All right, as I'm sure you're aware, Brett Favre gave his first pres conference as a Viking after practice today. For those of you who watched it, you can just skip this. But here's a recap that comes primarily from the always on-the-ball Fanhouse.After an intro by head coach Brad Childress, Favre took stand and proceeded to say:
"I wanted to make sure that if I was to play, I didn't want to go through [trying to throw with a torn bicep] again."
"What has changed, really ... three weeks ago ... I found out that after the surgery that I still had a tear in my rotator cuff. ... That scared me, being a quarterback, 39 ... I was reluctant because I didn't want to go through what I went through last year. "
"When Brad called yesterday ... we hadn't talked in three weeks. He said, 'Just giving it another shot, seeing if you want to take another chance.' Between three weeks ago when I said no and yesterday I had talked to Dr. [James] Andrews and was reassured that [the rotator cuff] wouldn't be an issue. I felt like if [the Vikings] were willing to take that chance then i was too."
"Everybody I talked to -- coaches, players -- said if you were to go back, this is the perfect fit. ... And I hope from my standpoint, I can offer some experience and leadership. And I have to admit, after I said no three weeks ago, at times I was okay with it, and other times I was like, 'I can help this time.' ... I truly feel like I can [make a difference], ... I didn't want to say 'what if'."
- On what it's like to wear a a new uniform: "Putting on a Vikings helmet was different, just like it was different in New York last year. ... The bottom line is this is football. Once people start chasing you, once you step into the huddle, I don't look at the helmets, I look at the faces. ... "
"I know there's people out there taking sides or whatever. This is not about revenge or anything like that, believe me. You can't take away the 16 years I had in Green Bay. It was unbelievable. It was great. And it will be forever cherished by me and the guys I played with. They've moved on, I've moved on. I think it's great for football. I can't see how you wouldn't think it would be." ...
"When Brad called yesterday, I thought, 'This is it. It's now or never.' ... I think I made the right decision. Time will tell."
- In response to a question about what Favre would say to critics who say he can't make up his mind about retirement, the twice-retired quarterback offered two words: "Don't watch." He then added, "It happens all the time" before going with the tried and true, "It is what it is."
- Favre said his legacy wouldn't be defined by this year: "First of all, when people start talking about my legacy, it's mine. It's what I think of it. I know the way I played the game, the way I've handled myself as a teammate, a leader, within the public. Yeah, I've made mistakes along the way -- we all have -- but if I had it to do over again I'd do it the same way ... I don't think anybody has played the game with as much passion, or loved their teammates as much as me."
"I have no idea what's going to happen this year, but as I look back, I gave everything I could give, and that's what I'll do this year."
- ESPN's Ed Werder then asked Favre about Packers fans feeling betrayed: "Well I think if you're true Packers fans, you understand. Will it be different? Sure it will. Is it odd, the way it unfolded? Absolutely. But if you're a true fan, you say, 'You know what, he chose to continue playing, they chose to go in a different direction, it's part of the business, he has to play somewhere if he wants to play.' And once again, this is a perfect fit."
- In terms of preparation and the likelihood he'll play in the Vikings' Friday preseason game: "I think I'm behind the eight-ball a little bit. ... Coming here makes a lot of sense because the system I'm used to. ... So for me, what I need to get accomplished in this, is understanding my guys, how they run their routes, the line understanding my cadence."
- Regarding his new teammates: "I pretty much went right out to practice and a lot of faces I recognized, a lot of faces I didn't recognize. ... You still have to earn their respect. What you've done in the past is great but it means nothing here. So I'll have play a certain way, play a certain way ... but you earn respect of these guys and that's what I plan to do. ... I spoke with Tarvaris, Sage and J.D today ... anytime anybody wants to ask me a question, I'm open."
- "There will always come a time where you will have to make plays. ... I'll be the first to admit that I don't think I'm capable of making the plays I used to make. ... Understanding my limitations ... is all apart of this process. All I want to do is win. That's all I came back for. ... There is no substitute for playing on Sundays ... I don't know specifically what I'll be asked to do, but I'll be a leader, I know I can do that."
- In reference to how he left Green Bay: "I think both sides were wrong to a certain degree but I have no ill feelings towards that. That stage of my career I wish I had done differently -- both sides. ... I don't think I have to prove anything to anyone. I know I don't. What I've done is down in the books. ... If it was about revenge I would've signed on the dotted line on the first day and worry about the arm and everything else later. But it wasn't about that ... people can believe what they want to believe, that's fine ... I'm in it for the right reasons and if people can't understand that, I'm sorry."
- "I didn't come [to Minnesota] to lose. ... I think we can be as good as we want to be ... That's no secret -- this team is a good football team, the sky's the limit."
- Comparing his transition to New York from Green Bay to this one, Minnesota from New York: "[The transition will be] much easier from a system standpoint ... Today I didn't miss a beat calling plays -- I didn't know many plays -- but it came out easy."
- "I had no idea [about whether I would play again] and I didn't workout like it. To be honest, I thought it was over, and that was my fault."
Favre left after that. The only thing of note Childress said is that the Vikings weren't planning on trading any of their QBs. So, uh, sweet, I guess.
Anyway, I think the Vikings are pretty glad to have Favre, since without him it meant either Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson. As for Green Bay fans, well, I'm sure they don't really agree with Favre's perception of what constitutes a true fan. True fans never like watching a team legend go play for a bitter rival, Brett.
i never, ever liked him , or fell all over him like everyone else did. smile bretty, the camera's are on.
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