Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Quarterback Brett Favre is on the practice field with the Minnesota Vikings wearing a number 4 jersey, the Associated Press reports. 

Favre arrived at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minn. just after noon on Tuesday, in preparation for a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings.

Favre landed at a small St. Paul airport about a half-hour earlier, getting off a Vikings team plane and getting into a SUV after shaking hands with the ground crew.

Childress even picked up Favre at a small St. Paul airport and drove him to suburban Eden Prairie, where dozens of fans cheered as the black SUV arrived and a news helicopter circled overhead. Childress confirmed the meeting in an e-mail to The Associated Press and, asked if the plan was to sign Favre, he replied: "In a perfect world."

A high-level source with the Vikings told WCCO-TV's Mark Rosen that the 39-year-old is expected to sign with the team Tuesday.

Favre presumably must pass a physical and he had arthroscopic surgery to fix his throwing shoulder in May. Favre's agent, Bus Cook, e-mailed the AP: "No deal in place yet."

Speculation that Favre would be joining the Vikings roster abruptly ended in late July when head Childress said the quarterback would remain in retirement.

On July 28, Childress said that he received a phone call from Favre and announced the quarterback would remain retired, though now it appears that declaration was perhaps a bit premature.

Favre has been wrestling with retirement for the better part of this decade, and the will-he-or-won't-he saga became an annual offseason drama for the Packers, his longtime home.

Favre spent 16 years with the Green Bay Packers before playing for a year with the New York Jets. His first team was the Atlanta Falcons, where he played two games his first year. In 18 seasons, he has 464 touchdowns, more than 65,000 passing yards and a quarterback rating of 85.4. He's also thrown 310 interceptions in his career.

Favre originally retired from the Green Bay Packers on March 4, 2008.

That same July, he sought release from his contract so that he could play for another team and the Packers accused the Vikings of tampering by talking to Favre. Though they did talk, the Vikings were ultimately cleared of the tampering charge.

Favre then reported to Packers training camp, but was traded to the New York Jets in August.

Favre was released by the New York Jets earlier in May, clearing the way for him to sign with any team willing to take him. Talks between Favre and the Vikings about him joining that team began almost immediately.

Speculation flew as doctors examined Favre's injured biceps tendon, which hampered Favre down the stretch the previous season.

The Vikings finished training camp last week and beat Indianapolis 13-3 in their preseason opener Friday. They got a strong performance from quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who has been competing with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job since Favre jilted the team July 28.

Rosenfels and Jackson had some rough moments during practice. Jackson hurt his knee, missed a few workouts and then returned, but he was out of sync last week against the Colts. Rosenfels did well, but preseason games are tough to evaluate and Indianapolis held out all four starting defensive backs.

Favre was born Oct. 10, 1969 in Gulfport, Miss. He will turn 40 during this football season.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)