Minnesota Vikings: Latest Report Raises Questions About a Brett Favre Signing

Sports Illustrated's Peter King wrote several weeks ago, "Brett Favre is controlled by emotion."

It seems that seven weeks after Favre's shoulder/biceps surgery, Brett may still have to get a little further in the process of convincing himself that all risks or playing this year are worth the potential payoff.

But that is only one explanation for why Favre and the Vikings haven't sealed their deal yet.

For Favre, the pros of the situation are near insurmountable.

The Vikings are a perfect fit for Favre, and he certainly knows that. As the quarterback said on "Joe Buck Live" a few weeks ago, (quarterbacking the Vikings) "just makes sense."

The West Coast offense run by the Vikings is something Favre knows like his children. Unlike Eric Mangini's offense in New York, this is something Favre can direct with audibles and improvisation—exactly the recipe ripe for Favre conducting his legendary two-minute drives.

Just as important, Favre likes people he knows and trusts—and he has good history with both Vikings head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Childress learned the West Coast offense in Philadelphia, under Favre's mentor Mike Holmgren and Bill Walsh.

Bevell, a former collegiate starting quarterback for the University of Wisconsin, led the Badgers to a Rose Bowl victory in 1993 with Childress as his coach.

After college, Bevell went into coaching, eventually becoming Favre's quarterback coach in Green Bay. The friendship between Favre and Bevell remains close to this day. Their documented friendship even saved the Vikings from being found guilty of tampering charges for communicating with Favre before his trade to the Jets last year.

The Minnesota Vikings are stacked with talent.

No doubt Favre is salivating at the chance to be protected by an imposing offensive line, backed by a solid defense and be in play-making cahoots with Adrian Peterson.

There is no question about it. Favre wants in on the Minnesota Vikings 2009 season.

The question now is: why does Favre still need until "right before training camp," to decide if he is physically capable of playing?

That latest statement comes in the aftermath of  Favre working out for Bevell in Mississippi last Wednesday. He threw a good deal, but reportedly experienced "slight pain and throwing inconsistencies."

Everyone knew that Viking's head trainer Eric Sugerman was visiting Favre last week, but Bevell's presence wasn't relayed until four days later, via ESPN late Sunday night. That is a full four days after Favre's performance for Bevell.

Everyone following the Vikings expected Favre to sign toward the end of this week, right before single-game tickets go on sale to the public next Monday, July 20.

The Vikings owners would no doubt like to see Favre holding up a Purple No. 4 Jersey before this magical date.

Even reports from those who have spoken to Favre indicate he is "itching" to get into camp on July 31st.

Back to the question: "Why is the signing not happening this week?"

I would like to present three possible answers to the above quandary, all of them—by this point in the crazy Favre/Vikings saga—equally plausible.

Explanation Number One: Favre Is Still Spooked by What Happened at the End of Last Year.

He lost control of his throwing dimensions and couldn't do a thing about it.

As the New York press so aggressively detailed at the end of last football season, Favre's final five games last year were an utter disappointment. Don't think for a second that going from 8-3 to missing the playoffs last year stings Favre.

He's had his surgery, but in addition to the biceps tear that was operated on, at 469 consecutive stars and over 9,000 career passing attempts, Favre may have other concerns about his throwing arm. Repeating the same shoulder motions over and over can bring on tendonitis, shoulder impingement, specific rotator cuff injuries and deterioration of cartilage that cushions the shoulder joints.

Losing control of his weapon last year at the end of the Jet's season was something that very well could still be haunting Favre—even if actual recovery from Dr. James Andrew's work this year is coming along rather nicely.

If Favre is coming home to the NFC North, he's not coming to look mediocre.

And he's definitely not looking to return Kerry Collins-style—the term "game manager" is something that doesn't even register with Favre.  

However, even though Favre may still be concerned about his throwing arm, the Minnesota Vikings don't seem to be. Brad Childress flippantly said weeks ago that Favre's arm is healthy, adding that perhaps it just doesn't have its stamina back to par yet.

Perhaps more importantly, Sugerman saw Favre last week, and since then an unnamed Vikings source called Favre’s shoulder surgery a "complete success."

Favre himself said his recent throwing session for Bevell was encouraging.

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