On the morning of the 1991 NFL draft, Tim Isbell followed an unpaved road deep into the piney woods of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The Biloxi Sun Herald photographer kept driving until he reached a ranch-style house a post pattern away from a stretch of water known as Rotten Bayou.
When Isbell arrived at Brett Favre’s childhood home, the family’s draft party was already revving up. Dozens of guests were devouring boiled shellfish, sipping cold beer and debating which NFL team would select the rocket-armed Southern Mississippi quarterback.
Irvin and Bonita Favre pointed out the coolers and the seafood smorgasbord to Isbell, but the photographer explained he didn’t come to eat or drink.