Old Age Doesn't Bode Well for Favre

ESPN and various media outlets have Brett Favre talking with Vikings coach Brad Childress about something.

Many speculate it's about coming out of retirement. Favre's agent Bus Cook told Fanhouse last week that we could stick a fork in Favre and that the only way the quarterback would return would be to win another championship. If that's the case, the Vikings are not that much better with Favre as their quarterback. The beasts of the NFC are the Giants and Eagles. (But that's another story for another day.)

Favre's returning could embarrass him. The fact is that Favre is an old quarterback. He turns 40 in October and old quarterbacks don't win Super Bowls unless they have plenty of help.

John Elway won his two Super Bowls with the Broncos at ages 37 and 38 with stud running back Terrell Davis taking the pressure off him. Warren Moon was 40 when, in only eight games in 1996, he completed 54.3 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions for the Vikings.

Johnny Unitas was a superstar in the early 1960s for the Colts. (That's the Baltimore Colts if you're too young to remember them.) But from 1968 to 1972, Unitas threw 35 touchdowns and 57 interceptions in 53 played games. Injuries and the such were part of the problem for Unitas. But as soon as he turned 35, it went downhill.

This is not to say old quarterbacks always fail.

Minnesota's Fran Tarkenton was 38 when he tied with the Cowboys' Roger Staubach with 25 touchdown passes in the 1978 season. But Tarkenton threw 572 passes and a conference-leading 32 interceptions.

Consider this. In December, the month where playoff appearances are decided, Favre struggled. He was second in the league among quarterbacks with at least four starts in turnovers with eight. Favre was also sacked seven times and his team went 1-3. Only the Cowboys' Tony Romo had more turnovers (9) and he was also sacked (12) more than Favre.

The Hall of Fame has a bust waiting for Favre. His legacy is complete. Great competitor, great player, etc., etc. But this return isn't right, if it happens. Favre has a tear in his biceps tendon that needs surgery. It's not determined if he'll get it. So, all season everyone will wonder about his right arm.

Now Childress is somewhere trying to convince Favre to return. Childress is trying to save his job. Favre can't save Childress' job. The Vikings should have traded for wide receiver Braylon Edwards on draft day to improve the passing game.

Signing Favre won't improve the passing game, getting a veteran wideout can.

Drafting Percy Harvin is a start, but his off-the-field troubles doesn't guarantee success. Bernard Berrian is a nice receiver, but he's not a No. 1 guy.

So while everyone waits on Favre, just remember, old quarterbacks don't get better, they get older.