Source: Brett Favre Will Sign with Vikings Today

Multiple reports have come out saying Brett Favre was seen boarding a Minnesota-bound plane bearing a Vikings logo Tuesday.

Mark Rosen of WCCO-TV in Minneapolis is reporting Favre is expected to sign with the team Tuesday. Rosen also said Favre will practice with the team at their afternoon practice.

WCCO spoke with an official at the Hattiesburg, Miss. airport, who saw an airplane with the Vikings logo leave the airport Tuesday morning.

Favre was expected to sign with the team prior to training camp but ultimately told the team he would remain retired.

It now appears that a Favre signing is imminent.

UPDATE: Favre will sign a $10-12 million deal pending a physical.

Vikings coach Brad Childress has confirmed the reports in an email to the Associated Press

WCCO-TV: Brett Favre to Sign with Vikings Today

According to WCCO-TV and WDAM-TV in Minneapolis, quarterback Brett Favre has boarded a plane en route to St. Paul, MN, and according to those television stations, he will sign with the Minnesota Vikings today.

The news broke over ESPN just moments ago and comes one day after unnamed Vikings players said Favre would join the team by the end of training camp.

Favre, 40, was released by the New York Jets in May after signing with them 377 days ago.

Report: Brett Favre Will Be a Minnesota Viking, Says Vikings Player

I just got done with some orientation business here at my new home and clicked on Sports Illustrated, and guess what I saw?

Another Brett Favre rumor.

I have always maintained the belief that Brett Favre has not played his last snap in the NFL. It’s just a matter of when it happens—this season, next season, etc.

The report first came from Fox Sports and was recently picked up by SI (IMO a more credible source). 

I don’t think the unnamed Vikings player would be trying to stir up more rumors for nothing. We have heard from All-Pros like DE Jared Allen that they just want it to be done either way.

Poor Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels; even though Favre is “retired,” they always will have the possibility he signs in the back of their heads.

That’s all I got; feel free to sound off. Got a test early in the morning. Gooo Cougs!

Brett Favre Could Be Part of the Minnesota Vikings Afterall

It’s not over yet.

Jay Glazer of Foxsports.com reported at 1:17 PM, that word around camp is that Favre isn’t out of the equation yet…at least, according to almost everyone that’s a member of the Vikings organization.

Glazer goes on to admit the fact that his visit took place before the Vikings solid preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts, 13-3. Of course, Sage Rosenfels led the Vikings with his 10 of 13, 91 yard performance against the Colts and showed to have the slight nod ahead of Tarvaris Jackson in the QB battle already underway.

Despite the lone preseason victory, this story still has legitimacy and potential for the four keys that Glazer spells out quite well.

First and for-most, the Vikings have already got Brett on board as far as contract issues are concerned. Contract terms were agreed upon almost two months ago with money not really an issue.

Secondly, Favre hasn’t shut the door and has always left a an “out-line” when making public decisions. He said at the end of last season that he was going to retire, but desired a release. Why? He then blames a partially torn tendon in his arm for his past season’s shortcomings. He then starts talking to the Vikings staff medically. Once again, why?

Favre then goes on to have the surgery done to completely tear the tendon and allow it to heal. Why? He starts practicing and working out at Hattiesburg High School…okay, it’s officially beyond needing an explanation why.

He then tells Minnesota, no, but not before he says, “If someone calls me in November, you never know…” WHY?

It seems obvious looking at the series of events that Favre has an agenda that he is fully aware and contentious of his choices.

Thirdly, Favre and the Vikings have no better option, but each other.

“Neither Sage Rosenfels nor Tarvaris Jackson has done anything to make the Vikings feel either is the answer at quarterback. Jackson had been hurt this summer, but even when healthy he and Rosenfels have actually been outplayed during training camp by third-stringer John David Booty,” reported Glazer.

The receivers are doing great according to reports from camp and the coaches. With that said, who is left on the Vikings roster at quarterback? Not to mention, which other quarterback deprived team is going to give Favre the best chance to win big?

Lastly, Favre hates going to camp. This issue has been no secret.

Brett, at his age would be drained by the concept of playing out training camp and the grind of a 16 game season. To say that Favre is now open to coming back now that training camp is done can’t be overlooked.

