Before heading over to the Bristol West Compound, I got myself to thinking (That's Mississippian for "I was thinking") ...

We've all pretty much come to the conclusion that Sage Rosenfels is the odd man out now that the Vikings have four QBs. Brett Favre, I hear, will be the starter. Tarvaris Jackson will be the backup. And Joe Webb would be the long-term project. And by long, we mean looooooong.

Before we say goodbye to Sage, let's think about this. Everything the Vikings have done is geared for this season. With that in mind, how important is it to develop Joe Webb?

Hey, I love the guy's arm, his running ability and his versatility to also play receiver. But think about it.

Do you really want a sixth-round project who is years away from being ready to play backing up a soon-to-be 41-year-old man and an injury-prone No. 2 QB? There's no guarantee that Favre's 285-game starting streak will reach 301. And there's a good chance, given his history, that Jackson gets hurt if he plays.

I know it would cost a lot of money to have Sage sit on the sideline for another season. But considering the team could pay Favre up to $20 million, I'd consider Sage a worthwhile insurance policy. The team could still fall apart under Sage, but at least it would have a fighting chance, which is something they wouldn't have if Webb or some veteran off the street had to play in case of an emergency.

So, sorry Joe, but if I'm the Vikings, I have to take the chance of you clearing waivers so that you can learn your craft on the practice squad.