Vikings and Favre Have Deal In Place?
According To WCCO's Mark Rosen, The Vikings Have Signed Brett Favre
Jun 23, 2009
For months, speculation has run rampant in Minnesota about the legendary number four Brett Favre, coming out of retirement for a second time and returning to play for the Vikings.
According to a report out of WCCO, a Minnesota television station late Tuesday evening, Mark Rosen has reported that after all the scuttlebutt, after all the rumours, Favre will make his way to training camp next month.
According to Rosen's 'source', the contract is loaded with incentives. The report also stated that the Vikings equipment manager has already ordered number 4 purple jerseys with his name on it.
As of Sunday, Favre's agent Bus Cook has denied any such deal is in place and that both sides have not reached an agreement.
What's Next?
If Rosen's report is indeed accurate, what usually happens next is a formal announcement via a press conference.
It's been reported that head coach of the Vikings Brad Childress is currently on a fishing trip and is not in the Twin Cities.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote on his website a few days ago that an announcement could come at the beginning of July when Childress returns from his trip and when numerous media personnel are on vacation in an effort to reduce the 'frenzy' of reporters.
Expect An Announcement Soon
After numerous reports from various media outlets on Favre's status with the Vikings over the last little while, expect Vikings officials to make a statement sometime soon due to the magnitude of this latest report.
Whether it was ESPN's Ed Werder reporting that Childress implemented a supposed 'deadline' earlier this month, to Yahoo.com's Rick Schwartz's story of Favre turning down the Vikings offer. Rosen's story is the first official report of the Vikings and Favre already having a deal in place.
That in itself, should garner plenty of media attention at Winter Park for the forseeable future. Maybe Childress will have to cut his fishing trip short?
If Favre Is A Viking, Do The Vikings Cut Tarvaris Jackson?
The biggest question for the Vikings coaching staff going forward is that if Favre is signed and is indeed at training camp, which quarterback does the team let go? Or do they attempt to keep all quarterbacks that are currently on the roster?
According to Rosen's report, Tarvaris Jackson would be the odd man out. That sounds a bit far fetched due to the fact, Childress has spent too much time and effort in grooming Jackson to be the Vikings starter.
Although Jackson did play particularly poor in the Vikings last game of the season, throwing an ugly interception in a playoff match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles, he did show improvement when returning from being benched earlier in the year. It would be hard to believe the head coach giving up on Jackson at this point in time.
Look for the Vikings to attempt to keep all four quarterbacks, which includes 2008 fifth round draft pick John David Booty.
