Question of the day: When Sunday comes, will Brett Favre be starting for the Vikings?
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Writers from around Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.
Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune
Of course Brett Favre will be playing football Sunday. What else could he be doing? Playing football is what Favre does. He doesn’t know how not to play. Until he gives us reason to believe he can’t limp out onto the field, we have to assume history will repeat itself and Favre will play hurt. Now he might not be able to play as well as usual, but he’ll still be able to play, and probably better than Tarvaris Jackson could. The fact that Favre has fractures in his ankle gives more drama to Favre’s season — as if there hasn’t been enough already. But if he slays the Patriots with a heroic performance on a bad ankle, he could make a lot of people forget about a lot of things.
[Updated at 8:58 a.m.
Kevin Van Valkenburg, Baltimore Sun
Of course Brett Favre will be playing Sunday. Not because it’s in the best interests of the Vikings, but because it’s in the best interests of Favre. He’ll limp onto the field, grinning and grimacing on alternating plays, and the announcers will fawn over his grit, never once questioning whether it’s actually selfish of Favre to play when he can barely walk.
The NFL -- and all the attention that goes with it -- is a drug, and Favre has an addictive personality. He can’t quit. All the nonsense about how he loves the game and would play it for free (which has always been false) glosses over the fact that Brett Favre NEEDS the game. You don’t start 291 consecutive games in the NFL because you want to. You do it because you don’t know any other way.
Favre will start because Brad Childress won’t tell him he can’t start. He’ll hobble around in the first half, pigeon-toed and bow-legged, throw a few interceptions, then toss a few touchdowns to make the score seem closer that it actually is. After the game, reporters will ask Favre if he thinks he can play the following week, and with his best poker face, he’ll say he’ll do whatever is best for the team.]
[Updated at 2:03
Mike Berardino, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Sure, Brett Lorenzo Favre – yes, Lorenzo -- looked more like he was 81 instead of 41 as he hobbled off Lambeau Field for perhaps the last time Sunday night. True, his ankle is shot and he probably has no business trying to film a jeans ad in the park, much less quarterback an NFL game at 5-1 New England.
But is there really any doubt Favre will be under center come Sunday afternoon in Foxborough?
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Thursday it would “be a surprise” if Favre can’t answer the bell for his record 292nd consecutive start. “Surprise” is too mild.
The man is going to play. His ego simply won’t allow him to sit. Plus, considering Favre’s 68.0 rating –- fourth-worst among qualifying NFL quarterbacks -- Tarvaris Jackson might outplay him. Then what?]