July 25: Favre saga: A new rift?

If Favre does decide to end his retirement and join the Vikings -- his agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN on Friday that a decision should come by the beginning or middle of next week, if not sooner -- the fact players were actively recruiting Favre likely will have played a role.

But if Favre decides he doesn't feel he can make it through the rigors of a 16-game season, that means that when training camp practices open next Friday the quarterback competition will begin between Jackson and Rosenfels.

Two guys who will know that many of their teammates really wanted Favre. For most, this probably doesn't seem like a big deal. Favre will turn 40 years old on Oct. 10 and slumped late last season with the Jets in part because of a biceps injury, but the majority would say he gives the Vikings the best chance to win.

Although Jackson and Rosenfels might not like it, knowing that coach Brad Childress and his staff are willing to wait on Favre can be rationalized as part of the business. The front office and coaching staff often make decisions that players might not agree with or like.

But when Jackson and Rosenfels' teammates begin prodding Favre to return, that crosses another line and can only be taken as a no-confidence vote in what the Vikings currently have at quarterback. Success at the quarterback position is based on many things, including authority and confidence. It is difficult to believe Jackson or Rosenfels has much of the latter at this point. Childress might have to do some serious damage control with these two if Favre does abandon his plan to play again.

To Jackson's credit, he seemed to roll with the punches this spring when asked about the Vikings courting of Favre -- although there have been reports Jackson will look to get out of Minnesota if Favre does arrive -- while Rosenfels, although he answered all the questions, seemed a bit more defensive.

This likely was because when Rosenfels arrived in a late February trade with the Houston Texans, all signs indicated he would have an excellent chance to be a starter for the first time in his nine-year career. The Vikings signed him to a three-year, $9 million contract extension that includes $5 million in guarantees.

This situation does have a feeling of familiarity to it for Rosenfels. He also thought he was going to get a shot to start for Houston in 2007 only to have the Texans make a spring-time deal with Atlanta for Matt Schaub.

To acquire Schaub, the Texans agreed to swap first-round choices in 2007 with the Falcons and also sent second-round picks in 2007 and 2008 to Atlanta. Houston then signed Schaub to a $48 million, six-year contract that included $7 million in guarantees.

The moment that transaction was completed, Rosenfels knew he had no shot to win the job.

One downside for Rosenfels in that case was that Schaub had only two career starts in his first three NFL seasons. Favre, of course, is eventually going to be a first-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame if he ever does retire. Being replaced by Favre might be a bit easier to stomach.

The issue is what if Rosenfels, or Jackson, isn't replaced by Favre? What if Favre stays retired? The guy who does end up starting for the Vikings -- a guy who would be counted on to guide what many feel will be a very competitive team -- will know he wasn't the first choice of many in the organization.

And some of them will be in the huddle on Sundays.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com