Any day now, Brett Favre will return to the NFL.
The Minnesota Vikings start selling single-game tickets on July 20. Favre will surely be there to spur thousands of sales for one of the few franchises that need a pitch man. The most hated man in Minnesota for 16 seasons will soon be a Viking pending his expected contract signing.
A Green Bay Packer quarterbacking the Vikings would be worse than Dallas passer Roger Staubach replacing Washington’s Sonny Jurgensen. Green Bay-Minnesota has surpassed the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry. Green Bay fans buy Minnesota season tickets just to come to one game. They attend Vikings games when the Packers aren’t playing just to razz the latter. Now that’s a feud.
If Favre burned a bridge last year when suddenly leaving retirement to play for the New York Jets, he’ll truly spit on Packers fans by playing for their hated foe. Today’s athletes consider themselves NFL players, not Packers or Vikings, but this one will be personal.
Favre may be forgiven by Packers fans in time, but not on Nov. 1 when the Vikings visit Lambeau Field. Tickets are already selling online for more than $300. That is, if you can really get one. Packers no-shows sometimes number in the low single digits. Mostly flu victims that couldn’t crawl through the frozen tundra.
The signs of Favre’s second comeback are undeniable. He reportedly placed a $30,000 deposit on a condo near the Vikings training facility. Maybe Favre just wants a crash pad near Mall of America. Meanwhile, Dr. James Andrews, who operated on Favre’s shoulder in the offseason, said the passer wants to join Minnesota.
Minnesota won the NFC North last season at 10-6 before a first-round playoff exit. Tarvaris Jackson is not the answer. Neither is former Redskins passer Sage Rosenfels. Frankly, neither is Favre for more than a season or two.
Favre finished miserably last season with New York. The arm injury was part, but the 39-year-old passer is living off a career more than recent success. Three of his last four seasons were average, including last year with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
No matter Favre missed offseason camps. The Vikings have waited for him longer than Navy wives during deployment.
An old Favre is better than anyone the Vikings have. Favre wants to play. The NFL and TV networks wants him to stay.
Once more, we’re reminded careers seldom end gracefully.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or
e-mail [email protected].
