What's their why? Vikings' pursuit of Brett Favre made sense, trying to sign Aaron Rodgers makes none
As the Vikings reportedly consider adding the veteran quarterback, there is one simple but key question that has yet to be answered.
The Vikings’ flirtation and eventual two-year relationship with Brett Favre grew tiresome at times but it always made sense. The Vikings needed Favre far more than the quarterback needed them.
The first sign that the Packers great could land with the Vikings began in 2008 when Favre decided he wanted to keep playing after initially announcing his retirement. The Packers made it clear they would turn to Aaron Rodgers, and Favre — familiar with Vikings coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and very badly wanting to stick it to the Packers — requested he be allowed to join the Vikings.
The Packers’ response was something along the lines of “no (bleeping) way,” and Favre was traded to the New York Jets in training camp. After a season in New York and Favre’s decision to “retire” in the spring of 2009, the quarterback finally got his wish when he joined the Vikings shortly before the regular season.
Favre, who turned 40 in October 2009, manipulated the situation at every turn because he could. The Vikings were desperate. They had a Super Bowl-caliber roster but their choices at quarterback were Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.
That wasn’t going to work.
Favre delivered a marvelous season — until throwing an ill-advised cross-body pass in the NFC title game in New Orleans — and any headaches he caused were accompanied by a reminder of just how out of luck the Vikings would have been without him.
Sixteen years later, history is repeating itself with differing reports about the Vikings’ interest in Rodgers. The similarities between the Favre and Rodgers situations already have gotten plenty of publicity. Both had less-than-ideal divorces with the Vikings’ arch-rival in Green Bay, both were traded to the Jets and now the 41-year-old Rodgers is flirting with the Vikings as he considers reported offers from the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers
Forget the similarities for a moment and there’s one important difference that hasn’t been noted. These Vikings aren’t desperate for a starting quarterback. So why consider this?
J.J. McCarthy, the 10th pick in last year’s draft, didn’t play a snap last season because of meniscus surgery in training camp, but all signs point to him being ready and, if that’s the case, he should be working with the first-team offense from the opening day of training camp.