"The desire to play might just be stronger than the disdain for surgery after all.

Quarterback Brett Favre is scheduled to meet with well-known orthopedist surgeon James Andrews Tuesday to discuss repairing the partially torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder, according to the latest report on Favre's offseason.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press, quoting an unnamed source, also added that the surgery could take place as soon as this week.

Surgery for Favre, a free agent after his release from the New York Jets, could be the first major step in his becoming the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. As of Monday night, the report had not been confirmed by other media outlets, and Favre's agent, Bus Cook, did not return a message.

But the plan to have surgery is significant because Favre felt pain while throwing the ball a dozen times a week and a half ago. Surgery is presumably necessary for him to play.

Rehabilitation would take only six to eight weeks, the Pioneer Press said. If he has the surgery by the end of this week and has no complications or delays in rehabilitation, Favre could be throwing the football by July 17 at the latest. That's a full two weeks before training camp opens, a cushion that might be helpful if for any reason the injury takes longer to heal because of the 39-year-old Favre's age.

Surgery brings the possibility of Favre playing for the rival Vikings a lot closer to reality because it demonstrates his commitment to play. Up until this point, Favre might have been testing his arm, which was hurt during his only season with the Jets. Even though Favre said in February when he retired from the Jets that he was not willing to undergo surgery on the shoulder, he has apparently changed his mind.

That might be because the procedure is fairly simple if doctors determined the injury is a partial tear to his tendon. In a tenotomy, surgeons complete the tear of the biceps tendon - something that is not needed for a quarterback to throw - and relieve a lot of pain in the process.

But it is not safe to say that this procedure is a slam dunk for Favre to return to play again at his elite level, according to a previous report by the Journal Sentinel."