American football: Un-retired Favre practicing with Vikings
AFP
MINNEAPOLIS - National Football League career passing leader Brett Favre came out of retirement Tuesday, agreeing to play for the Minnesota Vikings and taking part in his first practice with the club.
Favre, who ended his first retirement last year to play for the New York Jets, ended his second retirement less than 90 minutes after he arrived off a plane from Mississippi, doning pads and a No. 4 practice jersey.
"I am excited about the opportunity to join this football team," Favre said in a statement.
"It is evident that everyone in the Vikings organization is committed to bringing the fans of Minnesota a championship. I'm eager to join my new teammates and get to work towards that goal."
ESPN reported his deal was for between 10 and 12 million dollars and that Favre would start on Friday in a pre-season exhibition against Kansas City.
Favre's contract was contingent upon his passing a team physical, but taking part in the workout was a clear signal that he was given medical clearance despite possible lingering issues with a right shoulder injury.
Two months after saying he was not going to return again, Favre's on-again, off-again flirtation with playing again had him back in uniform and set to speak with reporters later Tuesday.
Favre made a league-record 269 consecutive starts at quarterback and had ended his NFL career with 5,720 completions in 9,281 passes for 65,127 yards and 464 touchdowns and 169 victories - all NFL records.
By waiting until now to make his return, Favre escaped the rigors of the past month's pre-season training camp. But he will have less time to adjust to his new teammates before the season opens in less than a month.
An ailing right shoulder had helped prompt Favre to retire after an 18-year career, but the three-time NFL Most Valuable Player underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon.
Favre retired last year but changed his mind and said he wanted to return to the NFL after the Green Bay Packers had made plans with a new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, so they sent Favre to the Jets.
The Jets lost four of their last five games and missed the playoffs. Favre said there was no way he would return to the NFL. Then he began working out, underwent surgery and dropped hints about a return with Minnesota.
The Vikings, whose first pre-season exhibition game was last weekend, are arch rivals of the Packers.
Minnesota will host Green Bay in the fourth week of the season on a Monday night and visit the Packers four weeks later, games certain to be electric if Favre suits up for the purple and gold against him former club.
"Yeah, I would like to hit Brett," Packers linebacker Nick Barnett said. "That's what we are out here hitting for. I want to get a nice little shot on Brett. I said it. Put it on the bulletin board."
Favre led the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 1997 and back to the championship game the following year, when Denver defeated Green Bay.
The Vikings were struggling at quarterback. NFL Sage Rosenfels, obtained from Houston in February, hurt an ankle against Indianapolis and Tarvaris Jackson has not been able to impress enough to earn more than a reserve role.
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