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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 7, 2001
TAMPA -- Packers quarterback Brett Favre is healthy for the first time in two seasons. Now it's the competition that's hurting.
Favre no longer is bothered by the nagging thumb injury that limited him the past two seasons and, not coincidentally, is throwing the ball as crisply as ever.
He is completing 68.4 percent of his passes and is fourth in passing yardage with 804 in three games, good for a quarterback rating of 107.7, third-highest in the league behind Atlanta's Chris Chandler (126.5) and St. Louis' Kurt Warner (110.8).
He is coming off his most productive game, a 25-for-39 effort for 308 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against Carolina. He struggled early, but rallied his team in the second half, which is vintage Favre.
"Anyone will tell you that it's fun when you're winning; it's fun when you're executing and you're scoring touchdowns and the defense is playing well," he said. "It's just exciting to see our team play."
Packers coach Mike Sherman said Favre's improved play isn't attributable only to his thumb.
"I know a lot of people have been saying "Whatever happened to Brett?' the last couple of years. I don't know if we surrounded him with great players, either," Sherman said. "The guys around him are playing better. ... He's the same guy. He's been the same guy every single day."
COPYCATS: Look for the Packers to try to beat the Bucs the same way the Vikings did Sunday, throwing short passes underneath the coverage.
"Where you can try to attack a team like Tampa is being patient. It's taking underneath stuff," Sherman said. "They rally to the ball real quickly. They rush the passer really well. So you can't stand back there all day.
"You have to do like (Vikings quarterback) Daunte Culpepper did. You have to just dink and dump the ball all day and hope your defense can hold their offense out of the end zone. And when you get a chance at maybe one or two (big plays) a game, you've got to convert them."
DID YOU KNOW?: William Henderson has started for the Packers since 1996, the longest tenure of any fullback in the league with the same team. He credits his toughness to his older brothers.
"I had a bunch of big, older brothers who used to beat the hell out of me," he said.
GOT ANY OTHER THEORIES?: The Packers have won seven in a row dating to last season, but Sherman scoffed at the notion the team is riding that wave from the 2000 season.
"I think you create your momentum every single year," he said, noting the team worked extra hard during the offseason and training camp to prepare for this season. "I think each year is separate. I wouldn't credit last year for bringing us momentum this year."
LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY: While everyone has been quick to say the Packers are Super Bowl contenders, the players remain optimistic.
Asked if Green Bay resembles the Super Bowl squad of 1997, Favre chose his words carefully.
"Somewhat," he said. "I'm a little hesitant to compare us to that team. But, at first glance, it seems we're the team of old. We have the potential to be that good. But I would wait a little bit before we start comparing us to that team."