Sports Arena
Viking Funeral
Will Brett Favre be a hero or villain in Minnesota? It will depend on whether the wins come.
Brett Favre must enjoy retiring. He’s already done it twice. There will one day be a third; Favre signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. It’s probably the right decision for him. The Vikings, not so much.
Favre has always been a creature of emotion. It shows in his wild, unpredictable playing style, his eventful personal life, and his annual retirement dance. And he loves playing football. Loves it. The quiet life in Hattiesburg, Mississippi is pleasant enough. But it’s not the same as being an NFL quarterback. No one really believed Favre three weeks ago when he said he was done with football.
Vikings coach Brad Childress called him on Monday, knowing he was attainable. That he wants to be wanted. Childress was right. The next day, Favre was under contract and practicing with the team. The smile on Brett’s face was genuine at his introductory press conference. It feels great to be back, that smile said. There’s nowhere I want to be right now but here, playing the game I love.
Love is not the only emotion driving Favre’s comeback. He is said to loathe Packers GM Ted Thompson for getting rid of him. Brett can deny the revenge motive all he wants, but there is a reason he picked the Vikings. The Packers-Vikings rivalry is one of the game’s bitterest. To beat his old team while wearing the hated enemy’s purple uniform would taste sweeter than anything.
But enough about Brett. Football is a team game. How will Favre impact the Vikings? On the surface, it looks like a great match. Childress uses a Mike Holmgren-esque West Coast offense very similar to the one Favre expertly ran for 16 years in Green Bay.
The Vikings have a top-notch defense, a star running back in Adrian Peterson, and a solid offensive line. But incumbent quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels were not exactly inspiring fear in opposing defenses. Favre gives the Vikings a star at the only position where they didn’t have one. Minnesota fans are already talking Super Bowl.
They shouldn’t. Favre could hurt the team more than he will help it. The timing of his appearance is not a coincidence. By showing up now, Favre skipped all of training camp, along with its two-a-day practices, grueling workouts, and endless hours of playbook and film study.
None of the other players got to skip camp. Why does Brett get a free pass, along with the starting job handed to him on a platter? This will not endear him to his teammates. They have emotions, too. Favre’s prima donna treatment and the unending media circus — which included a helicopter — means most of those emotions are probably not positive.
Then there are the other Viking quarterbacks. The fact that Childress pressed so hard to recruit Favre tells Jackson and Rosenfels that their coach doesn’t believe in them. That they’re not good enough to win. This is not good for morale.
Childress may need their services yet, so alienating them is not a good idea. Favre will turn 40 during the season, and recently had surgery on his throwing shoulder. His rotator cuff remains partially torn. He may or may not be able to add 16 more games to his legendary consecutive starts streak. A backup plan is essential in the NFL, and Minnesota’s just got weaker. Quarterbacks who resent their coaches tend not to work as hard or play as well.
While Favre is on a two-year contract, his Viking tenure is probably intended to be a one-year experiment. If he disappoints, he’s gone. The second year on the contract is insurance. It means that the Vikings can trade him away after the season and get something in return, whether draft picks or veteran players. With a one-year deal, the Vikings would get nothing if Favre suits up elsewhere in 2010.
Of course, Brett had a two-year deal with Jets, too. When he retired after the season, the Jets lost control over him. They got nothing when he went to Minnesota. The Vikings face a similar fate if history repeats itself. They’ve made a risky move. The upside is high, but so is the downside.
Regardless of what everyone else thinks, Brett Favre is happy to be playing football again. How the Vikings do this season will determine whether his teammates and fans share his emotions or resent them.
About the Author
Ryan Young is Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Gomer Pyle| 8.21.09 @ 7:33AM
You actually get paid to write this drivel? Wilf is gambling that Favre will do better than any other QB he has and it's a good bet. If teammates skill and fortitude, even if selfish (read Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez) is enough to take the team deep into the playoffs, who cares? Having a team that respects each other and go's nowhere, doesn't fill seats and buy jerseys...both of which are going spectacularly well in MN. All anyone wants is a winner and the Vikes are putting their money on it.
sclemens| 8.21.09 @ 8:15AM
I seem to recall similar "messiah" hopes with the Hershel Walker trade in the 80's........ We'll see.
Jeff| 8.21.09 @ 9:30AM
I'm just glad I get to watch him play another season.
Nagurski| 8.21.09 @ 9:53AM
Gunslingers go out with their boots on and that's what #4 is doing. He will be better off in Minnesota than he was in New York. I expect him to play well and to be incredibly motivated. He wanted this last year and now he's got it. The only question in my mind is if he can stay healthy. If he does and the Vikes remain a running team first.... they will challenge for the NFC crown. Football should be glad he's back, swagger and all. If the Packer fans want to keep crying about it... well, they should follow golf instead.
