Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Mark Craig: A diva double standard 
Taking shots at attention seekers like Terrell Owens is common, but what about Brett Favre? Why does he get a pass?

By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune
Last update: September 12, 2010 - 9:39 AM

Terrell Owens is right. There is a double standard when it comes to the way the media in general treat Brett Favre as compared to other NFL divas.

I'm not sure why that is. Perhaps it's because divas such as T.O. and Chad Ochocinco are loud, obnoxious and act like juvenile jackasses for the nearest camera. Favre is every bit the diva they are, and more, but he gets many a free pass probably because he's quiet, southernly subtle in his arrogance and uses the cameras to enhance his image as the ultimate NFL warrior.

That doesn't make it right. That doesn't make it fair. And Owens shouldn't be criticized for pointing it out while he and Ochocinco were on "The Daily Line" on Versus.

Speaking specifically about Favre's decision to skip training camp the past two or three years, T.O. said, "Had it been one of us doing some of the same things, pulling these stunts that Brett Favre has done the last two or three years, then we would be labeled 'not a team player,' 'selfish' ... he's set himself above team standards."

He's right.

I've defended T.O. in recent years. I always felt everything he did was blown out of proportion because he isn't liked by ESPN's army of analysts. When T.O. was in Dallas, ESPN crushed him on a daily basis, essentially blaming him for everything but the Kennedy assassination. And let's face it, in today's world, too many fans don't or can't form an opinion until ESPN gives it to them.

On the other hand, ESPN loves it some 24/7 Favre. But in fairness, I've also defended Favre's late arrival and the Vikings' decision to let it happen. My argument, right or wrong, was there's simply no precedent to follow when dealing with a quarterback who is this old, this good, this indecisive and isn't backed up by Aaron Rodgers.

That doesn't mean Favre hasn't been selfish. He's been the most selfish player in the league the past two years.

Last year, the Vikings were fortunate that Favre's selfishness didn't cost them in the loss column. That changed in Thursday night's season opener in New Orleans. Favre was unprepared and the opponent wasn't from Cleveland. So the Vikings lost to the Saints 14-9 on a night when all facets were good enough to win except Favre and the passing game.

Favre will get up to speed with his receivers in time. The question is: Can the Vikings' hopes of winning the NFC North afford him that time?

The next two games are at home against Miami and Detroit. The Dolphins and Lions are improved, but the Vikings should be able to win with physical play at home.

That would send them into their bye at 2-1. In the past, coach Brad Childress has given his players the bye week off. He'd be nuts to do that this year. This team needs the extra week of practice because it comes out of the bye with a trip to New York to play the Jets on Monday night.

If you think the Saints made Favre look out of sync on national TV, wait and see what Rex Ryan, Darrelle Revis, Kris Jenkins and the Jets do to him if he's not up to speed by Oct. 11.


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Formo
14 years ago
Wait.. Doesn't Favre already have the rep for the past 3 years as being NOT a team player?

There is no double standard because Owens, barring an unbelieveable resurrgence of his career, will never be in the HoF (and I don't think he should.. he's overhyped at best), and didn't put the 17-19 years into the NFL that Favre has/had.

Not to mention Favre doesn't need to work on his speed, cuts and routes.
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zombieslayer
14 years ago
I'll skip the content of the post because I'm simply tired of it.

As for TO not making it to the Hall, he will. And he'll more than likely make it first ballot.

Randy Moss is the only active WR right now with a better career than TO, like it or not. TO's career stats have been exceptional. He's been First Team All-Pro 5 times, to the Pro Bowl 6 times, is 3rd All-Time in Receiving Yards behind only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss, and 3rd All-Time in Receiving TDs with 144 TDs, behind those same 2 players. 3 times, he led the NFL in Receiving TDs. 9 times, he got over 1000 yards receiving.

No way he doesn't make the Hall of Fame, despite being a jackass and a fool. I'll always have that image of him crying on national TV with his sunglasses on saying "he's my Quarterback. He's my Quarterback." But personality issues aside, he's been an elite WR for most of his long career.

I would love to have him on the Packers for a single year. Not more than one though because it seems like his second year with any team, he slowly evolves into a locker room cancer.
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Zero2Cool
14 years ago
There clearly is a double standard. If Chad or Randy or even Terrell were to do the things Brett did, they would be blasted equally as much as Favre is praised.

There's no way to deny that. No one is above the "team" and when you think someone is, you need to check ya self!

But he's fun to watch. 🙂
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14 years ago
I do not think Terrell Owens is as disruptive as advertised.

Hear me out -

Last season, reporters were trying to bait him into talking smack about an aspect of the Bills (Can't remember if it was Trent Edwards or the Playcalling), but he carefully played himself out of the situation and bit his tongue.

I am not saying that he isn't a negative influence on a team, I am saying that due to past offenses he has a big "bait me" target on him. As long as papers sell and internet websites are suscribed to/visited, redemption is a distant second.

In this case, he was correct. I don't give a squat if it's Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, Bart Starr - team activities and TRAINING must be vehemently observed.
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ILikeThePackers39
14 years ago
I can't imagine this is at all in question. Take Favre's situation this offseason and swap in T.O., Moss, or O'Cinco - they'd be crucified 10 times over. Favre does it and everyone shrugs and says "Oh, Brett."

I won't go into whether he's earned the double standard - he may have. But if the question is whether there is a double standard, duh. Of course there is.
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djcubez
14 years ago
One of my favorite parts of this article is the ESPN aspect. ESPN controls the minds of a lot of sports-watchers especially when they cover teams that are out of a viewers respective market. For some reason they are seen as an elite authority on all-sports despite the fact that there's plenty of better writers and analysts out there.

ESPN does love them some Favre. Madden loved him some Favre. Favre was once called "America's Quarterback" (it's the title of a book). Favre is also quite subtle. A lot of the "bad" things he did on the Packers I had never heard about until the last few seasons. When it's Terrell Owens doing that it's always the first thing to hit the papers.

In all honesty though TO and Ocho don't bother me. Sure they're cocky and arrogant but they're not classless. When has either of these guys done something sketchy in their life outside of football? Ocho doesn't even drink alcohol. Favre had problems alcohol and painkillers. It's quite the double standard. Hell even Marvin Harrison has been questioned by the police for a shady shooting involving his gun.

It's interesting that TO brought up race. While it can be a factor (when is subconscious racism not a factor?) it's not as big as TO is making it.

What I'm interested in is whether or not the position they both play makes a difference. What do you guys think?
Formo
14 years ago
Well, considering Rice missed camp this year.. He didn't get crucified by the media.

OMFG DOUBLE STANDARD!

Harvin missed all but like 4 practices this year.. He didn't get crucified by the media.

OMFG DOUBLE STANDARD!
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Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Someone has a hard time being rational on this subject. Suppose, we'd probably just as douche'ery if he was still on our team doing the same retire/unretire stuff. Wait ....
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Formo
14 years ago
No. I just don't think it's a double standard because of the circumstances at hand.

Theory: Favre being at camp (whether his shoulder or ankle is healthy or not) shortens his season. If the goal is to play 19 games, then giving your 41 year old grandfather of a QB a break by not enforcing training camp attendance is a very realistic option.

When T.O. skipped camp, he was in his prime. Was (and is) far more athletic and is younger than Favre. Training camp would have NOT taken the toll on T.O's body as it would on Favre's.

Again, it's all about circumstance. This isn't high school or college ball.
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