News & Info/Headlines

It's Official: Brett Favre Returns For 2010
The Vikings convinced Brett Favre to return for a 20th NFL season. As NFL Network's Scott Hanson first reported Tuesday afternoon, the veteran signal caller boarded a plane headed to the Twin Cities after three Vikings players, Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell, went to visit Favre in Mississippi and convince him to return.

According to NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Hutchinson said the three players went to Mississippi to visit Favre at the request of Vikings officials. Per Hutchinson, the team asked them to "bring Favre back or wish him well in his retirement."

It was the former. ...

Favre went through his first practice on Wednesday morning then addressed the media. Saying the decision was "very tough," Favre went on to explain the difficulties involved in the process. In addition to the physical aspects of the returning from surgery, Favre told reporters the mental aspect might be harder.

He made it clear that he's not 100 percent physically. But he was quick to add he wasn't 100 percent last year or the year before either.

The bottom line? "I just felt like I owe it to this organization to give it one more shot," Favre said.

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian on Sirius NFL Radio said Favre addressed his teammates before the practice in a morning meeting. He said Favre told his teammates he is committed to them and that he was rejoining them because he wants to win a Super Bowl.

Berrian also said that Favre had spoken to fellow quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels about his return.

As Minneapolis Star Tribune staffer Judd Zulgad reminded readers, Favre has wavered on his decision on seemingly a daily basis and even told the Vikings he was going to stay retired on Aug. 2. He decided to end his second shot at retirement and play for the Vikings almost exactly a year ago to the day, signing a two-year, $25 million deal last Aug. 18.

Of course, Favre has considered retiring every summer since 2002.

It led to an ugly parting with the Packers that got him traded from Green Bay to the Jets in 2008. After a so-so season in New York, he announced his retirement in early 2009 for the second time, then reconsidered and signed with the Vikings.

He had one of his best seasons last year, with career bests in completion percentage (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (7), while throwing for 33 TDs and 4,202 yards. The Vikings finished 12-4, won their second consecutive NFC North title and advanced to the NFC title game, where they lost to the New Orleans Saints in overtime.

Favre, who will turn 41 in October, took a beating in that game and came away with an injured left ankle. He had arthroscopic surgery for the third time in his career on that ankle in late May as Dr. James Andrews removed scar tissue and bone spurs.

Favre told reporters that an examination performed by Andrews last week revealed a new bone spur but he doesn't expect that to be a problem going forward. He said there was still a little pain but he does have more range of motion.

His bigger concern seems to be general wear and tear.

As Zulgad suggested, Favre’s decision to return comes as a surprise to no one, given that even when he told the team he was going to retire no one truly believed it. That would have marked Favre’s third retirement from the NFL and obviously the first two didn’t take.

The question now is what type of compensation will Favre get for playing this season?

He originally was scheduled to make $13 million but there have been talks that his base salary now will be $16 million with another $4 million in potential playoff incentives.

Whatever the case, there's no doubt the Vikings look -- and feel -- like a better team with Favre under center. And the Fantasy prospects of all involved look better, too.

Oh. ... And for what it's worth, Favre ended the press conference by saying he won't blame anybody for not believing him but 2010 will be his last season.