Brett Favre looked calm and collected Tuesday during an appearance in New York at an ESPN Upfront presentation for advertisers.
But make no mistake about it, the anticipation is building for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 6.
“It will be emotional,” Favre said. “I feel the, I don’t know if it’s pressure but there’s more anxiety -- in a good way. I think in my case and probably for all the guys who have gone before you, you want to express yourself in a way that people can understand and express your gratitude but also thank the people who are most important. You only get one shot, and so when it’s over, I don’t want to be one of those [who forgets someone] because I played 20 years and there’s a lot of people that are important to me -- players and non-players -- so I’m looking forward to it."
Favre’s appearance was part of the Monday Night Football segment of the presentation. He joined Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden, the revamped MNF broadcast crew that made its first appearance together.
McDonough and Gruden’s first broadcast will be the Hall of Fame game between the Packers and Colts from Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 7.
Gruden joked that Favre spends more time on ESPN now than when he played.
“You’re selling copper sleeves and maybe you can get some blue jeans for McDonough,” Gruden said. “How is it being a movie star?”
Favre replied: “I wouldn’t call it being a movie star. Maybe a pitchman.”
When asked for his favorite MNF memory, he picked the Oakland game in 2003, when he threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns the day after his father died. He also offered two others: his 99-yard touchdown pass to Robert Brooks against the Bears in 1995 and the 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings on the first play of overtime to beat the Broncos in 2007.
