Brett Favre Doesn't Deserve Special Treatment from Minnesota Vikings

Brett Favre has officially become bigger than the Minnesota Vikings.

Like most people, I love to watch Favre play on Sundays, but no NFL player should be getting the special treatment that Favre has received over the past two years in Minnesota. Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress has given Favre free reign when it comes to playing football for the team.

Football is the ultimate team sport, and at the game's most important position the Vikings have a player who is all about himself.

Favre has reportedly said that he will return once again this season, and that he is returning for his teammates. If Favre was really coming back for his teammates, then he would have made his intentions known before now.

Favre's excuse this season is an injured ankle, which is a legitimate reason not be on the practice field, but it is not a legitimate reason to leave Childress and the rest of the Vikings in the dark.

No one has been hurt more by Favre's actions than backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who has gone from starter to backup, then back to starter, and is now a backup once again. Favre has left Jackson to twist in the wind the past two seasons while taking his time in making a decision and coming to training camp.

Jackson has taken things in stride and deserves as much credit as anyone during the Favre saga for the way he has handled his emotions.

Favre is no doubt one of the five greatest quarterbacks to play the game, and some people believe he is the greatest of all-time. Favre has passing numbers as good as anyone to ever play the game, completing more passes and throwing for more touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL history. 

Favre also had one of the best statistical seasons of his career last year, throwing for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns. Favre also completed 68.4% of his passes and threw only seven interceptions, the fewest in a season in his career.

Favre unquestionably makes the Vikings better this season, and gives them a chance to compete for a Super Bowl title. The same cannot be said for Jackson, who has shown the ability to be a serviceable NFL quarterback but is in no way, shape, or form, Brett Favre.

Despite all of these things, Favre still doesn't deserve the treatment the Vikings have given him. Favre has hijacked the Minnesota Vikings franchise and the sports media who have all been waiting and watching Favre's every step, whether it was meaningful or not.

The Favre watch has not been fair to his fellow teammates and to the Vikings fans, but Favre has made it a yearly occurrence nonetheless.

The Vikings sent three players to Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., to bring him back to the team. Guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive end Jared Allen and kicker Ryan Longwell were sent on a mission to bring Favre back to Minnesota and they weren't leaving until they did so.

These three players left training camp because they understood the importance of Favre making a decision.

It's too bad Favre didn't share that same understanding until now.