Sports - Brett Favre

Thursday, Aug. 07, 2008

SUN HERALD ARCHIVES: Favre finally drafted by Packers

Brett Favre returned to a familiar script on April 21, 1991, during an anxious afternoon at his parents’ home in rural Hancock County.

Projected as the top quarterback prospect by numerous NFL scouts, Favre wasn’t selected until the second round when the Atlanta Falcons made the record-setting Southern Mississippi player the third quarterback chosen.

Virtually ignored by Division I schools after an outstanding prep career at Hancock North Central, Favre again found himself underrated by the experts as the Seattle Seahawks made San Diego State quarterback Dan McGwire the first quarterback chosen (with the 16th pick in the first round.)

The Los Angeles Raiders shocked the experts by taking troubled Southern Cal quarterback Todd Marinovich with their first-round pick (24th overall).

“In my opinion, I’m going in here as an underdog,” Favre said. “I was passed up twice by Atlanta in the first round, 25 times by other teams. Two quarterbacks went ahead of me.

“One of them (Marinovich) didn’t even know if he was going to be in the draft this year. Now he goes ahead of me. It’s like coming out of high school. I was passed up and I proved myself. Now I’ve got to do it again. I’m not going in as a big star.”

Favre, who gathered with family, friends and media, finally got the call at 4:30 p.m., five-andhalf hourse after the draft began.

The Falcons made him the 33rd pick overall.