Why Brett Favre Will Be a Minnesota Viking in 2009

Seems like we’ve been down this road before, only with a different team on the front of the jersey.

New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre has announced his second straight retirement—this one after a promising 8-3 start turned into a 9-7 disappointment—with the Jets missing the playoffs yet again, despite a five-game improvement from 2007.

However, as I listen to this repeat performance of Favre retiring, the initial reaction is, will he stay retired—and if not—what is going to happen?

Everything that follows is a moot point if Favre turns in his retirement papers. If not though, and especially if it takes a while, it will show that Favre has no intention to retire, and one could argue his numbers in 2008 (343 for 522, 3472 yards, 22 touchdowns, 22 interceptions) were on par with previous seasons.

This tells us that Favre could still have that competitive itch and, much like last year, is only retired because he’s burned out after a long season.

So if Favre still can be competitive, why isn’t he still a Jet?

Favre wasn’t welcome as a Jet anymore, no matter who you ask. He was a love child of former coach Eric Mangini, and with new coach Rex Ryan and returning offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer ready to go the next step with the team, Favre just didn’t give this team the postseason opportunities they could have with Kellen Clemens.

Clemens is young, has spent many years learning the system, has a body that doesn’t have the type of wear and tear, and wouldn’t mind a couple of training camps —something Favre didn’t go to).

Early names include Chris Simms and Byron Leftwich as potential replacements, or drafting a quarterback.

Add to that the dissension following the season from running back Thomas Jones and safety Kerry Rhodes, the mess is bigger than it needs to be.

I for one, watched many Jets games, thanks to my fantasy ownership of Jones, and the number of plays that were called for Favre—especially in the red zone—arguably contributed to the second half slide of the team.

Seeing Favre go should not bother many in the green and white.



So why didn’t Favre ask for his outright release if he can still play? Apparently, sources say his agent Bus Cook discussed it, but was told that was not an option.

Football is a business, and if in a few months Favre wants to play, the Jets could easily gain a third or fourth round pick to trade him. But who would be willing to take on a 40-year-old quarterback?

How about some teams in the NFC North that couldn’t have him last year, like the Minnesota Vikings or the Chicago Bears?

Putting Favre in the purple and gold seems like the smartest option if he was to play again.

With a two-headed rushing attack in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor taking the focus of the offense, Favre wouldn’t need to be the biggest priority that he was in Green Bay and he felt he was in New York.

The Jets would likely have no qualms about getting rid of a cap hindrance, especially because if he does not file retirement papers, Favre would still count as a $13 million figure for New York.

Right now Minnesota has $20 million under the cap, and they are a team that sits right on the verge of the playoffs. Taking the one-year plunge with Favre is the best option this team could make if he decides to come back.

Brett Favre played this game with the media less than a year ago, and I have little reason to believe he will fully stay retired this time around.

His numbers show that there is still that potential to play if he wanted to, and with the NFC North now a possibility as a home for Brett like he wanted in 2008, I predict Brett Favre will un-retire again and play in 2009 for the Minnesota Vikings.