Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- It was only a few weeks ago when some blogger hack was questioning whether Brett Favre could still throw a 60-yard deep ball. At that point, it wasn’t clear how offseason biceps tendon surgery -- and the discovery of a partially-torn rotator cuff -- had impacted his arm strength.
Sunday afternoon, Favre settled that issue once and for all. His 58-yard fourth-quarter pass to receiver Sidney Rice traveled, yes, 60 yards in the air. Based on what I saw on the television replay, Favre released the ball at the Vikings’ 22-yard line and Rice caught it in stride at Baltimore’s 18.
Speaking Wednesday about that play, Favre admitted he didn’t know he could still make that throw.
“I was willing to take that chance,” Favre said. “After I threw it I was kind of like, ‘Whew, alright.’”
Favre reiterated that he was “really concerned” this summer when Dr. James Andrews informed him of the tear in his rotator cuff. The injury apparently occurred several years ago, and Andrews suggested Favre stand pat rather than repair it. Favre said Wednesday that he has felt neither pain nor discomfort from an injury that probably sounds worse than it actually is.
I asked Favre how he is treating his arm -- extra rehabilitation, strengthening exercises -- and he laughed.
“I ice when I feel like I need to,” he said. “When is the last time I iced? I couldn’t tell you. I’ve been pretty blessed. The good Lord has blessed me with a great arm and an ability to make some plays, but I should probably take better care [of it]. I say that, but it’s been 19 years. If it hurts, I take care of it. I’ve played the game a certain way and just been very fortunate.”
After a checkdown-fest the first two weeks of the season, Favre has been as effective a downfield thrower as any quarterback in the NFL. He’s tied for third in the league with nine passes of 30 or more yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and ranks 10th with an average attempt of 7.6 yards.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- It was only a few weeks ago when some blogger hack was questioning whether Brett Favre could still throw a 60-yard deep ball. At that point, it wasn’t clear how offseason biceps tendon surgery -- and the discovery of a partially-torn rotator cuff -- had impacted his arm strength.
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| Bruce Kluckhohn/US Presswire | |
| Brett Favre has shown he still has the arm strength to throw the ball downfield. |
Sunday afternoon, Favre settled that issue once and for all. His 58-yard fourth-quarter pass to receiver Sidney Rice traveled, yes, 60 yards in the air. Based on what I saw on the television replay, Favre released the ball at the Vikings’ 22-yard line and Rice caught it in stride at Baltimore’s 18.
Speaking Wednesday about that play, Favre admitted he didn’t know he could still make that throw.
“I was willing to take that chance,” Favre said. “After I threw it I was kind of like, ‘Whew, alright.’”
Favre reiterated that he was “really concerned” this summer when Dr. James Andrews informed him of the tear in his rotator cuff. The injury apparently occurred several years ago, and Andrews suggested Favre stand pat rather than repair it. Favre said Wednesday that he has felt neither pain nor discomfort from an injury that probably sounds worse than it actually is.
I asked Favre how he is treating his arm -- extra rehabilitation, strengthening exercises -- and he laughed.
“I ice when I feel like I need to,” he said. “When is the last time I iced? I couldn’t tell you. I’ve been pretty blessed. The good Lord has blessed me with a great arm and an ability to make some plays, but I should probably take better care [of it]. I say that, but it’s been 19 years. If it hurts, I take care of it. I’ve played the game a certain way and just been very fortunate.”
After a checkdown-fest the first two weeks of the season, Favre has been as effective a downfield thrower as any quarterback in the NFL. He’s tied for third in the league with nine passes of 30 or more yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and ranks 10th with an average attempt of 7.6 yards.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.