At some point this year, the Vikings may have to decide whether to bench Brett Favre. Jason Whitlock of FOXSports.com has offered up an intriguing alternative.
At some point this year, Favre may have to decide whether to bench himself.
Whitlock predicts that, once the Vikings no longer have a shot at the postseason, Favre will put himself on injured reserve, blaming the ankle injury he already has set up as the excuse for eventual failure.
“Favre doesn’t like training camp,” Whitlock writes. “How do you think he feels about November games devoid of playoff implications?”
The death blow could come if the Vikings lose to the Lions on Sunday, which Whitlock seems to think will happen. Even though the Vikings would still mathematically be alive for a playoff berth, Favre would have to suffer the potential indignity of three losses to his two former teams, starting with the Jets on October 11 before a national audience on Monday Night Football.
Favre stepping aside after a loss to the Lions would give the Vikings two weeks to re-tool with Tarvaris Jackson, trying to turn a lost season into maybe a sixth seed in the postseason -- and a one-and-out playoff run.
Regardless of when it happens, we tend to agree with Whitlock. Favre won’t want to play meaningless games. And he won’t want to stand on the sidelines while another quarterback takes the snaps. He’ll instead slink away, dragging sacks containing millions of dollars and hoping that his brief return in 2010 won’t supersede the memories of an unforgettable 2009.