Brett Favre is back in Minnesota, stirring hope among Vikings fans that he might be ready to play this season.
A private jet trimmed in the Vikings' purple and gold carrying the 40-year-old quarterback landed at an airport in suburban Eden Prairie on Tuesday afternoon. Twin Cities television stations carried Favre's arrival live and showed a car taking the quarterback to the Vikings' facility.
Favre is expected rejoin his Vikings teammates, with the "intent" being for him to play, a league source told NFL.com's Steve Wyche. It is unclear if Favre will begin practicing right away, the source said.
Also, there hasn't been any change to Favre's contract, league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora. Favre is scheduled to make $13 million in the last year of a two-year deal with the Vikings.
Also on board the plane were three of Favre's closest friends on the Vikings -- defensive end Jared Allen, guard Steve Hutchinson and kicker Ryan Longwell -- who traveled to Hattiesburg, Miss., to try to convince the quarterback to come back, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai
NFL Network confirmed that the players visited Favre, but it isn't known if they actually talked him into returning. Favre's surgically repaired left ankle is sore when he runs, but he wants to get started as soon as he could, ankle permitting.
As Favre flew to Minnesota, the quarterback's official Web site sent an e-mail to members of the media, saying: "Stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre's possible return."
Favre has wavered all summer on whether or not to return. He created a firestorm when he reportedly texted some Vikings teammates and team officials Aug. 2, saying he would retire because his ankle hadn't responded to offseason surgery as well as he had hoped.
Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said the next day that his client will play if his ankle is healthy enough.
During Hall of Fame weekend, Favre texted NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci that the ankle still was giving him problems.
"His arm feels great," said Mariucci, who was Favre's quarterback coach in Green Bay. "His conditioning is good, but he hasn't run much without pain in his ankle. It still gives him pain, and it needs to be better before he reports."
With Favre under center last season, the Vikings finished 12-4, won their second consecutive NFC North title and advanced to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in overtime.
The Associated Press contributed
http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/sto...xpected-to-rejoin-vikings?module=HP_headlines
A private jet trimmed in the Vikings' purple and gold carrying the 40-year-old quarterback landed at an airport in suburban Eden Prairie on Tuesday afternoon. Twin Cities television stations carried Favre's arrival live and showed a car taking the quarterback to the Vikings' facility.
Favre is expected rejoin his Vikings teammates, with the "intent" being for him to play, a league source told NFL.com's Steve Wyche. It is unclear if Favre will begin practicing right away, the source said.
Also, there hasn't been any change to Favre's contract, league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora. Favre is scheduled to make $13 million in the last year of a two-year deal with the Vikings.
Also on board the plane were three of Favre's closest friends on the Vikings -- defensive end Jared Allen, guard Steve Hutchinson and kicker Ryan Longwell -- who traveled to Hattiesburg, Miss., to try to convince the quarterback to come back, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai
NFL Network confirmed that the players visited Favre, but it isn't known if they actually talked him into returning. Favre's surgically repaired left ankle is sore when he runs, but he wants to get started as soon as he could, ankle permitting.
As Favre flew to Minnesota, the quarterback's official Web site sent an e-mail to members of the media, saying: "Stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre's possible return."
Favre has wavered all summer on whether or not to return. He created a firestorm when he reportedly texted some Vikings teammates and team officials Aug. 2, saying he would retire because his ankle hadn't responded to offseason surgery as well as he had hoped.
Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said the next day that his client will play if his ankle is healthy enough.
During Hall of Fame weekend, Favre texted NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci that the ankle still was giving him problems.
"His arm feels great," said Mariucci, who was Favre's quarterback coach in Green Bay. "His conditioning is good, but he hasn't run much without pain in his ankle. It still gives him pain, and it needs to be better before he reports."
With Favre under center last season, the Vikings finished 12-4, won their second consecutive NFC North title and advanced to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in overtime.
The Associated Press contributed
http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/sto...xpected-to-rejoin-vikings?module=HP_headlines
