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IRVING, Texas -- You have likely never heard of him but you will over the next few days. The name is Jones. Nathan Jones. He is the man who has given the Green Bay Packers quite a scare by smashing and subsequently hurting one of the most indestructible athletes ever.
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| Nate Jones scares Packer fans everywhere with this hit on the ageless Favre. (AP) |
In the second quarter of the biggest game seen by the fewest people, Jones broke free on a blitz, a blitz that caught the normally all-seeing Favre totally by surprise. Jones grabbed Favre and slammed him into the ground and in the massive tangle of bodies and violence Favre separated his left shoulder and his throwing elbow.
"There aren't too many times in my career," Favre said of his 17 years in the NFL, "when a guy came free and I didn't see him coming."
The helmet of Jones had hit Favre's elbow leading to the loss of sensation in his last two fingers. Favre compared it to having his funny bone smashed with a hammer which might, you know, suck really bad.
Understandably, Favre left the game in the second quarter, grabbing his various extremities, wincing in obvious pain. He never returned and the question now is: when will he come back?
"I anticipate being fine," he said. "I hope I am."
The storylines emerging from the definitive and statement-like 37-27 victory by Dallas over Green Bay are numerous. The Cowboys clinched a playoff spot, they are obliterating team offensive records and in the process, quarterback Tony Romo is proving to be the best quarterback in football not named Tom Brady.
Dallas is likely headed to the Super Bowl and if you don't believe that then you don't know football or you're a New York Giants fan. Despite being beaten by New England, they are still one of only several teams with the offensive firepower and diversity to give the Patriots a serious run.
All of that is true but on this night at Texas Stadium, all eyes were on Favre. At least the handful of eyes that could get the NFL Network.
After the loss, Favre put the best face on his situation by saying he could have played with the shoulder but the elbow might have been more problematic. "You can shoot up and play with the shoulder," Favre explained.
But as optimistic as Favre was even he admitted: "I'm not getting any younger. It takes a little bit longer to recover."
Favre has slightly more time than normal to do just that since the Packers don't play again until Dec. 6 when they face Oakland at home. Chances are Favre's impressive streak will continue.