Saturday, September 6, 2008

Saturday Commentary: Brett Favre the Captain

Brett Favre, before playing in an actual game for the New York Jets, has been named the captain for the team. He says that he has not earned it. Sports commentators that I have heard say he should be captain because who else on the team should get it. Favre is their best player. It should be noted that the players voted on this, and the last captain, Chad Pennington, was released when Favre came in. Since this is my blog, here is what I think.

I agree with Favre in that he has not earned the title of captain. Simply put, he has not had time to do anything. He has only been with the team for around a month. I have not looked at the Jets roster, but I am pretty certain that someone on the roster has been with the team longer than Favre has. Surely, someone else has leadership ability. But of course, the players did vote for this. I just find it very self-depricating.

I completely disagree that the best player on the team should be captain. Yes, in many instances the best player on the team is the leader in the clubhouse, and therefore the captain, but this does not have to be the case. Jason Veritek is the captain of the Boston Red Sox, but he is not their best player. However, he is the leader of the team. It takes the respect of the team and ability to lead to be captain, not skill on the playing field.

I would not call it wrong that Favre is the captain, just not entirely right. I am sure Favre has the respect of the Jets players from his time in the league, but this does seem like more of a marketing decision.

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