As the Vikings continue to wait for Brett Favre to give them a thumbs up or thumbs down on playing the 2010 season, we remember a key day in how the Favre timeline played out a year ago.

It was on this day -- the actual date will come tomorrow -- that Favre changed his mind about staying retired and was brought to St. Paul's Holman Field in one of owner Zygi Wilf's private jets. Favre was then picked up by Brad Childress and brought back to Winter Park by the coach. With a television helicopter following the every move of Childress' Black Escalade the scene became surreal as Vikings players watched things unfold during breaking news reports.

By the time Childress drove down Viking Drive with the future Hall of Fame quarterback in the passenger seat the small slab of grass across from Winter Park was packed with screaming fans and a few Eden Prairie police officers attempted to keep those fans from bolting onto the Vikings property.

Favre was signed to a two-year, $25 million contract and played briefly a few days later in a preseason game against Kansas City at the Metrodome. It turned out to be one of the best investments Wilf has made since becoming the Vikings owner in 2005. Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record, a second consecutive NFC North title and the conference championship game.

That success is why the organization continues to hold its collective breath with the hope that Favre will return for a 20th NFL season. It's unlikely the mayhem that took place last Aug. 18 will be repeated if and when Favre does return, but there are many employees at Winter Park (not to mention Vikings fans) who will be just as excited as they were a year ago if he shows up in the coming days.