Before you start typing remarks about how I’m going off topic and why the NFL won’t match college sports, hear me out.

I’m fully aware that the subject matter is somewhat out of the ordinary. I know that college sports have that unique sense of brotherhood and competitiveness that the pros find lacking. I even know that my post might be a bit overdue.

But in the aftershock of yesterday’s press conference, something must be said for one of the greatest athletes, ambassadors, and competitors that the sport has ever known. There never has been, and likely never will be, another football player with that exact same sense of playful glee that #4 embodied in 17 seasons of a distinguished NFL career.

Ironically, growing up in a family full of Bears fans, we’re not supposed to have warm fuzzy feelings for the Mississippean. For years, he quarterbacked Chicago’s greatest rival. And yet, we needed him. He put a face to the rivalry, one that wasn’t seen since the days of Bart Starr. Even former Gator Rex Grossman admitted that Favre was a role model in his career.

Besides, he inadvertently became a UF hero in college. In Florida State’s 1989 season opener, he quarterbacked the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to a monumental 30-26 upset, including the game-winning touchdown drive.

Bear in mind, FSU was perenially in contention for the national championship every year. They churned out NFL talent year after year, including Super Bowl winner and future first-ballot HOFer Barry Sanders. Their rivalry with Miami was the highlight game of the year for the state.

The next week, the ‘Noles would lose to Clemson but would win their final ten games to finish 10-2. Who knows what horrible destiny might have befallen the Gators if their archrivals won the game and the 1989 national championship? Oh, the horror!

Favre never faced the Gators in his college career, although Florida would win a game in ‘92 against SMU; by then, Favre was traded to Green Bay and began his incredible streak of career starts.

As for ranking him amongst legendary quarterbacks, I insist that there be a clear-cut definition of greatness before we blindly rank number one through number five or ten or whatever. But anyone who starts 275 regular-season and playoff games, throws 442 touchdown passes, and accumulates over 60,000 career passing yards and 5,700 completions gets a high vote in my book.

In fact, he lands in my top 5. But he’s right behind Grossman, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow.

Gotcha there, didn’t I? At least Favre’s smiling.