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As ESPN.com's Ed Werder first reported this morning, Brett Favre has been informed he requires surgery on his left ankle to play the upcoming season for the 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 Werder 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 cause.

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 told Werder 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 since of belonging.'

All of this jibes with comments by NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci, also a close friend of Favre's, made during last weekend's draft.

"He doesn't know yet," Mariucci said when asked if Favre will return during an appearance on WFAN Radio. "He's trying to heal up. His body is recovered except for that ankle."

Mariucci went on to explain: "It's an ankle that he had surgery on twice before and it's still pretty puffy. ... He's trying to determine: Is his body telling him something here? Or is he going to be feeling better in due time.

"He still hasn't made up his mind, and the Vikings are not rushing him. ..."

While it sounds like the Vikings might have had a pretty good idea of Favre's circumstances going into the draft, this news will certainly raise questions about the team's decision not to draft a quarterback last weekend. The team could have selected Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy.

Whatever the case, Favre admits he must now determine whether his affection for the Vikings and his belief they are capable of winning the Super Bowl overrides his disdain for surgery.

According to Werder, Favre would not reveal the exact diagnosis or the prognosis on how long it would take to recover from the surgery.

While it previously seemed Favre was almost certain to return to the Vikings, Werder believes the quarterback's his comments Friday reveal a player who appears to be seriously conflicted.

Favre was in a similar position last offseason, when Andrews repaired a partially torn biceps tendon in his throwing shoulder. Favre eventually decided to play, missing all of training camp before signing a two-year contract with the Vikings worth $25 million.

Stay tuned. We haven't heard the last of this one.