Talk that Brett Favre might quit if the Vikings season turned dismal was labeled “ridiculous” in the team’s locker room yesterday afternoon.
The Vikings won their first game of the season, moving the record to 1-2 with a 24-10 victory over Detroit. In recent days media and fan speculation had a frustrated Favre calling it quits if the season was developing into a flop.
There’s been nothing magical about the 40-year-old quarterback’s Vikings experience so far this year. His pass protection is sometimes absent and he’s been out of sync with receivers, obviously missing favorite target Sidney Rice who is injured. He’s moving around on a troublesome left ankle and has thrown six interceptions in three games after having just seven throws picked off during that magical season of 2009.
“I think that’s a ridiculous assumption that a competitor like that would ever quit during the season,” linebacker Ben Leber said yesterday. “Glad to have a competitor like that on our team and be a leader on our offense.”
Watching close-ups of Favre yesterday showed how emotionally he’s committed to the Vikings and winning. On a frustrating pass attempt, he might slam his hand to the turf in disappointment. In the second half he had an angry yet supportive look on his face when he greeted Vikings defensive players leaving the field after a pushing and shove match with the Lions.
Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell has been friends with Favre since their days several years ago playing in Green Bay for the Packers. He said “you don’t even waste your time acknowledging” reports of an in-season Favre retirement.
Longwell understands the frustration with which Favre and other Vikings brought to the field yesterday prior to the game. “Well, let’s not kid ourselves,” Longwell said. “0-2 is no fun for anybody whether you’re the kicker, the punter or the starting quarterback, or a 20 year vet. I don’t know if people expected him to be doing cartwheels out there when you’re losing those two games. …His (Favre’s) excitement has been there all along. It’s just more fun when you’re winning than it is when you’re losing.”
Longwell said Favre’s ankle is “holding together fine.” The Vikings have a bye in the schedule and don’t play again until Monday, October 11 in game four of their 16 game schedule. “…13 in a row coming back is going to be tough on everybody, especially him,” Longwell said.