According to a report by ESPN’s Ed Werder, the ankle is still giving Favre problems, and if he wants to play in 2010 he will have to undergo surgery.

That opinion comes via Dr. James Andrews, who also advised Favre last off-season when he was coming off a torn biceps tendon.

Without surgery on the bicep, Favre would not have been able to play again. After mulling things over for several weeks, Favre finally decided to have the procedure, and was able to return and have a near-MVP season for the Vikes.

Now he is faced with the exact same type of decision: Undergo surgery and return for one more year, or retire.

In an email to ESPN, Favre indicated what a difficult decision this will be for him:

To play again, I would need the surgery, as I suspected. This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10 — much like Green Bay for many years. That’s what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.

Many have assumed all along that Favre will be back for 2010, despite the physical battering he took in the last game against the Saints – a battering that included many questionable low hits, including the one that caused the ankle injury.

However, just last week, Favre’s friend Steve Mariucci said that Brett still had not made up his mind. And now we know the precise reason for Favre’s indecision.

If Favre elects not to return, the Vikings would go into the year with Tarvaris Jackson, who recently signed his free agent tender, and Sage Rosenfels who has two years remaining on a three-year contract he signed after being traded to the Vikings last off-season.

The Vikings have also brought in former LSU and Jacksonville State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux for a tryout. Perrilloux was on his way to possible stardom with LSU before being kicked off the team for various offenses. He finally landed in Jacksonville State where he put up good enough numbers to be named an All-American.

Obviously, none of the three men mentioned above bring the leadership, savvy and big-game abililty Favre provides. With Favre at the helm last year, the Vikes went 12-4, roasted the Cowboys in the playoffs and fell just a hair short of defeating the Saints to make the Super Bowl.

Most agree that the Vikes’ fortunes in 2010 depend entirely on Favre’s return. With him they will be contenders again. Without him they look like NFC also-rans, despite the presence of Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, a top-notch receiver corps and a strong defense.

The Favre-watch, which was already almost an obsessive matter for many Viking fans, has now become charged with even more drama and suspense.

Keith, Ontario

Steve, you seem to be one of the only TRUE authorities on Favre. As a huge supporter, can you please provide me with some factual information on his current position, i.e., are we going to be blessed with another season with Favre?

Steve Mariucci

We might be. He’s trying to determine if his shoulder is going to allow him to throw the ball well enough. Of course, the Vikings want to know, and are trying to determine, if the torn biceps tendon will be healed enough to play well. So both sides are evaluating the situation.

Brett prefers not to have surgery unless it’s a last resort. He has consulted a physician to get another opinion. I supposed that was the Vikings’ request. There’s enough time for him to get in shape and get ready if they can work it out.

All right, I think we can put to bed any doubts we had that the Vikings are interested:  they definitely are.  And Favre would not be seeking second opinions at their request were the interest not mutual.

And then there’s this from an NFL.com story, also on Favre’s process of shoulder evaluation:

The NFL Network confirmed Tuesday that the retired quarterback, who is in the process of determining if his right shoulder is healthy enough to let him return next season, had a cortisone shot and threw the ball last week.

This would seem to be in line with everything else that has been reported about Favre’s determination to seek non-surgical solutions to the shoulder issue.  Maybe he can make it through a whole season just shooting the damn thing up.  The worst-case scenario, from the Vikings point-of-view, would be for Favre to come back, make it part of the way through the year, then decide the pain is too much to tolerate.  What a rip-off that would be.