By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer
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Nobody believed it.
Even the guys who were reporting it Tuesday morning didn’t believe it.
At least they didn’t believe that if indeed Brett Favre was announcing his retirement that it would actually stick.
After all, we’re less than a week into training camp and still more than a month away from opening day of the NFL’s regular season when the Vikings take on the Saints. Favre couldn’t stand waiting out that decision that long, could he?
Does anyone really believe that Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels will be the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings that night in New Orleans?
Even if Favre makes a special trip to Mankato this week, sits down under the lights at Blakeslee Stadium and delivers another teary-eyed soliloquy as he bids adieu to his 20-year, Hall-of-Fame career, who wouldn’t roll his or her eyes and expect to see coach Brad Childress drive over to the Favre compound in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sept. 9 and escort him on two-hour drive to the New Orleans Superdome just in time for kickoff.
After Tuesday’s reports trumped the first session of full pads and live tackling at training camp, Childress denied and Vikings players said they had no knowledge of Favre’s decision.
Favre has retired twice now, once as a Packer another as a Jet. In both instances, he changed his mind and caused folks to consider everything he says with a healthy dose of skepticism. Sure enough, the second time around, Favre signed with the Vikings after the team broke camp in Mankato last summer.
Can we believe anything Favre says?
Can we believe anything anybody says when it comes to Favre’s future?
A year ago, when people were speculating about Favre joining the Vikings, there were all kinds of rumors to sort out.
The best was one I heard that said Favre would be in Mankato for camp but, instead of staying in Gage Center with all of the other players, he would be renting Justin Morneau’s home near Lake Crystal and commute to camp each day.
The Free Press also got a tip during camp that Favre was scoping out Mankato in a black SUV.
This year has been no different.
Someone saw a black Ford F150 truck with Mississippi license plates and said that it had to be Favre.
Another person said they saw Favre making a purchase at the Maverick Bookstore on the eve of training camp. One of our reporters actually checked out that story and found out that there was someone in there who looked a little like Favre, except that he was 5-foot-11 (Favre is 6-2) and his name was Kurt.
As Childress took a barrage of questions on the Favre situation on Tuesday, he said, “I feel like this is Watergate. Have I done something wrong?”
No, coach, we’re all just wondering who — and what — to believe.
Shane Frederick is a Free Press staff writer. Read his blog at mankatofreepresshockey.blogspot.com.
