Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Brett Favre is again coming out of retirement and will play for the Minnesota Vikings this season. He was seen Tuesday afternoon on the practice field at Winter Park wearing a number 4 jersey.

Back-up quarterback John David Booty, who had previously worn number 4, was seen wearing a red number 9 jersey.

Favre arrived at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minn. just after noon on Tuesday, in preparation for a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings. Less than 90 minutes later, he was in a helmet and pads on the practice field.

"I am excited about the opportunity to join this football team," Favre said. "From ownership, to coaching to the players, it is evident that everyone in the Vikings organization is committed to bringing the fans of Minnesota a championship. I am eager to join my new teammates and get to work towards that goal."

"We believe adding a player such as Brett Favre to our mix will be a strong positive for this football team," head coach Brad Childress said. "As we have conveyed before, his unique knowledge of our system, the NFC North and his innate skills make this a rare opportunity ... Now our attention turns to getting to work as a team, our next practice and preparing for the season."

After practice, Childress addressed the media and handed Favre his new Viking's jersey. Then Favre spoke out his reasons for signing with the team.

"I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be," Favre said Tuesday. "You're 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don't have to do that much and I agree with that.
"If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too."

Green Bay visits Minnesota on Oct. 5, and the Packers host the Vikings on Nov. 1.

"The bottom line is it's football," Favre said. "Once you step into the huddle, I don't look at the helmets. I look at the faces."

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

This is Favre's second comeback. A year ago, the former Packers star came out of a short retirement to join the Jets.

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.

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