Jackson goes from starter to student

Tarvaris Jackson initially laughed off the interview request as he trotted off the practice field on Thursday. Half joking around, the Vikings backup quarterback wondered why anyone would want to talk to him.

With Brett Favre playing at a near-MVP level, Jackson has gone from central figure at Winter Park to forgotten man. He has been the primary backup to Favre in all eight games, but that doesn't mean much when the guy in front of you will play in his 300th consecutive game, including playoffs, on Sunday as the Vikings play Detroit.

Yet, despite throwing only five passes -- all in mop-up cameos -- this remains an important season in terms of Jackson's maturation. Favre has never been known as the mentoring type, but his presence gives Jackson the chance to ask questions of a future Hall of Famer.

"Mostly I just watch and listen," Jackson said. "The thing with him is, you're better off watching, and when you don't understand why he did this or why he did that, just ask, because you never know what's going through his head. He's been in the league 19 years."

Jackson, who has started 20 games in three-plus seasons since he was taken in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Vikings, was marveling Thursday at a deep post route Favre had thrown. "It is on the money every time," he said.

Jackson stands to be a free agent at the end of the season -- he could end up being restricted if no new collective-bargaining agreement is reached. He entered training camp expecting to battle Sage Rosenfels for the starting job, but that ended Aug. 18 when Favre signed a two-year contract.

With the way the 40-year-old Favre has been playing, it would be premature to assume he won't return for a 20th season. Rosenfels signed a three-year extension when the Vikings acquired him from Houston last winter.

Jackson has a 10-10 record as a starter and has thrown 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. His play has drawn the ire of local fans on several occasions. Still, Jackson would like to see things work for him as a Viking.

"Definitely," he said. "This is the team that drafted me and the team that put their faith in me. But I understand there's a business part of it, and that really doesn't bother me. I feel like, regardless if it's here or somewhere else, I'm going to get my chance again, and I feel like I'll be a better quarterback in that situation."

Last year was harder

Jackson said last season was far more difficult on him than what happened this summer. Jackson was the starter entering 2008, lost the job to Gus Frerotte after starting 0-2, and then returned as the starter late in the season.

"Being benched was more of a frustration because I felt like it had a lot more to do with me than this year," he said. "It was Coach's decision to bring [Favre] in. I couldn't do anything about that situation, but last year I could have played better early in the season and it might have been a whole different situation.

"But that's how things happen. Everything happens for a reason so I'm just going to take it from here and just try and build on it."

Coach Brad Childress said he can see Jackson learning even though his snaps in practice are limited. "I don't think there's any question that he's grown," Childress said. "You can't quantify it and say, 'Well, he got 300 more snaps or anything like that,' but I've seen good things happen."

Jackson's hope is that spending time as Favre's teammate will pay off.

"Whenever you can play with a future Hall of Famer, it's always a great experience, even though you're not playing," he said. "I'm still a team player, we're 7-1, we have a chance to win a championship. What else do you want? I'd love to be the starting quarterback in that situation, but whenever you can get a ring, you take it."