Brett Favre is going to play quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings this season.

He didn't come right out and say that, but if you watched his interview on "Joe Buck Live" Monday night on HBO, it was difficult to come to any other conclusion.

Buck, who booked Favre months ago as the first guest for a live debut show that centered on sports celebrities, asked the question point blank.

"Do you plan on playing in the NFL next year?"

Favre's answer?

"Maybe. I am considering it."

Viewers later found out that Favre did undergo arm surgery 2-1/2 weeks ago, which had been reported, that he realizes many fans are tired of the "will he or won't he" drama. Favre also revealed that has no hard feelings for the fans in Green Bay (he didn't mention Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy), that he and his daughter, Breleigh, used to ride scooters through the empty concourses at Lambeau Field. They also learned that Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange is an unrefined boor who succeeded at "flapping" the seemingly unflappable Buck.

Here is a partial transcript of Favre's appearance, which began with a montage of reports about Favre's retirements and the media overkill that they created.

"The piece I was watching back there was kind of painful. It was hard to watch. I know people are tired of it. As we talked prior to the show, my intentions are not to ... although it's good for you, create controversy. The last three months you're going, 'stir it, stir it.' It is what it is. It is tough. I haven't watched anything. Some of those things that you had in your piece I haven't seen. I did see satellite trucks outside our gate. I was sneaking out a back gate, which they didn't know. It's crazy, it really is. But I try not to pay attention to it."

Buck: Do you plan on playing in the NFL next year?

"Maybe. I am considering it."

Buck: Have you had the procedure done?

"About 2 1/2 weeks ago I had surgery. Dr. [James] Andrews did the surgery and he said more or less, 'Four, five weeks you should know if it was completely successful.' I can throw and I could throw before the surgery. But I couldn't throw ... and that's what happened to me late in the year. I would throw it there and it would go there. Certain throws hurt, I'd have pain in my neck and down my arm. When I left after the final game last year with the Jets I said, 'I'm not going to ...' I knew I needed surgery and I didn't want to have it and I ended up having it. If it feels better, I'm rehabbing, doing what I need to do to get it back in shape. Have talked with the Vikings. Nothing other than, 'Are you interested?' Vice versa. I've had the procedure, which they know and it's more or less how my arm feels and we'll go from there."

Buck: What about the report that members of the Vikings coaching staff are going to meet with you?

"Not true. I met with their trainer yesterday and all it was about was to go through some exercises that could help with the rehab. That was it. Different stretching and band work."

Buck: Is Minnesota the only team on your radar?

"That's all I've talked to, yeah. It makes perfect sense as far as coming back because it's an offense that I ran for 16 years. I could teach the offense. It was tough going to New York last year because I was two weeks late, it was a totally new offense for me and I thought, 'This won't be too bad.' And Brian Schottenheimer and Mangini and those guys were great with me because we condensed it down to where I could at least call the plays. But it was like learning a foreign language."

Buck: Does it help that the Vikings have a star running back in Adrian Peterson, something you never had in Green Bay?

"It's like the terminology with the offense. It makes a lot of sense because the pieces are in place. They do have a great running back, they have a great running game. If I go there, I mean there's no guarantees. We all know that. I went through that last year with New York. I think every player should think that he's a difference maker. I think you have to believe that. I think in that situation understanding what is expected of you, knowing your team, knowing that as long as we can run the ball and complete passes when needed we should be pretty good."

 Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

Next >>

12 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...