Hello? Vikings? Favre at 40 is nobody's QB answer

Memo to Brad Childress: Now, more than ever, don't do it.

Do not sign Brett Favre. In fact, do not even think about it. I know you wanted to trade for the guy a year ago, but you're lucky you didn't. It was a bad idea then, and it's a bad idea now. No, it's a worse idea now because Favre is a year older.

Brett Favre's painful fade cost the Jets a playoff spot last season. (US Presswire)

That means he turns 40 in October, and there's something that happens to 40-year-old football players. They get hurt. So it should come as no surprise that Favre played last season with an injury, first believed to be a bad shoulder but now thought to be a torn biceps. Anyway, that was supposed to have affected his performance, and I'm sure it did. Old players break down, and Favre broke down the second half of last season.

The results speak for themselves. In his last five games he threw two touchdown passes, nine interceptions and produced a passer rating of 55.2. That's not bad. It's atrocious. Now you know why the Jets fizzled down the stretch, losing four of their last five, including a devastating defeat in Seattle where they couldn't find the end zone.

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The clincher, of course, was the season finale where Favre was beaten by Chad Pennington -- the quarterback the Jets replaced with Favre -- as Miami made it to the playoffs, and the Jets did not. Pennington wasn't exceptional that afternoon, but he didn't have to be because Favre stunk. Just as he stunk the month before.

Hey, it happens. The guy was 39. He was worn out. He was hurt. He had nothing left. Yet he tried to gut it out, and that's admirable. It also cost the Jets a chance to make the playoffs.

Look, I'm not here to bash Brett Favre because I loved watching him play and consider him one of the most charismatic and successful quarterbacks in the game. But that was then, and this is now, and now I see a guy more suited to playing touch football in those jeans commercials than someone who should interest the Vikings.

Please, Brad, do yourself a favor before taking your next step. Rewind the videotape to the Jets' 24-17 loss to Miami and dissect the last two of Favre's three interceptions. The first was a killer, returned for a 25-yard touchdown; the second squelched a potential game-tying drive in the fourth quarter.

That could be you in December. Now think about trying to bench Brett Favre. It would be easier to explain the Raiders' draft.

"The hardest part of it is the finality," Favre said after his last game, "especially when you expect to go on."

He was talking about the playoffs, but he might as well have been talking about his career. According to reports, Favre might be interested in playing for the Vikings because he'd like a chance to stick it to Green Bay, the club that traded him away a year ago. Well, that's great, except you don't have to agree to it, Brad. This is not about what Favre wants; it's about what you want ... or need. It takes two to tango, remember?

Think about what happened a year ago, and tell me you're relieved it was the Jets, not you, that wound up making that trade for Favre. Instead of Favre self-immolating down the stretch, you had a revitalized Tarvaris Jackson step in for Gus Frerotte and throw eight touchdown passes, one interception and win three of his last four games, including a blowout in Arizona. That put you in the playoffs and, frankly, saved your job.

I don't know that Jackson is the answer at quarterback, and I know you don't either. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made the trade for Sage Rosenfels. I expect Rosenfels to start ... unless, of course, you do something crazy like sign Brett Favre. Then I expect everything to unravel, and don't say you weren't warned.

Look, it's always difficult for a quarterback -- particularly a quarterback as successful and decorated as Favre -- to call it quits. I saw it happen with Steve Young in 2000, when he decided to retire after considering a return with Denver, and I saw it happen a year later with Troy Aikman when he rebuffed San Diego's overtures to continue. But their decisions were hastened by a series of concussions, and give them credit for knowing when it was time to go.

I understand if Favre wants to continue with his career. What I don't understand is why the Minnesota Vikings are interested. I hear people say that this could be a great move for them because Favre is a significant upgrade over anything they have –- which means Rosenfels and Jackson -- and I'll go along with that ... IF YOU'RE TALKING FIVE YEARS AGO.

Get real, people. Three of Favre's last four seasons have been washouts, and that's being kind. He was horrible in 2005. He wasn't much better in 2006. And you know about last season.

It's over. And it's time to move on. Brett Favre is not going to get better, Brad Childress, but he could get worse. Remember, your team plays indoors, which means it plays on turf. The indoor game is faster than the outdoor game, which also means it will be harder for a 40-year-old to keep up.

So why bother? You made the right move bringing in Rosenfels to push Jackson. That makes sense. But this? This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Just say no, Brad.