The Heck With Favre…I'll Take Rodgers

There are fairly firm arguments behind the Favre-to-Minnesota speculation.  One:  Favre is a West Coast guy, and the Vikings are a West Coast team.  Two:  The Vikings have Favre’s old QB coach, Darrell Bevell, as their offensive coordinator, which would give Favre a certain comfort-level.  Three:  Favre was not comfortable having to play an outdoor game in Green Bay with the temperature nearing absolute zero, and would prefer to play for a warm-weather and/or dome team.  Four:  The Vikings have the running game, defense and offensive line to win…they just need a proven quarterback.  Five:  The Vikings receiver corps would become legit with Favre throwing them the ball.

Unfortunately, to paraphrase Rick Blaine, arguments like these aren’t worth a hill of beans in this crazy world.  We have no idea if Favre even wants back in (despite the pronouncements of people like Peter King, who act as though they can peer directly into Favre’s mind).  We don’t know what the Packers would do if Favre asked for reinstatement.  We do know that the fans in Green Bay would love him back, and according to PFT, the other Packer players – with the exception of Aaron Rodgers – would also welcome Brett with open arms.

We know little for certain, so all we can do is raise hypotheticals.  Like:  What if Favre asked for reinstatement, and the Packers decided to make him the starting QB again, sending Aaron Rodgers to the bench?

PFT thinks Rodgers would ask for a trade…and I agree.  He’s been sitting there as the heir-apparent for years – finally the king leaves and it’s his turn…and then the rug gets pulled out from under him.  Wouldn’t you be pissed?

Here would be a legitimate opportunity for the Vikes to jump in and take advantage of the Packers’ sticky situation…by trading for Aaron Rodgers.  Many of the above arguments in favor of Favre would hold for Rodgers too:  He’s worked in the West Coast system.  He was coached by Darrell Bevell.  He would have a good running game to lean on.

Of course there are other arguments that don’t fall in Rodgers’ favor.  He actually has less game experience than Tarvaris Jackson.  He wouldn’t have the best receivers to throw to, and lacks a reliable tight end.  However, Rodgers would give T-Jack legitimate competition in training camp.  Even if he was beaten out by T-Jack, he would have to be considered a better back-up than aged Gus Frerotte or green John David Booty.  At least, if Rodgers were on the roster, we wouldn’t be staring at this frightening T-Jack or nothing proposition.

But wouldn’t acquiring Rodgers over Favre defeat the whole purpose of getting a new quarterback?  Isn’t Favre desirable because he’s established, and could lead us to the Super Bowl now?

I prefer to deal in real-world possibilities, not pipe-dreams.  We’re not getting Brett Favre.  No, we don’t have much of a chance at Rodgers either…but Rodgers-to-Minnesota is at least in the realm of the semi-plausible.  And I say, if the chance does come up, make a run at him.  Maybe he doesn’t help you win it in 2008, but the last I looked, Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen were still young.  The window is at least two years, maybe three (and yes I realize Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, Matt Birk and some other guys are getting to the end).  Rodgers, if he worked out, would give you a QB across all of that window…not just for one desperate run.  Plus, Favre is old, and let’s face it…he’s due to get hurt.

Maybe in Candy Land or Oz Favre would be a great idea for the Vikings…but in this universe, give me Rodgers.