Minnesota : Brett Favre's Fountain Of Youth

Call him what you will, flip flopper, indecisive, media attention seeker, etc. One title that Favre has earned in his illustrious career is that of a  "winner". Plain and simple. Whatever your opinion may be about number 4, you may want to keep that to yourself, because this man's numbers don't lie.

16 years in Green Bay made Favre a legend, a household name, and an icon to millions of football fans worldwide. In the last couple of years, Brett has endured intense criticism for his inability to make decisions, ex. retiring, coming back, and retiring again.

In 2008, Favre turned the pages in the Book of Brett to a new chapter : The New York Jets. 2008 was a year that most analysts, writers, and commentators called a down year for Brett. Many wrote him off as too old to play, and fed into the media's circus style melee that Brett was done, washed up, yesterday's news.

2009 brought on a new challenge and a new team for Brett, which happened to be the Minnesota Vikings (to the dismay of Packer nation). Love him or hate him, Brett Favre is STILL getting it done.

Favre, with the help of the mega talented Viking offense, has led the Vikings to a 5-0 start, best since 2003, when they started out 4-0. Favre is completing nearly 70 % of his passes, NINE percentage points than his career average of(61.8), and has thrown for 9 touchdowns, with just 2 picks. Brett is completing an obscene 58% of his passes when throwing more than 30 per game. The numbers just get better and better as Favre is on pace to eclipse his numbers of 1996, the year he got his ring.

I'm going to hit you with some more numbers, so sit tight.

Brett Favre is known as a gun slinging, fly by the seat of his pants quarterback. There are pros and cons with this type of quarterback. Pro: big play potential. Con: INTERCEPTIONS. Brett's thrown a lot of interceptions, most in NFL history. He's also thrown more touchdowns than any quarterback in the history of the league. Live by the gun, die by the gun. Brett's interception percentage is the lowest of his career, at a meager 1.3%. Previous low, 2.3% posted in 1995.

9 touchdowns, highest QB rating since '95, over a 1,000 yards. Is this vintage Brett we're seeing ? Or is this a Brett Favre possessed, a man desperate to solidify himself as one of the greatest to play the game, having a season never before seen ? By the way, he's 40 years old. His numbers are comparable to quarterbacks more than a decade younger, in many categories they are better.

Brett Favre possesses the intangible qualities that are not brought on by coaching. Favre is a winner in every aspect of the game, and continues to silence his critics with every bullet that leaves his hands. The fourth quarter, seconds to go, Greg Lewis in the back of the endzone.. touchdown (MNF vs. 49ers).  If you've ever seen the movie "Training Day", you'll remember the quote from Denzel (Lorenzo)... "I'm surgical with this b*tch"... that's what is running through the mind of the legendary gunslinger every time he launches a precisely guided missile to his receiving corps.

7.2 yards per throw is just over his career average of 7.0, and the list just goes on. This man is truly AGELESS.

19 years in the league, a new team, most thought Favre was standing on his last leg. In fact, last year in New York (Jets), many said that would be the last we'd see of number 4.

With a new spring in his step and a whole new legion of fans behind him, Brett is performing like a quarterback in his prime. Over ten years past what was believed to be his prime, 1995-1999.

The newly revitalized Vikings are loving Favre v3.0, version one being Green Bay, 2, the Jets, and seemingly the best in the series, 3.0 in Minnesota. The Vikings are by far the best team in NFC North, and quite possibly the best team in football.

The Vikings are scoring more points per game since going 15-1 in 1998, their best season in the history of the franchise. Mere coincidence, or do the lakes of Minnesota possess the fountain of youth that Brett Favre has dipped his cup in ?

You decide.