Brett Favre Keeps Minnesota Waiting

by Brandon on Jul 16, 2009 3:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

But QB Brett Favre says he'll let them know by the start of training camp on July 30th:

"There’s two weeks left and I’m doing everything I can," Favre said. "I was down here Sunday morning working out. I’m trying to get everything to where I feel 100 percent when I go in. I can’t go in any less. When you’re 39 years old, it’s hard enough. But it’s getting there."

My first thought was the Vikings should be mad as hell. He must know he's going to be playing at this point since he's been talking to them for a while and underwent surgery to get ready. I'd be furious to find out that he's still just stringing me along.

But it really doesn't matter when he signs, as long as it's before July 30. The Vikings aren't doing any team activities until then, so he isn't missing anything. QB Tarvaris Jackson's confidence should already be low since he's watched his coach openly flirt with Favre for months already, so two more weeks isn't going to make their relationship any worse. Just knowing that he won't keep stalling past the start of training camp is a good thing:

He'll carry it out to the last minute, and as long as "last minute" is defined as the moment training camp begins, I can live with that...

When you put it all together -- the rigorous practice schedule, the progress he's apparently making on the field, and his feeling that he 'still has it' -- you've gotta be left with the impression that this is virtually a done deal. At this point, it's really just a matter of waiting for it to become official because everything's pointing in that direction. Barring a stunning and unexpected setback, of course.

Bottom line: He's comin', he's comin'!

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Comments

I've often thought seriously about this

This is not intended to start a flame war, I am genuinely curious.

Lets say Favre is a given to start for my Vikes this year. He has to go into your house at LEAST once (we could both make the playoffs, strong teams). What do you think the reaction would be in these scenarios:
A) Introduction in the starting lineup

B) Torches you guys and Aaron has a bad 2-3 pick game.

C) Reverse, Favre lays an egg and Aaron punishes us for 2-3 TDs.

Just curious. Enjoy.

by Jepp The Viking on Jul 16, 2009 11:21 AM CDT reply actions

A) some cheers, mostly boos. I’m pretty sure the run of the mill Packers fan loved the guy right up an until he decided to take a personal beef with Packers management out on the Packers fans, and the fans will act accordingly. Favre has acted like it’s all about him for several years – in essence holding the franchise hostage to his retirement whims because he got mad that they drafted Rodgers – and that act just ran itself out last offseason.

B) Certainly could happen. I’m not confident McCarthy is coach enough to pull the team out of the kind of downward spiral that might cause, but then again the roster’s so full of young guys that aren’t beholden to almighty #4 that I think they’d probably bounce back – especially in light of the fact that the Packers are installing a new defensive scheme and could attribute a poor performance on that. As for Rodgers specifically… I’m pretty confident he’d get over it pretty quickly. He just seems to be a real even-keel guy. I do think that the Vikings would be pretty tempted to get too cocky in the wake of that, and forget what happened to Brett in 08 shortly after he and the Jets took down the then-undefeated Titans. He’s gonna run out of gas as the season wears on, and having the highlight be the Packers game could be potentially even more damaging to the Vikings if he blows his wad (so to speak) too soon.

C) There’d be dancing in the streets of Green Bay, most certainly. I think the reaction on both teams would be more subdued. Packers are looking at an up-and-down season with the big changes on D and the fluidity of the new starters on the o-line. Vikings should be prepared for some spotty performances by Brett. Adding Favre isn’t about this one game for the Vikings (although it may very well be about this one game for Brett), so they’ll do okay. It’ll be a long season.

D) Two scenarios you didn’t account for: both guys rock or both guys suck. I think the media attention goes away if they both suck. If they both rock (and assuming both teams play up to potential), then all we’ll hear about for the rest of the season is whether both teams will face eachother again in the playoffs. Given the fickleness of the Minnesota media, I suspect the pressure in that scenario would get to the Vikings first. Just a guess.

by swilldog on Jul 16, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions