Brett Favre to the Vikings?!?!.....I think NOT!!!

I was sitting at work on Tuesday, July 28^th and as usual once every hour or so I bring up ESPN.com to get my sports fix to see the latest news and happenings from the world of sports. With the NFL season nearing closer and Training Camps ready to open, one question was still unanswered: Will Brett Favre return to the NFL and play quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings?

 Honestly, with the Vikings reporting to camp this week and all signs pointing that Favre would return to the NFL for a 19^th season, I was expecting  breaking news any day that Favre would be the Vikings quarterback. I mean it makes total sense when you think about it. Here you have a ready to be 40 year old man who loves the game of football and wants to win one last championship before hanging up the cleats. All of us who have played sports at any level can relate to this. The Minnesota Vikings would make a perfect fit for Favre. He is not only familiar with the Division (NFC North) the Vikings play in, but the team itself. The offensive west coast style offensive package that the Vikings run is virtually the same one he ran at Green Bay all those years under Mike Holmgren, Sherman, and McCarthy. He is also familiar with the Vikings staff. Darrel Bevel (Yes, the same Darrel Bevel that led Wisconsin to the 1994 Rose Bowl victory) was Favre’s QB Coach in Green Bay and he is also close friends with Vikings Head Coach, Brad Childress as well. The Vikings as hard as it is to say have a great team. The Vikings return a veteran, experienced nucleus of players that went 10-6 and won the NFC North Division last year qualifying for the playoffs. Tavarus Jackson and Gus Ferrotte took snaps under center last year and led the team to a 10-6 finish. You would have to be out of your mind of you do not think inserting Favre into the quarterback position on their roster immediately makes them a better football team and serious contender. All he would have to do is hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson and be expected to make a few big 3^rd down throws hear and there to move the chains. There would not be a whole lot of pressure on his shoulders to make plays as there was in the past. The running game was sometimes non existent on some of the teams Favre played with in Green Bay and they were still very successful. Also, you can not run the ball on the Vikings either. They have a great rush defense anchored by Kevin and Pat Williams. This is a great shot for a veteran player to have one last shot at another ring.

So, when I read the story at work on ESPN.com that Brett Favre had called Viking’s Head Coach, Brad Childress informing him that he would not return to the NFL and play quarterback for the Vikings I was extremely happy. Do I want to see Brett Favre play 4ever? Yes. Is Brett Favre fun to watch win or lose? Yes. Do I want to see Brett Favre play for the Minnesota Vikings? NO. Ultimately, I am not sure if this was the best decision for Favre, but I do know that it was the best decision for Green Bay Packer’s fans. In one moment the entire state of Wisconsin and Packer’s fans around the world breathed a sigh of relief. I could not even image what this coming season would have been like with him playing for the Vikings. The Monday Night football game at Lambeau Field on October 5^th of this year would have been awful to watch. Of course, I would have watched the game and cheered for the Packers, because I do believe that no one player is greater than the franchise, but Favre was a special player that restored Green Bay as “Titletown” and brought the Packer back to the top of the league year in and year out.

I will never forget Brett Favre and the 16 years that he gave to the Green Bay Packers. No other team in the NFL won more games during that span. Favre holds nearly every single NFL passing record in the books. However, records did not speak for the player that he was. No player had more fun when they played the game. How many quarterbacks after throwing a TD pass run down all the way to the endzone and hoist, jump, or in even one case tackle another player in joy. I will also remember him for his durability. Favre is the “Ironman” of the NFL. To start and play in 291 consecutive games is unreal. You take such a beating at the quarterback position. I believe Favre is prouder for this than any one of the passing records he holds. However, Brett Favre is not finished yet. He will return to the NFL one last time five years from now when he is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. I am going to do everything in my power to be there for the event. In the end, Brett Favre figured out somehow, someway to hand the Minnesota Vikings one more loss. FAVRE 4 EVER!

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