Events That will Take Place if Favre Joins Vikings

Mike Florio - SportingNews.com

With the connection between the Minnesota Vikings and quarterback Brett Favre getting clearer by the day, it's time to begin pondering the things that could occur once the partnership becomes official. 

Here are 10 things that Mike Florio predicts could happen once Favre finally gets his way and gets two cracks at the Packers in 2009.

1. Childress' hot seat gets hotter

Vikings coach Brad Childress is entering the fourth year of a five-year deal, with no sign of an extension and plenty of reason to be worried that he needs a great season to keep his job.

So if Childress gets his way and gets Favre, the pressure is on.

To his credit, Childress likely realizes that he's making an all-in move. And it's hard to blame him. The bottom line is that Favre is better than any of the quarterbacks currently on the roster; thus, adding him will only improve the Vikings' chances in 2009.

Whether it's enough to save Childress' job remains to be seen.

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2. Vikings carry four quarterbacks

There has been speculation regarding whether Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels will be dumped if/when Favre arrives.

One possibility to keep in mind is this: Neither.

Jackson knows the offense intimately. Rosenfels doesn't. And his reps with the first team will drop dramatically once Favre is on the field.

So Jackson could be the guy to step in on game day if Favre gets hurt, and Rosenfels could be the guy to take over in 2010.

That leaves John David Booty, whom the Vikings might try to slip through to the practice squad. But they played that game in 2007 with Tyler Thigpen, who was snatched up by the Chiefs.

Bottom line? All four quarterbacks could be on the 53-man roster.

3. Favre can never return to Wisconsin

The problem with superstars is that, eventually, they believe the moniker is permanent.

Favre, for example, believes his fans in Green Bay will realize that his plan to stick it to the Packers isn't aimed generally at the Packers, but specifically at GM Ted Thompson.

The ultimate damage that Favre does to his legacy in Green Bay likely will depend on the success he has in Minnesota. If he somehow does in one year with the Vikings that which he managed only once in 16 with the Packers, it might be prudent for him to never set foot in Green Bay again.

Like most superstars, Favre will think he can talk his way out of it. If he ends up running around the field in Miami with the trophy named for the greatest coach in Packers history, the greatest quarterback in team history immediately will become the franchise's biggest villain.

4. Chicago Bears sign Plaxico Burress

The Bears had captured plenty of buzz when they swung a deal for quarterback Jay Cutler.

Favre's return to the division will steal much of the Chicago thunder, and it could be enough to get the Bears to up the ante in the quest for control of the NFC North.

They've undoubtedly contemplated the possibility of beefing up Cutler's stable of targets by signing Plaxico Burress. Even with Burress facing a suspension to start the season, the Bears possibly will accelerate efforts to see the Vikings' effort to seize the black-and-blue buzz — and to raise them.

5. Green Bay Packers pay Greg Jennings

Favre's frustration with Packers management arises in part from Thompson's unwillingness to spend big money on free agents.

Soon, we'll all find out whether Thompson will pay big money to the players he drafted who have become stars.

At the top of the list is receiver Greg Jennings. Once Favre formally arrives in Minnesota, Thompson might feel compelled to soothe the natives, who might be upset that the 2008 trade of Favre to the Jets couldn't keep No. 4 from winding up in Minnesota eventually. The best way to change the subject might be to get Jennings locked up for the long term.

They've got the cap space to do it, and they'll have every reason to ensure that one of their best young players is fully motivated to fend off Favre and the Vikings.

6. N.Y. Jets start Mark Sanchez

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum swung for the fences a year ago in trading for Favre.

And Tannenbaum whiffed.

To make matters worse, the bat flew out of Tannenbaum's hands and cold-cocked former Jets coach Eric Mangini on the head.

This year, Tannenbaum went in the other direction, moving up in the draft for a quarterback the likes of which this particular franchise hasn't seen since Joe Namath.

Amid some indications that Kellen Clemens might end up as the starter, the resumption of Favre's career virtually guarantees Sanchez will be at the top of the depth chart. The last thing Tannenbaum needs is for Favre to thrive on his new team, and for the guy whom Tannenbaum picked to replace him being unable to beat out the guy who wasn't good enough to keep the Jets from trading for Favre in the first place.

7. Week 1 gets much more interesting

Speaking of Mangini, he's now the head coach in Cleveland.

Speaking of Cleveland, the Vikings play there in Week 1.

And that's why so many people are fascinated by the twists and turns of the NFL. After the Jets won back-to-back road games against the Patriots and Titans last November, who could have envisioned that Favre and Mangini would be on the same field in Week 1 of the following season — neither of which wearing green?

8. Jared Allen gets a positive influence

Last year, the Vikings made a big splash, trading for defensive end Jared Allen. Allen's hard-living lifestyle nearly derailed his career before it could get off the ground.

And Allen reminds us of Favre, another guy who in his younger days played the role of the stereotypical hell-raising football player.

Though Allen has managed to stay out of trouble during his time in Minnesota, having a guy like Favre around could help ensure Allen remains on the right path.

Unless Allen takes out Favre's knees during practice.

9. Adrian Peterson's Career Is Extended

During running back Adrian Peterson's rookie season, he suffered a knee injury against the Packers. Though he narrowly avoided a serious season-ending ligament tear, the PCL sprain required time to heal.

But there was a sense that Childress wanted to rush Peterson back to the field, in an effort to continue the attempt to parlay Peterson's phenomenal rookie season into a playoff berth.

In 2009, with Childress realizing his job is on the line, he might be tempted to give the ball to Peterson until he shatters into a million pieces.

With Favre around, it won't be necessary. For the first time in his career, Peterson will have a quarterback who'll be able to take advantage of the mismatches resulting from so many running backs crowding the line of scrimmage.

So, as a practical matter, Peterson will see fewer touches in 2009 — and this will serve only to make him available to play pro football for more seasons.

10. Matt Birk becomes Tiki Barber

Again, it's unlikely that Favre will propel the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

But it's not out of the question, and that would be bad news for center Matt Birk, the Twin Cities native who opted not to give the Vikings a hometown discount.

As a result, Birk could end up being the next Tiki Barber — the guy who left his long-term team a year before it busts through to a championship.

The difference, of course, is that Birk is still playing. And his new team, the Ravens, is no slouch.

In the end, maybe Birk's new team will face his old team in the Super Bowl.

Again, it's a long shot. But it's no crazier than the chain of events that has brought Brett Favre to the brink of becoming a Viking.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

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