Favre Feeling Twice as Valuable

NEW YORK â€”  All the questions about how Brett Favre would respond from a troubled off-season were answered simply--with another MVP year.

The Green Bay Packer quarterback became the first repeat winner of the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award since 1990 and only the second player to win the award in consecutive years.

Favre received 52 of the 93 ballots by a nationwide panel of sports writers in voting announced Monday by The Associated Press.

Favre joined Joe Montana (1989-90) as the only winner of two consecutive MVPs. Other two-time winners were Steve Young (1992, ‘94), John Unitas (1964 and ‘67), and Jim Brown (1957 and ‘65).

“It was more of a surprise this year than it was last year,� said Favre, who joined Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor and Bart Starr as Packers who have won the award.

“And believe it or not, it felt much better this year than it did last year. I was really honored last year and couldn’t believe it. But this year it was like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was like, ‘Whew, man, this is great.’ This is another huge award for a lot of bad things that have happened.�

Such as needing to undergo rehabilitation for an addiction to pain-killers. Such as family problems--his sister Brandi, 19, was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting at a motel in Slidell, La. And during the summer, their brother, Scott, 29, was arrested on felony DUI charges after an accident that killed a family friend.

Despite losing several of his receivers for part of the season, Favre led the Packers to a 13-3 record, tops in the NFC. He surpassed his 38 touchdown passes of 1995--an NFC record--with 39 this year.

He also threw for 3,899 yards and had a 95.8 rating, second in the league to San Francisco’s Steve Young.

Denver’s John Elway was second with 33 1/2 votes. Favre also beat out Elway for the All-Pro quarterback slot.

“If he would have won it, I wouldn’t have been disappointed,� Favre said.