There are three things we can count on in life: death, taxes and the inevitable comeback of Brett Favre.
This year is no different as number 4 has returned from a six month retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings. Even though it is total deja vu, something seems different about the situation. Favre adds something the men in purple haven't had in a long time, a successful quarterback, but does he really make this team better?
Sure, Favre has more credentials than Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, but he is another year older. We all know about last year's injury and the question is whether or not it will return again this year. He says he feels much better than last year and is set to go, but no one will know how good he actually feels until the season starts.
On paper, the only thing that Favre seems to add to the Vikings are more turnovers.
Vikings signal callers only threw 17 interceptions last year and fumbled the ball a total of four times. Favre on the other hand, had 22 interceptions and five fumbles. While the turnover margin isn't big, it is still enough to question whether or not this move makes the Vikings better.
The argument can be made that Favre's numbers trailed off because of his arm injury. While it makes sense, stats from the past make it seem like it is just Favre's play style. He has had five season with more than 20 turnovers, the most recent being 2005.
Many would describe Favre as a "gunslinger." Many coaches see this as a good quality, as it means he attempts to make game changing plays. That said however, being a gunslinger also leads to poor decisions, something Brett is not foreign too. I think everyone remembers the overtime interceptions he has carelessly thrown in the playoffs.
Back to the original question though, does Favre make the Vikings better?
In my own personal opinion it is a high risk high, high reward situation. Number 4 will certainly throw the football, but will those extra passes put the Vikings over the top is yet to be seen. It is Adrian Peterson's team after all and thus is a run first offense. The quarterback is really only there to hand him the ball and run pass plays when the run isn't an option, which isn't often.
Any quarterback can really be plugged into that situation, especially considering that the team doesn't really have any major receivers to get the ball to. While the addition of Percy Harvin was nice, he is by no means a serious downfield threat. Favre is not going to be content just simply handing the rock off and thus may try to do too much when he does get the opportunity to pass. Often times that is a recipe for a turnover.
I still haven't answered the question though and that is because I don't think I can. We will have no idea how Favre will effect the Vikings until the season is over. Personally I think he may fail in Minnesota. The offense just simply doesn't need a liability like him under center. His turnovers aren't going to go away and I think Rosenfels could accomplish the bare minimum of what needs to be done by a quarterback.
After all, if we think back to last year it was the defense falling flat on its face(literally) during a Brian Westbrook screen that led to their first round exit; not the quarterback play.
This year is no different as number 4 has returned from a six month retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings. Even though it is total deja vu, something seems different about the situation. Favre adds something the men in purple haven't had in a long time, a successful quarterback, but does he really make this team better?
Sure, Favre has more credentials than Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, but he is another year older. We all know about last year's injury and the question is whether or not it will return again this year. He says he feels much better than last year and is set to go, but no one will know how good he actually feels until the season starts.
On paper, the only thing that Favre seems to add to the Vikings are more turnovers.
Vikings signal callers only threw 17 interceptions last year and fumbled the ball a total of four times. Favre on the other hand, had 22 interceptions and five fumbles. While the turnover margin isn't big, it is still enough to question whether or not this move makes the Vikings better.
The argument can be made that Favre's numbers trailed off because of his arm injury. While it makes sense, stats from the past make it seem like it is just Favre's play style. He has had five season with more than 20 turnovers, the most recent being 2005.
Many would describe Favre as a "gunslinger." Many coaches see this as a good quality, as it means he attempts to make game changing plays. That said however, being a gunslinger also leads to poor decisions, something Brett is not foreign too. I think everyone remembers the overtime interceptions he has carelessly thrown in the playoffs.
Back to the original question though, does Favre make the Vikings better?
In my own personal opinion it is a high risk high, high reward situation. Number 4 will certainly throw the football, but will those extra passes put the Vikings over the top is yet to be seen. It is Adrian Peterson's team after all and thus is a run first offense. The quarterback is really only there to hand him the ball and run pass plays when the run isn't an option, which isn't often.
Any quarterback can really be plugged into that situation, especially considering that the team doesn't really have any major receivers to get the ball to. While the addition of Percy Harvin was nice, he is by no means a serious downfield threat. Favre is not going to be content just simply handing the rock off and thus may try to do too much when he does get the opportunity to pass. Often times that is a recipe for a turnover.
I still haven't answered the question though and that is because I don't think I can. We will have no idea how Favre will effect the Vikings until the season is over. Personally I think he may fail in Minnesota. The offense just simply doesn't need a liability like him under center. His turnovers aren't going to go away and I think Rosenfels could accomplish the bare minimum of what needs to be done by a quarterback.
After all, if we think back to last year it was the defense falling flat on its face(literally) during a Brian Westbrook screen that led to their first round exit; not the quarterback play.
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Ah yes, but how many times has Sugar Ray Leonard come back?
Favre adds something that the Vikings haven't had in a long time - A Leader in the huddle. When Favre steps into the huddle it will be his team to command. Eveyone's play will be elevated because of him. He may be prone to makine poor decisions to fit the ball into places it doesn't belong, but how many qb's can complete a lot of the throws he makes.
The questions for Brett this season isn't how does he compare to season's past, but rather how good could he be so close to 40 this season if he didn't have a partially torn rotator cuff. Considering that the Vikings haven't had a qb or leader in the position that can make defenses respect the position, my guess is that fans will be talking about Peterson a lot more this season as there'll be less men in the box to defend the run. Then again the Vikings do lag behind most of the league when it comes down to the head coach.