In Wednesday's Star Tribune, columnist Jim Souhan writes: There are lots of good reasons for coaxing a future Hall of Famequarterback out of retirement. As long the Vikings don't think one ofthem is an aging Favre's ability to propel his team to the Super Bowl,then, what the heck? Sign Favre, watch the fireworks, and understandthat this January, Favre might wind up looking all too much like across between Brad Johnson and Tarvaris Jackson.
He might also look like a cross between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. For the first time in his career, Favre would not be the focal point of opposing defenses. Never in Green Bay did he have a running back that was even 65% of what Adrian Peterson is. And last year with the Jets, it's not like Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Bills head coach Dick Jauron were losing sleep, agonizing over how to contain Thomas Jones.
The key is to manage his throws. He was asked to do too much the previous few Decembers, especially last year while playing with a biceps injury. Limit his throws to 25-28 attempts per game.
There is no downside to signing him. He won't stunt the growth of the future quaterback. That guy isn't on the roster. He's better than Tarvaris Jackon and Sage Rosenfels. He knows this offense, since it's similar to what he ran under Mike Sherman with the Packers. He won't cost them a draft pick. He'll sign for reasonable money, with no negotiating leverage. He sells tickets, corporate sponsorships, and could help spark interest in a workable, new stadium bill, even in this rotten economic time. You argue that he was distant with his Jets teammates last year? Notice, those players went public after the Jets went belly-up in December. When they were winning, we heard none of those words.
Winning cures everything, and with a favorable schedule, with only one cold weather game (in Chicago in Dec., but won't they have homefield in the NFC wrapped up by then?), there's a better chance than not that he'll have success here.
He wasn't nearly as bad last season as some are led to believe. He finished sixth in the NFL in completions (343), fifth in completionpercentage (65.7), ninth in touchdown passes (22), 11th in passingyards (3,472), tied for 12th in completions of over 20 yards (40), and tied for 13th in completions over 40 yards (7).
Wouldn't it be nice to have a signal caller that doesn't curl up into the fetal position in pressure situations? Someone who knows what he's doing in the two-minute drill?
If, by small chance, Favre fails miserably, - and at this point, it's a matter of when, not if, he signs with the Vikings - Brad Childress will lose his job. Owner Zygi Wilf would look to bring in a more established presence, someone like Jon Gruden.
The backlash from Packers fans under that scenario would get old quickly, but that's a chance that's worth taking. And a new regime would heal some of the wounds.
That's why I've dusted off my No. 4 Donald Igwebuike Vikings jersey. The Favre patch is ready to go on the back.
In this case, the risk is worth the reward, one way or another.