The only question remains, if he does ask to come back, how will the Vikings coaching staff and ownership respond? They may feel spurned by what Favre did to disappoint them, but could they really pass that up for the alternative?

Report: Brett Favre Expected to Join Vikings, Minnesota Surprised by Rumors

As the 2009 preseason is upon us, and the regular season nears, it appears as if the Brett Favre saga hasn’t come to the conclusion that everyone expected.

Apparently, Favre’s announcement last month of staying retired could no longer be existent after the reports that came out today.

According to Foxsports.com, many teammates believe Brett Favre will be a member of the Minnesota Vikings this season.

As many media outlets try to get to the bottom of the possible return of Brett Favre, there are two sides of the story.

From one perspective, close sources believe Favre will return for another season, as it was believed that he did not want to participate in training camp.

Yet, other writers close to the situation says the Minnesota Vikings are rather surprised by the rumors that have occurred over the past few hours, and are focused on the quarterback competition going on between Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

Nonetheless, it can not be ruled out of Favre joining the team until opening weekend is upon us.

 

Matt Miselis is a NFL writer for BleacherReport.com 

Report: Brett Favre Expected to Join Vikings, Minnesota Surprised by Rumors

As the 2009 preseason is upon us, and the regular season nears, it appears as if the Brett Favre saga hasn’t come to the conclusion that everyone expected.

Apparently, Favre’s announcement last month of staying retired could no longer be existent after the reports that came out today.

According to Foxsports.com, many teammates believe Brett Favre will be a member of the Minnesota Vikings this season.

As many media outlets try to get to the bottom of the possible return of Brett Favre, there are two sides of the story.

From one perspective, close sources believe Favre will return for another season, as it was believed that he did not want to participate in training camp.

Yet, other writers close to the situation says the Minnesota Vikings are rather surprised by the rumors that have occurred over the past few hours, and are focused on the quarterback competition going on between Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

Nonetheless, it can not be ruled out of Favre joining the team until opening weekend is upon us.

 

Matt Miselis is a NFL writer for BleacherReport.com 

Vikings’ Kenechi Udeze Retires: A Sad Yet Inspiring Story Gets Lost in Shuffle

Kenechi Udeze, a former first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2004, has decided to retire.

Players retire from the NFL every year, and a lot of the time we don’t even notice except for maybe a passing story.

However, this retirement is as heartbreaking as you’ll ever find.

Udeze was forced to sit out the 2008 season after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, Udeze decided to return to the field after a year of rehab, bone marrow transplants, and other treatments.

“I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” Udeze said back in late May at Minnesota’s OTA’s. “There was never an easy point. The first time I went back to USC and started working out with the fellas, I fell.”

“I took two steps and I fell. I took small steps at first and, to where I am now, I can’t complain.”

At the time, Udeze was fresh off a bone marrow transplant and a biopsy. He showed incredible strength and willpower to simply be standing, let alone out on a football field.

“That’s where they go in and take a little piece of your bone marrow and it hurts the day after,” Udeze said. “Like I said, I’ve seen children deal with what I’m dealing with. And if they can deal with it, then I shouldn’t make any complaints.”

Udeze never complained about his condition. He never just sat down, gave up, and asked, “Why me? Why me?” like some would do. And you know what; I don’t think I could blame anyone who would. Leukemia is a terrible disease to deal with, and could certainly be enough to break a man down.

But Udeze was a fighter. He was determined to beat his illness and make his way back onto the football field where he felt he belonged, and he did just that.

That is, until Wednesday, July 29th when he decided that he simply could no longer pursue an NFL career any longer.

He has not been available for comment, although I’m sure with the decision of Brett Favre conquering the news, and regarding the same team, not many people are beating down his door for comment.

However, while this is a sad day for Udeze in terms of his football career, he can always appreciate that he was able to play in the NFL, no matter how short his time, and that he has received a new lease on life.

With the recent death of great men like Jim Johnson and Harry Kalas, that new lease on life is certainly a far richer reward than any NFL contract.

 

Also Check Out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green.

