Brett Favre: The Greatest Black Quarterback of All Time

So I'm hearing all of this talk about Brett Favre, not only about his status as a living legend, but also about his flaws as a NFL quarterback. He's got some gaudy stats and a Super Bowl win to his credit, but many of the naysayers are clowning him for a career chock full of gunslinging and good fortune; most of which only paid off consistently for about a three-to-five year period.

But when you think about everything that Brett Favre's legacy is made of, the good and the bad, you might come to a conclusion that you wouldn't have expected. Everything that makes Brett Favre a notable and beloved quarterback are the exact qualities that have created a stereotype around black quarterbacks and hindered them from widespread acceptance. From the risk-taking, to the undeniable physical tools, to the questionable leadership qualities, let's just go ahead and make it plain;

Brett Favre is the greatest black quarterback of all time.

There's not much that physically separates Favre from countless other black quarterbacks who have come and gone over the course of his NFL tenure. They shared limitless potential; entrance into the league with cannon arms, quick feet and a knack for making plays. Favre's southern upbringing, inherent toughness and "aww shucks" media persona is not glaringly different from some of the best brothers granted the chance to line up under center.

I won't say racism positioned Favre to excel, because he had to be talented enough to win a Super Bowl and set numerous NFL records. But I will say that race had a lot to do with the patience shown by Mike Holmgren and the Green Bay Packers organization in his early years as a player. Patience that many black quarterbacks did not receive because all of the things that endeared Favre to coaches, players and media, were negative traits when possessed by black QBs.

You can see it in how long it took Favre to become a starter for one of the NFL's flagship franchises. You can see it in his being named to the 1993 Pro Bowl, a Pro Bowl that also boasted Warren Moon as an honoree, who just happened to be the third-leading passer in the league that year.