Former Green Bay Packers nose tackle Gilbert Brown was one of the best to ever play the position.
And though he might be biased from having played alongside fellow Hall of Famer Brett Favre, Gilbert recently spoke on The Earl Ingram Show about the one big thing that separated Favre’s play from former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“He is the toughest [quarterback to ever play the game]. Man, I tell everybody that if I was ever walking down a dark alley, what with a couple of dudes with pipes and knives, and I can only take one dude with me, I’m taking Brett Favre because I know we going to come out on the other side,” Gilbert told Ingram.
“He was the toughest country boy I’ve ever seen in my life. Sometimes, you know, [former coach] Mike Holmgren could put the fear of God in you. And when he tells you, ‘I want you all to look nice, I want you all in a suit, look presentable. Represent your squad.’ And Brett Favre still showed up with a country shirt on and a country hat. And Brett walked right passed him, and he didn’t say nothing.
“I mean, he dishes out, too. He used to do some blocking when he got out there. And he would throw that ball, man. I’ve seen broken fingers! And I always say, there is a different style of play between Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. Brett Favre going to get that first down. He going to go past that line. Other dudes run to the line, stop, and throw the ball.”
Gilbert went on to say that was the difference that “people don’t understand.”
While Favre is done playing, Rodgers is putting the finishing touches on his career with the New York Jets.