It's high noon and The Gunslinger is back.
John - TMF| 8.21.09 @ 10:05AM
"...Favre expertly ran for 16 years in Green Bay..."
Two things wrong with that statement:
1. Farve was always a borderline QB. Sometimes great, sometimes horrid, and it wasn't predictable as to whether that would be from year to year, game to game, or even series to series. He was a RIFFING-IT QB much like Michael Vick...
The play book consists of 500 pages 0f 499 pages with the word PASS printed in the center. and one that says RUN (IF he doesn't PASS).
2. 16 years. Right. That is primarily what is wrong with the picture. 16 years. TOO LONG.... TOO OLD... TOO INJURED... Which all equates to a pathetic man who doesn't know how to do anything else, and a sad fan base that cannot move on...
Favre should have retired after the ICE BOWL 2.0 NFC Championship game that he couldn't pull out, but manfully tried... He would have gone out a big time hero... with class and style to await a probable first round Hall of Fame election (though I personally would rather see many other deserving players make it in before him, including Jerry Kramer and Dick LeBeau. )
These antics (and that is what they are) speak of a person who cannot see his own image in the mirror... for what it is. It also speaks ill of a football management, coaching, and fan mentality that has grave difficulty adapting.
The whole Favre saga is pathetic. He will have flashes of brilliance... in the beginning... Those flashes will fade as the season wears on, and the hits mount. Favre will be a has-been by game 8.
Of course the crumb line will be there... eagerly waiting for some little scrap of a chance to play. Which is the way the entire athletic pecking order works from the days of pee-wee bench warming... to High School Golden 16 taxi squads... waiting for someone to get hurt... or fail...
I love football... Favre and company make it difficult sometimes, though.
ugh.
R/John - TMF
scott| 11.3.09 @ 8:49PM
R/John, the only thing that has been borderline all these years in Green Bay has been the talent at every position other than QB. Favre owns every passing record in the NFL and he did it with the likes of Freeman and Driver and not Rice or Taylor. Lets let this one stat speak to Favre's greatness. From 1980-1991 the Pack had two winning seasons if you want to include the 1982 strike shortened season. After Farve took over in mid 1992, the Pack had one (yes one!) losing season. In 2008 Favre leaves and the team that one year earlier was playing for the NFC Championship was back to losing. Meanwhile the formerly woeful Jets were playoff contenders despite Favre having a clearly serious arm injury. Exit NY and enter Minnesota and we now see the Vikes mentioned as one of the favorites to win the NFC. No longer can teams stack the box with 8 defenders and dare the Vikes to pass.
craig henry | 8.21.09 @ 10:22AM
Does Favre like playing football or does he like being the famous beloved quarterback?
You really ought to check out the website for the Cold Hard Football Facts. The demonstrate that Favre's performance has been less than steller for the last 10 years.
scott| 11.3.09 @ 8:53PM
craig henry...does it matter? It's Favre's life to live. I've seen Brett's stats and I've seen GB's record with and without him. The were perennial winners with him (0nly one losing season) and they are back to being the losers they used to be without him. Winners win, losers lose, and the envious just whine like little girls!
BabyLupah| 8.21.09 @ 10:56AM
Sounds more like Cash for Clunkers.
Paydirt| 8.21.09 @ 11:11AM
Sounds like some Favre hating to me.... Mama Mia. Say, is this the United States??? The man wants to play some football and a team with a chance at the super bowl wants to pay him $12 million to play QB. What am I missing here?
John TMF, the problem with the NFL today is there aren't that many compelling figures. In addition, there are too many criminals in the game which makes it tough to find someone to root for. Every day it seems, another player arrested, charged. Favre is 40 in a few weeks and wants to give it a go. I say God bless him, I'm 44 and I wish I could still sling it.
One day, he'll be gone for good and we'll be stuck with a bunch of ill tempered derelicts.
Here's to #4.
Galen| 8.21.09 @ 11:12AM
Brett Favre should sign an "advance directive" before each game.
Paul from SA| 8.21.09 @ 11:48AM
I can't stand Brett Favre anymore. He used to be one of my favorites players, but now I just wish he would go away.
It used to be where I hated watching the Packers play on TV because the commentators spent too much time talking about Brett Farve and would ignore the game. They had to re-analyze his birth, his childhood, his teenage years, the death of his father and what affect that had on him, his relationship with his mother, his teachers in middle school, his first date, his prom, his years in college, .... And then Brett's opinion on the weather and middle east had to be examined. Brett this, Brett that, .... Guys, what about the game? What about the last play?
He's going about retirement the wrong way.
