Many of us have assumed that when the time is right Brett Favre is going to announce that he will return for the 2010 season and the Vikings quarterback issue will be resolved for another year.

But some interesting information surfaced Tuesday when former NFL coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci appeared on WFAN Radio. Mariucci, who was Favre's first quarterbacks coach in Green Bay and remains good friends with the future Hall of Famer, said he talked to Favre "a few days ago," and that Favre is still bothered by the left ankle he injured in the Vikings' 31-28 overtime loss to New Orleans in the NFC title game.

"He doesn't know yet," Mariucci told hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts when asked if Favre was going to return. "He's trying to heal up. ... His body is recovered except for that ankle. That's not quite ready yet. It's an ankle that he had surgery on twice before and it's still pretty puffy. You remember he came out of that game with the ankle and went back in but it's still swollen.

"He's trying to determine: Is his body telling him something here? Or is he going to be feeling better in due time. He still hasn't made up his mind and the Vikings are not rushing him. That's what's a little bit crazy about it. I thought maybe they'd say, 'Listen, could you tell us by draft day please so we could determine where we're going to go.' But I don't think their draft needs are having to do with Brett. I think they are OK at quarterback. If he plays or if he doesn't play it doesn't matter. I think Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels will be there to play. They were supposed to be there last year to play.

"I think Brad Childress has said, 'Hey, Brett, just take your time, we want you back. All the players want him back. They just say, 'Get yourself ready and healthy and if you get to that point, get your butt in here.' But his mind isn't at that point yet because his body isn't feeling well enough to move around like that just yet."

Favre was hurt in the third quarter of the Saints game when he was hit high-low by defensive tackle Remi Ayodele and Bobby McCray.

This isn't good news for the Vikings considering Favre will turn 41 in October and this has almost certainly impacted whatever offseason conditioning he can do. Favre had minor surgery on the ankle in February 2007 after being bothered by a buildup of bone spurs for several years. He had surgery on the same ankle for a similiar problem in 1995.