The recent comments from Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton regarding retired (for now) quarterback Brett Favre sparked an intriguing side battle between Tarkenton and former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley.
Wiley played the "grumpy old man" card on Tarkenton, and then Tarkenton looked down his nose at Wiley's "minimal playing career."
On Friday, Wiley talked about Tarkenton's comments regarding Favre on 790 The Zone in Atlanta (via SportsRadioInterviews.com), the radio station that sparked this mess earlier in the week.
Wiley explained that his beef with Tarkenton's comments is that Tarkenton violated some vague code that prohibits former players from wanting current players to fail.
"As I took Fran comments, I had no problem with him having a public opinion about Brett Favre coming back or not," Wiley said. "I have the same division between should he come back or not as well. I think most people have an opinion towards that. When you say, ‘OK, come back and fail,' hold on now, Fran. You’re part of the fraternity, the special fraternity of guys who played in the NFL, and one of the rules in the code of conduct is you don’t want another guy to fail.
"You want a guy to give you his best and you give your best and you just hope your best is better than his. To want a guy to fail, and I went back to my mental Rolodex through time and I’ve never heard another guy say that, and it was unfortunate because [he's] a Hall of Famer, and you come into this game respecting those guys who are in Canton. You respect the guys who played the game and paved the road for you, and for one of them to come out and say, hey, why you’re battling one of the toughest decisions in your life which is to retire or not retire, you say I want you to come and fail, I mean that was very unfortunate and I think that was underneath what Fran Tarkenton really is."
Wiley also explained his use of the term "grumpy old man" in describing Tarkenton's remarks. "[W]ho says that?" Wiley said. "I mean the next statement out of someone’s mouth like that is ‘Hey, get off my lawn and leave me alone.'”
If Fran has anything more to say about this, we'd love to know whether he agrees that there's a code of conduct that prohibits former NFL players from rooting for current football players to fail. Frankly, we'd love to know whether any other NFL player agrees with the notion that it's impermissible for a former player to say that he wants to see a current player fail.
It could be that Wiley is simply applying his own twist to the loose rules of the "jockocracy," which generally prevents former athletes who have jobs in television or radio from criticizing the guys who currently are playing the game.
Anyway, we'll shut up for now and await further information as to whether Fran has put his fraternity membership in peril by suggesting that he wants to see Favre unretire and play for the Vikings, so that Favre can fail.
wiley is a twit.
Tell Wiley when he hosts "thats incredible" he can talk.
Can you do a fantasy rankings column? It's almost time.....
Mental rolodex.....Ha Ha......"Dat Dude".....You are just a talking head on NFL live, who if they had their way, would have Favre stories 24/7.....The only fraternity ex or current NFL players have is money.......Don't act like it's some secret society.......
Wait a minute, the "Fraternity" means that former formers cannot call out current players (or recently retired players) ... BUT these rules don't apply to Wiley himself when he calls someone within this definition a "grumpy old man"?
Wiley is an ass clown, how the hell did he get into Columbia?
Prior to this, How long has it been since Fran Tarkentons name was mentioned? It could be that he just wants to see and hear his name being mentioned in the media and is having the last laugh, and then we'll never hear from him again.
Fran is a legend that has earned the right to speak his mind. Whether anyone likes his opinion or not.
"It could be that Wiley is simply applying his own twist to the loose rules of the ”jockocracy,” which generally prevents former athletes who have jobs in television or radio from criticizing the guys who currently are playing the game."
You mean like all of the former players that criticize TO? Including Marcellus Wiley?
If he went to his 'Mental Rolodex', should he have come up with Fran's address?
did Wiley ever hear of the 1972 Dolphins?
they do a pretty damn good job of hoping for failure each and every year a team gets to something like 10-0.
Fran obviously thinks Lord Favre is a me-first media whore....does anyone out there disagree?
if so, where ya been the last 10 years, he's been "retiring".
Well, he does sound like a grumpy old man. I'll agree with that.
Who the Hell cares if Farve comes back or not? this whole thing is stupid anyway.
If the man wants to play let him play. Big f'n deal!
Super Bowl Victories
Brett Favre-1
Fran Tarkenton-0
Am I the only one who thinks Fran is the douche here. He's a respected man in the NFL community and to say that he hopes Favre will fail is just classless. With that being said, I hope Brett Favre comes out of retirement just so he can fail! Go Pack!
I could give 2 shits what any of these guys has to say. Just because your a hall of famer doesnt mean you know talent or anything ese better then anyone. Most these ex players cant predict nothing and should just be quiet.
Fran IS a "grumpy old man". When all is said and done, he has just as many NFL championships as Wiley and 1 fewer than Favre.
So Fran, if you read this... just shut up. No one that watches the NFL today gives a flying flip what you have to say and the majority of fans probably have NO idea who you are, and when they find out all they see is a 3 time loser.
