Brett Favre News: Pro Sports Daily

Time for Vikings to do what they must to bring back Brett Favre for 2010

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March 8

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"Relax. If Brett Favre decides not to return in 2010, most of these mediocre free-agent quarterbacks still will be available. Plus, there isn't a college player in the upcoming draft that could step in and play the position immediately. So unless you want to get involved in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes, what's the rush? Allow Mr. Favre all the time he needs. And make sure a club employee is in Hattiesburg to peel grapes, wash the truck, gut deer, scale fish and otherwise tend to whatever else Mr. Favre might need. Everyone has it backwards. It's time for the Vikings, not Favre, to make a commitment. The Vikings need to show how serious they are about improving the team in 2010. Based on ..."

Vikings have plan to get Favre to return

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March 8

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"Rest assured the Vikings, the Wilf family that owns the team, coach Brad Childress and others in the organization have a plan they will follow to try to get Brett Favre to return for a second season of his contract, one that will pay the 40-year-old quarterback about $13 million in 2010. No doubt one of the first moves in the plan was Childress' visit to Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., where the coach spent all day Wednesday. If Favre didn't have any interest in playing football another year, I would think he would have not welcomed Childress like he did to his home. I believe Favre will definitely come back under the same terms of last season, when he didn't have to take part in ..."

Brett Favre watching Vikings now, waiting to decide about next season

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March 7

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"After Brett Favre's first public appearance since the NFC championship game on the 'Tonight Show' with Jay Leno last week, it's still unknown whether the future Hall of Fame quarterback will return to the Vikings next season. The drama now appears to be a six-week waiting game. There are several angles to this year's Favre circus. If he truly planned to retire, it would seem he already would have announced it, as future hall of famer Kurt Warner did after his season ended last year with the Arizona Cardinals. So Favre's game plan now could be that he and agent Bus Cook are waiting for Vikings owner Zygi Wilf to improve the $13 million contract he already has for the coming season."

Childress says he and Favre are on the same page

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March 6

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Brad Childress didn't need to watch Brett Favre's appearance on "The Tonight Show" Thursday to know what the quarterback was thinking. The Vikings coach visited Favre on Wednesday in Hattiesburg, Miss., after attending the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Childress relayed the same message to Favre that he has shared with others: The organization will put no pressure on the future Hall of Famer to make a quick decision. "He brought it up to me -- 'When are you guys going to need to know?' " said Childress, who told the Star Tribune of his visit on Friday. "I said, 'You know what, Brett? That's not why I came down here. I came down here to see how you're doing. It's been five weeks ..."

Brett Favre chats with Jay Leno but doesn't tip his hand about next season

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March 5

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Brett Favre told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" he has not decided whether he will return to the Vikings in 2010, saying he was prepared to "sit back, relax and enjoy the offseason." Appearing as the second guest on Thursday's show, Favre and Leno traded off Favre's notorious indecision in a taped skit and a mock retirement/one-more-year celebration on stage. After several questions about Favre's health, his career and his experience in 2009 leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game, Leno saved his most important question of the evening for last. "What are your thoughts for next year?" Leno asked Favre. "C'mon!" an audience member yelled. Applause and cheers erupted as Favre grinned ..."

Favre stays on a silent count

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March 5

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"One of the NFL's best quarterbacks, and certainly its most indecisive, took his act to Hollywood on Thursday. Fittingly, he remained committed to being noncommittal. During an appearance on NBC's "Tonight Show," Brett Favre told host Jay Leno he hasn't decided whether he will return to the Vikings in 2010 and that no one should hold their breath waiting for that announcement. "It's only been a month, and I know now that I'm just not going to say anything anytime soon, just going to kind of sit back, relax, enjoy the offseason," Favre said. The quarterback's first public comments since the Vikings' 31-28 overtime loss to New Orleans on Jan. 24 in the NFC Championship Game marked a departure ..."

Waiting for Brett Favre could prove costly for Minnesota Vikings

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March 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"Brett Favre, who made money for the Vikings on and off the field last season, could begin making more money for the team if he commits soon to returning for another season. The first installment payment for Vikings season-ticket holders to renew is due March 12. If Favre decides to quarterback the team again, renewals would mean more cash for the team. One guess is that there could be as many as 8,000 on the fence waiting to see if Favre returns. The earlier down payments are received, the earlier the Vikings can begin collecting interest on the payments. Meanwhile, the question of Favre's future with the Vikings is sure to come up when he makes a guest appearance this evening on "The ..."

