Brett Favre Ends Retirement, Signs With Minnesota Vikings

For three weeks or so, Brett Favre's return to the NFL appeared dead.

But as we've come to learn with Favre, things are not always as they seem.

Favre signed a two-year contract with the Vikings for $25 million Tuesday afternoon. He will receive $12 million in base salary this season, if he starts the year on Minnesota's active roster, and $13 million next year.

---

---

At a press conference announcing his return -- which came after his first practice with the Vikings on Tuesday -- Favre said that a tear in his rotator cuff scared him, and that he even told his 10-year-old daughter he was done playing.

"I thought it was over," he said.

"I knew if I were to play I had to have surgery," Favre said, referring to a torn biceps tendon that needed repair this spring. "It was kinda iffy on the surgery, but I finally decided to have it. The recovery, Dr. [James] Andrews, said it would be roughly six weeks and he was right, a good six weeks, although at times it felt really well, other times not quite as well."

During the surgery, Dr. Andrews discovered the rotator cuff tear and told Favre he's had it for some time. Favre asked could it be repaired -- Dr. Andrews said yes, but the process could keep him out almost two seasons.

"That scared me," Favre said of the rotator cuff tear. "Being a quarterback or pitcher, being 39 coming off surgery, for something totally different, to be reluctant, it would be an understatement."

The quarterback said he's not 100 percent, but feels he can make all the throws. That's good enough for Minnesota.

"We all know there are no guarantees," Favre said.

The Favre signing puts the Vikings into the conversation with the Giants, Eagles and defending NFC champion Cardinals among the elites of the conference. Minnesota was a favorite to win the NFC North, but now with Favre the profile has changed.

Minnesota has reached the playoffs only once under coach Brad Childress, and that was last season. But this is a franchise expecting a deep playoff run. The last time the Vikings played in the NFC title game was 2000 under then-coach Dennis Green.

Favre's journey to the Vikings started this spring when he underwent surgery to repair a torn biceps. He worked out at a high school in Hattiesburg, Miss., gaining arm strength. Favre said he still wasn't sure, and his agent, Bus Cook, told FanHouse numerous times his client was done.

On July 28, Favre told the Vikings, as well, that he wasn't coming back. But Childress made a call weeks later, asking the retired quarterback to change his mind.

"This is a fluid business," Childress said.

After Favre agreed to return, Childress was left with the difficult task of telling quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, who were competing for the starting job before Favre arrived, they are now backups.

"But our game is about competing," Childress said. "Just like I told the team today, again, whatever position you're at, you're fighting for the 53 spots on this football team."

Rosenfels said he wasn't surprised by Favre's return, yet Jackson was less than thrilled.

"You're always disappointed a little bit when you want to play," Jackson said after practice on Tuesday. "I'm still going to compete and you always want to get better. It's not a good feeling but you got to take it for what its worth and get better for it."

Jackson denied a report he requested a trade.

Favre should make his Vikings debut Friday against the Chiefs in Minnesota's second preseason game of the season.

Then there's those regular-season games to look forward to, especially the Nov. 1 contest against the team he played with for 16 years, Green Bay.

When Favre was asked about any criticism he might receive from Packers fans who think he betrayed them he said, "don't watch" his return.

Yet, many will watch to see if Favre can help the Vikings get back to the postseason and make a long push once there.

"My expectations are high for this football team," Favre said. "I didn't come here to lose."