So sayeth Ed Werder of ESPN.com.
Brett Favre has been informed he requires surgery on his left ankle to play the upcoming season for the Minnesota Vikings, and the quarterback is deliberating whether to have the procedure or simply to end his 19-year NFL career by retiring.
Favre, who would turn 41 during the 2010 season, told ESPN the ankle injury that he suffered three months ago in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints continues to be swollen and painful.
That prompted tests to determine why healing had not occurred and Favre sent the results of those scans to orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who told the quarterback his opinion that surgery is unavoidable.
"We have spoken,'' Favre said in an e-mail. "To play again, I would need the surgery, as I suspected. This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10 -- much like Green Bay for many years. That's what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.''
Yeah, I could see where that could make one conflicted. . .his last two clubs couldn't shove him out the door fast enough.
The article goes on to say that Favre had similar conflicts last year with his shoulder, and he decided to ultimately get it fixed and come play for the Vikings. While this is as serious an obstacle as anything that's come up since the season ended, I have my suspicions that the end result is going to be the same. . .#4 will have the surgery, get himself together (and missing training camp. . .which, as anyone knows and/or saw last year, is really no big deal), and be behind center for the Vikings on 9 September when they head to New Orleans.
You guys aren't worried. . .are you?