Students offer Pro and Con re: Favre as a Viking

By Jared Jacobs
Cardinal Staff

After an entire offseason of conflicting news reports, the Minnesota Vikings made one of the most controversial free agent signings in NFL history when they signed Brett Favre, the future Hall of Fame quarterback of their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

This move has left many Viking fans wondering, “Does adding a soon-to-be 40-year-old quarterback really make us a better team?” After all, most of us have spent the last 15 years hating his successes, cheering every time he threw an interception and using any excuse to convince ourselves he really isn’t that good. However, Brett Favre, while not the three-time MVP-quality player he once was, brings more skill and knowledge of the quarterback position than any other signal-caller on the Vikings roster.

Last year the Vikings featured a dynamic running game headed up by the league’s most feared running back. However, the complete lack of production generated by the passing game allowed opposing defenses to consistently stack extra defenders near the line of scrimmage, limiting the effectiveness and consistency of the Vikings’ rushing attack. The extra defenders committed to stopping Adrian “All Day” Peterson opened up holes in the secondary that Tavaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte were incapable of taking advantage of. Although Favre’s physical abilities may not be what they used to, he still has a strong arm and intangible skills (experience, vision and a complete understanding of the west coast offense). \Instead of having to make plays and score points against defenses expecting him to throw 30 to 40 times per game, Favre has the luxury of relying on the best running game he’s played with in his entire career. All of this allows Favre to use his superior field vision and mastery of the west coast offense to find open targets while minimizing the risky throws that he has had to attempt while playing for pass-heavy offenses.

Favre has already shown the benefits of his experience in his first game as a Viking, where he managed the game efficiently 14/21 passes completed 66.7%, one touchdown and zero interceptions, while allowing Adrian Peterson to punish the Cleveland defense.

If Favre continues to see eight-man defensive fronts, he will be able to easily pick apart opposing defenses for first down yardage and march the Vikings offense up and down the field all day. However, if opposing defenses are foolish enough to consistently drop the safety back into coverage, Peterson will have a great chance at breaking his own NFL single game record of 296 rushing yards as he gashes through defenses unable to deal with his lethal combination of speed and power.

Favre’s presence in purple makes this offense more multi-dimensional, and it makes our entire team better. This should make even the most devoted Favre haters welcome him to Minnesota with open arms.
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By Alex Conover
Sports Editor

Once upon a time, there was a little boy growing up in the mid-1990s. His hero was Brett Favre, the conqueror of any villain - especially the Minnesota Vikings. It seemed like whenever the boy’s team was about to lose, Favre could put the squad on his back and carry them to a comeback victory. Like the rest of “Packer Nation,” the little boy rejoiced when Favre brought them their first Super Bowl title in 29 years. The boy’s mind was put at ease in 2001 when Favre signed a 10-year extension, “ensuring” that he would be a Packer for life.

I’ve grown up a lot since then, and I’ve removed the wool that was over my eyes. As much as Brett meant to me as a child, I have realized that he isn’t much different from the other overpaid superstars. Much like Terrell Owens or Brandon Marshall, Favre is greedy, selfish and a spotlight fiend. How many times will he thrust his name into the national conversation with his constant retirement/comeback musings? Is there nothing holy in the game of football when Brett cries and whines his way onto the Minnesota Vikings, his sworn enemies for 16 years? I want to lose my lunch every time I see him in purple.

For those that believe Green Bay never should have “ditched” Favre, think again. Sure, he was a great quarterback for the packers for a decade and a half, but you can never let a player become bigger than the team itself. Favre was trying to pressure the front office to make trades for all sorts of players, namely Randy Moss and Tony Gonzalez. He also put the team in upheaval every offseason since 2004 with his retirement threats that usually wouldn’t be resolved until it was almost too late. With a great quarterback Aaron Rodgers waiting in the wings, why not get rid of the diva? The general manager of the Packers, Ted Thompson made a difficult decision in rejecting Favre’s bid to reclaim his starting spot in the summer of 2008. Thompson offered a chance to compete for the starting role with Rodgers, but that wasn’t good enough for “Lord Favre.” Green Bay is a professional organization that cannot afford to wait around for a declining legend, so they made the tough and correct decision.

Meanwhile, I really like Aaron Rodgers. He had a Pro Bowl-caliber year in 2008, throwing for 28 touchdowns and a 93.8 passer rating, third-best in the NFC. He’s a good leader, an efficient and smart quarterback and he doesn’t whine for attention. What’s not to like? With a receiving corps that is better than any that Favre had, I really don’t miss the diva. In fact, I am relishing the chance to put him in his place on Nov. 1, when he has to face his former Lambeau faithful. I’m anticipating a Green Bay win with plenty of booing on the side.