- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Frazier closes door on Favre
Posted by Mike Florio on January 4, 2011, 6:20 AM EST
For quarterback Brett Favre to fully engage in his wishy-washy, will-I-or-won’t-I routine, he needs a football team that is willing to indulge his tendencies. In 2009 and 2010, the Vikings and coach Brad Childress were happy to wait around for Favre to make up his mind, and to say and do anything necessary to get him to eventually decide to play.
New coach Leslie Frazier apparently isn’t going to play that game.
In a Monday radio interview with Dan Barreiro of KFAN in Minneapolis, Frazier addressed Favre’s status. And while Frazier focused primarily on his belief that Favre really is done with football, Frazier’s words included a not-so-subtle message that the Vikings are done with Favre.
“I’m convinced that he is sincere about retirement,” Frazier said. “And also, it’s time for our team, and I think Brett would agree with that. But I’m certain that he doesn’t want to play again. I know he’s mentioned the word ‘retirement’ a bunch of different times and come back and played, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s played his last professional football game.”
We aren’t yet ready to believe that Favre has played his last professional football game, simply because we’ve seen this routine too many times before. As we mentioned in the Week 17 Monday 10-pack, there currently aren’t 32 quarterbacks better than Favre — and a truncated or non-existent offseason and training camp due to the labor situation makes him perfectly suited to show up and play at a moment’s notice.
That said, Frazier isn’t mincing words, unlike his predecessor. When Frazier says “it’s time for our team,” he essentially means “Brett, thanks for the memories, but we’re moving on — and you’re moving out.”
With Joe Webb being the only other quarterback on the roster who’s under contract for 2011, it’s risky to slam the door on Favre. Given everything that transpired in 2010, it’s probably also the right move.
Posted by Mike Florio on January 4, 2011, 6:20 AM EST
For quarterback Brett Favre to fully engage in his wishy-washy, will-I-or-won’t-I routine, he needs a football team that is willing to indulge his tendencies. In 2009 and 2010, the Vikings and coach Brad Childress were happy to wait around for Favre to make up his mind, and to say and do anything necessary to get him to eventually decide to play.
New coach Leslie Frazier apparently isn’t going to play that game.
In a Monday radio interview with Dan Barreiro of KFAN in Minneapolis, Frazier addressed Favre’s status. And while Frazier focused primarily on his belief that Favre really is done with football, Frazier’s words included a not-so-subtle message that the Vikings are done with Favre.
“I’m convinced that he is sincere about retirement,” Frazier said. “And also, it’s time for our team, and I think Brett would agree with that. But I’m certain that he doesn’t want to play again. I know he’s mentioned the word ‘retirement’ a bunch of different times and come back and played, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s played his last professional football game.”
We aren’t yet ready to believe that Favre has played his last professional football game, simply because we’ve seen this routine too many times before. As we mentioned in the Week 17 Monday 10-pack, there currently aren’t 32 quarterbacks better than Favre — and a truncated or non-existent offseason and training camp due to the labor situation makes him perfectly suited to show up and play at a moment’s notice.
That said, Frazier isn’t mincing words, unlike his predecessor. When Frazier says “it’s time for our team,” he essentially means “Brett, thanks for the memories, but we’re moving on — and you’re moving out.”
With Joe Webb being the only other quarterback on the roster who’s under contract for 2011, it’s risky to slam the door on Favre. Given everything that transpired in 2010, it’s probably also the right move.