Peterson's wish: Two more years for Favre

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March 3

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"First off, a tip of the hat to Tim Yotter and our friends at Viking Update (www.vikingupdate.com) for finding this item. It seems that running back Adrian Peterson isn't simply hoping Brett Favre plays one more season for the Vikings. Peterson told OKBlitz.com that he wants Favre to play two more seasons and win consecutive Super Bowls. (No small task for a franchise that has yet to win one.) "I hope he comes back for another year or two, gives us another two years," Peterson said. "I think we could win back-to-back Super Bowls. I'd take one. But the talent we have on both sides of the football with Favre -- just the talent we have on offense, defense all phases -- I feel like we can go as ..."

Inside the NFL: Vikings willing to wait for Favre's decision

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February 28

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

"It's only February, so it's probably a tad early to really begin wondering about the future of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. It's been just over a month since Favre was battered and bruised during Minnesota's NFC Championship Game loss to New Orleans. One reason there doesn't seem to be much angst is that the Vikings are simply taking a wait-and-see approach and giving Favre as much time as he wants. Heck, coach Brad Childress waited until August for him to arrive last summer, so what's the rush? Said Childress, "When I say there's no timeline, I don't feel like I need to go much further than that. There really wasn't a timeline last year. We'll just see how it goes. We have ..."

Childress says Favre can take his time

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February 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Brad Childress doesn't mind waiting as long as it takes for Brett Favre to decide about returning. The Vikings coach said he talked to his quarterback Monday and Tuesday, but the coach still doesn't know which way Favre is leaning. Last season, Favre joined the team after training camp had ended in Mankato, and the Vikings coach made it clear that he won't push Favre for a decision sooner rather than later. Childress was asked whether the timeline that transpired last year would be absolutely fine with him this year. "It is," Childress said Friday at the NFL's annual scouting combine. "I think every year's a little bit different. He was rehabbing a significant offseason surgery obviously ..."

Vikings fine with waiting for Favre

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February 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Vikings officials have descended upon this city seeking answers. Answers from draft prospects attending the NFL's Scouting Combine -- those will come both in the form of workouts and interviews -- and from agents representing the Vikings players who are due to hit the free-agent market next week. But despite this desire, the Vikings are almost certain to leave town with one key question still lingering: Who will be this team's starting quarterback in 2010? The Vikings first choice is for Brett Favre to return for a 20th NFL season and second in Minnesota, but he has yet to inform the franchise if he plans to come back. Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, told ..."

Ad in paper latest way to woo Favre

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February 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The longer Brett Favre takes to decide whether to come back for another season with the Vikings, the better it apparently is for the economy in his offseason home of Hattiesburg, Miss. First, there were billboards in the small town thanking the 40-year-old QB for a season in purple and hoping for another go-round. Now? A Vikings fan is set to take out a full-page color ad in Monday's Hattiesburg American newspaper with a similar message. Benjamin Nelms, 39, a Vikings fan living in Madison, Wis., is the man behind it. The ad already is paid for and costs "about twice as much as season tickets," Nelms said. An ad representative from the paper confirmed that it will run on Monday. Nelms sent ..."

Brett Favre to appear on 'The Tonight Show' March 4

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February 25

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Brett Favre will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 4. His appearance is listed on the show's web site. Leno scored an exlusive with Favre, who has been reclusive this offseason. It will be interesting to see what Favre says, if anything, on the show about his plans for next season."

Leber expects Favre back

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February 24

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said he believes Brett Favre will return to play next season. Leber just doesn't know when Favre will make his decision. But he hopes it's sooner rather than later. "We would love to have the guy back," Leber said Monday during an interview with the NFL Network. "I think my gut feeling is that he is going to come back. I hope my gut is right. I think a respectable timetable is to let us know as early as possible." Leber noted if Favre makes a decision in a timely manner it would help the team set its course this offseason. "With everything that we have, the ingredients of this team, what we hopefully can do next year — give us the time to maybe do something in ..."

