still am, though I fully support him and the team. We’ll see how he continues to perform, we had no doubt he’d start off fine. It’s how he would end that was the problem. I still think I would have preferred Garcia over any available QB this off season, he was the only one I was comfortable with the Vikings signing. If Favre doesn’t implode down the stretch, then I guess it worked out, but I’m still leery.

I’d love to retire his number as a Viking, regardless of how we do this season, just to screw with the packer fans a little more.

My original thought of not wanting Favre was not that he is a former Packer and that should mean anyone who was a Packer should never be a Vikings. I think we were smart in getting Longwell, a kicker who I think has been one of the best over the last 10 years. Another plus was the signing of Sharper…..and I will leave that for another post I’ve been thinking of writing. My concern about the signing of Favre came down to two items:

Age being a factor
Injuries being a factor

Yes, I am happily surprised and ecstatic of how well the Vikings have responded. Yes, it has become apparent it is indeed an upgrade over Jackson. So, going into the bye week, has our current fortunes changed my thoughts on the matter…..yes……

and no.

Favre has had a stellar first half of the season, as he did last year. But everyone knew in the 2nd half of last year, something was wrong. His rating went down, his TD’s went down and his INT’s went up. That’s when we learned of the injury. That can definitely happen here again this year. Age could also become a factor late in the season if his body starts to wear. So far this season, Sullivan and Loadholt have been improving and I think been doing a good job so far. Yes, both have had snaffo’s. I’ m sure if we went back into the vault, Birk had his own F-up’s his first few years. So that does limit the possible injury aspect. He does seem to be in good health so far and staying away from mistakes. So far, so good, no age factor and no injury factor. However, I still wont rule on a whole season when only half has been played. Anyone would have too admit that those two factors can still come into play, wiping out what has transpired up to date. While I am ecstatic, enthused, happy, I still have my concerns in the back of the head keeping things in check. As I stated in the past, If we do win “The game”, I will be more then happy to admit that much and welcome him back at 41.

So, if some think I’m still being a downer just because I have my concerns, wah. If some think I’m reneging on my thoughts before the season started, wah. I am enjoying the success that the Vikings and Favre are having and hoping this keeps up all the way till Feb. On the flip side, if something happens, I won’t be going “haha, told you so.” I still want to be wrong and still want the Vikings getting a ring.

May the 2nd half be as fruitful as the 1st.

SKOL

…at least to some extent. Favre will make it through the entire season if the O-Line can protect him (like they have) and his receivers make plays (like they have). Oh yeah and Peterson takes a lot of the load and pressure.

This team is starting to believe, and although Favre has had to use some of his “magic” (SF) or use his arm (Pitt.)… this team is starting to rise to the occasion (Miami). Let the chemistry continue to build, I like what were watching. Especially when Winefield comes back

I was never against him coming here for fear of poor performance or that he was the face of our rival for 16 years.

I was against him because I feel his age will be a detriment to us in the last half of the season, especially if we have to play in an outdoor stadium.

I had no doubts that he would lead our team to a strong start, and that he would probably have one of his best seasons considering the weapons he has around him.

But Favre will be Favre. I know as much as Chilly likes to think he has control of him and that he will be able to keep him from doing too much, in the end it will be Favre calling the shots.

Who is going to argue with the guy the way he has been playing?

It has already started. Remember the “pitch count”? 51 attempts is not what was agreed upon at the beginning of the year. He was supposed to be kept on a short leash as far as how many time he throws the ball.

This is AP’s team, have we forgotten that fact? I like keeping his touches down, but with the “famine, famine, feast” running style that he has, we are not getting as many feasts.

Eventually Favre’s age is going to catch up with him, and it is going to happen at a time that we need him most. The whole reason we allowed him to skip training camp (yes, Chilly allowed him to skip camp. The deal was done long before his arrival at winter park.) was to keep him from wearing out early.

I was happy during the first few games, we sat him late once the game was well in hand. But I haven’t seen that in the last few games, well the ones that we should have.

Chilly does not have control, and Favre will do what he wants to do. His mind tells him that he can do this all year, and we know he will try. But he can’t.

Someone from our team needs to step up and tell Favre that we need him in December and January more than we need him now.

on this site as a Favre supporter from the ‘get go’… but I too harbor worries about him making the entire season.
I’ve listened to the arguments that he’s old, injured, fades in the stretch, and throws more interceptions late/cold…

As a 40-something… I am in awe of the fact that he is still playing the game at such a high level – truly awesome.
Brett is on record (with Terry Bradshaw) talking about how it takes so much longer to recover from a game.
So yeah… I worry about him staying healthy and robust for the ‘late run to a really big game’.

I’ve also heard Brett talking about his primary motivation to play this year (and it’s not ‘purely’ Revenge, sorry R4F) and I’ve heard him state his singular goal ~ (yes, I know every player in the NFL says his goal is to win the Superbowl) ~ but when I hear Brett say it… I dunno… there’s something in his voice/eyes, that makes me BELIEVE…

I pulled out last year’s schedule and the remaining Vikes schedule and the differences are HUGE – Brett’s bye came in week 5 last year – almost a whole month earlier than this year… 6 of his 9 (November and later) games were outdoors in (what I consider) cold weather stadiums. 2 of the remaining games were ‘warm weather’ outdoor and 1 dome game.
This year… his remaining 8 games… 5 are at Home, 1 away Dome, 1 ‘warm weather’ outdoor game, and 1 game at a cold Soldier field…
If cold home and cold away games were a contributor to Brett’s second half collapse last year and previous ‘late fades’ with GB, then you have to be excited about his late regular season schedule with the Vikings!