Brett Favre Gets Packers One More Victory Over Rival Vikings

A couple months ago, I wrote an article that declared that if Brett Favre played for the Minnesota Vikings, he would be dead to me.

I went on to explain that his motivation was primarily revenge against a perceived slight by Packers management and that he was not considering the fans he was catching in the crossfire. I have since compared it to a spouse hurting the kids to get back at their ex.

Instead, the Vikings now fell victim to the coyness of a Hall of Fame quarterback who cannot make up his mind. In the end, Favre has decided not to come back…for now, at least.

All this has done is serve notice that they do not believe in the only two starting-calibre quarterbacks they have left and move the distraction that is the Favre-retirement circus a few hundred miles west of the stadium in which Brett built his Hall of Fame resume.

As former Packers safety great LeRoy Butler put it, he has made the Vikings look foolish. They pursued him all summer long and when it came time for the homecoming dance, he has turned them down.

In their focus to land the big fish, the team overlooked the perfect fit for their needs: Jeff Garcia. Garcia has a winning resume and would be a clear upgrade over either quarterback they have on their roster, leaving them with only the defensive backfield as a weakness—still a title-contending roster.

But instead the Vikings went after Sage Rosenfels, who is much younger and has a potential future with the team if Jackson does not work out. Why have two veteran quarterbacks near the end of their careers?

Because a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and Favre was not the sure thing the Vikings thought he was. It is this kind of mismanagement that keeps the Vikings from ever winning a title. It is also the kind of mistake the Packers do not make, and why they have won seven of the last 14 division titles.

Butler also pointed out that Favre has said he will continue to work out, and why do that if you are not still at least entertaining the thought of a return to the league?

No matter: Even if Favre does change his mind and the Vikings let him join, he will not be there in time for the start of camp, and his late arrival will only deepen the distraction factor and undermine team chemistry. This will hurt a team that was a narrow favourite even with Brett under center.

The Packers are now the clear favourites in the tight NFC North. In the modern NFL, you have to pass and stop the pass to win. Six of the top nine pass defenses made the playoffs, and all nine finished with at least eight wins.

The Bears still lack a pass defense, and look as though they will be missing a key member of that backfield, Charles Tillman, for the beginning of the season. The Vikings are weak in the backfield as well, and may be missing two Pro Bowl tackles for up to four games.

The Packers can exploit both. Only two of the top twelve passing offenses finished with a losing record, and the division rival Packers were one of them. The Vikings and Bears both lack a passing game—one due to their quarterback, and another their receivers.

By flirting with and then spurning the advances of the Vikings, Brett Favre has led his old team to one more victory over the rival Vikings. Thank you, Brett.

I still believe Favre’s name will stay in the media until November. Any time a quarterback is hurt, speculation will rise that Brett is in discussions, and he will not say anything that dispels such talk.

Wouldn’t it be interesting of that team was the Packers?

Brett Favre Still Working Out, Despite Reportedly “Staying Retired”

Despite reports from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and ESPN that Brett Favre is staying retired, NFL Network’s Scott Hanson is reporting that Favre will continue throwing and working out, just in case he gets “the itch” to play again.

Well, that might be the first logical thing we’ve seen out of this whole fiasco.

Okay, so it’s obvious that Favre isn’t simply conflicted. The dude has flat-out worries. He knows his arm is fine and roaring to go after surgery and training, but after recent ankle and knee issues after work-outs, he’s beginning to doubt his body’s ability to hold-up over a 16-game schedule.

Go figure.

The guy is almost 40 years old, and now he’s starting to wonder if the hundreds of sacks he’s endured in the last couple of decades will affect him in 2009.

Even if the government rebuilds Favre, those hits are still going to haunt him. Probably even until the day he dies. That’s just the way it is.

But at least he’s conflicted for the right reasons.

Favre is reportedly weary about a return not because of money, or because he feels bad about “betraying” the Packers or his fans, but because he respects the game, and isn’t 100-percent positive he can pull this off.

But several NFL players would agree, and some have even told him personally, “ya think?”

It’d be crazy for any NFL player to step into a season without any doubts or concerns about injury or poor play, especially after a season in which they had just endured both.

