Talking NFL

This week Sports Illustrated released the name of their annual Sportsman of the Year, and for the 2nd time in the last 3 years the award was given to a football player (woo-yah!).

In 2005, it was Tom Brady.  This time around, it’s 16-year veteran and Green Bay Packer icon Brett Favre who claims the honor.  A quick excerpt from the SI.com article explaining their choice (a must read for all Packers fans, like reader Cherie who writes for 451 Press’s Watching Private Practice):

When Favre decided to return for the 2007 season, even die-hard Cheeseheads must have been hoping only that he would not tarnish his legacy. What no one expected was that Favre would reinvent himself yet again, enjoying one of his best years at age 38 while cajoling a talented but callow team to a stunning 10-2 record. Along the way he passed two significant milestones for quarterbacks, overtaking Dan Marino atop the alltime list in touchdown passes (436 at week’s end) and victories by a starter (157). He trails Marino by 449 in passing yards, another mark that should soon fall.

But one record above all others speaks to what Favre is made of: his Ripkenesque streak of consecutive starts at quarterback, which stands at 249 — more than five seasons ahead of the next player on the list, Peyton Manning.

It is for his perseverance and his passion that SI honors Favre with the 54th Sportsman of the Year award.

The annual Sportsman of the Year selection always bring with it a great deal of debate and discussion after the fact.  However, it’s nearly impossible to argue with this year’s choice.  Take into consideration Favre’s lengthy career, the records he’s now breaking at age 38, the Packers 10-2 record, and the personal hardships he’s overcome, and it’s hard not to admire him, regardless of whether or not you’re a Packers fan.

However, there are certainly other figures in the NFL worthy of recognition over the past year.  Here’s a short list of other candidates who (in my mind at least) could have been named Sportsman of the Year:

Tony Dungy - Overcame the loss of his son to become the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady - Past winner is having his best season ever as a pro & the Patriots still haven’t lost a game (regardless of just how close they came to losing in Baltimore!).

LaDainian Tomlinson - Shattered record for most rushing TD’s in a season last year, and just reached 10,000 career rushing yards plateau.

Roger Goodell - NFL Tyrant Commissioner has certainly impacted the league with his new NFL Personal Conduct Policy and handed out tough punishments to players and teams alike.

Randy Moss - Given up for dead in Oakland, has resurrected his career in New England and leads the league with 17 receiving TD’s.

Peyton Manning - As much as it pains me to write this, Peyton did bring home a title this year.  You could also argue that he’s done more with less this season that ever before in his career.

Michael Vick - For all the wrong reasons.

Anyone else you would have nominated? Let us know in the comments below…

(AP Photo/Sports Illustrated)

SI, Sportsman of the Year, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers