Rest assured, Favre to get new contract

There has been a lot of speculation that one of the reasons Brett Favre was going to come back with the Vikings was because of money.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback earned $12 million last year, and that was guaranteed. His two-year contract calls for $13 million for 2010, not guaranteed.

As Favre walked away from Wednesday's news conference, we had a private talk, and I asked him this: "Was money involved in your return?"

"You know better than that, Sid," was Favre's answer.

Steve Hutchinson, who along with Vikings teammates Ryan Longwell and Jared Allen made the trip to Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., and persuaded him to play, said money was never discussed. And Hutchinson was certain money had nothing to do with Favre's return.

There is no question Favre was going to get a big raise if he played this year after having the sensational season and taking the team to within one play from a Super Bowl.

I was told by a very good source that there wouldn't be any money talk until Favre decided to come back. And I'm told by another good source that a new contract hasn't been signed, but that there will be one to reward Favre for last season.

Favre was the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL last season, and others who weren't as productive have big contracts.

Philip Rivers of San Diego has a six-year, $92 million contract. Eli Manning of the Giants gets $97.5 million over six seasons. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger gets $102 million over eight years. Chicago's Jay Cutler had a contract that paid him $22 million last season.

So rest assured Favre will be paid in the $20 million area, including incentives and possibly some deferred money because the Vikings still owe Favre $4 million from last year to be paid in March 2011.

He might have been the best quarterback in the game last year, and the result was one of the best seasons in the history of the Vikings.

Thome signing was big Jim Thome's addition by the Twins is a major reason the team is leading the American League Central.

"Once last season ended, we talked about depth and some guys off the bench, and his name had come up a few times," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

"I've always had conversations with him, 'Someday you're going to be a Minnesota Twin.' And he said, 'Someday, I'd like to do that one year, I'd love to play for you guys and see what it's like.' So it finally worked out, he was a free agent and we were able to talk to him and we got him."

Thome has gotten into more games at DH because first baseman Justin Morneau has been out because of a concussion. Right fielder Michael Cuddyer moved to first, and DH Jason Kubel has been playing right field.

Gardenhire said he had one conversation with Thome before he signed: "I told him right now Cuddy is the right fielder and Kubel is our DH. But I told him that I would get him at-bats. I don't bring a guy in here and not let him play. He deserves at-bats, and I told him, 'I'll figure out a way to get you at-bats.' "

What does Gardenhire like about Thome?

"... I'd love to [have him back]. I've already told him that."

Jottings • Twins catcher Joe Mauer is on a real hot streak. He has moved into third place in the American League in hitting at .335 -- he was hitting. .295 at one point in July -- and had a league-high 39 doubles entering Thursday's game. Still, he hasn't approached his incredible numbers of last year, when he won the AL MVP Award by hitting .365 with 28 home runs and 96 RBI in only 138 games. Mauer's eighth home run of the season Wednesday night was his first at Target Field.

• The season-ticket renewal for Gophers men's hockey was 93 percent, and fans on the waiting list purchased the remaining available tickets. The season-ticket renewal for men's basketball was 95 percent, and there are 1,000 seats in the upper level of Williams Arena available for purchase.

• Lynn Holleran is serving as interim director of the Gopher academic department. The previous director, Mark Nelson, is working in student affairs in Morrill Hall.

• Eric Decker returned to practice with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday after missing 10 days because of a sprained ankle. The wide receiver was already behind because of missing most of the offseason while recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2009 season with the Gophers.

• Ex-Gophers linebacker Lee Campbell was re-signed by the Lions. He was cut July 31 to make room on the roster for another player. Detroit picked him up on waivers from the Giants, who signed him as a free agent.

• Matt Schuld, a St. Thomas graduate who signed with the Twins as a free agent in June, has appeared in two games for the Fort Myers (Fla.) Miracle, giving up an earned run and three hits in five innings.

• Brock Lesnar, who won an NCAA wrestling title for the Gophers, is 5-1 in his UFC career and holds the heavyweight title. He will defend it against Cain Velasquez on Oct. 23 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Velasquez is 8-0; he's a former All-America at Arizona, where he was beaten six times for another former Gophers NCAA champ, Cole Konrad.

• The Goal Line Club will host its annual Gopher Kick-Off luncheon on Wednesday at the DQ Club Room in the TCF Stadium.