Former New York Jets defensive finish Mark Gastineau’s 20-plus yr grudge in opposition to Brett Favre is on show in an upcoming ESPN documentary about “The New York Sack Change,” the dominant line of defense within the Nineteen Eighties that featured Gastineau, Marty Lyons, Joe Klecko and the late Abdul Salaam.
Gastineau is proven confronting Favre at a Chicago sports activities memorabilia present final yr and accusing him of giving New York Giants cross rusher Michael Strahan a simple sack in January of 2002 to interrupt Gastineau’s single-season NFL file.
Favre and Gastineau shook arms and Favre talked about how the 2 had met up to now.
“Yeah, proper — while you fell down for [Strahan],” stated Gastineau. “I’ll get my sack again. I’ll get my sack again, dude.”
A shocked Favre replied, “You in all probability would damage me,” to which Gastineau shot again, “Nicely, I do not care. You damage me. You damage me! You hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you,” Favre stated.
“You actually damage me. You actually damage me, Brett,” Gastineau stated as Favre was led away by one among his handlers.
Gastineau’s emotions on sack file modified in 2020
Gastineau got here onto the sphere at Giants Stadium in 2002 to congratulate Strahan for breaking the file. However in February 2020, he admitted to ESPN’s Wealthy Cimini that he wasn’t proud of what he believes was Favre taking a dive that day.
“It is my file, and I need it to be identified that it is my file,” Gastineau stated practically 5 years in the past. “I am not going to say, ‘I do not wish to damage anyone’s emotions.’ It is my file. … Being good and being a superb sport, that is good, but it surely’s not actual. The truth is, I am form of a liar in a method. I really feel like there’s simply one thing mistaken.”
Responding to accusations that he gave Strahan a simple sack, Favre stated after that sport in 2002, “We did not lay down for him.”
“Anyone will let you know that Brett Favre took a dive,” Gastineau says within the documentary.
Not too long ago, Gastineau instructed Cimini that he had been ready a very long time to confront Favre and that he believes that Strahan and Favre conspired collectively.
“I wished to let him realize it was a trash sack,” Gastineau stated. “I have been wanting to do this for a very long time — many, a few years. I’ve solely received yet one more man to go to.”
Favre addressed the footage and the incident in a thread on social media on Tuesday night time, and insisted there was “no malice” on his half.
Again in 2002, when Michael Strahan sacked me on the finish of a sport that we had wrapped up, I used to be on no account making an attempt to harm Mark Gastineau.
I used to be making an attempt to shut out a sport and squeeze the final little bit of enjoyable out of a hard-fought sport.
(2)— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024
In a unique sport or scenario, I’d have made an even bigger effort to keep away from the sack or TFL.
However at no level was I enthusiastic about hurting Gastineau. Possibly it crossed my thoughts to assist Strahan. I didn’t assume it by means of. That wasn’t my forte on the time.
I simply wished to have…
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024
There was no malice on my half.
Mark was an excellent participant.
My understanding is he’s an excellent man and a enjoyable teammate, a man who performed with the form of pleasure and keenness I attempted to imitate. I perceive his frustration, however I’m not his enemy.
Some time again, he noticed me at a card present…
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024
Mark undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the sport.
I hope this controversy brings consideration to simply how nice Mark Gastineau was.
He belongs in Canton.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Brett.
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024
Since Strahan recorded his 22 1/2 sack to cross Gastineau, the file has been matched by T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. Jared Allen (2011) and Justin Houston (2014) have every tied Gastineau with 22 sacks in a single season.
Gastineau’s frustration with how he misplaced the sack file practically 23 years in the past might need to do with him not being in Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Regardless of being the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 1982, a four-time First-Crew All-Professional, five-time Professional Bowler and two-time NFL sack chief, who completed with 107.5 sacks in his profession, Gastineau has by no means reached the semifinal stage in Corridor of Fame voting.