When Favre eclipsed Dan Marino’s record of 420 touchdown passes, it brought up an interesting question. Is the career touchdown mark the greatest record in sports?

Ever heard of Kitrick Taylor? How about Harry Sydney? Reggie Cobb? Charles Jordon? Remember these guys? If not, how about Antonio Freeman, Sterling Sharpe and Donald Driver? Ah, there you go.

Wondering why some of these guys are relevant? All seven of them, along with 36 others, are an important part of NFL history. They’ve all caught at least one of Brett Favre’s NFL-record 422 touchdowns…and counting.

When Favre eclipsed Dan Marino’s record of 420 touchdown passes, it brought up an interesting question. Is the career touchdown mark the greatest record in sports? Are the 43 wide receivers who helped Favre reach the touchdown mark more important than the 4,328 needles that have helped Barry Bonds set the MLB’s career home run record?

I say yes, but what about achievements in which the record-holder is not an obvious cheater? What about Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s 38,387 points in the NBA, or Wayne Gretzky’s 2,856 points in the NHL?

Is Favre’s record more important than those? Yes, and here’s why.

The quarterback position is by far the most difficult position in all of sports. To throw 422 touchdowns, and counting, in a career requires physical strength, knowledge of the game, longevity and a fan base that will make excuses for each and every one of your interceptions as you near George Blanda’s all-time pick record.

The fact that Favre has played in over 240 consecutive games en route to breaking Marino’s mark makes the touchdown record even more impressive.

Sure, the points records in basketball, hockey and baseball are impressive feats, and you have to be very skilled at your sport (or very skilled at ordering performance-enhancing substances) to accomplish these accolades, but none of them combine the toughness and skill of the touchdown record.

Now, I’m well aware that Favre-haters will be quick to point out my giant man-crush on Brett Favre, and possibly craft the crazy idea that I might have some sort of bias when discussing how Favre’s record measures up to others, simply because I’d take a bullet for the man.

Ridiculous assumption, Favre-haters - erroneous on all counts.

But let’s say I am a little biased. Look at how important this record is to the state of Wisconsin. Earlier this year, Barry Bonds broke the record of long-time Milwaukee Brave and short-time Milwaukee Brewer Hank Aaron, slapping the state of Wisconsin across the face.

Favre’s record gives the state another great record in sports, which, coincidently, might someday be broken by the only person with a cranium larger than Bonds, Peyton Manning.

Whether you realize it or not, Favre’s record of 422 touchdowns, and counting, is the greatest record in all of sports. Maybe once Manning falls miserably short of Favre’s mark people will realize just how great an accomplishment 422 touchdowns, and counting, is.

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