I think Brett is with a quality team that has all of the pieces in place… he is a proven leader who instills confidence in his teammates and lifts the level of play among those around him. I think Brett is HAPPY and is playing with a clean mind and a strong body.

I will still worry about the second half of the season, but like Brett’s teammates, I have a ‘new confidence’ in the 2009 Minnesota Vikings. I am also pragmatic enough NOT to have 1998-like ‘pre-hopes’… I just want to see this team go out every Sunday and play up to their potential… and I pray that they are keeping something ‘In the Tank’ for a late run at the ultimate prize.

but I am definitely enjoying this ride! How could I not?!

I am still not sure how it will end— even this season could finish with TJack or Sage playing mediocre in a playoff game, and the ride coming to a disappointing end. And the off-season full of angst again.

But, I am going to not think about that— and just live in the “now”… everything is pretty electric right now…

Had we not pursued Favre after the “deadline” passed, I would have supported that decision.

I don’t like knowing that IF we do win the Super Bowl, Brett Favre will get all the credit. AP, Rice, Harvin, and the rest will all say the right things, but we have a **** good football TEAM this year.

The argument about what could happen with Favre’s age and injuries are crap…it happened last year, doesnt mean it will happen this year. Sports “experts” have been using that excuse ever scince Favre signed with the Vikes. The dude could also drop trou and take a dump on the Mall Of America Field at The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, doesnt mean he will…i mean he might, but i doubt it. So far this season he is playing like a canadate for the leauges MVP award, and even if he starts to slow down…we still have the best back in football today in ADAP to save us from a potential Favre meltdown. Favre signing looking like the best pickup this offseason for any team, and if he wanted to come back next year…i say welcome him with open arms even if its after training camp…hell lets set up a rocking chair with an umbrella drink next to a pool in mankato so he can just chill while training camp is goin on.

Milcard,
As I have said before I was against bringing Farve in for several reasons.
1) He is old and had faded the last two seasons
2) It would destroy team chemistry since two QB’s were fighting with the team
3) There would not be enough time to Jell with this team.
4) He is not the future of the team and we need a fiture.

Obviously I have eaten crow and am happy to do so. Coach knew more about Farve than I did. He takes a good team and takes them farther than any other available QB could take them.
If he can last two years we have time to build the future QB situation.
This team was ready to win but needs a great QB to properly run the system.

Happy to have him and hope he can take us to the promised land once again.

have given him more time to make better choices. ANY qb makes wrong decisions and throws ill advised passes when either under pressure and/ or receivers don’t find ways to be even slightly open. ANY OF THEM. Tip of the hat to both crews for excellent work. Perfect fit for BF.

Great ideas there, Loki!

I did not want Favre on the Viking team, because he was my longtime hated rival’s QB and I despised him. That was then.

This is now. I would still much rather have TJ or Sage as the starting quarterback if they could be successful. Unfortunately, I do not think they can play as well as Farve is now.

I saw him as a self-centered egomaniac who was “all for me and me for all”. That was then.

This is now. I still believe that Favre had this personality when he played for the Packers. But I’m beginning to see why. Green Bay fans themselves are egomaniacs when it comes to their football team. I knew this all along, but it has really come out after their treatment of Favre.

I did not like the fact that he hurt his teams by playing injured just to maintain his starting streak. That was then.

This is now. There is absolutely no question in my mind that he hurt his teams while playing injured, however there may have been times, especially in NY, that he was pressured to do so.

I did not like the fact that he thought he was bigger than the team. Maybe he didn’t create this image all by himself, the press helped (i.e. John “only Favre can make that throw” Madden).

I especially couldn’t stomach the idea of my team, that I had been faithful to from their beginning, could actually want the Packer “God” on their team. That was then.

This is now. I have warmed to Favre. Winning will do that. But I will still not buy a Favre jersey.

The signing of Favre will only be measured a success if the Vikings win the Super Bowl. That was then.

This is now. While I still believe this, I also believe that he has brought some developement and success to the receiving corp that I don’t think they would have had otherwise.

That all being said, I will always cheer for my team to win. I will cheer for Favre to be successful. I will continue to hate the Packers and mock their fans. One thing that has really given me pleasure from the signing of Favre and his success so far as a Viking, is to see the Packer fans squirming. Oh happy times.

But I have gone thru the 5 steps of grieving. (Yes, I grieved when that slap nuts ex-Packer came here) I am now on the 5th step of the process. Acceptance.

I have to admit he has been fun to watch and that he gives us the best chance in years to win it all. If that happens, I will become a Favre fan and rescind the slap nuts comment from earlier in this post.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do have Favre on my fantasy team. He has had great value when compared to what I paid for him in our auction. One might say that I am a little schizo when the subject is Favre. I can accept that. And so can I.

(I was the one that first posted here that Favre told Childress no)

If anyone doesn’t remember or was in doubt of what I felt, well I was openly bemoaning that I thought Favre saying no would probably end up meaning another moderately successful season, playoffs but no bye, & maybe a mid-round exit from playoffs. Although there were actually a few that agreed with me, a few more that did not disagree or agree but asked me to stop being so negative, it was time to move on … there were a number of folks who expressed relief that Favre (appeared at the time he) wasn’t coming. I see a few posting here today, some having changed their minds, but a lot of them actually have not chimed in (e.g. Viking83, one of the more vocal antiFavre guys)

I miss his wit and charm on this humble little blog…