On Wednesday, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre wasn’t asked about whether money played a role in his decision to return to the team for a second year, primarily because Favre’s responses to the handful of questions he was asked lingered like an all-night 41-vote filibuster.
Team owner Zygi Wilf, who is expected to pay Favre up to $7 million in new money over and above the $13 million Wilf agreed to pay when the contract originally was signed, claims that Favre’s decision had nothing to do with money, according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
If that’s true, why did the Vikings offer Favre more money once word broke that he had sent text messages to teammates indicating an intention to retire? If money wasn’t an issue, then Favre would have decided to play without the raise.
So why give away $7 million?
Because it was about the money, even if it wasn’t about padding Favre’s bank account(s). It’s always about the money, even if the guy getting the money doesn’t need it and never will.
Sometimes when it’s about the money it’s actually about respect, power, and/or control. In this case, the gesture confirms that Favre runs the show, and that in the game of rock-scissors-paper that in most normal team environments always is won by the head coach, Favre is the rock, the scissor, the paper, the Alpha, and the Omega.
Technically, then, Wilf is right. It wasn’t about the dollars and cents. It was about ensuring that Favre realizes his place in the purple pecking order. With Favre making nearly $4 for every $1 dollar being paid to coach Brad Childress, the raise makes it even more clear than it was a year ago that Favre can do whatever Favre pleases, and the Chilly should merely pipe down and enjoy the ride.