Guest article by Deesto

Brett Favre’s football heroics are well-documented, legendary, and numerous.  And with the 2008 NFL season, Favre looks to relocate the ending of his storied career to a new town: by bringing Favre to New York, the Jets hope to build their own tradition to rival that of Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

In the move to New York, Favre replaces incumbent Jets’ quarterback Chad Pennington, who, despite successful seasons, playoff appearances, and an all-time leading completion percentage with a mediocre team, was expected to battle Kellen Clemens once again for the Jets’ starting job.  In a concerted effort to prevent the repeat of a miserable 2007 performance by the offensive line, the Jets made three key signings at guard and tackle during the off-season, which would benefit any quarterback.  With Favre’s arrival, the Jets went immediately from a future-forward, building approach, to “the future is now” mode, and saw no need to carry two stellar quarterbacks.  Pennington was cut by the Jets and immediately signed by the Miami Dolphins, who are looking to rebuild after a dismal 2007 season.

One can make a strong and almost irrefutable argument for Favre as the greatest quarterback in NFL history; he is a 13-time Pro Bowl player, three times 1st team All-Pro, and three times NFL MVP.  While Favre’s statistics are legendary in their own right, he may be best-known for his durability and arm strength, and possibly even more so for his performance in playoff games. Most notably in a Super Bowl win in 1997, and in a losing effort the following year against another legendary quarterback: John Elway.  Favre’s success and durability are currently second to none: he has started in more regular season games, and played in more playoff games, than any active player.

Favre’s career passing statistics are equally amazing and not to be overlooked; he holds the career records for passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. On the flip side; he has also thrown more interceptions than anyone in history, and is first overall amongst active players in times sacked, sacked yards lost, and fumbles.

In sharp contrast to Favre’s accomplishments and reputation, Pennington’s down-sides are cited to be a tendency for injury and a lack of strength in his throwing arm.  Compared to Favre, whose playing endurance is second to none and who has never missed an NFL start due to injury in his 18 seasons, Pennington’s relatively brief record of service is pale in comparison. He has missed games due to injury in three out of his six seasons as a starter.  However, this says nothing of his resolve and sheer will to compete; after two distinct surgeries on his throwing shoulder in 2005, Pennington won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006, starting all 16 games for the Jets and leading them to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.  In the Jets’ opening game in 2007, two ligaments in Pennington’s right ankle were torn, and yet he played through the season without missing a game due to injury.

Meanwhile, the knock on Pennington’s throwing arm is something of a misnomer, even after his enduring two surgical repairs on the same shoulder.  On passing attempts longer than 20 yards over the past four seasons, Pennington’s stats on completions, touchdown percentage, interception percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating are all better than Favre’s. [1] And even in 2008, his 8.0 yards per passing attempt through Week five are fourth best in the NFL and the best average of his career to date; at 7.2 yards per attempt, Favre does not rank in the top 10 players in this category.  In this same category of yards per attempt during the scope of their careers, Favre ranks 79th all-time, and Pennington ranks 54th.  Of course, Pennington’s passing accuracy is beyond legendary; his career 65.8% completion ratio is the best mark of any quarterback in the history of the NFL.

Ironically, the Jets and Dolphins were scheduled to face off in the first week of the 2008 season.  While Pennington’s numbers in the game outshone those of Favre, even withstanding two bombs by Favre for touchdowns, Favre’s supporting cast outmatched that of the Dolphins, and the Jets won by a pair of field goals.  Still, Favre watched helplessly from the sidelines during much of the second half, while Pennington led the Dolphins just short of a dramatic comeback victory, thwarted in the game’s waning moments by a Jets’ interception in the corner of the end zone.

Despite his immense success, some of Favre’s rookie cards can be had quite inexpensively, including his 1991 Pacific #551 ($6), Pro Set #762 ($5), Score #611 ($4), Ultra #283 ($10), and Upper Deck #13 ($15).  That is not to say that there aren’t any premium Favre rookie cards: his 1991 Ultra Update #1 ($35) and Stadium Club #94 ($100) are rare yet still relatively affordable.  Amongst Favre’s priciest cards are his certified autographs, including his 1997 Skybox Autographics Century Marks ($400), 2005 Score Golden Anniversary Stars Autographs #ASBF ($350), and 2006 Upper Deck Hot Prospects Endorsements Dual #EF ($400), which is also co-signed by the above-mentioned Elway.  Favre’s and Elway’s signatures are also featured, along with that of Dan Marino, on the 2006 Topps Triple Threads Autographed Relic Combos #8 ($600).  Packers fans and history buffs might flip for 2000 Donruss Elite Passing the Torch Autographs #PT16 ($400), or the 2005 Leaf Limited Material Monikers #27 ($400, serial numbered to 25), both of which feature both Favre and Green Bay legend Bart Starr.

While Pennington’s career is still relatively short, and his hobby value just blossoming in comparison to Favre’s, his rookie cards range quite differently in value, variety, and availability, spanning from the inexpensive 2000 Impact #142 ($2) and Press Pass #5 ($2), to his pricey 2000 Bowman Chrome #173 ($250), SP Authentic #124 ($225), UD Graded #158 ($200), and SPX #136  autograph jersey ($150), to the sublime 2000 Collector’s Edge Supreme Jersey Backs insert #GG8 ($400).  Some of Pennington’s certified autographed cards also demand a premium, including his 2000 Bowman Rookie Autographs #173 ($250), 2000 Ultra Game Jersey Autographs #CP-A ($200), and 2001 Donruss Passing the Torch Autographs #24, which also features former Jets legend Joe Namath ($300).

Sources:

Tuff Stuff 2008 6-Sport Price Guide Annual

[1]: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-2-47/Chad-better-than-Brett-on-long-balls.html