Vikings Insider: No. 4 once more? Maybe

Brett Favre got part of his wish last summer when the Green Bay Packers granted the quarterback an (ugly) divorce by trading him to the New York Jets. But that was far from what Favre considered ideal.

As most everyone knows, what Favre really wanted was his unconditional release so he could sign with the Vikings; join his good friend Darrell Bevell, the Vikings offensive coordinator; and stick it to the Packers twice a season.

There was no way the Packers were going to let that happen. Now, less than a year later, there is no way they can stop that from happening. Favre has been granted his release by the Jets and is free to shop himself. That's why, as Favre's agent Bus Cook tries to tell everyone that his client's second retirement is going to stick, most are convinced Favre is going to be under center on Sept. 13 when the Vikings open in Cleveland.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Friday that Favre hasn't come up in discussions but acknowledged that almost certainly would change. On the surface, it almost makes too much sense for this not to happen. Favre gets his shot at revenge, Childress gets a quarterback he is enamored with and owner Zygi Wilf gets instant sellouts. The obvious desire for those who want to see this happen is to rush the process.

But if Favre is going to become a Viking, it's going to take some time.

Among the chief concerns is the condition of Favre's throwing arm. The Jets appeared headed to the playoffs last year before winning only one of their final five games as Favre played with a partially torn biceps tendon. During his retirement news conference, Favre implied he would need arthroscopic surgery but was unwilling to take that step. It's unclear if he changed his mind and quietly had the tendon repaired.

Favre also is likely trying to decide if he wants to face the backlash and ridicule that would come with ending his second shot at retirement. In a conference call with reporters last February, he said: "I have family and friends [who said], 'All right, Brett, is this the real deal?' And it is. It is, believe me. It's been a wonderful career. I couldn't ask for anything more."

But Favre might decide fielding queries about his waffling ways is well worth the potential reward of running an offense that includes Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson and two playmaking wide receivers in Bernard Berrian and first-round pick Percy Harvin. The Vikings' biggest question mark, of course, remains the quarterback position, where Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels are set to battle for the job in training camp.

Favre, who will turn 40 in October, kept himself in shape during the offseason in the latter stages of his career, but he did it while at home in Mississippi. He never has been a fan of offseason programs, and that's another reason why he wouldn't rush to sign with the Vikings.

Childress, who got to know Favre when he visited Green Bay while serving as an assistant with the University of Wisconsin in the 1990s, is unlikely to pressure Favre, knowing that if he does return, it only would be to play for the Vikings.

Learning the Vikings offense wouldn't be an issue for Favre. The team's West Coast system is nearly identical to the one used by the Packers when Mike Sherman served as their coach from 2000 to '05. Mike Holmgren also ran a similar system with Green Bay.

While Favre might not need an offseason in Minnesota to learn the system, there is the issue of what type of teammate he would be off the field.

A veteran Jets player, quoted anonymously by Newsday last winter, described Favre as a "distant" teammate who, when at the team's practice facility, spent his downtime away from the other players in an office specially designated for him.

"There was a lot of resentment in the room about him. He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone," the player told Newsday.

Given the positive presence that Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen brought to the locker room last season, the Vikings could risk taking a step back if players felt Favre was getting prima donna treatment.

Then there is the issue of the future Hall of Famer's potential on-field relationship with Childress, who is a stickler for details, precision and execution. Favre is, well, Favre. He operates on a risk-reward system that could drive a guy like Childress up the wall.

But given that Childress is entering the second-to-last year of his contract, that might be a chance he is more than willing to take.

Judd Zulgad jzulgad@startribune.com