Brett Favre Retires: 10 Minnesota Vikings Most Impacted By Retirement

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, Brett Favre has all but officially retired from the NFL for a third time. While many can continue to speculate as to whether it's for real this time, one thing's for sure: If he really is retiring, the Vikings become a totally different team without him at the helm.

Look at it this way: the Vikings had the 12th highest scoring offense in the league in 2008, and yanked themselves up to the second spot with Favre leading the charge.

Undoubtedly, some will be impacted by his decision. But who?

Minnesota Vikings' Offensive Line

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings is helped up by teammates Phil Loadholt #71 and John Sullivan #65 after he took a hard hit in the second half against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisi

Merrill Hodge spoke on ESPN Tuesday morning about the suspect offensive line in Minnesota. His point was that Favre made them look great.

Their offensive line is full of solid run-blockers, but could they be exposed in pass protection without Favre to quickly make the read and get rid of the ball?

Minnesota Vikings Fans

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: A Minnesota Vikings fans holds a sign that reads 'One More Year Brett' during the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Dome teams notoriously benefit from the noise of their stadiums. With the enclosed space creating thick acoustic resonation, it can be hard for an offense to call audibles.

The noise at the Metrodome could be down without the high-scoring games Vikings fans became accustomed to with Favre at the helm of the Vikings' offense.

Minnesota fans will still show up in droves to support their team, but their spirits could be lowered if the Vikings' offense is stagnant.

Darrell Bevell

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DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 20: Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the game with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 20, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. The Vikings won 27-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

As mentioned earlier, the Vikings' offense went from the 12th scoring offense to the second in just a year, with largely the same cast of characters...plus Brett Favre, of course.

Without Favre, the Vikings' offensive playbook may not be as wide open as it was last year, and the high-scoring Vikings offense may suffer as a result.

Jared Allen

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MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Defensive end Jared Allen #69 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his sack against Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on January 17, 20

The pass rusher extraordinaire had nearly identical stats from 2008 to 2009, so there's no reason to think that his production could drop off without Favre, right?

If the Vikings' offense isn't as consistent as it was in 2009, and isn't able to put a boatload of points on the board, Allen may not be able to rush the passer as freely as before.

Visanthe Shiancoe

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Visanthe Shiancoe #81 of the Minnesota Vikings makes a one handed catch against Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana

It's no secret that Brett Favre loves his tight ends. He utilizes them frequently and effectively. Tight ends make for a nice, big target for quarterbacks, so there's no guarantee that his production will drop off. Other quarterbacks, however, may not be inclined to utilize Shiancoe as frequently as Favre.

Most importantly, Shiancoe was a favorite red-zone target for Favre. We could see a drop in his touchdown production from last year.

Brad Childress

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 4: Head coach Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings looks at his play card on the sidelines during action against the Dallas Cowboys at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 4, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cowboys

Many questioned Childress' leadership and command over the Vikings when he allowed Favre all the time he needed to make his decision. Those people were eating their words, though, when Favre had one of the best seasons of his career.

In fact, Favre's play got Childress into the good graces of Minnesota's front office. A dramatic drop-off in 2010, though, may land him in the hot seat, especially with the mountainous Super Bowl expectations that the team carried (and may still carry) following their narrow defeat in the NFC Championship game.

Ragnar

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 04: 'Ragnar' the Minnesota Vikings mascot portrayed by Joe Juranitch, entices the home crowd against the San Diego Chargers at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 4, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Doug Pensin

Ragnar, the Vikings' mascot, got to celebrate touchdowns with frequency in 2009; the Vikings scored 34 passing touchdowns, the most in the league last year.

Without Favre, though, Ragnar may not be blowing his horn all the time.

Okay, so this one's a bit of a stretch...

Percy Harvin

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MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Percy Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before playing against the Dallas Cowboys during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on January 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/G

Rookie receivers notoriously struggle in their first year in the NFL. Not Harvin, though, who was elected as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.

Not to say Harvin is a slouch in any way, but he may have a difficult time replicating his success without Favre throwing him the ball.

Sidney Rice

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MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings congratulates wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 on his 45 yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphr

Rice never did much to impress before Favre's arrival, but he was never given much of an opportunity. He sure made the most of it when he finally got a chance, and turned it into a Pro Bowl season.

It's not impossible, but does anyone sincerely believe that Rice can replicate 83 receptions, 1,312 yards, and eight touchdowns with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels at the helm?

Adrian Peterson

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during warms up against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jed Jacobs

Even with Favre calling the signals, Peterson suffered a drop-off in production. Many would say that the Vikings were running the ball less, and they'd be right. Both the team and Adrian Peterson ran the ball almost 50 times less from 2008 to 2009.

But as the Vikings' offense focuses more on the run, so will opposing defenses. No longer do defenses have to help out over the top; safeties can crowd the box freely.

Peterson failed to reach 100 yards in any of his last seven regular season contests. While I expect him to break that streak in 2010, the pressure will be on him to produce. We know he can do it without a top-tier quarterback at the helm; the question now becomes, will he?