DALLAS _ Reaction was sometimes harsh and swift when it was learned Monday that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre's amazing streak of starting 297 consecutive NFL games has ended.
"Who cares? Who cares? Who cares about Brett Favre,'' Milwaukee Bucks forward Brian Skinner said while laughing prior to Monday's 103-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks. "Get over it.''
Favre was inactive for Monday's game against the New York Giants with an injury to his right shoulder, and it's not clear whether he'll ever play in the NFL again. But it is clear that the streak he put together was one of the most incredible feats in any sport.
"He''s had a great career,'' Dallas Mavericks guard Jose Barea said. "(The streak) was going to end at some point, and he did a great job. But he's human.'''
Favre has been injured so many times recently that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban knew it was just a matter of time before the streak would come to a screeching halt.
"All good things must come to an end,'' Cuban said. "But Brett Favre is a tough player.
"He's 41 years old. Are you kidding me? Getting thrown around like that. He's got to be a beast.''
Mavericks forward Brian Cardinal admires the fact that Favre was able to find a way to suit up and be in the starting lineup for nearly 300 straight games, beginning back in 1992.
"Just to be able to play for that many games in a row is something else,'' Cardinal said. "But we've been thinking it was going to come to an end the last couple of years when he was retired.''
When asked whether he could have started that many NFL games in a row, Cardinal said: 'I'd 'love to say yes, but realistically not many people could do that. It's amazing they stay healthy in that sport, especially for as long as he has.''
Barea said because of the physical nature of football he also didn't know if he could be in the starting lineup for 297 consecutive games.
"You have to be tough, you have to take care of your body and you've got to play hurt, so I give him a lot of credit,'' Barea said of Favre. "I think I can do it. Not in football, though.''
-- Dwain Price
Comments