ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 2, 1996 TAG: 9601020182
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREEN BAY'S quarterback drew raves for his passing and for his leadership.
Brett Favre epitomizes the essence of an MVP: Teammates, opponents, fans and media all seem to agree he deserves the honor.
And the Green Bay quarterback has it, a runaway winner of the 1995 NFL Most Valuable Player award in balloting conducted by The Associated Press and announced Monday.
Favre, who set an NFC record with 38 touchdown passes and threw for 4,413 yards, guided the Packers to an 11-5 record and their first NFC Central title in 23 years. It was their first 11-victory season since 1966. They also beat the Atlanta Falcons 37-20 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Favre earned 69 votes from a nationwide panel of 88 sports writers and broadcasters. San Francisco's star receiver, Jerry Rice, was next with 10 votes. Dallas running back Emmitt Smith, the winner in 1993, got seven votes, and Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh received two.
Last year's winner, 49ers quarterback Steve Young, did not get a vote.
``It means everything,'' said Favre, who just completed his fifth - and by far his most successful - regular season in the NFL. ``It's like winning the Super Bowl, except it's an individual honor. It's the National Football League, which means it's the best player in the whole world. In this game. And that's awesome.
``Think about all the great players you play with and play against. It's overwhelming. It's hard to even explain how much that means to win that and say, `God, MVP of the league.'''
Favre has drawn praise throughout the league this season for his leadership as well as his skills. He said that role dates back to before the 1994 season, when All-Pro receiver Sterling Sharpe was involved in a contract dispute with Packers management. Favre defended the team.
``I think probably when Sterling held out and I stood up and said my piece, I think everyone said, `Hey, this is his guy, this is his favorite receiver, his favorite target,''' Favre said. ``And I wasn't bashing him. I was just speaking my mind, and that earned a lot of respect.''
A second-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi in 1991 by Atlanta, where he was a third-stringer, Favre was dealt to Green Bay the following year. Packers coach Mike Holmgren then gave Favre a chance to prove himself.
Favre has responded superbly - as a passer, a runner when necessary, and as a motivator.
``He does everything you can ask from a quarterback, and he's still young and learning,'' Holmgren said.
Favre admitted he owes much of his success to Holmgren, who worked with the 49ers' vaunted offense before taking over in Green Bay. Recalling the deal that brought him to the Packers, Favre said:
``I didn't think I'd be MVP, but I said if I can get a chance to start here didn't think that I could, but the longer I wait, the tougher it's going to be. I constantly just told myself it's something that's going to happen, regardless if it's here or somewhere else.
``I got a break much earlier than I anticipated. I thought I'd be there a couple years [in Atlanta] and just ride the wave.''
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: headshot of Favre KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB