The most recent reports around the sports universe show that barring some unforeseen incident with Brett Favre's shoulder, he will play in the NFL next season and he will do so as a Minnesota Viking. Oh, the irony. I remember advertisements with Vikings defensive tackle John Randle chasing around a chicken in a tiny Brett Favre Packer uniform. Will the advertisements this year show Aaron Kampman chasing around a chicken in a tiny Brett Favre Viking uniform? It seems quite possible.
So if Favre goes to the Vikings, what are the benefits for them? As I see it, the Vikings have very little to lose. They currently have two quarterbacks who would undoubtedly be inconsistent at best as starters in the NFL in Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Both would rely heavily on the power running game of Adrian Peterson and the Vikings' defense, which may be a touch worse than 2008 with the departure of another former Packer, Darren Sharper, who signed with the New Orleans Saints. I wonder if Sharper staying in Minnesota would have provided a bit of mediation between Favre and the rest of the locker room as another so-called Packer traitor. As it stands, Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell will serve as that buffer.
The Vikings have a good team without Favre, a team that has improved consistently over the past three years under head coach Brad Childress. They will still be a good team if Favre doesn't sign with them or turns out to be a disaster. Even if they end up dealing Rosenfels or Jackson, they'll most assuredly have one of them on hand in case Favre implodes.
Over the past few seasons, Favre has shown his age in the months of November, December, and when he has had the opportunity, January. The solution for him is the same as it is with any kicker who is at his age or above, move south or get indoors. Moving from Green Bay to New York helped a little bit, but not enough to curb Favre's age completely. Inside the Metrodome, Favre will be able to command his game far better in the later months than in previous seasons.
The Vikings are truly a contender to be in the Super Bowl with a healthy Favre. If his problems in November and beyond are not due to the cold, expect an early exit or a meltdown similar to the New York Jets of 2008. But if it is weather-related, pray (if you are Vikings fan) that the Vikes can clinch home-field advantage and keep Favre inside the 70-degree Metrodome.
But what does Favre have to gain or lose? Well, if he melts down this season, he is done. Not even the Detroit Lions would sign him if Matthew Stafford retired and signed with the Detroit Tigers. If he stays retired, signing with the Jets will appear as nothing more than a blip in his career for most of his fans. But if he signs with the Vikings, he may very well be hated by the entire Packer universe. He lost a lot of respect by signing with the Jets, signing with the Packers' biggest (or second biggest depending on who you ask) rival would incur a wrath not seen in the NFL perhaps ever, whether Favre succeeds or fails in Minnesota.
If he succeeds and brings the first ever Super Bowl victory to Minnesota, he has nothing to fear, the Minnesota fans will praise him and herald him as a hero until the end of time, but if he fails, he will have no fans left in the entirety of the universe. The Minnesota fans will go on hating them as they have for nearly two decades, even more so for ruining a perfectly decent potential season for them and the Packer fans will hate him all the more for attempting to get revenge on a franchise that worshipped him as long as Vikings fans hated him.
Brett Favre signing with the Vikings is a great deal for the Vikings. They have very little to lose. But for Brett Favre, this is perhaps the most dangerous move in the history of the NFL. The man who should be considered at the very least as one of the three best quarterbacks of all-time may go down in history not being loved by a single NFL fan. Brett Favre, I beg you to consider that before re-un-retiring.
June 17, 2009
Orion Simerl:
I think what you fail to realize is there are people out here who are die hard brett favre fans. It doesnt matter if brett takes the vikings to the superbowl or if they go 6 and 10, there are alot of us who just plain like Brett Favre, whether its in greenbay, minnesota, new york, we just want to see him play. His legacy cannot be tarnished by anything he does, because there are alot of us that grew up brett favre and remeber how he plays the game. And all this other garbage is irrelevant.
June 17, 2009
Mike Ho:
Brett Favre will always have many fans around the country even if he loses his most fervent Packer fans and doesn’t replace him with Vikings fans.
June 17, 2009
Jimmy:
Brett Farve is the greatest football player to have played the game! It doesn’t matter how he does in Minnesota - he is the best!
June 17, 2009
Mark:
Brett Favre did not “sigh” with the Jets. Brett Favre was TRADED to the Jets, by the Packers. Favre said in an interview after his most recent retirement that the Packers did not even inform, let alone consult, him on this moven. He learned about it watching SportsCenter.
So if there is anyone who truly “lost a lot of respect [because he went to] the Jets,” it should not be Favre, it should be the guy who traded him there
June 17, 2009
gene williams:
Watching Brett is like watching the wilted lettuce leaf in the fridge try to make one last comeback on the world’s greatest burger.
Brett - retire with dignity
June 17, 2009
Dieter:
2 things on this one:
1 - the safety tandem will be better with Tyrell Johnson than with Sharp. Sharp lost a step and he was not the same under the cover 2 defense. Madeiu and Tyrell will be fine back there.
2 - This is nothing but a colossal embarrasement for the Purple. The result of a clueless coach reaching for a solution we all knew was needed for years. An admission of failure to address the most important position in the team. Spare me the Childress is improving, Tice with less talent, with cheap Red McCombs as owner, no Adrian, few assist coaches, a leaky room at Winter Park posted a 9-7 record his last year. This baldbeaded clown has an open wallet owner, more staff than anybody in the nfl, has the Purple Jesus fall in his lap, he has everything he needs but the talent and skills to be a NFL coach. It is just so sad.
SKOL VIKES!!!
June 17, 2009
TexVike:
Mr. Jones,
Have you no respect for the “one last fling?” You must be young, or just numb. Brett may be able to still play. Does he KNow? Do you know? Until he tries, and fails, NONE of us will know. What if, just for the sake of argument, he CAN still play? Shouldn’t he give it a shot? Why do you have to hammer the guy? Not everyone can be John Elway, but, everyone can try, can’t they? Who are you to tell Brett to go sit down and shut up? Just another lame-ass arm chair quarterback…
June 17, 2009
Andrew Jones:
Some interesting comments already…I believe I may have underestimated the possibility of people who are becoming less loyal to teams and more loyal to players. It seems some of you who left comments hold this view. Perhaps it occurred because the Packers mistreated Favre in your eyes and I can understand that. Perhaps you have no team loyalties at all because your area doesn’t have a football team or whatever the case may be. Perhaps Favre will retain plenty of fans and should not be worried about that whatsoever.
As for TexVike, you should know very well that this is not one last fling it is the second-so-called-last fling. The Jets was one last fling. Also I am not by any stretch saying Favre should not play in the NFL. I am saying he should not sign with the Vikings for the sake of his dignity. He wants to sign with the Vikings for a number of reasons, but one motivation has to be a bit of revenge against the Packers and he should avoid giving into that.
June 17, 2009
clyde b. skenAndore:
‘YES’ age helps a person, its the team work
When team that does the work, not one
man. FARVE get gets the team to work with
him. Stand back and see him go.
Change Green bay Packer fan
June 17, 2009
Susan B:
I am a Brett Favre fan and will continue to be one no matter how the next chapter in his story turns out. I just want him to succeed no matter what his next move is. I will buy a #4 Vikings jersey as soon as he signs. Go Brett!!
June 18, 2009
b mony:
this article is sounds like it came from a favre hater…its more like his own opinion and wat he thinks…maybe ur the one that should retire from writin such bs..dnt knwy why espn links up crap like this in the teams home page
June 18, 2009
fay:
I am also a Brett Favre Fan if healthy to play he should nothing will change from his true fans will always be his true fans.He is great for the game of football and great for the NFL I too want to buy my #4 Brett Favre Jersey.He Plays the game the way it should be played with great passion,heart and competivness.So Go Brett be a Viking Soon..We can hardly wait.to see you on the field behind center
June 18, 2009
Brother Paul:
Oddly enough, there are those of us who were die-hard Packer fans who were ready to give Aaron a chance. And, then Ted Thompson totally abused Favre, once telling him that if he showed up there, that he (Thompson) would be crucified, and then when Brett showed up, as he wanted to play, he wasn’t even given the playbook (although Thompson lied about a chance for him to compete) and forced to go to the Jets, which was the absolute worst of the two potential teams that Ted hand-picked to give the Packers the least amount of trouble.
Last year, Brett asked for a release so he could go to the Vikings, because he felt that was the best team for him. This year, they are still the best potential team for him, as he could be the missing key to take them deep into the playoffs and maybe their first Superbowl.
And, oddly enough, this die-hard Packers fan softened when they got rid of Denny, and I softened even more when they got rid of the last vestige of Green’s dynasty. And, I started to like them, even, when Adrian Peterson emerged as the potentially best running back ever.
And, if Favre goes there, I will buy my first ever Vikings jersey, and proudly join the other Minnesota Vikings fans in this area as we all cheer together in one united voice.
So, Favre, I’m behind you 100 percent. And, if you can get a little bit of revenge and cost dear Teddy his job, I will once again cheer for both the Vikings and Green Bay, except when they play each other.
Can I get a big AMEN out there from all the true Favre fans who want to see him put Teddy in his place and run Teddy out of town?
June 19, 2009
Wayne:
Brett Favre will surely not finish with no fans at all. I am a Chicago native who chose the “dark side” my entire life. Now at 21 years old I say I am a diehard Brett Favre fan. I still have my packers jersey, have a jets one, and will get a vikings one too when time comes.
A lot of the greats retired with teams other then where they made careers. Joe Montana still has fans, Jerry Rice retired with fans still. I have no doubt Favre can retire a Viking and probably have more fans thne his days in packer green.
June 19, 2009
Wayne:
Brett Favre will surely not finish with no fans at all. I am a Chicago native who chose the “dark side” my entire life. Now at 21 years old I say I am a diehard Brett Favre fan. I still have my packers jersey, have a jets one, and will get a vikings one too when time comes.
A lot of the greats retired with teams other then where they made careers. Joe Montana still has fans, Jerry Rice retired with fans still. I have no doubt Favre can retire a Viking and probably have more fans then his days in packer green.
June 20, 2009
football man:
Brett Favre will lead the vikings to at least one victory in the playoffs. After that the people who did not want him to play this year will be begging him to come back.
June 21, 2009
Anthony Brancato:
With the ridiculously easy schedule that the NFC North gets this year, whoever wins that division will very likely get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC. The Bears have already taken care of their QB problem, and if the Vikings take care of theirs by bringing Favre on board, Chicago and Minnesota could very well finish with the two best records in the conference.
June 21, 2009
Albert:
On June 17, 2009, Andrew Jones said…
“Some interesting comments already…I believe I may have underestimated the possibility of people who are becoming less loyal to teams and more loyal to players”
Since when has a person been unable to be both a fan of a team and an admirer of a great player on a different squad? The Vikes are my team but i’ve always admired Favre.He embodies the toughness and courage that makes the NFL the greatest game on earth.I’d love to see him be a Viking and regardless of how his story ends he’ll always be one of the greatest.Your arguement reminds my of all the Ali reporters writing of how his leagcy was tarnished because he fought too long.People love Ali and they will always love Favre too.