Or so Thomas Jones of the New York Jets would have you believe. Jones, and other members of Favre’s new team, blasted the 39 year old quarterback in the media earlier in the week. One player, who did not have the courage to give his name, said Favre was distant and the reason that the Jets did not make the playoffs. “There was a lot of resentment in the room about him. He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone. It’s the quarterback throwing the ball all over the place. And he didn’t suffer any repercussions. He kept doing it. People said [coach] Eric [Mangini] called him out in meetings. I didn’t see it. Eric treated him like he was Brett Favre. A lot of guys didn’t like it,” the anonymous player told the Newark Star Ledger.

In the last game of the NFL season Favre threw three interceptions in a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The loss sealed another playoff-less season for the Jets. After a win over the then undefeated Tennessee Titans in week 12 the Jets were 8-3 and considered by many the team to beat in the AFC. From that point on they went 1-4 and Favre played poorly down the stretch. While team owner Woody Johnson wants Favre back for next season, he fired Head Coach Eric Mangini, once labeled Manginius, earlier in the week.

Brett Favre has always been labeled a “gunslinger”, a quarterback who took big risks that led to more big rewards than big mistakes. He is the league’s only 3-time MVP and holds all the major records for quarterbacks. The player he replaced this year, Chad Pennington, won the comeback player of the year award and led his team to the playoffs. But, Favre took a team that finished last season 4-12 and brought them to the brink of the postseason. It was his risky play that elevated the team, and while it backfired later in the season, it was the reason that New York was so close to the playoffs. His teamates should remember where they were a year ago and be grateful that Favre has made their team competitve once again.

It was the second coldest Bears home game in the past 50 years - the frozen condensation on my face-mask confirmed that it would be a chilly victory for the Chicago Bears. The Bears gradually came out of their hibernation to defeat the Packers (20-17) with a Robbie Gould field goal in overtime. Sadly, this was the final Monday Night Football game of the season. It was truly exciting: blood froze quickly after hitting the cold Chicago dirt.

Mason Crosby’s field goal blunder cost the Packers their win. Alex Brown appeared out of nowhere and deflected the end-zone rocket headed for the south end at the end of regulation. Earlier, Matt Forte blasted through to the end zone and delicately placed the ball in touchdown territory to tie the game at 17. Half his body was covered in Packer slime while his upper torso pushed the ball in for the TD.

Overtime possession went to the Bears with lucky George Washington facing the sky. Like the players on the field, Packers and Bears fans did not mesh well together. The ice made it doubly frustrating and Soldier Field’s total disregard for patron safety (not one single heater in the entire building) made the game difficult to bear. In the bathroom, with the frozen urine pipes, was one of the only areas of the stadium that was warm. The Chicago Park districts need to pay better attention to the safety of their users, especially when on such a big stage.

The New York Jets have gone from the darlings of the league, and the popular AFC pick to go to the Super Bowl, to fighting to make the playoffs. Although they won their last game, they had lost the two preceding, and quarterback Brett Favre played poorly in all three. Always known for his strong, rocket arm, Favre blamed the recent setbacks on it having lost some strength.

After retiring and then returning to play each of the last two seasons, Favre has little credibility left. Nothing he says is taken at face value anymore and he is seen as playing a perpetual mind game with the media and opponents. Denying his strong arm means that it is stronger than ever. Even Favre realized this, “I knew when I left that podium there, ‘Oh, here we go, Old Favre,’” he said.

Always a fierce competitor, there is a high possibility he was looking for an advantage with his comments, but no possibility that anyone is falling for them. When the discussion later turned to his retirement, Favre offered up more of the same. Favre has not only been consistent in the media, but also on the field. Even while leading the NFL in interceptions, he has sparked the Jets to an incredible turn around and made the Pro Bowl. His big risks have led to big rewards more often than big setbacks. He has continued to play with that spark that has ignited a team that was burned out a year ago.