National Football League

Favre takes self-centered behavior to new extreme

Published Aug. 19, 2009 6:28 p.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

There are limits as to how far NFL players can push their luck.

And then there's Brett Favre.


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How many of his peers could flip-flop on retirement, skip 10 days of training camp and then waltz into the starting lineup at their own whim? Favre did just that Tuesday when signing — finally — with Minnesota.

Maybe a handful of other elite all-stars could get away with this type of self-serving behavior. Most wouldn't try. I can't imagine fellow quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady being willing to put their own interests ahead of teammates who already have given so much time and energy preparing for the upcoming season.

Yet the "Gun for Hire" motto has become the Favre way — and the Vikings were willing to accept all the bullets that come with it.

Favre's introductory news conference left me feeling as dirty as the unwashed orange hat he wore at the podium. If we are to believe head coach Brad Childress, his focus was "solely on the team" after being shot down by Favre two weeks ago. Childress tried to make it sound like he only recently reconsidered pursuing Favre and found a willing party Monday.

To borrow a favorite saying of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco: "Child, please."

In his blockbuster Monday column, FOXSports.com NFL insider Jay Glazer chronicled the ongoing behind-the-scenes courtship between the Vikings and Favre while predicting his signing. Once the cat was out of the bag, Childress and Favre must have known a decision was needed ASAP before the story became an even bigger preseason distraction in Minnesota. A contract agreement was reached so quickly that Favre is expected to start Friday night's preseason game against Kansas City.

When listening to his reasons for not signing earlier, Favre would have garnered my sympathy if he hadn't lied so much in the past. Favre said a previously undiagnosed rotator cuff tear made him skeptical about trying a comeback. Fortunately for Favre, the injury doesn't appear to have affected his passing acumen or ability to text Vikings players about making a comeback like Glazer documented.

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