Vikings will give Favre time, want Taylor back

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February 15

NFL.com

"If the Vikings' stance on QB Brett Favre wasn't definitive, it certainly is now. Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said Saturday the franchise would "love" to have Favre back for another season, but the team is giving Favre time to make a decision, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. "I think you go ahead and let Brett decide what he wants to do," Spielman said. "I know the organization, from our ownership, from our coaches and I think from our fans out there, we'd love to have Brett Favre back for another year and see if we can make another run at this.""

Ego will bring Favre back

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February 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Patrick Reusse

"The only thing Brett Favre likes more than playing football is being begged to play football. The public begging started earlier this month when a group of fans paid to have a please-come-back message placed on a digital billboard near Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss. This served to enrich the Lamar Advertising Co., provide millions of Internet strikes and further massage a Favre ego already the size of the Louisiana Territory, but it will do nothing to hasten the announcement that the quarterback plans to return for a 20th NFL season. Certainly, when Favre holds the news conference to confirm that he will play again, there will be a moment in which he chokes up just a bit and says how ..."

Brett Favre 'thank all of my fans for a memorable season' but sheds no light on future

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February 12

USA Today

"Vikings QB Brett Favre clearly had some fun in his 19th NFL season, arguably his best statistically even though he fell one win short of guiding Minnesota to Super Bowl XLIV. Via his website, Favre expounded on the 2009 campaign and paid tribute to his legion of supporters: "I want to thank all of my fans for a memorable season. While the season didn't end in Miami as we had all hoped, I couldn't have enjoyed this season any more than I did. "When I decided to return to the NFL to play my 19th season, I did so with some trepidation. After all, I was joining a new team in a new city, for the archrivals of the 'green and gold.' And I'm not getting any younger. "I couldn't be happier about ..."

With or without Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings' future looks bright

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February 8

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Even as Brett Favre mulls retirement, the Vikings can take comfort knowing that essentially the same team will return next season. Favre's return would be a welcomed gift for the Vikings, who could use his stellar play at the most important position on the field. With or without Favre, though, the Vikings have every reason to believe they can contend for a run at the Super Bowl next season. "We had a heck of a season," receiver Percy Harvin said. "We've got a lot of young players. Whether (or not) Brett comes back, I know our quarterbacks have learned from him. We'll be back (with) a lot of our firepower, our young players and people we hope to be back next year." The Vikings could have ..."

Vikings need to hear from Brett Favre soon

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February 7

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"If Brett Favre has decided to retire as Vikings quarterback, it would seem an announcement could come this week, after the Super Bowl, because the NFL prefers not to have distractions that would interfere with its big game. If Favre is undecided and wants the Vikings to improve the $13 million deal for which he is signed for next season, that should be known by the end of the month. The consensus guess is that Favre, 40, will return. But Favre has proved it's virtually impossible to predict what he'll do next. If Favre has decided to retire, he no longer has any motive to drag out the drama as he did with the Green Bay Packers to get to the New York Jets, and with the Jets to get to the ..."

And now the waiting game begins

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February 4

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Scott Favre wants to get his younger brother out on the golf course, but . . . "Right now he couldn't swing," Scott said. Brett Favre left Minnesota last week and returned to his home in Mississippi. Wounded physically and drained emotionally after a 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Favre said he needs time before deciding whether to return to Vikings. Scott said Brett needs to recover after falling just short of his third Super Bowl. "He was beat up physically and mentally," Scott said by phone from southern Mississippi. "He hurt both wrists, both ankles, one leg, head bruised. He was beat all to hell. That's part of it. "I'm not going to bring ..."

Favre to make Super Bowl appearance

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February 3

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Minnesota Vikings fans watching the Super Bowl telecast on Sunday will get to see Brett Favre during the game after all. The 40-year-old quarterback, whose pursuit of another NFL championship appearance came up short this season, stars in a television ad for automaker Hyundai that plays off Favre's longevity and uncertainty about when to retire. The ad was shot late last year before the playoffs in the Vikings locker room and will run once, during the second quarter of the Super Bowl. It touts Hyundai's 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Favre, who holds the league record for consecutive games started, in the ad accepts the MVP award after the 2020 season."

