Brownback asserts Manning, not Favre, is greatest QB

ESPN.com ^ | 5-12-07 | Associated Press

[GraniteStateConservative]

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. -- Note to Sen. Sam Brownback: In Packerland, it's not cool to diss Brett Favre.

	Not amused.

The GOP presidential hopeful drew boos and groans Friday at the Wisconsin Republican Party convention when he used a football analogy to talk about the need to focus on families.

"This is fundamental blocking and tackling," he said. "This is your line in football. If you don't have a line, how many passes can Peyton Manning complete? Greatest quarterback, maybe, in NFL history."

Oops, wrong team to mention in Wisconsin, once described by Gov. Tommy Thompson as the place "where eagles soar, Harleys roar and Packers score."

Realizing what he had said, the Kansas Republican slumped at the podium and put his head in his hands.

"That's really bad," he said. "That will go down in history. I apologize."

His apology brought a smattering of applause and laughter. He tried to recover, saying former Packer Bart Starr may be the greatest of all time, but the crowd was still restless.

"Let's take Favre then," Brownback said. "The Packers are great. I'm sorry. How many passes does he complete without a line?"

"All of them!" more than one person yelled from the back.

"I'm not sure how I recover from this," Brownback said. "My point is we've got to rebuild the family. I'll get off this."

[inkling]

I wonder if he mentioned “Lambert Field” as well.

[digger48]

Thanks, I was trying to remember what it was Jon Carry said in ‘04

[oyez]

Talk about the third rail, jumping the shark and political incorrectness in Wisconsin. Thou shalt not dis the Pack.

[Always Right]

Manning has a ways to go before he goes down as the greatest in history, but he could. Just look at Elway. Had Elway not gotten SuperBowl victories late in his career very few would consider him the greatest. But now is at the top of many people’s list.

[aynrandfreak]

If Brownback will just come clean about what Sebilius told him he could jump to 3rd or 4th place in the field.

[zendari]

Now that Manning has his Super Bowl, I think he is up there.

[L.N. Smithee]

That's bad, but it's not as big a gaffe as Bob Dole telling a SoCal audience that Hideo Nomo had just pitched a no-hitter for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

[July 4th]

The hole he dug would have been far shallower had he just told the crowd to go —— themselves.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

"All of them!" LOL! Yeah, that's been true for years.

[Josh Painter]

Doh!

What's telling about this is after he shot himself in the foot, he reloaded and did it again.

As if the Manning comment wasn't bad enough, Brownback didn't have the good judgement to change the subject and try to put his screwup behind him.

No, he had to dig his grave deeper and diss the Pack's offensive line.

What a maroon! Stick a fork in him.

What with Brownback not having the good sense to avoid talking on a subject about which he has no knowledge; Tommy Thompson having to apologize to Jews (for his remark that earning money is "part of the Jewish tradition"); and Rudy's affirmation of his pro-abortion views, Fred Thompson must be enjoying his Sunday morning paper and coffee with a very contented smile on his face.



Fredipedia v2.30: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

[Alberta's Child]

Ironically, Elway was way past his prime and damn near inconsequential in the Broncos' Super Bowl victories in the 1990s.

Dan Marino is the best quarterback I've ever seen -- and he never won a championship.

[srmorton]

I would have to vote for Roger Staubach. After winning the Heisman coming out of the Naval Academy, he owed his country the next four years of his life. Unlike some who came after him, he did not in any way try to avoid his duty to serve his country. During his time in the Navy, he kept in shape as well as he could with pickup football games. All of the football “experts” said he would never make it in the NFL after having been away from organized football for so long, but he did and IMO was one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. He certainly inspired me to be a lifelong Cowboy fan. He was also wise enough to retire before he got one to many concussions, marry the coach’s daughter, and become a very successful Dallas businessman.

[mylife]

Yeah, sports opinion is what I look for in a candidate /sarc

[NittanyLion]

He should’ve followed up by calling for Aaron Rodgers to be named the starter...

[TennTuxedo]

Brownback and Packers fans are both wrong.

Johnny Unitas is the greatest QB in NFL history and I'm not even a Colts or Ravens fan.

[peyton randolph]

Dan Marino is the best quarterback I've ever seen -- and he never won a championship.

---

That would actually be Dan Fouts...and I was never a Chargers fan. Too bad he never had an offensive line or a defense to get him to the big game.

[jammer]

Yeah, sports opinion is what I look for in a candidate /sarc

While I agree with your premise, neither we nor the audience brought up sports--Brownback did.

[mylife]

LoL. good point

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

IMHO Otto Graham is the greatest - all the guy did was win. Seven pro titles in his career.