For Better or Worse, Favre Makes Vikings Team to Watch

At first I didn't know whether to laugh or send the Minnesota Vikings the name of a good psychiatrist. They obviously need one to deal with their codependency issues with Brett Favre.

Then it hit me. So what if they are destined to end up killing each other? That's their problem. We have just been handed one of the most entertaining stories of the year.

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Favre is back, unless he gets mad when Brad Childress doesn't show up with roses and chocolates at the airport. Talk about a warped relationship.

There's a name for guys who continually let themselves get dumped on -- losers.

There's also a name for flirts who bat their eyes, show a little leg and can never decide whether they prefer the loser or their tractor -- Favres.

We're all sick of this on-again, off-again summer romance. Favre wasn't just jerking around the Vikings, he was also yanking the chains of millions of football fans and trillions of ESPN reporters trying to break the story before Jay Glazer did.

So for the record: Shame on you, Brett, for being such a diva. We know it's tough to say goodbye, but come on.

And shame on you, Vikings. We know you need a quarterback, but isn't their enough organizational pride to slam the door in the Diva's face after he changes his mind for the 921st time?

I don't blame anyone for wanting to see Favre and Childress go the way of Thelma and Louise. But that's why Tuesday's developments hold such promise.

Now you can actually watch the Vikings' season end up at the bottom of the NFC Central. Or you can see it take flight on Favre's 40-year-old wing.

Either way, it will be a lot more entertaining than watching Sage Rosenfels try to make people forget Tarvaris Jackson. Or is it the other way around?

The Vikings are missing one major component, a quarterback. There's plenty of reason to doubt whether Favre is the solution, just ask Jets fans.

They watched him throw eight interceptions in the final four games last season. Then came reports he was an island unto himself in the locker room. Favre denied it, but the way he's played the Vikings makes you think he thinks he's above it all.

We should also remember the Favre of last September. He owned New York and threw six touchdowns in a game. Then he tore a biceps tendon and Eric Mangini's team unraveled.



So which Favre will show up at Vikings training camp?

That's a trick question. Favre hates training camp so much the Vikings will probably allow him to bring his tractor and turn one of their practice fields into a cotton patch.

But when he does grant his new teammates an audience, will he be the Brett of Old or Old Brett?

Beats me. I've been watching Favre since he was a freshman at Southern Miss, and I learned long ago the foolishness of doubting him. That said, it's hard to imagine he'll get through the season without at least two injuries and 23 interceptions.

Whatever happens, it will be far more intriguing than what we were looking at 24 hours ago. The big news then was still Michael Vick, and you know the Eagles are kicking themselves for not delaying that signing five days.

They could have snuck him into camp without even a bomb-sniffing dog noticing. Every man, woman and animal would have been caught up in the Favre Follies.

Just look at the fun we're going to have. Favre's first game will be against Mangini's Browns. Green Bay visits the Minnesota on Oct. 5. It's a Monday night, the day after the baseball season ends and before the playoffs begin.

Think anyone will be watching?

Just look at October. One week it'll be Favre vs. Peyton Manning, followed by Favre vs. the Steelers, neither of which will compare to the Nov. 1 game.

Favre vs. Lambeau Field.

The Taliban have already proposed a ceasefire for that afternoon so they can watch. All this could lead to a string of dramatic playoff games and an NFC title showdown with the Eagles.

Favre vs. Vick?

I don't think it'll ever come to that. I think Favre will eventually get hurt or his fastball will disappear or he'll have to file a restraining order to keep Childress from stalking him on his day off.

Their mating dance has been enough to make you laugh, cry and scream in frustration. But who says something good can't come out of dysfunctional relationships?

You can deny that the Vikings just became a Super Bowl contender. You can deny that Favre is too old to succeed.

But you can't deny the NFL season just became a lot more interesting.