok Dub, I'll play your game. I have to choose one to be my QB. I still choose Vick, unless I only want a QB for only one year, then Favre (but I don't, so, Vick). Brett is just about done, he might have two years left if he has been a devout christian his entire life, which is doubtful. The Vikings would literally kill to have Favre, and that's not a bad idea considering they have a journeyman backup and a still young, but yet-to-shown-improvment, Jackson. I just like what Vick brings to the table more than I like what Favre can do in one year for me. All the past stats are irrelevant. Even last years stats mean nothing, all they tell you is that Favre played and Vick didn't, so what? It's a what have you done for me lately league. Well, lately, Favre got hurt/had surgery (for the first time in his career, prelude of things to come?) and Vick was behind bars. How do you know a different system wouldn't make Favre look bad or Vick look good anyways? I know, I know, I can hear you already Dizzle: "Vick wouldn't even look good if he was made over by those queer eye guys." My point remains that I like athleticism more than an aging veteran who may or may not make it through an entire season, let alone two.
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Oh MC Homer, what am I going to do with you? It's obvious we are talking about who a team would sign to play QB. As for who is better for this year, did you see that stats? Vick's last year was 2006 and his BEST year wasn't even close to Favre's WORST year. And Favre took his team to the NFC Championship game in 2007 and was doing great last year before he got hurt. Favre is a legit QB NOW, while Vick was NEVER a legit QB and NEVER will be.
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Rollin' on (b)Dubz, what do these impressive statistics have to do with signing a guy for the next season or two? If I wanted an over-the-hill QB, I'd sign Jeff George, he'd be much cheaper (kidding). I wouldn't sign Vick to play QB though, did you skip that part of my comment? You didn't specify choosing one to play QB though. You said "maybe" the reason Favre loses in domes is because he is on the "visiting" team. That insults your own intelligence, c'mon, you're smarter than that. No matter where you play on the road in the NFL, it is a difficult environment. In fact, some of the toughest places to play (due to crowd noise), are outdoors. We are not comparing career numbers here Dubbers, obviously Favre wins that (it's not even a discussion), we are talking about the future (right?), and, shockingly, Brett is not the same guy he used to be. Neither is Vick, but he is still young enough to have more of a positive impact on a game than Favre. Besides, you're not signing the record book that Favre "owns", you're signing what he possibly could do for your team in the upcoming year, with that in mind, thus the reason I'd take Vick.
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I just want to say its a pretty stupid question, because michael vick doesnt even belong in the same breath as Brett Favre. As a life long Minnesota Vikings fan I can say I grew up hating Favre, and always dreamed that minnesota would get a great qb one day... now that the day is upon us, i think its a little coincidental that its Favre AFTER his prime haha. The only reason that minnesota wants favre is that they want to win NOW! and develop their immature quarterbacks for their time in the sun. As far as the question of who's better... I agree with B-Dub... Vick is a douche, he belongs in Europe
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B-Dub. Let me clarify my statement for you. I mean "made the league" as in made it into the NFL. I know that they did not "make the league" as in building it you dope.
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STOP MC Hammer Time. Maybe Favre has a losing record in domes is because he was on the VISITING team and the crowds tend to be tough on opposing teams? I'm not the biggest Favre supporter and wish he would just go the hell away already, but compared to Vick there is no question. I mean, am I the only one who is seeing the statistics I laid out? Somebody contact the editors at Playerpress, because something is wrong with the website.
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eagles707, no I never played professional football so I guess I'll never be an "expert" on football like Michael Ircvin, Emmitt Smith or Deon Sanders. Oh the shame. As for "Vick and McNabb made the league", you need to step away from the keyboard and go find a friggin clue. McNabb and Vick aren't even the best QBs of their generation you Dope. Why not leave the adults alone to discuss sports and you go Google names like Montana, Marino, Johhny U, Terry BRadshaw. THOSE are QBs who MADE the league.
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I can't stand Favre. But every time I think I'd perfer Vick, I remember the horror years with the Falcons. He was no good and everyone thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. But I'm sick of Favre too. My solution: Send them to sea on a raft where nobody will see or hear from them for a loooooong time.
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Poor Niners! I hope Singletary does well but I agree with you 100%. They have got to do something about Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. As for Farve and Vick, we all know and love Brett! He was and still is a stud in my book, but I still have to go with Vick simply because of the youth and athleticism. Not to mention, Vick should have something to prove after being a complete dumbass and blowing his life on dog fighting! I think his passing is underrated and as receiver I like the zip that he puts on his throws. Like McNabb though, he hasn't had the best class of receivers. :-) I think he would be a great pickup for the Niners, but my hopes are that he goes to a team somewhere in the AFC.
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Even if Favre goes to the Vikings, and it WOULD be an upgrade at the QB position there, he sucks in domes (by my calculations, he is 17-29 in domes throughout his career in reg season, and 1-4 in playoffs indoors), and he will have to play 8 games in one... Yes he'll have AP, but what else? Berrian? LOL, please... As for Vick, if you mean who is the better signee at the QB position, it's Favre, but if you are talking in general, Vick. His athleticism is much more valuable to a team than an over-the-hill risk taker. Stick Vick in the backfield, in the slot, even at QB for a few snaps, just to keep a defense honest. It's not like he was the WORST QB in the league, just not a good thrower. Yes, he'll probably be out of shape and need some work, but as much as I love Favre, I'd rather have Vick. Two QBs in the backfield can't be a bad thing. It could be a new variation of the wildcat. Too bad my Niners won't get either... Alex Smith and Shaun Hill are much better. (Did you get the trace amount of sarcasm there?)
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Losers like Vick and McNabb made the league. Did you? No! So sit behind your machine and do what you do best. Type! You riding TO's balls shows how much you know about football. And I have a serious feeling that you have never played in your life. The only reason that McNabb doesn't have a superbowl yet is because the Eagles front office. Good news though. Plax's agent is trying to get him signed to a new team. Lol.
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Someone please make sure this gets into Daniel Snyder's hands - he is always first in line to overpay for an overrated player from 5 years ago. Good defensive coordinators simply schemed to take away Vick's legs and make him beat you with his arm. Jim Johnson did this in the Falcons-Eagles NFC title game a few years back - shutting him down almost entirely. All you have to do for Favre is make sure you have a pass rusher who is friendly with Favre who is approaching a sack record - Favre will make sure to give him a couple of gimme sacks. I have never seen a free pass like the one Favre got when he decided he would rather have Strahan have the record than Gastineau. Favre is a douchebag but a legit Hall of Famer otherwise.
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Not surprised that eagles707 would want Vick. It just shows how little he knows about football. Yeah, don't let a little thing like the facts get in your way eagles707. You just keep backing losers like Vick and McNabb.
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Vick!