Primal Motivation Spurs Brett Favre To Become a Viking

Another drama-filled summer of Brett Favre has brought the NFL’s all-time passing leader closer to his ultimate goal. Favre has finally teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings and is prepared to lead a raid on the Green Bay Packers.

This isn’t about money folks.

Favre has already earned millions of dollars on and off the field as the country’s All-American quarterback. Although winning is a key factor, it isn’t the overriding issue in this compelling tale either.

The three-time NFL MVP has a championship ring, two Super Bowl appearances, and one losing season in 17 seasons as a starter. But this is about something much simpler and more obvious. This is about retribution against the Green Bay Packers.

Favre will finally get his shot at a city and franchise that ushered him out of town after he brought a title back to "Titletown."

Favre led the Packers to 11 postseason berths in 16 seasons. The Packers had one playoff berth in the 16 seasons prior to Favre’s arrival.

If revenge is best served cold, Favre has kept his dish in a deep freezer for a year and a half; patiently awaiting an opportunity to beat a franchise that may have tried to bring a premature end to his Hall of Fame career.

In 2004, Favre threw for 4,088 yards, 30 TDs, and 17 INTs with a 64.1 completion percentage and a 92.4 passer rating. The Packers finished 10-6 that season, but fell to the Vikings 31-17 at Lambeau Field in the wild card playoffs.

Favre was intercepted four times that game, and Vikings WR Randy Moss added insult to injury by faux-mooning the Packers faithful on their home field after hauling in two touchdowns.

Analysts had a field day on the gunslinger. Talk radio in Green Bay and across the country said that his risk-taking stunts had caused the team to lose its second home playoff loss in franchise history.

The 2005 offseason would prove to be the worst of Favre’s career.

Like most NFL quarterbacks, Favre wanted his team to make a run for the aforementioned, embattled Moss, who was being shopped by the Vikings.

The 6’4” receiver with freakish speed and great hands had 13 touchdown catches in 13 games in 2004—the perfect complement for a quarterback like Favre that loves to put the ball in the air and let his receivers make a play.

The Packers didn’t go after Moss. Blame it on the whole “mooning our season ticket holders” thing.

More importantly, Favre watched his beloved team draft California’s hotshot quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the NFL Draft. First round quarterbacks usually demand high salaries and are eventually expected to start in the NFL.

Rodgers arrival was more than planning for the future—the Packers had essentially declared that the end was near for the "Energizer," a quarterback that has an NFL record 269 starts at the position.

The writing was on the wall.

The Packers finished 4-12 in 2005 and Favre’s 29 INTs led the NFL, and were the most he’s ever had in a season.

Favre had another subpar season in 2006 as the Packers were shut out twice, and the team failed to make the postseason for the second consecutive season.

Although the Packers failed to obtain the once-again available Moss in the offseason, everything was clicking for Green Bay and Favre in 2007. He finished with the highest completion percentage of his career and the fewest interceptions for a season since 2001.

The Packers finished 13-3, but Favre’s tenure as a Packer ended unceremoniously. He threw an interception in overtime during the NFC Championship game in Green Bay, as the Packers lost 23-20 to the New York Giants.

After the game, Favre insinuated he would retire and did so on March 4, 2008.

The Packers must have known that Favre wanted to go to Minnesota. They refused to grant him a release and even filed tampering charges against the Vikings. Favre had to settle for a trade to the AFC’s New York Jets and put vengeance on hold.

Favre’s retirement didn’t last long, and although he was unable to go to the Vikings and get an immediate shot at revenge, he did earn the starting job with the Jets, leading the team to a 9-7 record and garnering Pro Bowl honors for the tenth time in his career.

But Minnesota was waiting in the wings. Childress lacked a consistent, proven NFL quarterback. Brett Favre lacked revenge. Could it all be this simple?

No. Brett Favre underwent surgery on his right shoulder (which probably played a part in the Jets’ late-season slide), his throwing arm, and then announced that he wouldn’t return to the NFL on July 28 despite his well-documented efforts to return.

Today, the Energizer announced his comeback, a mere three weeks after declaring he wouldn’t return.

Hey, after 269 consecutive starts who needs training camp? What, are ten Pro Bowls not enough to convince everyone he knows the West Coast offense inside and out?

Many will argue that Favre’s return is about his passion for the game, his relationship with Vikings offensive coordinator and former QB coach in Green Bay, Darrell Bevell, or a need to leave the game on a high note.

But it’s no coincidence Favre wants to play in the NFC North where he’ll have the opportunity to face the Packers twice a year, including the chance to defeat the Packers at Lambeau Field, a scenario that would have seemed impossible a few years ago.

He’ll get his shot at Minnesota and enjoy playing on a team that features four 2008 Pro Bowlers on defense, along with the NFL’s leading rusher, Adrian Peterson.

Rodgers is Green Bay’s starting quarterback and head coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson also await Favre’s return.

The Big Payback or a setup for a letdown?

The Packers play at the Vikings on Monday Night Football, October 5 and host Minnesota on November 1.

Let's see if Favre can exact his revenge.