One day after Brad Childress expressed enthusiasm about seeing what retired quarterback Brett Favre has left in his surgically-repaired “cannon,” the Minnesota Vikings’ coach took a low-key approach today while getting peppered with Favre questions. He did admit talking with Favre at some point last week.
According to Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Childress acknowledged that he initiated the conversation with Favre. However, he declined to elaborate on what medical details Favre shared with him about his recent arthroscopic surgery.
Childress left a strong impression that he remains interested in Favre, and repeated that there was no deadline set for Favre for this week.
Childress also acknowledged a key point when asked if Favre can regain his old form.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Stay tuned.”
And Childress said there are no current plans to audition Favre by observing a throwing period.
“That’s down the road stuff,” Childress said. “The guy is retired right now and you’d have to talk about that.”
Childress said he has watched a handful of Favre’s games last season, taking note of how he regressed at the end of last season as well as the solid start Favre got off to with the New York Jets.
Most of all, Childress portrayed himself as not being uptight about the on-again, off-again Favre pursuit.
“I’m not losing sleep or anything,” Childress said. “I’m not on any mood elevators or anything like that.”
That’s good to hear.
And the coach is apparently not concerned about the potential circus that might be created by acquiring Favre.
“All you’re ever looking for is every day when you check the waiver wire, wherever you’re looking, wherever there are players that can make this roster one person better,” Childress said. “We look at that every single day and every one is a completely different situation.”
Toward that end, Childress said he doesn’t discuss the Vikings’ interest in Favre with current starting candidates Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.
According to Zulgad, Childress, during an interview with KFAN this week, had made it seem like the quarterbacks were being briefed on the situation.
It’s actually the exact opposite, according to what Childress said today.
“Those guys play football and I coach football and look at personnel, as I mentioned before,” Childress said. “So they’d be out of their lane and I’d be out of my lane in sharing any of our business.”
So, in other words, Jackson and Rosenfels should continue to cross their fingers and pray that Favre never shows up.