Brett Favre and the Vikings' Vindication: Next Stop: Miami

From the moment Brett Favre was released by the New York Jets on Apr. 28, 2009, the Minnesota Vikings and Favre have been inseparable.

Headlines and rumors swirled throughout the summer about Favre ending his retirement—that he was staying retired for good due to arm surgery, that Vikings players Adrian Peterson and Steve Hutchinson were texting him to come back, that Brad Childress was visiting his home in Mississippi—and rumors even regarding Favre's daily tractor rides.

Some were true, many were misleading, and others were not even newsworthy, but in the end both parties—Favre and the Vikings—have been vindicated for their back-and-forth dance this offseason by locking up the No. 2 seed in the NFC and that coveted first-round bye.

When reports surfaced on Aug. 18 that Vikings head coach Brad Childress was en route to pick-up Favre at the airport and bring him directly to Vikings' training camp in Mankato, Vikings Nation was in euphoria. The once-hated rival and face of the Green Bay Packers signed a two-year $25 million contract only a few hours after the initial reports surfaced. Brett Favre was back. The NFL and the Minnesota Vikings were grateful, and all Vikings' fans immediately possessed a Super-Bowl-or-bust mentality.

The Vikings lacked a star quarterback to take them to the top—this three-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXXI champion was the perfect fit.

NFL fans all around the country were talking about Favre and the Vikings. Critics ran rampant with talk of him being "over the hill," that his arm won't hold up all season, and that the Vikings damaged the psyche of their backups Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. None of these issues were displayed throughout the whole 2009-2010 regular season.

There was even talk early on that Favre was creating a "schism" in the locker room. A term, I admit, I have never heard until this story was reported in professional sports. Once again, it simply was a misleading story and just another day in the life of Brett Favre. He is a media darling, and they love to find flaws with anything that seems too perfect or blow out of proportion the little things.

Pushing the critics aside, Favre and the Vikings shot out to a 6-0 record, including another classic Favre comeback in Week Three over the San Francisco 49ers, in which Favre threw a 32-yard laser (really traveled about 50 yards) to Greg Lewis in the back of the  end zone with two seconds left to lift the Vikings over the 49ers 27-24, and a Monday night victory 30-23 over the Green Bay Packers.

That epic contest became the most-viewed television program, sports or otherwise, in the history of cable television drawing a 15.3 rating and 21.3 million viewers.

A few weeks later in Week Eight, Favre returned to Lambeau Field to a mixture of cheers and boos...mostly boos. Favre would laugh last on this night as he threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-26 win. This game drew a 17.9 rating and 29.8 million viewers. 

The Brett Favre appeal, love him or hate him, was captivating audiences, pumping endless amounts of money into the NFL, and giving everyone something to talk about. In the two meetings this year, Favre dismantled the Packers throwing for 545 yards, seven touchdowns, no interceptions, taking no sacks, and grabbing two victories.

Packers Nation was sick to their collective stomach despite the fantastic play from Aaron Rodgers, and Vikings Nation was caught saying, "I told you he was our missing link."

Despite their fantastic start at 10-1, and in prime position to possibly secure the top-seed in the NFC playoffs, the Vikings' December swoon brought the critics back out to the forefront.

Talk of Favre's arm not holding up, the Vikings not playing well at the end of the season, Brad Childress calling out his future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, and losses of three of four in December sent many bandwagon fans packing. However, those that stayed true to their team and truly believed the Vikings were simply a good quarterback away from a Super Bowl knew that it was merely a speed bump on the trip to Miami.

Three of the four losses came on the road and outside to the Cardinals, Panthers, and Bears. The Vikings will not have to play outside until Miami and could host the NFC Championship game if New Orleans falters.

A 12-4 season, a No. 2 seed, a first round play-off bye, and Favre's numbers this season make vindication sweet for Favre and the Vikings. Favre finished the regular season, starting all 16 games and setting a personal best in least amount of interceptions thrown in a season at seven. He finished with 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns, the second-highest passer rating in the NFL at 107.2, and a completion percentage of 68.4.

He rose the level of play of third-year receiver and current Pro Bowler Sidney Rice to the tune of 83 receptions, 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. Percy Harvin continued his explosive play that we saw at Florida as a Viking and looked nothing like a rookie in his first year. And Visanthe Shiancoe set a Vikings team-record with 11 touchdowns as a tight end. Raising his level and of those around him, this season could arguably be considered the best season of Favre's illustrious career.

Through the ups and downs, constant headlines, and media scrutiny, the Vikings and Favre remained inseparable all season. This will hold true through the playoffs—the Vikings will go only as far as Favre takes them. He knows this and so do his teammates. When you anoint someone as the missing link to win a franchise's first Super Bowl before he plays a snap for your team, ridiculously high expectations are set that many can't live up to.

So far this year, Favre has exceeded all those expectations, and come playoff time, there is no one else I want behind center calling the cadence, making the adjustments, and taking the Minnesota Vikings to Miami than Brett Favre.