Brett Favre Needs Ankle Surgery: What It Really Means

News broke this morning that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will require surgery to repair his injured left ankle.

Favre injured the ankle during the 2010 NFC Championship and still battles painful swelling that has yet to recede.

A visit to surgeon Dr. James Andrews led to the diagnosis, and now Favre must consider whether he wants to go under the knife or simply end his long, storied career.

"We have spoken," Favre said in an e-mail to the Vikings according to ESPN.com.

"To play again, I would need the surgery, as I suspected. This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10—much like Green Bay for many years. That's what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging."

Favre's pending surgery will have an impact on the Vikings in numerous ways, but here are the five most pressing.

What Does It Mean for Training Camp?

For the last five years of his career, Brett Favre has found a litany of excuses to avoid training camp.

The 2010 season wouldn't be different, injury or no injury. Ankle surgery gives Favre the means to take another summer off.

We saw how Favre fit into the Vikings offense last season, so what would another training camp spent on the sidelines mean? Not much.

Ankle surgery means neither the Vikings nor Favre would have to create a convenient excuse for skipping camp and can chalk it up to the ankle.

How Serious Is the Injury?

This famous picture of Favre's ankle hit the Internet hours after the NFC title game, and according to Favre, not much has changed.

Neither Favre nor the Vikings released a statement regarding the severity of the injury. Favre did tell ESPN that he continues to deal with swelling and pain.

However, according to Dr. Andrews, avoiding surgery is an impossibility.

Will This Force Him to Retire?

That is the biggest concern for the Vikings right now, especially since the organization opted not to a se a quarterback in last week's draft.

Favre will have to weigh his options.

Does he want to undergo surgery before a season in which he will turn 41 years old? Or is surgery enough to deter Favre to FINALLY hang it up for good?

Favre faced a similar question last season when he needed offseason biceps tendon surgery.

The Vikings are still very much committed to an all-or-nothing season in 2010.

Will Favre's desire for a storybook ending compel him to have surgery? Or is this one last hill he is not willing to climb?

Could He Start the Season on Time?

At this time, the answer is, "no one knows."

None of Favre, the Vikings, or his doctors have offered a timetable.

It is time for OTAs and preseason workouts. Ankle surgery requires at least two months of recovery time.

Favre has always been known as a warrior, but can he tackle this comeback as fast as his team needs him to?

The Vikings' Alternatives

Their names were mentioned when Favre arrived in Minnesota last year.

But if Favre can't return from surgery in time or retires, this Super Bowl contender will be back in the hands of Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

The Vikings were tossed around as a possible landing spot for both Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy prior to the draft, but the Vikings passed.

Will they pay the price? Is there comfort in putting this talented roster in the hands of Jackson or Rosenfels? Or will an offseason move be in the cards?