Vikings get their first good taste of Brett Favre's legend

"You'll have to forgive the Vikings for being so animated afterwards. They aren't used to this.

'Incredible, incredible!' linebacker Ben Leber kept saying. 'I still feel the chills. Awesome!'

'We hoped he was going to do something great, and he did,' said linebacker Chad Greenway.

"The legend continues to grow," said kicker Ryan Longwell.

Well, those who have been following closely know that this is what Brett Favre does. He pulls off something improbable to win the game in the final seconds. On Sunday, he took the Vikings 80 yards in 1:29 against a stout San Francisco defense. He did it with no timeouts. The winning score came on a 32-yard laser to Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone with two seconds left.

Just when everyone thought the Vikings were finished, just when Packer fans were set to gloat in advance of next week's Monday night matchup — boom — Minnesota remains undefeated. Just like that, 63,000-plus were celebrating wildly. And the final holdouts from the "I can't root for that ex-Packer" camp crossed over into the light.

Favre, soon to be 40, was asked how he felt after yet another late comeback victory in a career filled with them.

"I'm worn out," he said with a smile. "Believe me, I could fall right now."

It was a very physical afternoon, and Favre took a pretty good beating. His performance up to that final pass was distinctly mediocre. He missed some receivers, and he got banged around by 49ers. On that last play, he was smashed from behind just as he released the ball and never even saw the completion. Instead, he heard the stadium erupt.

"I heard the roar, and I thought that was a good thing," he said.

The Vikings signed Favre to do exactly what he did Sunday. As uneven as the game had been up to that last score, people left the Dome all smiles. They had fun.

Meanwhile, the Vikings players jumped around like grade-schoolers on a playground while the 49ers stood in shock.

"Oh, it was incredible," said cornerback Cedric Griffin. "I was on the sideline thinking, 'Brett Favre is known for his comebacks. Brett Favre is known for his comebacks.' And look what we got!" "

Click here for full article

Too Much Crunch Time For Favre

"Brett Favre has been sacked seven times in two games. That's four more wallops than an entire family of Mannings have suffered so far this season.

"Yeah, we need to do a better job of protecting Brett," center John Sullivan said Monday, the day after the Vikings beat the Lions 27-13 in Detroit. "I'm happy we're 2-0, but Brett doesn't need to take this many big hits."

Favre has been sacked four more times than Tarvaris Jackson was through two games last season. At this pace, Favre would be sacked 56 times in 16 games, assuming he survived, of course. That would be 16 more than his career high, which, ironically, came in 1996 when he led the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

"Protecting Brett is something we have to continue working on, across the board," left tackle Bryant McKinnie said. "Everybody always assumes it's just the offensive line. But it's all of us working to avoid sacks."

As coach Brad Childress explained Monday, that includes linemen blocking, running backs picking up blitzes, receivers getting open and Favre getting rid of the ball on time. Childress said the Lions' three sacks Sunday were the result of three breakdowns:

• With 4 minutes, 12 seconds left in the first quarter and the Vikings facing second-and-9 from their 32-yard line, the tackles were pushed back too far. Jason Hunter, a backup left end playing for the injured Cliff Avril, simply beat rookie right tackle Phil Loadholt."

Click here for full article

Favre's 271 Consecutive Starts Sets Record

"Somehow it seems fitting that in the game in which Brett Favre established an NFL record for durability, the veteran quarterback came away hurting.

Favre, who broke former Viking Jim Marshall's record with his 271st consecutive start Sunday, hurt his throwing hand in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard pass to wide receiver Bernard Berrian deep in Lions territory.

Favre appeared to hit his hand on either linebacker Larry Foote or defensive tackle Sammie Hill as they applied pressure. Favre remained on the Ford Field turf for a moment but got up and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie Percy Harvin on the next play.

Tarvaris Jackson replaced Favre on the next possession, but that didn't come as a surprise with the Vikings leading by 14 points.

"It's all right," Favre said afterward when asked about his hand. Coach Brad Childress also dismissed the notion that Favre might have done some damage.

One thing that wasn't dismissed was Favre's consecutive-starts streak -- a mark that dates to the third game of the 1992 season.

