Favre Ditches Retirement, Joins Vikings

(CBS/AP)  Brett Favre is coming back for more.

The 39-year-old quarterback turned his back on retirement for the second time in as many years, agreeing Tuesday to play for the Vikings.

Favre took a morning flight on a team plane from Mississippi to Minnesota, arrived to cheering fans outside the team's practice facility and was in a helmet and pads less than 90 minutes later. His red practice jersey was the familiar No. 4, the same number he wore for years with the rival Green Bay Packers.

The team confirmed a deal was done to The Associated Press, but terms were not immediately disclosed. ESPN reported earlier that the deal was for between $10 and $12 million.

This is Favre's second comeback. A year ago, he came out of a short retirement to join the Jets.

Favre had arthroscopic surgery to fix his throwing shoulder in May and three weeks ago told coach Brad Childress he would stay retired. The Vikings wrapped up training camp last week - Favre was never a big fan of training camp - and beat Indianapolis 13-3 in their preseason opener Friday. They even got an encouraging performance from quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who has been competing with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job.

All that goes out the window with Favre returning to add to a resume that already includes nearly every NFL career passing record.

His zinger of an arm and toughness in the pocket are a combination few possess. With an offense he says he could operate in his sleep, Favre seems to fit well with Minnesota - especially given the Vikings' problems finding a reliable quarterback since Childress took over in 2006.

The Vikings have Pro Bowl players all over their roster, with reigning NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson in the backfield and a dominant defensive line. No matter who's behind center, they ought to be in position to defend their NFC North title.

To win the conference, and perhaps that elusive Super Bowl, they'll need stability at the sport's most critical position.

Favre has wrestled with retirement for most of this decade and the will-he-or-won't-he saga became an annual offseason drama for the Packers, his longtime home. In Green Bay, the latest news elicited a few shrugs, but little more.

A few months after Favre's tearful goodbye news conference in March 2008, Green Bay traded him to the Jets when he tried to come back, only to learn the Packers were committed to Aaron Rodgers. Favre started strong in New York, but faded down the stretch amid problems with his throwing arm and, with another "I'm done" announcement, headed for his second retirement.

The Jets released him from his contract right after the draft and soon after, the Vikings were openly expressing interest. Favre spent the summer working out in Mississippi and led everyone to believe he was on his way back to the NFL until last month.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever made," Favre told ESPN then. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable."

The next day, Childress was asked whether there was a chance the Vikings would still pursue Favre. He said: "Not from my standpoint, no." Owner Zygi Wilf reiterated that pledge on the first day training camp.

And yet here comes Favre, who turns 40 in October and said last month he didn't think he had enough left to get through a full season.

"I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons," Favre said then. "I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."

He has a lot of interceptions to his name, too, more than any other quarterback in NFL history. The last time Favre appeared in the playoffs - a bitter loss at Lambeau Field by the Packers to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game following the 2007 season - he put up one of his worst performances in recent memory.

[rtrav85]

favre is the most exciting player and best leader and competitor in the NFL. cant wait to watch the vikings: http://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/Sports/Favre-is-Back-Again/sl40763392bp488cpp5pn1.html

[jackp32]

The nuts continue to run the NFL zoo.

[Vetzero]

Pleasing, nice to see him with the Vikings. I think he's wanted to play for Minnesota for quite awhile now and now has a way into the lineup. He ought to take it. I just wonder if he has enough offensive protection to keep him from being prematurily flushed from the pocket and having to throw on the run. I think there will be enough defenses in the league to show him if this was such a great idea. Lotsa 'big uglys' out there on the down side of the defensive line that are getting, bigger, faster, stronger and always with an attitude. He'll get no sympathy, especially from Green Bay's defense.

He'll need a very good ground game to keep him from having to throw so much. I wouldn't want him to have to pass a lot but if there is no ground game then it's nime to know Brett can loft it on out there.

[nojoy01]

I don't watch a particular team any more. Just particular players no matter which team thay are playing for. Most of the players in the NFL are good players, but there are some who seem to defy the laws of physics, probabilities, and logic. They are the ones who are fun to watch & make the game worth watching. Elway, Montana, Favre, Marino, Manning (the elder, the younger looks good but he's not there yet), Namath. Derrick Thomas, Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Singletary, Sayers, and others past & present. These players and others like them, who aren't mentioned, are the ones who "make the magic" which is what the NFL has to sell to their viewers. Without these kinds of players it's just a bunch of jocks thumpin' on each other. :))

[nojoy01]

Three things. First: There have been other, successful, 40 yr old quarterbacks in the NFL. Ken "the snake" Stabler comes to mind right away. And when he couldn't play quarterback anymore, he trasitioned to punter for a couple of years. Second: What we are seeing here is the "free market" in operation. Favre has a saleable talent in the NFL and somebody thinks it's still worth $10-12 million. Third: Wouldn't it be a riot if they picked him up as "insurance"? A really well paid backup quarterback. Fourth: Let us all hope, for him, for the Vikings, for professional football, that they are paying him that much not for what he has done, but rather, for what he can stil do. Fifth: If somebody were willing to pay me that kind of money I would, as fat, bald, & oid as I am, be willing to take my chances at out dodging, out smarting, and out sliding those humongous defensive line men, ends, & linebackers. But then again, who would pay to see a bald headed old fatman running for his life? :) Go Favre. For as long as the body holds together show the kids that age & experience will overcome youth & enthusiasm every time.

[nearl451]

Well. the Vikings are depsarate for a QB and Favre, he just can't quit....he'll hit the wall first.

Expect to see him retire and unretire next season as well.

[mariannpepit]

I am so glad that Favre is playing for the Vikings. With all the news about Vick's being reinstated to play and the Eagles signing him up Favre will now be the headliner. And no team fears Vick. That's all made up by the media. Favre is a better quarterback than Vick. Also, I believe the Vikings have a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than the Eagles.

[johnbrown8888]

Who are the Bi-kings? A team of guys of indeterminate sexual orientation?

[myopinionpal]

Pro football is a sport for young men not old ones.he need to go back into retirement before he wind up getting a Lawrence Taylor career ending hit just ask Joe Theisman.

[junebug1965]

What a jerk. He's physically unable to keep up with the other guys. With his record of retiring an unretiring, how good is allegiance to the current team he's on?
He just needs to go away. He's a joke.

[pete_in_az]

Yikes. He's younger then you. And a far bit more acomplished I'm willing to wager.

[helloall34]

Team allegiance is not relevant. However, I don't think he can play consistently anymore. I saw that last year (I watched all the jets games). However, he likes to play the game and teams are still offering him big money for "one more season". Of course he is going to take it. Who wouldn't do the same in this situation ?