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Very rarely will a Hall of Fame player speak with such disdain about another soon-to-be Hall of Famer, especially one who plays the same position. Fran Tarkenton has put it on the record that he wouldn’t be pleased with the Vikings adding Brett Favre to the fold for the 2009 season. Tarkenton might be put off by Favre being one of the greatest Green Bay Packers of all time, a hated rival of the Vikings, but he speaks in such terms that you would have to think it goes far beyond that.Whether or not Favre decides to suit up for another season rests solely on his right shoulder. That’s at least what current Vikings Coach Brad Childress would have you believe. Tarkenton feels the Vikings would be wise to stay away from Favre and go into the season with unproven QB’s Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Fran Tarkenton joined 790 the Zone in Atlantaon Tuesday to discuss the Brett Favre saga that has dominated the media two off-seasons in a row now.
Fran was asked about the whole Brett Favre retirement, un-retirement:
“I think it’s despicable. What he put the Packers through last year was not good. Here’s an organization that was loyal to him for 17, 18 years, provided stability of organization, provided players. It just wasn’t about Brett Favre. In this day and time, we have glorified the Brett Favre’s of the world so much, they think it’s about them. He goes to New York and bombs. He’s 39 years old. How would you like Ray Nitschke in his last year (playing for) the Vikings, or I retire, and go play for the Packers. I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail.”
On what more he feels the Packers could have done as an organization during the break-up with Favre:
“They did everything, but you get into a position, and I understand he’s been glorified so much. He’s been a great player, there’s no question about it, but it’s all about him. It is supposed to be all about your team. If you’re going to be the quarterback of your team, you need to be there in the off season workouts in March and April. Peyton Manning’s there. Tom Brady’s there.”
Fran’s take on what he sees out of Favre’s quarterback abilities or lack there of:
“I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I’ve ever seen. Look at his final game in a Packers uniform. He blew that game against the Giants. He’s playing against Eli Manning, I love Eli Manning, but he’s still not a great quarterback. He’s not Peyton yet, or Tom Brady. He’s just a guy. And they’re (Packers) are playing at home, and they’re in a tight situation, they went to overtime and he (Favre) throws the interception that allows them (the Giants) to come back and win the game. He has done that and driven his coaches crazy all of his career.”
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