Just when you thought it was safe to say Brett Favre had actually retired, reports of an implausible comeback for the 41 year-old quarterback have surfaced in Philadelphia.
Sportscaster Howard Eskin caused a stir this weekend after reporting the Eagles were interested in acquiring Brett Favre as a backup to Michael Vick. The Eagles are expected to release current second-stringer Kevin Kolb before training camp starts. (Michael Vick calls for stronger laws against animal fighting)
The Philadelphia Inquirer calls the odds of Favre becoming an Eagle slim, quoting a team source who said a “lot of things would need to fall in place” for the deal to happen.
After hearing the report, Michael Vick tweeted, “I would be honored to have Brett Favre as a backup. That will be amazing learning how to toy with defenses the way he did his whole career.”
Vick deleted the tweet a few hours later.
Favre has yet to comment, leaving football fans speculating about whether the legendary quarterback would consider yet another comeback.
For Favre to return, he would have to accept a backup role after a long career as a starter. Health concerns may also play a part: Favre was sidelined with a concussion for his last seven games as a Minnesota Viking. But the lure of another Super Bowl ring may lead Favre to the Eagles, a team considered to be a legitimate contender.
Brett Favre is familiar with Philadelphia’s coaching staff, since head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg were assistant coaches in Green Bay during Favre’s long tenure there. The Inquirer reports that both coaches still speak highly of the quarterback, prompting rumors that the Eagles would be a good fit for Favre.
Before his retirement at the end of last season, the NFL fined Favre $50,000 for failing to cooperate with an official inquiry. The NFL was investigating an allegation that he sent inappropriate picture messages to then-Jets employee Jenn Sterger during his one-year stint in New York. The League ultimately concluded it did not have enough evidence to prove Favre had sent the messages.