Former New York Jets defensive finish Mark Gastineau’s 20-plus yr grudge towards Brett Favre is on show in an upcoming ESPN documentary about “The New York Sack Exchange,” the dominant defensive position 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 move rusher Michael Strahan a simple sack in January of 2002 to interrupt Gastineau’s single-season NFL file.
Favre and Gastineau shook fingers and Favre talked about how the 2 had met up to now.
“Yeah, proper — whenever you fell down for [Strahan],” mentioned Gastineau. “I’m going to get my sack again. I’m going to get my sack again, dude.”
A surprised Favre replied, “You in all probability would harm me,” to which Gastineau shot again, “Well, I do not care. You harm me. You harm me! You hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you,” Favre mentioned.
“You actually harm me. You actually harm me, Brett,” Gastineau mentioned 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. But in February 2020, he admitted to ESPN’s Rich Cimini that he wasn’t pleased with what he believes was Favre taking a dive that day.
“It’s my file, and I would like it to be recognized that it is my file,” Gastineau mentioned practically 5 years in the past. “I’m not going to say, ‘I do not wish to harm anyone’s emotions.’ It’s my file. … Being good and being a very good sport, that is good, but it surely’s not actual. In truth, I’m sort of a liar in a approach. I really feel like there’s simply one thing unsuitable.”
Responding to accusations that he gave Strahan a simple sack, Favre mentioned after that sport in 2002, “We did not lay down for him.”
“Anybody will inform you that Brett Favre took a dive,” Gastineau says within the documentary.
Recently, Gastineau advised Cimini that he had been ready a very long time to confront Favre and that he believes that Strahan and Favre conspired collectively.
“I needed to let him comprehend it was a trash sack,” Gastineau mentioned. “I’ve been wanting to try this for a very long time — many, a few years. I’ve solely obtained yet another man to go to.”
Favre addressed the footage and the incident in a thread on social media on Tuesday evening, and insisted there was “no malice” on his half.
Back in 2002, when Michael Strahan sacked me on the finish of a sport that we had wrapped up, I used to be under no circumstances attempting to harm Mark Gastineau.
I used to be attempting 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 might have made a much bigger effort to keep away from the sack or TFL.
But at no level was I fascinated with hurting Gastineau. Maybe it crossed my thoughts to assist Strahan. I didn’t suppose it by way of. That wasn’t my forte on the time.
I simply needed to have…
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024
There was no malice on my half.
Mark was an ideal participant.
My understanding is he’s an ideal man and a enjoyable teammate, a man who performed with the sort 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 move 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 may must do with him not being in Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Despite being the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1982, a four-time First-Team All-Pro, five-time Pro 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 Hall of Fame voting.
