National Football League

Even for Favre, this has been a dramatic season

Published Oct. 19, 2010 1:15 a.m. ET

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The late summer visit to his Mississippi home from three of teammates was too persuasive for Brett Favre to pass up.

''We're either going home with you or moving on without you'' was the collective word from Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell, and it worked. The trio brought Favre back to Minnesota for a second season with a veteran Vikings team that has gone all out for another try at the Super Bowl.

Maybe Favre would have been better off picking his tractor over the pigskin.

On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet behind closed doors with the NFL about allegation that he sent lewd photos and inviting voicemails to a female employee of the New York Jets two years ago, back when both were with the franchise.

And that sordid turn comes during a season that's a long, long way from a year ago. The Vikings are 2-3 after Sunday's win over Dallas and their championship goals are still a reality in an underwhelming NFC race, but it's been a much more difficult road.

Favre has not looked like the same spry, confident quarterback he was last year when the Vikings were undefeated and scoring plenty of points. The addition of Randy Moss was a big boost, but Favre has clearly missed Sidney Rice while the Pro Bowl pick from last season recovers from hip surgery.

Favre's elbow was bothering him before a cortisone shot last week calmed it down, and his 41-year-old body has endured a lot of hard hits in the pocket. He's said all along the mental drain of playing this game is harder to fight than physical pain, but he can't go on like this forever. The slow recovery from offseason ankle surgery was one of many reasons why he took until mid-August to commit.

Favre has acknowledged a few times this fall that the season hasn't been as much fun so far as the last one. He recalled a conversation with his mother and other family members after the Vikings lost their first two games.

''They said, 'You've got to start smiling more,''' Favre said. ''That's pressure.''

Commissioner Roger Goodell said over the weekend that an NFL staffer will meet with Favre this week, and the NFL Network later reported it would take place Tuesday with a member of the league's security team.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment Monday about any details. Coach Brad Childress said the Vikings won't have a role in the meeting, to his knowledge, and said, ''That's not our responsibility.''

Whatever happens, Favre - who has not denied the allegation or commented specifically about the scandal - has seen his reputation take a hit and his record consecutive games streak face a potential roadblock.

''It's in the back of our heads, I'm sure, but like I said everything will take care of itself and we can only control what we can control,'' wide receiver Percy Harvin said Monday of the possibility of Favre missing time. ''If he's here, we'll love it. If he's not, we've got his back, and hopefully he'll get back soon.''

Favre said Sunday's he's only ''concerned about the next game'' and that he'll let the investigation ''take its course.'' He said he hasn't been feeling extra pressure to succeed because of the controversy.

There's probably enough pressure from this month's schedule.

On Sunday night is a return to Lambeau Field for a game against his old team. The Packers are beat up, but there's no regular-season game they'd rather win than this one. On Halloween, there's a trip to New England to play the Patriots, who are 4-1 entering this week.

Childress shrugged off a question about whether Favre might be getting more than he bargained for from this season, pinning any frustration, uncertainty or stress on the team's losing record.

''Smiling is when you're having success and having fun,'' Childress, adding: ''So hopefully as I say, God willing, he can smile a little bit more as we go forward.''

Favre was the center of attention last week during a loss to the Jets on Monday night, and he won't be able to escape the spotlight - or the boos - this weekend when the Vikings go to Green Bay.

Don't expect his teammates to drop their support now, though.

''I'm sure with all the meetings and stuff he's going to have to deal with it's going to be similar to the Jets,'' Harvin said. ''But like I said, this team, we've got Brett's back on and off the field. So it doesn't matter, the outcome of that. We're going to play a ballgame, and hopefully win.''

Distraction?

''We deal with adversity so much,'' tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said, adding: ''All we can control is what we can control. ... That's what a professional is all about. That's what a man is all about.''

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