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Favre takes self-centered behavior to new extreme

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Alex Marvez

Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He has covered the NFL for the past 17 seasons as a beat writer and is the former president of the Pro Football Writers of America. He also is a frequent host on Sirius XM NFL Radio.

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Updated Aug 19, 2009 1:28 PM ET
     
 

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.

There are limits as to how far NFL players can push their luck. And then there's Brett Favre.
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How many of his peers could flip-flop on retirement, skip 10 days of training camp and then waltz into the starting lineup at their own whim? Favre did just that Tuesday when signing — finally — with Minnesota. Maybe a handful of other elite all-stars could get away with this type of self-serving behavior. Most wouldn't try. I can't imagine fellow quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady being willing to put their own interests ahead of teammates who already have given so much time and energy preparing for the upcoming season. Yet the "Gun for Hire" motto has become the Favre way — and the Vikings were willing to accept all the bullets that come with it. Favre's introductory news conference left me feeling as dirty as the unwashed orange hat he wore at the podium. If we are to believe head coach Brad Childress, his focus was "solely on the team" after being shot down by Favre two weeks ago. Childress tried to make it sound like he only recently reconsidered pursuing Favre and found a willing party Monday. To borrow a favorite saying of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco: "Child, please." In his blockbuster Monday column, FOXSports.com NFL insider Jay Glazer chronicled the ongoing behind-the-scenes courtship between the Vikings and Favre while predicting his signing. Once the cat was out of the bag, Childress and Favre must have known a decision was needed ASAP before the story became an even bigger preseason distraction in Minnesota. A contract agreement was reached so quickly that Favre is expected to start Friday night's preseason game against Kansas City. When listening to his reasons for not signing earlier, Favre would have garnered my sympathy if he hadn't lied so much in the past. Favre said a previously undiagnosed rotator cuff tear made him skeptical about trying a comeback. Fortunately for Favre, the injury doesn't appear to have affected his passing acumen or ability to text Vikings players about making a comeback like Glazer documented. From strictly an X-and-O standpoint, Favre's arrival will ultimately be considered a stroke of genius or a big enough flop to implode the Vikings. In his first practice Tuesday, Favre showed no ill effects of the torn right biceps tendon that had required offseason surgery. Favre whizzed passes at high velocity, some of which his new receivers struggled to handle. Whether his arm or any other part of Favre's 39-year-old body can make it through a season intact — especially without his participation in an NFL offseason workout program — is anyone's guess. Childress' temptation to find out was understandable. Despite another drawn-out "will he or won't he play?" saga, Favre is still an NFL legend with something left in the tank. He played well in 2008 until suffering the late-season arm injury that derailed the New York Jets' playoff run. He knows Minnesota's offense from having played in a similar system in Green Bay. Favre also knew he could string along the Vikings until late Monday night when his return was finalized. That's because the Vikings had a head coach desperate for a quarterback and a team owner (Zygi Wilf) equally desperate to create buzz for his franchise while trying to secure new stadium funding. On the latter front, the signing already is an early success. Sales of game tickets and purple No. 4 jerseys have gone haywire. Even though Tuesday's practice was closed to the public, a crowd that gathered beyond a protective mesh fence chanted Favre's name as he bopped onto the practice field. Minnesota fans also are thrilled at seeing Favre and his increasingly gray hair in a purple Vikings helmet — a site that would sicken any supporter of the archrival Green Bay Packers. But treating Favre like an even bigger cheese than during his 16 Packers seasons comes with a bigger price for the Vikings than his reported $10 million salary in 2009. The special treatment that Favre received with the Packers and Jets alienated some of his teammates. So did Favre's solitary personal ways and reticence to mingle with younger players. The seeds are planted for the same problems. Childress may have lost respect from some of Minnesota's veterans earlier this summer by asking them to press Favre to play in 2009 via text message. Childress then added to Favre's favored status by personally picking him up from the airport Tuesday while the rest of the roster was inside team headquarters preparing for practice. Childress also has undermined the other quarterbacks on his roster who will have to play if Favre goes down. Sage Rosenfels — who was promised the chance to compete for a starting spot when acquired in a March trade — never had a legitimate shot even after completing 10 of 13 passes in last Friday night's preseason opener. Childress even stripped John David Booty of the No. 4 jersey he had worn since last season and gave it to Favre without blinking an eye. "Of course you're disappointed," said quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who now has no shot at regaining his starting spot. "I really don't know where this leaves me." Favre had barely spent five minutes in the locker room Tuesday before taking the practice field. Favre hugged those players he knew and introduced himself to others he didn't. Favre promises he will be taking an active leadership role. After the drama Favre already has put the franchise through, it's the least he could do. "It was like one day he was coming and the next day it was no," Vikings perennial Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson said. "Now, one way or the other it's over." But if Favre's past few seasons have taught us anything, it's that the circus is only beginning.
Tagged: Tarvaris Jackson, Colts, Vikings, Patriots, Sage Rosenfels, Jets, Tom Brady, Bengals, Peyton Manning, Steve Hutchinson, John David Booty, Packers

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