Hope the Vikings have a Plan B, cause Plan A was a royal dud

SCOTT JACOBS

I’m not sure what Minnesota’s state slogan is as of the moment, but I have a suggestion that whatever it might be, it needs to be changed A.S.A.P.

Minnesota: where old retired legends don’t want to come out of retirement, no matter how good your team is.

In 1999 it was Dan Marino who opted to stay retired after the Vikings made a full court press to bring the Dolphins legend out of his then recent retirement.  The thinking was that Marino was the last piece of the puzzle that the Vikings needed to win a Super Bowl, but after flirting with the idea for a few months Marino opted for a cozy desk job with HBO instead.

Fast forward the clock 10 years, and today, in almost the same situation, with a team that many believe is just a quarterback away from being Super, the Vikings were once again spurned by a legendary signal caller.  Making matters worse, it was the man who never actually retires, who struck the latest blow.  Favre made it official today that he’s done (for now) ending a Vikings courtship that included everything but a boat (anyone who follows football will get that joke).

And with it, Minnesota’s “all in push for Favre” just blew up in their face.

The Vikings were quick to profess their man crush on Favre after he asked for and got his release from the Jets earlier this off-season, and their was a common belief that Favre would be extra motivated to come back for the purple and gold with the chance to stick it to former GM Ted Thompson and the Packers twice a year.

But apparently, motivation wasn’t enough and so the man who’s become almost as famous for his off-season waffling as his on-field accomplishments is done with the game he seemingly could not let go of.

As for the Vikings, well, they’re screwed.

They’ve completely alienated their two quarterbacks with their very public display of affection for Favre, and most likely divided a locker-room in the process.  Many are laughing at head coach Brad Childress and who can blame em.  He stuck all his eggs in Favre’s shoulder and now all he’s left with is yolk.

Favre is making the right decision.  There is no doubt in my mind.  His body is celebrating right now, knowing it doesn’t have to go through the gauntlet another year, and his legacy (what’s left of it) doesn’t have to take another hit.  And for as much as I’m completely and utterly sick of what has become an annual tradition of Favre Fascination, I kind of wanted to see him fall on his face one last time.

Favre is the last of the NFL’s elite quarterback class from the 90’s.  Marino, John Elway, Jim Flutie, Troy Aikman, and Steve Young all hung up their cleats a long time ago.  Favre was really the only one left.

But even he has apparently come to the realization that he can’t play forever, so he might as well give his body a break before it breaks down on him.

Whatever his reason: rather would stay home with his family, doesn’t have it in him to go another 16 games (remember his streak remains intact), he didn’t feel he was healthy enough, he didn’t think he could lead the Vikes to a Super Bowl… whatever the reason, Favre has made his decision.

O my goodness!  It just hit me. Brett Favre made his decision! Do you know what this means? Now the attractive red headed reporter from ESPN whose name escapes me at the moment can be given real assignments, like covering teams or games or something dignified, instead of hibernating in Mississippi outside of his house like a professional stalker.

As for Minnesota, well, let’s be honest: was Favre really going to take them to the top?  Was he going to come in, slurp up their playbook in two seconds and return to vintage Green Bay form?  No, and no.

So maybe, just maybe, all of this is a good thing.  Instead of some stupid one year experiment that was more than likely to fail, the Vikings get to find out what they have in Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

I tried saying that with a straight face.  I really did.

But hey, for those of you Vikings fans and players who were wetting your pants in excitement over Brett Favre taking his act to the Twin Cities you can at least take solace in this: it could always be worse.  Your team could be the Lions.

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