I thought David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs retired in the best way possible. He announced before his last season that he will be retiring after the season is over. (It also helped the Spurs franchise plan for it instead of leaving them and his fans in limbo.) Every time the Spurs played on the road, the opposing fans gave big Dave a standing ovation, knowing it's his last season. Brett Farve could have experienced the same thing. The Spurs won the NBA championship that season and David will forever be remembered in the most positive light possible. Of course, he is known locally for his off-the-court activities helping kids and supporting his Carville Academy.
scott| 11.3.09 @ 8:56PM
Earth to Paul. This is America. The founders fought a Revolution so they could determine their own future and not have it determined for them. If you don't like Favre, turn of the TV and maybe go do something rather than dump on someone who is doing what only half dozen in the world can do.
David W.| 8.21.09 @ 12:10PM
NEWS FLASH... from here in Wisconsin this smells like what it most certainly is, (Favre's personal vendetta against team management in Green Bay) old cheese. The boy feels he's been wronged, and lives to kick Packer butt, so he won't be happy until he does. At 39 years of age, what is the realistic possibility that the Packers' defense will clean Mr. Favre's clock -- probably about 100 percent! Many will pay to see that, and that's what matters in the NFL, full seats and great ratings. Whatever hall of fame credits he has amassed over his remarkable career, his self-serving vendetta will offset in short order if (when) he tanks in Minnesota. Just a bit tiresome for those of us in cheeseland.
scott| 11.3.09 @ 8:58PM
How's that Pack defense looking now? The Pack is back to the losers that they used to be b4 #4. How many winning seasons have they had since 1980 without Brett? Ummm two if you wanna count the strike season. Hahahaha...now that is funny!
Bart M| 8.21.09 @ 12:38PM
I live and Wisconsin and remember the debacle that was the Packer - Vikings game each year in the Metrodome. As a Packer fan, I look forward to Brett playing 8 games a year in that dome.
Scott| 11.3.09 @ 8:59PM
Bart...when was the last time the Packers won in Minnesota without a QB named Farve at the helm. Let me know when you figure that one out because it has been a while.
BabyLupah| 8.21.09 @ 1:01PM
Bart M: Agree wholeheartedly. As a Packer stockholder, I'd like to assign number 4 to a rookie kicker.
Paul from SA| 8.21.09 @ 1:26PM
It's good to hear from Packer fans. You are an impressive group of Americans.
I'm still reminded of Jean Kerry referring to 'Lambert Field' while campaigning in Wisconsin.
BTW, I meant 'Carver Academy' not Carville. Sorry Dave.
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Mark| 8.21.09 @ 1:55PM
I'm so sick of this prima donna and his egomania! I can't stand the sight of him anymore. Isn't there some sort of "class" clause in NFL contracts that Goodell can enforce against him? Go Packers!
Kingfish | 8.21.09 @ 4:24PM
If he can play well enough to start , not hurt his team, and enjoys it, whats the problem?
Bruce| 8.21.09 @ 8:41PM
I can`t wait to see Urlacher slam him into the frozen soldier field turf or hard astroturf up in the "rollerdome".
Scott| 11.3.09 @ 9:02PM
The funny part of that comment is that it's the 40 year old man still playing while the great Urlacher (and he is great) is sidelined for the year. Favre just keeps on rolling.
Yellowstone | 8.22.09 @ 12:51AM
The story of Brett Favre's career is on display in the last game of his GB career. What was it 2nd down? And Brett the genius throws it up for grabs, 50 or 60 yards in the air.... into coverage. Of course it is grabbed by a Giant defender. Favre could never bring himself to give up on a bad play and save the ball for another down. Being a Bronco fan, I never really minded tho.
Scott| 11.3.09 @ 9:04PM
Well one thing we know is that if Rodgers was QB, he would never have got the ball off because he would have been sacked and sacked and sacked and sacked and sacked. Do you detect a trend?
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JeffT| 8.22.09 @ 7:53AM
To my namesake, Jeff, be careful what you wish for. We Jet fans got the opportunity to watch an aged Favre last season. It was anything but pretty.
Scott | 11.3.09 @ 9:05PM
JeffT, now that Brett is gone I see you guys are back to being the doormat of the division. Congrats.
Mark| 8.24.09 @ 9:48AM
Favre's act is as tired as his arm. I'm glad that the circus has pitched its tent in Minneapolis. Watch as Favre takes another team & coach down with him.
Scott| 11.3.09 @ 9:07PM
Hahaha...well the word now is that Chilly will be getting a contract extension thanks to old Brett. 7-1 at the bye. Who knows what will happen the rest of the way but Chilly's bacon was saved by old #4.
Bo Darville| 8.24.09 @ 3:39PM
"It's good to hear from Packer fans. You are an impressive group of Americans."
Boy, we've lowered the bar there. Should we include Dukes of Hazzard fans and Boxcar Willie impersonators as "impressive groups of Americans"?
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