Brett Favre's Return: Good for the Lions?

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

With his return, now they have one last chance. If they lose, it’s business as usual. But the possibility of a win at the Metrodome, against Brett Favre, is also a possibility to remove yet another monkey from the Lions’ back and make a statement about the direction of the franchise.

And in 2010, or 2011, or whenever Favre decides to leave the Vikings via retirement, change his mind in the spring, and look for another franchise with a weak QB situation to prey on, the Vikings will be back to square one. The QB situation will still be up in the air, Adrian Peterson will have a few more miles on him, and the Vikings’ window will begin to close.

Meanwhile, the Lions will have Matthew Stafford ready to go, and will have more drafts and offseasons to fill team needs. Regardless of past managerial errors,  the Lions  appear to actually get it this time, so there is some relative confidence for the first time in a while that the team can and will get better.

The Vikings can get better, too. If they wanted to, they could match the Lions step-for step and ascend to a 12-4 record as the Lions ascend to 9-7.

Instead, they want Brett Favre. They want to relegate Rosenfels to a backup role again, and put Jackson’s career in limbo.  Like a baseball team trading prospects for a big-name pitcher with an expiring contract, the Vikings are mortgaging the future to win now.

And maybe they can. Maybe Favre is the long-lost answer, an unforeseen puzzle piece that fits in and makes the Vikings’ offense glow with an unearthly quality. Maybe they win 14 games with him at the helm.

The Detroit Lions could care less, because once Favre’s latest run is done, the Vikings will be right where they are now, with a core that has a year or two less open window space, and another quarterback controversy.

And when that happens, the Lions will be right where they need to be to hit the gas and jet past them.

Dean Holden is the "Voice of the Lions" on NFLTouchdown.com. Check it out for in-depth analysis on the Lions and all 31 other NFL teams.

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