An aging, prideful, elite athlete was deemed to be washed up nearly a decade ago. He was coming off a season in which he tried to play hurt. It looked like his days in the NFL might be coming to an end.

But instead, he joined his former biggest rival and sparked a season that fans will never forget — for reasons both good and bad.

That, of course, was quarterback Brett Favre in 2009. After a one-year detour in New York, where he threw a league-high 22 interceptions for the Jets, the longtime Packers QB came to the Vikings. He arrived to give a Vikings offense led by Adrian Peterson — then a third-year running back — some real balance. He ended up throwing 33 touchdown passes and seven interceptions in a 12-4 regular season. Included in that was a memorable early-season Monday Night Football game in Minnesota against his former team.

And a glorious season, of course, ended with a crushing overtime defeat to New Orleans in the NFC title game. The last time Favre threw the ball that season was a game-changing interception with the Vikings driving for a potential game-winning field goal. Aside from that throw and the bludgeoning Favre took that day from a Saints defense later implicated in scandal, the most common lament from Vikings fans about what transpired on Jan. 24, 2010 revolves around Adrian Peterson's fumbles. Though not charged with a lost fumble that day, Peterson was involved in three plays where the ball wound up on the ground — including a botched exchange with Favre late in the first half that cost the Vikings points.

But you know all this. The point? All these things came flooding back as I pondered the news that Peterson is signing with the Saints. It all feels full circle in so many ways.

First, you have the star athlete signing with a team that could be considered his longtime former team's rival. The Saints aren't to the Vikings what the Packers are, but 2009 forever gave New Orleans a certain status in Minnesota. Peterson is joining forces with Saints QB Drew Brees as two stars go all-in in hopes of having one more big run.

Second, you have that athlete doing so while hoping to prove he can still play. Peterson, like Favre, is coming off an injury and has plenty of doubters. If we learned anything from 2009 (and from Peterson in 2012, coming off his knee injury), it's that elite athletes who have been doubted can turn in amazing performances. Watch out for Peterson in 2017.

Third, you have the immediate drama of Saints vs. Vikings on Monday Night Football to open the season. Again, this won't be quite on the same level as when the Packers played the Vikings in 2009, but it will still be pretty incredible.

If we are going to completely close the loop, Peterson needs to have a marvelous 2017 season in which ball security isn't an issue, only to cost the Saints dearly with a fumble at the worst possible time. Then Vikings fans will all point and say, "told you so!" just like Packers fans did eight years ago.