Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is widely expected to stay home when his teammates report to training camp, giving himself an extra few weeks of relaxation while his teammates are sweating through summer workouts.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson says he’s fine with that.
“If he doesn’t show up to Mankato, sign the same time he did last year, that’s fine, that’s more reps for me, Sage [Rosenfels] and Joe [Webb],” Jackson told Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. “We just basically try to take advantage of it. When he comes backs, be ready mentally and just know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s going to be a long season.”
Favre hasn’t told Jackson whether he’s returning, but Jackson surmises -- just like everyone else does -- that Favre will be back before the regular season starts.
“You all watch TV the same way I do,” Jackson said. “He ain’t working out for no reason. I welcome him back. There’s nothing I can do about it so I’m going to welcome him back and hopefully get to the Super Bowl.”
Still, Jackson says he’s doing what backup quarterbacks are always supposed to do: Preparing as if he’s going to start, even though he probably won’t.
“You just say to yourself, ‘OK, he ain’t coming back,’” he said. “You tell yourself in the head, you’re thinking that. You might have your opinion about whether he’s coming back or not, but at the same time when you’re out there playing you’re not thinking. Each rep you get, [you’re not thinking] ‘I don’ t need to get this rep, I don’t need to do my best on this rep because Brett is coming back anyway.’ You don’t want to do that. You just want to go and give your best. When he shows up or if he shows up, just welcome him back. That’s all you can do.”