Common Sense Trophies in the Trophy Cabinet
Tarkenton - 50
Favre- 0
There's only one way to settle this dispute. By duel.
and favre is sure trying to milk the one!
Maybe they can kiss and make up at the next Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon...
What?
Oh, that's right, Marcellus would just be there to snag an interview or perhaps park member's cars.
Super Bowl Victories
Jim Plunkett - 2
Mark Rypien-1
Doug Williams-1
Brad Johnson -1
Jeff Hostetler-1
Trent Dilfer -1
Brett Favre-1
Winning one Super Bowl doesn't mean that much, considering some of the average QBs who won just 1 ring. Either way, Favre has been overrated for a long time.
All men are "Grumpy Old Men" who criticize Lord Farve.......
I dont know about NFL codes of conduct. There is nothing wrong with having an oppinion. Fran has every right to express his oppinion. I agree that it seems kind tactless to wish failure on someone else. But if everything that everyone said was politically correct..it would make fore some rather boring soundbites.
Wiley was faster than speeding building, and able to leap a tall bullet in a single bound.
Wiley, as usual, shows that he's a pretty smart guy. One of the best ex-jock NFL analysts around.
I think he makes a good point with the distinction between criticizing a guy's actions and outright wanting to see a fellow player fail. Not cool at all, Fran.
marcellus wiley...its too bad what happened to him in pulp fiction. he is lucky bruce willis came back and saved his ass. literally.
Fran is like that relative everyone has at a family reunion that have you nervous everytime he opens his mouth.
I will never understand people who just post Super Bowl wins for QB's to show who is better. People call football the ultimate team sport, then go ahead and rate QB's based on SB's without considering statistics. Eli Manning has won 1 SB, but does anyone really think he is a better QB than someone like Philip Rivers, who has 0? (This is coming from a Bronco fan).
The QB is the most important position on the field, but that doesn't mean it's the only one.
Fran Tarkenton is still alive?
Didn't Jim Brown want Franco Harris to fail to reach his yardage record?
I'm pretty sure there have been a lot of former players that have wanted others to fail.
If Super Bowl wins bring rank to players, There are whole lot of retired players that should be on TV a hell of a lot and THEY should be the ones serving the verbal blasts and NO ONE else. No Viking player, HOF or not, would ever be allowed to say anything to anyone about sports, is that what you mean, and Favre, because he won one, outranks everybody that hasn't won any. Jim Brown doesn't have any, nor Dan Marino, or Chris Collinsworth, or, or, or. The list gets pretty long. Joe Montana and Steve Young would be owners of ESPN and Commissioner of the NFL, respectively. Jerry Rice would lead the Players Union. Steve Marriucci would be barred from TV (is that bad?). John Madden would be a Senator, and Peyton Manning would be Vice-PRESIDENT, Tom Brady would be PRESIDENT.
Elaw6, your logic is silly. Now go eat your cereal before recess.
You know, I have respect for Wiley when he says "You want to give your best and your opponent to give his best and hope his best is better than yours." That's the way the game is supposed to be played.
Rooting for failure is easy. Rooting for the bright things in life is what hope is about, and hope is always good for sports.
I feel sorry for him! He's trying to hang on when he doesn't have It anymore, very sad! Actually, he is not on my list of the 5 greatest QB's of all time! I just hope he comes to his senses, and stays retired! EGO can only take you so far! I think he's just embarrasing himself! That's how I'll remember him , as a broken down QB, who doesn't realize when It's time to quit! I hope he stays retired, but It's assholes like Childress that will make him n offer that he can't refuse, and If he signs with the Vikings, I hope they lose every game! Later............
Tarkenton is just a bitter old man. Wiley is exactly right. Who made Ted Thompson or Fran Tarkenton the arbiter of who can and cannot play in the NFL ? This is first time anyone has mentioned Tarkenton's name since Marino broke all of his records almost 15 years ago. Plus, if he was honest, I'd bet Tarkenton is jealous that Favre could possibly win a Super Bowl in his one seasonwith the Vikings, something he failed miserably at 3 different times, in his 13 years in Minnesota.
Tarkenton bitched about Favre's mistakes, while "conveniently" forgetting that his post-season record of 11 TD's and 17 INT's and 58 QB rating is atrocious, and he was EVEN WORSE in the 3 Super Bowl losses - 1 TD and 6 INT's.
Plus, "magically" Tarkenton has a book coming out in a couple of months. Let's face it, other than the most ardent Viking fan, who has thought of Fran Tarkenton in the past 10-15 years ? No one. Can you imagine the shi-storm if Tarkenton had said something negative about Michael Vick ? And he bred and killed dogs essentially for his own sick pleasures. All Favre has done is the, apparently, unforgivable sin of changing his mind about playing football. Unreal.
Before Tarkenton talks about a guy hanging on too long, perhaps he should look at himself first.
Tark's last 2 years he had 46 Interceptions himself (in just 25 games), so perhaps he shouldn't point fingers. Fran should just shut up.
