Brett Favre will be playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009 – as long as you’ve got the latest installment of the Madden video game franchise.
In real life, however, Favre has announced that he will not be joining the Vikings (or any other NFL team) in 2009, apparently reaching the conclusion that he would not be able to compete at his previous Hall-of-Fame level of play.
Favre’s decision ends months of speculation about his status.
Favre retired in 2007 after sixteen seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback. There he won seven division titles, a Super Bowl and three MVP awards.
He also set the NFL’s career records for wins, touchdowns and passing yardage.
Then Favre un-retired – had a solid season as quarterback of the New York Jets last year – and retired again.
In fact, Favre looked spectacular during the first 11 games of 2008, leading the Jets to an 8-3 record and throwing six touchdowns in a single game against Arizona. Shoulder injuries forced a dramatic decline in his performance toward the end of the year, though, and necessitated off-season surgery as he contemplated his comeback.
Favre is also famous for his “I’m in town to play the Dolphins, dumbass” line from the movie There’s Something About Mary – and for having millions of people incorrectly spell his name “Farve.”