Brett Favre: Fun while it lasted

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February 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Brett Favre's year with the Vikings was a blast for all parties, even despite its abrupt ending. But was it enjoyable enough for Favre to make an encore? The disappointment was still fresh on the plane ride home from New Orleans; Vikings players hadn't started to feel the gamut of emotions that would flood them later. Shock described the mood Sunday night in the nearly silent Airbus A330 headed north. The quiet was broken as Ryan Longwell approached Brett Favre. Longwell was Favre's teammate with the Packers before signing with the Vikings in 2006, and the kicker then played an instrumental role in getting Favre to join the Vikings last August. Now, in the aftermath of a heartbreaking ..."

Kris Jenkins: Brett Favre's 'superstar status' caused 'animosity' in New York

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January 31

USA Today

"Vikings QB Brett Favre pulled out of tonight's Pro Bowl after the vicious beating he took from the Saints in last weekend's NFC Championship Game. But even Favre's image took a bit of a shot in Friday night's NFL Total Access on NFL Network (watch the video) when former Jets teammate Kris Jenkins said Favre's presence caused a rift in the New York locker room in 2008, though it's possible the issues could have been more rooted in jealousy among Favre's teammates that season. When asked if the locker room chemistry was ok when Brett was a Jet, Jenkins replied, "No, no it was not." And though he didn't call out Favre or any of his teammates in particular, Jenkins cited some negative comments ..."

Cowboys' Tony Romo still looks positively Favre-like

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January 31

Dallas Morning News

"It was only fitting that when Brett Favre canceled his Pro Bowl trip to heal mentally and physically from last week's NFC championship, Tony Romo rushed to Miami to replace him. Maybe "rush" is the wrong word, since Romo arrived in time for Thursday's practice. Given the nature of this Pro Bowl, just getting there showed considerable effort from the Cowboys quarterback. But Favre and Romo have been linked at the hip ever since halftime of the Cowboys-Giants Monday night game in 2006. That's when Bill Parcells told Drew Bledsoe it was over, and the Cowboys' offense has been in Romo's hands from then on. Romo was all over the map in that game. His first pass was picked off. He finished the ..."

Shadow of Brett Favre still dogs Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

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January 30

Green Bay Press Gazette

columnist Mike Vandermause

"Leave it to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to set the media straight when it comes to Brett Favre's retirement plans. Rodgers is preparing to start for the NFC in Sunday's Pro Bowl in Miami, and naturally, it didn't take long for someone to ask for his opinion on whether Favre would return to play for the Minnesota Vikings. "I just think nothing is going to happen for a while," Rodgers said in an interview with the NFL Network this week. "There's not much else you can say. "I'd say just give it a rest for a while. You don't need to do anevery day. It's not going to happen." No one knows better than Rodgers that Favre retirement reports in January and February are meaningless. ..."

NFL fines New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray for late hits on Brett Favre

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January 30

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"The NFL fined New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray a total of $20,000 for two incidents involving unnecessary roughness against Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, according to an NFL.com report. In the first quarter of the NFC championship game on Sunday, McCray delivered a blow to Favre after the quarterback had made a handoff to receiver Percy Harvin. Officials penalized the Saints 15 yards for the unnecessary roughness infraction."

Fran Tarkenton: 'Stupid play' by Brett Favre caused Vikings to lose to Saints

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January 29

USA Today

"Fran Tarkenton won't lay off the criticism of Brett Favre. The Hall of Fame former Vikings QB who called Favre's return to the NFL "despicable" last year said he blames Favre for the team's loss to the Saints on Sunday in the NFC championship game. Said Tarkenton to 97.5 FM in Philadelphia: "They were the better team. Their offense turned the ball over five times, the Viking offense. But still if he didn't make that stupid play at the end of the game they would have won the game." It's the second straight week that Tarkenton (who said last summer he was rooting for Favre to "fail") has teed off on Favre. Last week, he said he would not back off his comments that Favre was out of line in ..."

