Sports - Brett Favre

Monday, Aug. 17, 2009

Reports: Favre on his way to Minnesota

Brett Favre is reportedly on his way to Minnesota and all indications are that the future Hall of Fame quarterback is set to sign a contract with the Vikings.

According to WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Favre boarded a plane bound for St. Paul, Minnesota. WCCO-TV has also cited a high-level source within the Vikings as saying that Favre will ink a deal Tuesday.

It was in late July that Favre told Vikings head coach Brad Childress that he was not ready to make another comeback, but the fire was stoked on Monday when FoxSports.com reported that unnamed Vikings players said it was only a matter of when, not if, the veteran quarterback would join the team.

The Vikings played their first preseason game this past weekend, beating the Indianapolis Colts. It was speculated Favre just wanted to avoid the rigors of training camp.

Favre, who turns 40 in October, spent the 2008 season with the New York Jets, then announced his retirement for a second time in as many years. He first retired as a Green Bay Packer following the 2007 campaign.

After a disappointing end to the 2008 season with the Jets, Favre underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon affecting his throwing shoulder -- an indication he was set to make another comeback. He apparently played with that injury in the final five games of last season, when the Jets won just once and went from playoff contender at 8-3 to missing the playoffs completely at 9-7.

The three-time MVP wanted to play last season with Minnesota after deciding to end his first brief retirement. The Packers, though, were unwilling to deal him within the NFC North and instead traded him to the Jets.

Favre has spent 18 seasons in the NFL and starred for 16 years with the Packers, who acquired him from Atlanta before the 1992 season. He threw four passes in two games with the Falcons, who had selected the Southern Mississippi product in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.

The ultimate gunslinger, Favre was a seven-time All-Pro and was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, including this past season with New York. He left the game as the NFL's all-time record holder in several categories, including wins by a starting quarterback, passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions and consecutive games started.

Favre has completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 65,127 yards with 464 touchdowns and 310 interceptions. He led the Packers to a pair of Super Bowls, winning his lone title after the 1996 season in a 35-21 victory over New England. The Packers lost to Denver in the Super Bowl the following season.