Brett Favre's Ego Blocks Joe Webb and the Vikings' Future

Dark skies, 15 mph winds, temperatures in the 20s with six inches of snow expected. They don’t play football outside in Minnesota anymore because of nights like this. And yet the Vikings and Bears are readying to do exactly that, the Bears fighting for a division title, the Vikings just playing.

Joe Webb would have gone out there to play on a field of hot coals if they’d asked him to. Sixth-round pick, drafted as a wideout, Joe Webb wasn’t ever supposed to be behind center for the Vikings. But in a season that has defied “supposed to,” Joe Webb might have had a chance to show this team, this town and the Vikings front office what he could do, if only Brett Favre would let him.

See, the Vikings haven't been Brett Favre's team this year like they were last year, serving more as a captive to his ever-present ego and his showing mortality. At 5-8, this team should be evaluating talent for the Favre-less future, but instead they're sitting on their hands watching the once-great gunslinger attempt a comeback from a debilitating shoulder injury for no reason other than to service his own legacy.

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The Vikings would tell any other player what Favre should be telling himself: “Your time has passed.”

You’d think new coach Leslie Frazier would have learned from the downfall of his predecessor the value of telling Brett Favre "no," and yet here we are about to watch what used to be the magnificent, unsinkable Brett Favre instead of a kid who could be a part of the Vikings after this year.

Of course, that kid, Joe Webb, might be inconsequential too, a placeholder until the Vikings get their hands on Andrew Luck or some other fresh-grown franchise-quarterback type.

With Brett Favre taking the latest victory lap on his never-ending, never-definite farewell tour, we may never know what Webb can do, and we may never see that last thread of grace from a legend who has so clearly forgotten how to put his team first.

Update: Brett Favre has left the Vikings-Bears game with what is being referred to as a head injury at the beginning of the second quarter. Favre sustained the injury after being sacked by Bears rookie defensive lineman Corey Wootton. His return is doubtful. Joe Webb will likely takeover for the remainder of the game with newly acquired NFL veteran Patrick Ramsey serving as his backup.

Stay tuned for further updates throughout the game.