Tarkenton: If not for Favre's 'stupid play,' Vikings would be in Super Bowl

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January 29

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton took the gloves off once again. After being fairly reserved in his comments about Brett Favre during the season, Tarkenton took some new shots at the current Vikings quarterback Tuesday during a radio interview with Philadelphia's 97.5 FM The Fanatic. Here are excerpts of what Tarkenton had to say about Favre's performance in the NFC title game at New Orleans and more, courtesy of Sportsradiointerviews.com: On the Saints vs. Vikings game and Favre throwing the interception near the end of regulation: "Well, before that I think the Vikings were clearly the best team. They held this New Orleans offense to under 300 yards. They made Drew Brees look ..."

NFL: Refs missed call on low hit on Favre

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January 29

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, admitted on the NFL Network's "Total Access" show this week that referee Pete Morelli's crew should have called a 15-yard penalty against the New Orleans Saints in the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game on Sunday when Vikings quarterback Brett Favre absorbed a low hit from defensive end Bobby McCray. Favre was hit low by McCray and high by nose tackle Remi Ayodele and injured his left ankle on the play. His pass was intercepted by linebacker Jonathan Vilma. New Orleans took over at its own 31 with the score 21-21 but did not score on the ensuing series. A penalty would have nullified the interception and given the Vikings the ..."

Brett Favre not needed

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January 28

Boston Herald

columnist Steve Buckley

"What you are about to read is not - repeat: not - a Brett Favre rip job. The man has already had his public beating, both in print and on the airwaves. And if you own a computer, surely you've heard Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen's fire-and-brimstone condemnation of Favre's interception against the New Orleans Saints in last Sunday's NFC Championship Game. (I'm trying to imagine the late, great Ken Coleman going off like that after the ball went between Bill Buckner's legs.) So, sorry, no gasoline here for the Brett Favre fire. (However, one more observation about Paul Allen's awesome call: Imagine how folks in Motown feel about Allen screaming, "This is not Detroit, ..."

NFL admits it missed low hit on Favre

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January 28

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When Brett Favre threw his first interception in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, he ended up on the ground in pain after a high-low hit by defensive linemen Bobby McCray and Remi Ayodele. McCray hit Favre in the knees, causing a left ankle injury. Favre had to be helped off the field and had his ankle wrapped on the sideline. Many people wondered why a penalty wasn't called on McCray? Hitting quarterbacks in the knees became a point of emphasis this season and that one looked pretty obvious. The league now admits that the officials missed the call."

Vikes to pursue McNabb if Favre walks

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January 27

ESPN.com

"I think this is a no-brainer for Brad Childress if Brett Favre retires. And by trading for McNabb, you'd basically be blocking Favre from changing his mind and trying to return to Minneapolis. John Clayton said on ESPNEWS on Tuesday that the Vikings will make a play for McNabb if Favre walks away. He thinks that the Vikes might be willing to trade the No. 62 overall pick for McNabb. Something tells me, though, the Eagles will be asking for a first-rounder. By the way, McNabb's old quarterbacks coach at Syracuse is now in the same position with the Vikings."

Will Favre return? Childress won't be shocked either way

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January 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Vikings coach Brad Childress spent some time with Brett Favre in the training room early Tuesday morning before Favre hopped a flight home to Mississippi. They didn't talk about Favre's future, but the biggest question of the Vikings offseason lingers: Was Tuesday his final day at Winter Park? "I don't have an expectation," Childress said. "I know he had a great experience here. I know it too well to know that emotions are a little bit raw right now. We're still too close to it. He's earned his time to be able to step away from it and talk to his family and figure out what he wants to do. But I don't have a strong expectation one way or the other. It would not surprise me one way or the ..."

Vikings are better with Favre than without him

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January 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Jim Souhan

"An open letter to Brett Favre: Today would be the best day to say that I was right about you, that the killing interception you threw against the Saints justifies the Packers' decision to ditch you, justifies those, like me, who said this summer we had tired of your internal dramas and wished you would just stay home and mow. I'm still not sure why a quarterback of your experience would throw across his body, late in a play, late in a tied game, to a covered receiver. Those of us who predicted the return of Bad Brett late this season could seize on that moment to justify any criticism we want to level at you. Today, though, is the right day to say that I was wrong about you, that despite ..."

