Brett Favre, Minnesota Viking: 'It Felt a Little Odd'

MINNEAPOLIS -- He had butterflies, which Brett Favre took as a good sign -- that a creaky quarterback on the precipice of 40 could still feel nervous before a preseason football game. And as he played on the Metrodome turf in the home purple jersey of the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night, the former Packer (and Viking nemesis) had to shake his head.

"It felt a little odd, after so many years being on the other side," Favre said after the game, in which he was 1-for-4 for four yards on two get-your-feet-wet first-quarter series. "But I thought it was a welcome reception. It was a little loud when we were on offense, but I think this place is just loud, period."

They were loud for Favre on this night -- a preseason crowd of 62,782 showing up to watch and cheer a quarterback who signed with the team just three days earlier and whose goal was, basically, to not screw up.

"I didn't want to fumble a snap," Favre said. "I wanted to make the handoffs. And if you complete a pass, great. Based on the fact that it was two and a half days (of practice), I consider that a small victory out there tonight."

The fact that it was an actual victory -- 17-13 in the Vikings' favor after a surprisingly exciting goal-line stand in the final minute -- was of little consequence. The point of this game, and the reason so many showed up to watch it, was to see Favre on a football field with angry opponents trying to prevent him from gaining ground. And this game served its purpose.


"He did tell me that nobody's knocked him off his tractor," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "So it's good for him to get hit and get knocked down and get some exposure to that kind of stuff."

Favre got walloped on his last play of the night. Facing a third-and-nine from his own 24-yard line, Favre dropped back and looked for rookie receiver Percy Harvin. He thought he knew the route Harvin would run, but he was wrong, and as his errant throw went incomplete, he took a big hit from Kansas City linebacker Corey Mays.

The plan had been for Favre to play only two series, and Mays convinced him not to try and talk Childress into a third.

"After that hit, I thought, 'Maybe I'll wait till next week,'" Favre said.

The next week, and the weeks that follow, should be much more normal for Favre than the one that just concluded. And that's good, because he's got a lot to do. Both Favre and Childress spoke at length after the game about the things Favre still needs to do now that he's finally on the team. The belief is that this is a west coast offense with which Favre is very familiar, and that it won't take long. But that doesn't mean it's going to come easy.

"There's not anything we're going to say to him that he's going to be confused about," Childress said. "It's just a matter of taking those turns, reading those protections and getting to know those receivers a little bit."

It's also a matter of getting his legs in shape. Favre and Childress both said they were happy with where Favre's arm strength is right now. But Childress pointed out that Favre has spent a lot of time in shotgun formations the past couple of years with the Packers and Jets, and that dropping back is going to take a toll on his legs until he gets used to it again.

"I haven't thrown a game-type deep ball, but I feel like can make that throw," Favre said. "I'm probably more concerned right now with getting my legs into shape. They were a little sore the last couple of days. I've been throwing, but not dropping back, rolling out and things like that."

Which is why he felt it was worth getting into this game even if it was only three days after he signed with the team.

"Not that I wanted to get hit, but there's only one way to get your body in condition," Favre said. "I really felt like there's no substitute for taking a snap in a real game, with guys coming after you and no red jerseys."

Of course, this was more than just a game. This was an event here in the Twin Cities -- the debut of Brett Favre as a Minnesota Viking. And the fans weren't the only ones excited.

"It's special," Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said. "I've been watching the guy since I was in elementary school. To be able to be on the same team with him and to see him bring that passion that he plays with, it's great. He's a good guy, a funny guy, a good teammate."

As Favre has been pointing out, he needs to be little more than that. The Vikings are a team with a stellar running game, talent at the receiver position and a pretty impressive defense. The best way for Favre to make an impact here is to make as little impact as possible, and he knows that.

But he also knows that people in these parts are excited to have him here. He felt it all week. It's the reason he had those pregame butterflies.

"With all the attention that's been focused on this, it's hard to feel like you're going to live up to the hype," Favre said. "Everyone's excited right now, which is great. But I know I made the right decision."