"It's hard to put into perspective," Childress said. "I had a discussion with Jim Marshall this week. Jim was going to try to travel with us to this game. However this happens to be a first wedding anniversary for him and he kind of thought that maybe that would not be a good idea. ... [But] perspective is hard to have. When you go back to whatever it is, 1992. All you guys in this room think about what you were doing in 1992. That's a long time.""

Click here for full article

Brett Favre To Stay Retired

Brett Favre has decided to stay retired and not join the Minnesota Vikings this season, the quarterback told NFL Network's Rich Eisen in a text message.

Vikings coach Brad Childress told The Star Tribune in Minneapolis that Favre didn't want to put himself through the grind of a 19th NFL season.

"I just think it was a rare opportunity to explore a Hall of Fame quarterback who had background in the NFC and in this division (with the Green Bay Packers)," Childress told The Star Tribune. "He knows our system inside out ... This doesn't change anything about how I feel about our football team."

Favre retired for a second time after playing for the New York Jets last season. He had surgery in May to alleviate a torn biceps tendon in hopes of extending his career with the Vikings.

The Vikings begin training camp on Thursday with a quarterback competition between Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.

Click here for full article

Coordinator Bevell Visits Favre With Trainer

"Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell visited Brett Favre in Hattiesburg, Miss., last week to watch him throw passes, but it still remains uncertain when the currently retired quarterback will make a decision on playing in Minnesota this season, according to an ESPN.com report Sunday night.

The Star Tribune reported last week that Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman had made a second trip to check on Favre's progress from arthroscopic surgery on his throwing arm, but Bevell's presence wasn't known until Sunday evening. The Star Tribune confirmed Bevell also was on the trip.

That would make Bevell the first member of coach Brad Childress' staff to visit Favre in Mississippi. Bevell watched Favre perform in a rigorous throwing session that included an estimated 100 passes, sources told ESPN.

Favre, according to those sources, felt his performance with the Oak Grove High School team was encouraging. Favre, however, also "warned the Vikings representatives that he might be forced to delay a decision on whether to play until just before the team opens training camp.""

Click here for full article

Vikings Send Trainer To Check Favre Again

"Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman was in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday to check on the physical condition of quarterback Brett Favre, another indication the veteran NFL quarterback is headed for the Vikings.

This is Sugarman's second visit to Favre in Mississippi. The last time he was there in mid-June, Sugarman gave the former Packers star some exercises he could use following arm surgery.

A Vikings source who has been in contact with Favre recently reported that the surgery seven weeks ago was a complete success. With training camp opening 10 weeks after the surgery, Favre's arm should be back to full strength. Unless Favre changes his mind or there is a problem agreeing on a contract, there seems little doubt Favre will be in uniform when Vikings training camp opens in Mankato on July 31.

The contract Favre might already have agreed to includes a minimum guarantee, so the club won't get stuck with a big salary if he can't produce. But the incentives will be big if he does the job."

Click here for full article

If You Want Favre Vs Packers , You'll Pay For Chiefs Too

"A Brett Favre signing with the Vikings is expected to be announced in time for the start of the team's single-game ticket sales July 20.

The Vikings will play Favre's former team the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, Oct. 5, at the Metrodome on ESPN. The Vikings are planning to require anyone buying a ticket to that game to also buy a ticket to the Aug. 21 exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Meanwhile, a little birdie heard that Favre and wife Deanna last weekend made a $30,000 deposit on a condominium near 50th and France in Edina.

Click here for full article

Brett Favre Surgeon: " He Wants To Play For The Minnesota Vikings."

"Brett Favre "wants to play and he wants to play for the Minnesota Vikings," according to his orthopedic surgeon.

Favre, who'll be 40 in October, also "wants to end his career on a high note," Dr. James Andrews told Rick Cleveland, a columnist for the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.

Andrews, 67, was in Jackson last week to speak to colleagues at Mississippi Sports Medicine. He's based in Birmingham, Ala.

Though most of Andrews' interview with Cleveland was about youth sports injuries, he briefly discussed Favre:

"I'm not supposed to say anything but Brett kind of let that cat out of the bag on that HBO show," Andrews said."

Click here for full article