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Brett Favre's record consecutive starts streak
ended at 297 on Monday when he did not suit up for the Minnesota
Vikings' game against the New York Giants.


      The streak, dating back to 1992, ended because of a right
shoulder injury the quarterback sustained on Minnesota's first
series Dec. 5 against Buffalo.


      Jeff Anderson, a Vikings spokesman, announced to the public that
the 41-year-old Favre was inactive on Twitter: "Vikings Inactives
- 12, 19, 25, 31, 76, 90, 91...and 4. The streak ends..."


      The Vikings hoped Favre, who has started despite a broken foot
and elbow tendinitis this season, could do it again when the Giants
game was delayed from Sunday after the Metrodome roof collapsed.
That forced the game to be moved to Ford Field, but it was not
enough time for Favre to get healthy enough to play.


      The quarterback was injured when the Bills' Arthur Moats hit him
square in the back and sent him to the turf on the third play from
scrimmage. The day after, the rookie linebacker said he had mixed
emotions about perhaps being the player who ended Favre's streak.


      "I don't want to see anybody hurting and not playing any more.
If he plays, that would be a good thing," Moats said. "But if he
doesn't, and I was the guy to end the streak, all right. That's a
little notable, yeah."


      For some, it was hard to fathom. Cardinals receiver Larry
Fitzgerald tweeted: "Even after the reports about Brett Favre
being inactive I STILL won't believe that he's not playing until I
see it w/ my own eyes!"


      Tarvaris Jackson will start for Minnesota, which at 5-7 is a
long shot to make the playoffs.


      Season No. 20 has been one of Favre's toughest. He's taken a
beating on the field and played not only through two fractures in
his left foot and elbow tendinitis but 10 stitches in his chin
along with aches in his neck, back and calf before he was crunched
by Moats.


      Favre has thrown a league-high 18 interceptions and his 69.6 QB
rating is 29th in the league.


      He's also been the subject of an NFL investigation into
allegations he sent inappropriate messages and photos to a game-day
hostess when both worked for the New York Jets in 2008. The
investigation has lasted for more than two months now, and the
lawyer for Jenn Sterger was vocal last week in trying to get a
ruling announced.


      Through it all, Favre has led his team on the field, extending
his streak further and further. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning
now holds the longest streak at 205 games. He would need to keep it
going for another 5½ years to surpass Favre.


      "It's beyond reason. It's ridiculous," said Seahawks
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who backed up Favre in Green Bay years
ago. "He's gotten lucky a little bit too, but he's just the
toughest guy in the world."


      It's a record that Favre cherishes.


      "I far exceeded my goals," Favre said last week. "I don't
know if any player comes in and says, 'Hey, I have a goal of
playing 300 straight games.' To have done that with playoffs (321
games), I don't know how many consecutive starts, it's a lot, and
had it ended several weeks before or last year, it is still quite
an accomplishment."


      He's been listed as questionable on the injury report heading
into a game several times this season. But it was clear as soon as
Moats blindsided him that this injury was more serious.


      Favre's injury, a sprained SC joint, is a rarity in sports, one
that doctors say occurs most often when a person's body slams
against the steering wheel in an auto accident.


      Favre said Wednesday he was having difficulty putting on a shirt
or pulling on socks and he did not throw a proper pass all week in
preparation for the Giants.


      Both Favre and interim coach Leslie Frazier were adamant he
would not be given a ceremonial start - one or two snaps at the
beginning of the game - to keep the streak going.
      

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Sports

Brett Favre's record consecutive starts streak
ended at 297 on Monday when he did not suit up for the Minnesota
Vikings' game against the New York Giants.


Favre's consecutive start streak to end at 297

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