We haven’t heard much from ex-NFL’er Fran Tarkenton lately–at least not since That’s Incredible went off the air.

Until now.

Tarkenton has transitioned nicely into a cranky, old coot.  His first order of business…taking Brett Favre down a peg.

And before any of you start defending Favre by trying to rip on Fran Tarkenton, remember this…he’s a Hall of Famer, he went to 4 Super Bowls with the Vikes (I know, he lost ‘em all), and most shocking, actually maintained his dignity despite co-hosting That’s Incredible.

The 69 year old former QB was on 790 the Zone in Atlanta yesterday and had a few choice words to say about his Favreness.

“I think it’s despicable. What he put the Packers through last year was not good. Here’s an organization that was loyal to him for 17, 18 years, provided stability of organization, provided players. It just wasn’t about Brett Favre. In this day and time, we have glorified the Brett Favre’s of the world so much, they think it’s about them. He goes to New York and bombs. He’s 39 years old. How would you like Ray Nitschke in his last year (playing for) the Vikings, or I retire, and go play for the Packers. I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail.”

Wow.  I haven’t heard that kind of venom since Christian Bale’s meltdown into awesomeness.

But Tarkenton doesn’t stop there.

“I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I’ve ever seen. Look at his final game in a Packers uniform. He blew that game against the Giants. He’s playing against Eli Manning, I love Eli Manning, but he’s still not a great quarterback. He’s not Peyton yet, or Tom Brady. He’s just a guy. And they’re (Packers) are playing at home, and they’re in a tight situation, they went to overtime and he (Favre) throws the interception that allows them (the Giants) to come back and win the game. He has done that and driven his coaches crazy all of his career.”

This outburst is surprising, not because it came from a Hall of Famer, directed at a future Hall of Famer, but because someone finally had the balls to say it.  Tarkenton’s ripping of Favre is a refreshing change from the usual ass-kissing of Favre that goes on in the media. [Yahoo]