It looks like the Brett Farve saga is not over, yet.
The Minnesota Vikings are wooing the future Hall of Famer into coming north to finish his career in purple. The Vikings are in desperate need of a quarterback to take them to next level and Brad Childress is meeting with Farve over the next couple of days to make sure Farve is that man.
Look. Farve is going to Canton — there is no doubt whatsoever. He has thrown 464 career touchdowns and for over 65,000 yards. He won a Super Bowl with Green Bay. He is one of the greatest QB’s to ever put on a uniform.
But, he threw 22 interceptions last season for the New York Jets. He looked slower and his passes were often underthrown and behind his receivers. He doesn’t have the arm strength that he once had. So when he tries to force the action and rifle one, it turns into a pick instead of a touchdown. Farve is no longer the Farve of old.
Maybe a new system in Minnesota would help. Maybe the prospect of playing Green Bay twice in one season would help even more. Maybe the juices are still flowing. Maybe Childress will succeed in convincing him to come back. Certainly Farve would be better than Sage Rosenfels and Tavarious Jackson who are Childress’ alternatives.
I am hoping Farve will stay retired. Too many players hang on too long and don’t know when to call it quits. Joe Montana had a couple uninspiring years with Kansas City. Johnny Unitas spent a season in San Diego and looked weird in powder blue. On the other hand, John Elway retired after back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Troy Aikman and Steve Young both didn’t want another concussion and walked away.
Farve is relatively healthy. His family has been nothing but supportive and they, in fact, convinced him to play with the Jets last season. Farve suffered from a torn biceps tendon a year ago, an injury that could heal by itself with rest. The Vikings will want Farve to compete in the off-season program with the team, something he did not do last year because of his feud with the Packers.
Ultimately, that feud may decide whether Farve returns. Farve loaths Packer GM Ted Thompson. He may decide to play in Minnesota just to spite him.
But spite is not a good enough reason to risk your reputation. It would just prove Farve as a bitter, old quarterback, trying to hang on to glory just a little too long. Farve may or may not be the answer for the Vikings. But the answer Farve should give Brad Childress is no.
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