Does Adding Favre Mean Vikings Are For Sale?

Could the Vikings’ decision to acquire quarterback Brett Favre mean that the team is for sale? At least one sports money expert thinks so. Mike Ozanian of Forbes.com believes that the arrival of Favre means that Zygi Wilf wants to unload the franchise. “The organization has been a laughingstock for the NFL and Wilf desperately wants to create some positive buzz for his team,” Ozanian writes. “The Vikings play in the antiquated Metrodome and Wilf’s gamble was that he would get taxpayers to build him a new stadium. Taxpayers repeatedly said no way.” Ozanian thinks that Wilf has waited to long. “He could have gotten around $850 million for the team a year ago,” Ozanian opines. “But with at least seven NFL team owners looking to sell their teams right now Wilf will be lucky to get $750 million for his debt laden team. Let the laughing continue.” We’re not ready to agree with the notion that Favre’s presence will result in the placement of a “For Sale” sign at team headquarters. If Favre were a decade or so younger, having him under contract over a period of several years might make the team more attractive to a potential buyer. But this move -- even though Favre’s contract might have a two-year duration for cap purposes -- is most likely a one-season arrangement. Whoever buys the team wouldn’t have Favre on it. So we think Favre’s arrival arises from the reality that coach Brad Childress is on the hot seat, and that Favre gives Childress a better chance to remain employed into 2010. That said, there’s a chance that Wilf has agreed to pay Favre because Wilf has decided to load up the cannon and aim for a league title in 2009. Then, he can try to leverage the success into a new stadium, and he can sell the team if it doesn’t happen. Still, while winning a championship would definitely create some positive buzz, the Vikings seem to be on the short list of favorites to play in the Super Bowl every three or four years -- and when they are they consistently underachieve.