USA Today Needs to Rethink 14th Place Ranking of Favre

Today, just for the heck of it, I read the USA Today and learned they were compiling a list of the top 25 NFL players in the past 25 years. And, by coincidence, today was the day they announced Packers quarterback Brett Favre at number 14.

USA Today has not released the rest of the list yet and I don't know who they have ranked in the top 13 but that doesn't matter. The fact he is not in the top 5 or even the top 10 is not only a slap in the face to Packers' fans, it's an insult to all football fans.

Let's start with the facts USA used to make their case. In 1992, Favre took over for an injured Don Majkowski and has not relinquished the starting role ever since. More importantly, he hasn't missed a game in 237 consecutive starts. Ron Jaworski was the former record holder with 116 and, if Favre would have retired following the 2006 season, Peyton Manning, currently second in this category among active quarterbacks, would have to play every game between the start of the 2007 season through the 14^th game of the 2013 season to break it. And, the fact Manning is already 31 and Favre is returning for yet another year means that record may never be broken.

Barring an unexpected injury, by the end of next season, Favre should hold almost every major NFL passing record. This includes most touchdown passes, most wins, most career completions, most seasons with 20 or more touchdown passes and possibly most passing yards. He also remains the only three-time league MVP.