Brett Favre: What Will the Off-Season look like when he is truly gone?

Around the months of March through June, the NFL offseason goes through a hiatus of sorts. It's a natural occurrence this time of year, and usually forces us football fans to span out and watch baseball, or observe the NBA and NHL drafts.

However, the past two seasons, NFL fans have been spoiled by the Brett Favre saga.

It has kept football fans with a strong grapple on the pulse of the NFL due to Favre's "comebacks." Implications of him coming back have changed team's outlooks on the season and fan's expectations of teams.

In 2008, the Jets came in with "playoffs or bust" expectations. Ironically enough, the Vikings of 2009 are in a "Super Bowl or bust" mode. With this set as the highest risk for both parties involved (Favre and the Vikings), there is no higher reason why he would want to return again...then again, we've all heard this song before.

But fortunately, science has taught us that players can only play so long before they literally will have nothing left in their bodies, and break down. In that sense, unless this surgery that Favre had on his arm makes it permanently immune to pain or exhaustion, 2009 will be his last year in the NFL.

With all joking aside, Favre has been a big influence on how the NFL offseason flows. Without Favre, the offseason is lifeless from draft to camp.

With that said, what will become of the period of time from March until July?

Terrell Owens is one of the more likely candidates to fulfill this role with age and persona. He also has the whole "crying during press conferences" down. However, without an NFL career record that automatically fulfills his role for the Hall of Fame, he won't be as lucky to sign with many teams if Buffalo doesn't work out.

Otherwise, the Michael Vick story may produce some steam. But like Owens, Vick comes with baggage and a personality of sorts. He could easily fill the role...if someone signs him first...and THEN he proves he's still "got it."

There's Pacman Jones. Although, like Vick, someone will have to hire him first. But, his personality seems to make the biggest splash. It doesn't help that his past sends a clear image of what their getting when a team signs him. Heck, Jerry Jones wouldn't even put up with it in Dallas and he let Owens play there for three seasons.

Favre's situation has seen imminent moves of late. Favre had surgery last month to help with his pain from his partially torn tendon in his throwing shoulder. The Vikings then recently sent a trainer down to evaluate Favre and his progress.

Favre has also had reports of purchasing hotel accommodations for his family in the Green Bay area the weekend the Vikings play at Lambeau. It's also been reported the Brett purchased a house in Eden Prarie, Minnesota.

On top of all that, it's been reported through WCCO, a local Minnesota radio/television station, that the Minnesota Vikings have ordered "Favre No. 4" jerseys.

As such, it's been assumed and reported through anonymous sources (I personally wonder who these "sources" are) that the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre have reached an agreement of terms in contract negotiations, despite Favre's agent "Bus" Cook denying all rumors.

The rumors have also stretched to the point that it is assumed the Vikings already has Favre under an $8-to-10 million deal for the 2009 season. However, I'm not willing to bite on any of these lines that the media hands out until I see the press conference myself.

The madness is somehow intoxicating and frustrating, but what would we be doing otherwise? Watching a baseball team in interleague play? Watching the Stanley Cup playoffs? (actually wait...scratch that)

For crying out loud, the only other highlights we get from football this time of year are comments from retired players about how our generation has plummeted. For that, I believe the NFL should send Favre a card to express their gratitude for all the attention in their quietest moments of the year.

Then again...NFLPA contract hasn't been done yet...he could still back out... then again...yeah right...