Fran Tarkenton still cheers for the Vikings and has no jealousy of Brett Favre despite his strong criticism earlier this year of the team’s new quarterback. Tarkenton, the franchise’s greatest quarterback, spoke to Sports Headliners about his new book, Everyday Is Game Day, and other subjects including Favre during a telephone interview.
Tarkenton received national attention earlier when he criticized Favre for his indecisiveness about playing for the Packers last year and his more recent hesitation in signing with the Vikings. The hall of fame quarterback turned businessman insists it was unfair of Favre to not inform both organizations about his commitments to them. Tarkenton was quoted by espn.com as saying:
“We have responsibilities. We’re just not athletes that are in it all for ourself. Football, is it not a team game? Isn’t it all about team?… And here comes Brett Favre riding in on his white horse, doesn’t go to training camp, doesn’t come to off-season workouts and he’s gonna come on his white horse and bond with all these players.” https://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4409512
Tarkenton quarterbacked the Vikings in three Super Bowl losses while the prospect looms of Favre helping the franchise win its first Super Bowl. Tarkenton ranks with the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks ever but Favre holds most of the league’s major passing records.
Tarkenton was asked during the Sports Headliners interview how he would respond to someone who suggested his criticisms were based on jealousy. “I have no jealousy of anybody about anything,” he said. “I gave my opinion.”
Why did Tarkenton speak out so directly? “I spoke out because I had a conviction,” he said. “People didn’t have to agree with it or not agree with it. I wish nobody harm. I think the Vikings are going to have a terrific season, with or without Brett Favre. And it looks like it’s going to be with Brett Favre. They’ve got a tremendous football team. They’re the best rushing team in football and the best against the rush in football.”
Tarkenton said he doesn’t know Favre and regards him as a “great quarterback.” He also said if the Vikings have a special season the success will be predicated on a lot more than quarterback play and that quarterbacks receive too much “ballyhoo.” He talked about playing for six seasons with the Vikings, then five with the Giants without much team success. Then he returned to the Vikings and joined a roster with great players like defensive linemen Jim Marshall, Alan Page and Carl Eller. The Vikings, with Tarkenton quarterbacking, won six division titles and went to three Super Bowls in seven years.