"Dat dude" was also against the Falcons hiring Mike Smith.
Why are we all such Lemmings??
As Paul Harvey would always say...."And NOW...the Rest of the Story"
Why did Tarkenton call our Brett Favre in such strong language?
He just wrote a BOOK people! It's available for "pre-order" right now!! It's called "Every Day is Game Day" and sells for $24.95.
Fran knows exactly how to get publicity in the sports world. The story that creates the most heat/anger/stories on ESPN and blogs is the Favre story. Fran has a connection being a former Minnesota Viking. He saw an opening and did what he was known for as a QB...He "ran" with it.
He worked "his" magic on all of us. He is now on the tongues/minds of every football fan in America. He has played us all just like he played defenses throughout his career (except for the Super Bowls).
Tarkenton has written 6 Books (profiting on at least 7)
1. "Broken Patterns: The Education of a Quarterback" (1971)
2. "Tarkenton" (1976)
3. "How to Motivate People: The Team Strategy for Success" (1986)
4. "Murder at the Superbowl" (1990)
5. "What Losing Taught Me About Winning: The Ultimate Guide for Success in Small and Home-Based Business" (1999)
6. "Don't Die Broke: How Annuities Can Guarantee Your Income and Keep Your Retirement from Going Belly-Up (Fran wrote the forward to this book that was JUST released and is getting $$ from sales) (APRIL 2009)
7. "Every Day is Game Day" (SEPTEMBER 2009) but..AVAILABLE for Pre-Order right now!!
He played for Georgia in college and currently lives in Georgia.
Has he followed the Vikings through the years since he retired? Well, he has been quoted this very week as saying he has NOT ever actually watched Tavaris Jackson play. So, you tell me....how many True Viking fans have never seen Tavaris Jackson play.
Fran is a business man first and foremost! Is this a bad thing. Absolutely not. He is interested in making a living for his wife and himself. He has done extremely well at this throughout his playing career and his post playing career. (he has done a lot more than simply host a tv show)
But, lets seperate the fact from the fiction. Fran Tarkenton while one of the most beloved Viking Players of all time is simply not an "active-fan" of the Vikings. He only has a surface understanding of the current team/coaches/players.
What Fran Tarkenton is aware of is that there is no such thing as "bad publicity" when it comes to publishing a book. He was going to win no matter which way public opinion fell on his statements. He is a very astute business man! But....does he really care about Brett Favre or the Minnesota Vikings...you make the call now that you know the rest of the story.
The morons that constantly back up every discussion with stupid stats are ruining sports. that means you too ESPN.
Stats have prominance in MLB, becuase it is a long long season, and stats can show performance over time. Baseball is also more of an idividually measureable sport. "Fans" got confused by this addiction to stats in one sprt and when the nerds got ahold of the NFL, it began the demise of the game in my opinion. Unless you are considering career stats like YPC or YAC, stats in football are the most subjective in sports.
I mean, do you actually think you'd all be falling at Jerry Rice's feet if he got drafted by the Bengals and had their QB';s throwing to him?
Grow up sports fans.
The Jimmy says:
May 29th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Didn’t Jim Brown ....
=========================
Jim Brown is another "Grumpy Od Man" (and a biggot to boot) that needs to go sit in a corner and shut his flippin mouth so using him as a comparison isn't really a good idea.
ESPN if loaded with self promoting jag offs who smirk and snort and talk a lot of shit about players who were or are far better players then they ever where in their average careers.
Wiley is not even first team it that lame category but a 2nd tier wannabe.
Give him another year and he will yapping about NutraSystem with the rest of the Booyah clowns and hosting the World Series of Poker.
Hey, Swervinmervinm you forgot one:
Every San Diego Charger Quarterback Ever- 0
Bullshit. There's no "code" indicating you have to want other players to do well. Funny that according to Wiley it's Fran who's the bad guy, and yet he doesn't seem to want to address any other points Tarkenton made about Favre aside from the fact that he wants Favre to fail (as we all do). That's because it's an indefensible position to try and argue in Favre's favor regarding those points............as they are fact.
Wow, Wiley has really gone "low on the totem pole" this time. (Oh wait, that was the really stupid thing he was known for saying *last* season).
Fran Tarkenton is in the Hall of Fame. Anyone challenging him on his credentials should give it up.
I don't feel a need to "take a side" on this one.
Fran was a great player, and I admire how he's
kept busy and successful since. But it IS uncool
to appear to be wanting a current player to fail.
Wiley is sharp guy, but a total loose cannon.
(In fact, I have some video of him at a Junior
Seau party that I'm sure MW would never want aired!)
A guy who's career never quite lived up to his
scary physique, Wiley sometimes lets his mouth
get him in trouble.
Verdict: Both decent guys; neither looks good this round.
Frannie whines like a little bitch. Fifteen yards for unsportsman like conduct and a 10,000 dollar fine! I am one who ain't buying his book...