EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- With news of Brett Favre being asked about a return to the NFL, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said he would get on a plane again to Hattiesburg, Miss., to talk to his friend and former teammate.
The approach this time would be a little different than three seasons ago when Allen, Ryan Longwell and Steve Hutchinson got on Zygi Wilf's private plane and talked Favre into coming back to Minnesota for another season.
"If he comes back, I'm going to fly down there and tell him stay retired," Allen said Thursday and then looked into the TV cameras present. "Brett, if you're listening, stay retired, man. ... He can't come back again."
Reports surfaced Thursday that the St. Louis Rams had made calls to Favre's agent, Bus Cook, about the possibility of coming out of retirement, again. St. Louis reportedly made the overtures to Cook on Sunday night after quarterback Sam Bradford was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Favre, now 44 and a grandfather, told a radio station, ESPN 570 in Washington, a "couple" of teams have inquired about a return through Cook.
But Favre said his final season in 2010 with the Vikings -- after Allen, Longwell and Hutchinson flew down to pick him up -- showed him it was time to retire and stay retired for good. Favre dealt with a shoulder injury, which eventually ended his consecutive-starts streak at 297 games, and threw 11 touchdowns to 19 interceptions in 13 games in 2010.
"I had a great career," Favre said on the radio show. "I think if anything the last year that I played was an obvious, writing-on-the-wall vision for you, if you will. It was time."
The three-time NFL MVP retired for good following the 2010 season, ranking first all-time in league history in most passing categories, including passing yards (71,838 yards) and passing touchdowns (508) over 20 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Vikings.
Allen said he saw Favre in the offseason.
"Dude's in good shape," Allen said. "He could probably come back and still sling a few."
But Favre made it clear he's done unretiring.
"I've had enough," Favre said. "I had enough a long time ago."
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