However, Favre—as usual—is pulling the trigger a bit too early. And perhaps, this is why he’s leaving the door open by continuing work-outs. And so it seems, Brad Childress agrees.

While there had been reports out of ProFootballTalk.com that the Vikings (and everyone else in the football world) were moving on, head coach Brad Childress (who’s opinion actually matters) has not set a date, and would still welcome Favre to Minnesota with open arms.

It’s true, Favre has been “adamant” about retiring for good this time after speaking with prestigious and reliable reporters Ed Werder and Peter King. However, in a recent conversation with friend, mentor, and former coach Steve Mariucci, Favre was again unsure of his decision.

There’s a shocker.

After Mariucci asked Favre how he would feel the next morning about his decision, Favre replied, “I’m wondering that myself.”

But before you add to the pile of criticism that is already on Favre’s legend, take a step back and think about what he’s actually doing.

He’s telling the team that his been courting him all summer (Minnesota), that right now he cannot commit. He’s not holding them hostage. He’s not demanding anything. And he can’t make any promises.

He’s merely stating the obvious, and being completely candid. The guy is 39, has been beaten up, and despite feeling able and strong enough to still play in the NFL, he just doesn’t want to show up for 11 games again…and then ruin another team’s season with a horrible five-game stretch.

And can you blame him?

Well, some will, and some won’t.

But either way, this isn’t about Favre necessarily being indecisive anymore. It’s more about doing what’s right at the moment, and then making a concrete decision before the season kicks off.

There are still other variables in place that Favre could be pondering.

Perhaps Minnesota isn’t the only team he’s interested in playing for?

Maybe he’s just saying no for now, and he has a behind-doors agreement with Childress that he will return to the league at a future, set time.

Maybe, and maybe not.

Still, the latest reports from ProFootballTalk.com are now saying that many players on the team “are convinced” that Favre will return, and his delayed un-retirement is due to soreness, and all sides not wanting to put him through a rigorous training camp.

Considering his legend, his healing arm, and his age, can you really argue against that? I can’t. Especially not if Minnesota (or some other team) fully intends on having him around for a full 16 games.

Regardless of your take on Favre or Minnesota, I am happily sad to inform you: the Favre Saga is far from over.

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Information, quotes, and names can be credited to Rotoworld.com, Minneapolis Star tribune, ProFootballTalk.com, and ESPN.

Vikings! Quick, Grab Michael Vick!

Brett Favre has made a decision. 

He will not play for the Vikings this season. 

In a breaking AP article, Favre was reported as having called Vikings coach Brad Childress to inform him of his decision. He stated that the reason for his decision was that he did not believe that his body could stand up to another NFL season. 

The response by the Vikings should be swift.

If you want to at least repeat the success of last season, you must get a quarterback that can make a few big plays. 

Tarvaris Jackson simply makes too many mistakes. Sage Rosenfels has never been the answer… anywhere.

Vick will obviously not be available until October, and even after he comes back he may not be able to function as a capable NFL quarterback in a West Coast offense. 

What Vick does bring to the table is that he has experience in both regular season games that matter and has won a big playoff game. He did so while playing in an Atlanta system that implemented a strong running game and made use of his big arm for play action and vertical passing. 

Atlanta would later move to a system that featured a shorter passing game, which was intended to make reads easier for Vick. It didn’t work. 

Vick has shown throughout his history that he will probably never be the type of quarterback that completes more than 60 percent of his passes, makes the perfect read, and consistently delivers the short pass to the running back or tight end on the check-down. 

What he can do though, is escape pressure. He can also throw a great deep ball. Usually, he can do both at the same time.

If the Minnesota running game can continue to be as strong as it has been, Vick could be exactly what this team needs. Not only can he deliver the ball once the safeties move up, but he can also advance the football with his feet.

Having Vick would force opposing defenses to slow their pursuit when the ball goes to Adrian Peterson. Along with Bernard Berrian, this team would be loaded with the kind of speed that can break a game wide open.

Michael Vick may not be considered the quarterback of the future anymore. He probably isn’t a long term answer for the Vikings either. However, by focusing on the skills and abilities that he naturally has, a talented Vikings team could find itself in a much better situation than it has been recently, hoping that an old veteran from Mississippi will answer their prayers.

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