Brett Favre and Minnesota Vikings: A Pass From the NFL To the Taxpayers

What's the Internet for but great conspiracy theories? Like whether the NFL got involved in negotiations for Brett Favre to become the new Vikings quarterback so taxpayers jump on the bandwagon for a new stadium?

We know from the Michael Vick situation the NFL will get involved in helping players sign with new teams. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's involvement in appointing an official NFL mentor for Vick and then allegedly being involved in getting the Eagles to sign up Vick says for the integrity of the game must be left for another time.

We know the NFL is a business whose primary goal, like all other businesses, is to reap profits. In the NFL's case, the business is entertainment in the form of football.

So we have the interesting case of the Minnesota Vikings: a franchise frequently mentioned as a candidate for moving out of Minnesota unless state taxpayers pony up part of the money for a new stadium.

Does the NFL, a league who has repeatedly tried and mostly failed to expand into foreign countries, want the Vikings to move? Hell, no. The NFL wants to expand, not contract, the number of teams.

So how does the NFL attempt to aid the Vikings in their pursuit of taxpayer money for a new stadium?

1. Award the team one of the easiest schedules in the league despite the fact the Vikings won their division in 2008 and made the playoffs.

The Vikings' schedule is skewed because they play in the same division as the 0-16 Detroit Lions. However, ESPN's Kevin Seifert points out that even if one throws out the Lions record, the Vikings still play the 24th easiest schedule in the NFL. How does a division winner/playoff team get rewarded with the 24th easiest schedule in the NFL?

2. Award the team two Monday Night Football Appearances.

The Vikings appear on ESPN's Monday night schedule twice. The two teams in the last Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, are slated for just one appearance a piece on Monday night.

3. Disallow tampering charges made by the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers filed tampering charges against the Vikings last year—alleging Vikings' coaches improperly contacted Brett Favre while he was under contract to the Packers.

Of course, the Vikings denied the charges. Last month, Vikings head coach Brad Childress said Favre was going to stay retired. Yeah, those Viking coaches always tell the truth—just ask Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

4. Assist a team who often has vacant seats.

Earlier this year, the Vikings were in danger of a local TV blackout for their PLAYOFF game against the Eagles. Getting Favre immediately gives the Viking franchise a buzz and more ticket buyers.

The NFL is a business and not a sport. Big-pocket owners, especially those looking to finance new stadium deals, are extraordinarily important to the NFL.

Brett Favre is a businessman whose primary business is playing football. He gets $12 million guaranteed if he takes one snap for the Vikings—what else do you need to know?

When a big business can help a businessman and vice-versa, it's all good. Favre owes nothing to the Packers.

The Packers and their fans owe nothing to Favre. Favre owes just one snap to the Vikings. The Minnesota taxpayer bill: who knows?

Caveat: Packer fans might want to avoid the Favre restaurants in Green Bay. Who the heck knows whether he's serving up old pigskins or baked excuses to unsuspecting patrons.