Childress says he has 'no expectation' on Favre decision

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January 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Vikings coach Brad Childress held his season-ending press conference Tuesday and Brett Favre's future naturally was a big topic. Childress said he talked to Favre briefly in the training room at Winter Park on Tuesday morning before Favre took a flight home to Mississippi. The question is, will it be Favre's final day at Winter Park? "I don't have an expectation," Childress said. "I know he had a great experience here. I know it too well to know that emotions are a little bit raw right now. We're still too close to it. He's earned his time to be able to step away from it and talk to his family and figure out what he wants to do. But I don't have a strong expectation one way or the other. ..."

If Favre retires, Vikings' options could include McNabb, Hasselbeck, Tebow, McCoy

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January 26

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Minnesota Vikings will have tickets to sell and a stadium to get, so it would seem to behoove them to get an answer and make a subsequent announcement before long on the uncertain future of quarterback Brett Favre. Favre this season gave the Vikings a needed buzz throughout the NFL. Try doing that with unproven Tarvaris Jackson and/or Sage Rosenfels at QB. The Vikings, suddenly, are at a crossroads. This is a team that was built to win this season. It wouldn't be surprising if Favre finally retires — for good. He came back this season, at age 40, to embarrass the Green Bay Packers twice, and as he mentioned after Sunday's crushing overtime loss in New Orleans, he would go out on top. ..."

Favre's in decision mode

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January 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The corpse that was the Vikings' 2009 season hadn't even had time to become cold late Sunday night when the first report surfaced that Brett Favre had said he was "highly unlikely" to come back for another year. The information provided by ESPN promised to be the first of many Favre-related nuggets that emerge in the coming weeks and perhaps months as the quarterback ponders whether to return for a 20th NFL season and second with the Vikings. The most important thing is to take every report with a grain of salt. Favre, 40, retired following the 2007 season and again last February, only to change his mind on both occasions before missing any regular-season games. Even Favre's teammates know ..."

The Brett Favre Watch is in full swing.

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January 25

USA Today

"The Vikings QB said Sunday night that it was too soon to decide if he would return for a 20th NFL season following the NFC title game loss to the Saints. But Favre told ESPN that it's "highly unlikely" he will play again. Fans may be skeptical of anything that Favre says at this point, however. The three-time NFL MVP has retired -- and returned -- after each of the past two seasons."

Brett Favre's magic act is one trick short

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January 25

Palm Beach Post

"The New Orleans Saints surely earned their first trip to the Super Bowl. They outlasted Brett Favre, didn't they? For 19 seasons that has been a pretty tall task for every NFL team that's gone against the old warhorse. On Sunday night it was almost more than the high-powered Saints and league-leading quarterback Drew Brees could manage, and that was with the advantage of a crowd so certifiable that the Louisiana Superdome's cement roof is all that kept them going into orbit. New Orleans won NFC Championship 31-28 on an overtime field goal. That's way too tight for a game in which the Vikings turned the ball over five times to only once for the Saints. Way too tight for a game in which ..."

Brett Favre not ready to say no to next year just yet

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January 25

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Bob Sansevere

"It wasn't supposed to end the way it did, with Brett Favre rubbing his eyes in a locker room here while an assistant coach tried to console him. It was supposed to end in Miami, in the Super Bowl. That was why Favre ended yet another retirement. He wanted one more crack at the Super Bowl. That would have been the storybook finish. Not this. Not Favre in the locker room, being consoled by defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Not Favre, a half-hour later, at a podium, talking about coming close, so very close. "I'd love to win a Super Bowl," he said. "Who wouldn't? I'm going out on top, one way or another. I don't feel I have anything to prove." Nobody should read too much into that ..."

Brett Favre's play marred by New Orleans Saints' late interception

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January 25

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"The Minnesota Vikings' locker room looked like a funeral home after Sunday's 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game, and quarterback Brett Favre was the chief mourner. Many of his teammates walked to his locker, hugged him, whispered in his ear and consoled him as he consoled them. Favre's interception with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that ended a possible game-winning scoring drive garnered most of the attention. "I prefer to look at the positive, watching 4 compete in purple and gold was great," Vikings Coach Brad Childress said. As for if he thinks Favre will return to play again Childress said: "I told him to go home, lick his wounds, ..."

BIG QUEASY: Over and out in overtime

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The signs hung in the locker stalls of several glassy-eyed Vikings players as they dressed quietly inside the visitor's locker room at the Louisiana Superdome and tried to come to grips with the fact their season had ended like this. The message read: "There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come ... Our time is now." Only hours before, these words had served as a source of motivation for players. Now, they were a cruel reminder for a franchise whose time never seems to come. The latest reminder arrived in the form of a mistake-strewn 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game before an announced (and often deafening) crowd of 71,276. It ..."

Berrian, Favre finally connect during season finale

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Bernard Berrian finally got on the same page with Brett Favre, but the wide receiver's best game came in a season-ending loss. Berrian caught nine passes for a season-high 102 yards Sunday night in a 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome. Berrian's season was hampered by two separate hamstring injuries. He finished fourth on the team in catches and third in receiving yards. But he was Favre's favorite target Sunday night. "I think we've been looking for that all year," Berrian said. "You have to make your opportunities count." Berrian has now had two of his best games as a Viking at the Superdome. He caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a victory in ..."

Saints defenders salute Favre's grit after injury

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Bobby McCray hit him high. Remi Ayodele hit him low. Watching Brett Favre practically being carried to the sideline and lying on a table had the Saints' defensive linemen thinking that they had knocked the Vikings quarterback out of the game. But, McCray confessed, he wasn't really surprised when Favre returned for the fourth quarter, leading his team to a tying touchdown and having the Vikings in field-goal range for the game-winner before Tracy Porter's interception intervened and sent the game to overtime. "Let me tell you, that is one tough son of a gun," McCray said. "We tried to put everything on him, but he just kept coming back. "That just shows the heart of a champion, and that's ..."

No. 4's interceptions help send Minnesota packing

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January 25

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Joy reigns in Packerland. Brett Favre has struck out. Unless his extraordinary career has other chapters to write, Favre won't be going to the Super Bowl wearing the purple and white No. 4 jersey of the Minnesota Vikings. The 40-year-old quarterback reverted to his old bad Brett form Sunday night, forcing a pair of costly second-half interceptions that cost the Vikings the opportunity to win the NFC Championship Game in regulation time. Then the Vikings lost the overtime coin flip, and Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal with 10 minutes, 15 seconds left gave the New Orleans Saints a historic and gut-wrenching 31-28 victory and sent them to the Super Bowl for the first time in their ..."

Life goes on without old No. 4

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January 25

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"There is a misconception out there that most Wisconsinites are still bitter that Brett Favre and his merry band of Norsemen are still chucking and toting the hogbladder while their Green Bay Packers are setting up tee times. Nonsense. Nothing could be further than the truth. It can now be revealed that just the other day when good 'ol Bert was dropping 34 points and four touchdown passes on the Dallas squad, there were no incidents on the police blotter about bricks of Velveeta going through television screens in America's Dairyland. Nobody was spotted flinging Cheese Whiz at the guy's steakhouse, either. The novelty of this man being a Viking has worn off, too. Let him have those horns. ..."

Don't blame Favre for Vikings coming up short

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"Well, Brett Favre failed in his first attempt to bring the Vikings to the Super Bowl, when the team -- while completely outplaying the Saints -- lost on an overtime field goal 31-28 on Sunday night in New Orleans. It wasn't Favre's fault that the Vikings lost, although he was involved in a key interception that cost them a chance at a winning field-goal attempt at the end of regulation. Three lost fumbles and an earlier Favre interception didn't help the Vikings' cause. Although Favre might be through with football -- it would be hard to blame him after he took a good beating from the Saints -- he has indicated that he is very happy here and now that he failed to get the prize he was ..."

Beaten down Favre makes no promises about the future

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Fighting off tears that welled in his eyes and dealing with a sprained left ankle, Brett Favre stood at a podium inside the Superdome on Sunday night and made no promises about what the future may hold. The Vikings' painful 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game less than an hour old, Favre said he did not expect to take long to make a decision about whether he will return for a 20th season. Favre signed a two-year contract when he ended his second consecutive attempt at retirement last August in order to join the Vikings. "I wouldn't say months," Favre said when asked for a timetable. "I know people are rolling their eyes or will roll their eyes. In a ..."