The Brett Favre melodrama is proving a divisive issue among legendary Vikings of the past. On one side you have Fran Tarkenton, who recently told Atlanta radio that Favre behaved in a “despicable” manner by forcing his way out of Green Bay, and said he hoped the Vikings do sign Favre so he can “watch him fail.” This anti-Favre stance has now been answered by former Vikings running back and Tarkenton teammate Chuck Foreman, who is decidedly pro-Favre.
“Number one, I’m a big Brett Favre fan,” said Foreman. “Number two, the New York Jets, where he went to play [in 2008], were a mediocre team or less when he got there and he took them to an above average team. He didn’t have the talent surrounding him, he had the injury. At 39, Brett Favre is better than 80 percent of the quarterbacks in the NFL anyway. I don’t think age should be a factor and if the man wants to play, he should be able to play.
“Loyalty in this game is not what it used to be,” Foreman went on. “If you’re not playing well, they drop you like a hot iron. Brett Favre should play and I hope he’s playing with the Vikings. But as far as being selfish goes, I think some people need to look in the mirror. In this game, there’s some selfishness in all of us. So to say that Brett is selfish or that the Packers gave him … he gave the Packers just as much as they gave him.
“The Packers decided they no longer wanted him and they made their move and that’s understandable. But I’m tired of hearing people talk about guys when they get older that they should retire, especially when they can still play. I think if Brett Favre was here with the Vikings it automatically makes them a contender for a Super Bowl. We have everything. We have a defense, we’ve got Adrian Peterson. … Now don’t misunderstand, I respect and I care a lot about Fran and all that. But I don’t agree with his statement.”
Clearly, Foreman has drunk the Favre kool aid, as have so many in Viking fandom. And, like true kool aid swillers, Foreman and the other pro-Favre folks just can’t stand hearing anyone say anything against their imaginary savior. Tarkenton spoke some truth, but that truth calls into question the “truth” the Favreophiles have convinced themselves of, so of course they attack him and call him all sorts of names. That’s always the way it is with people who’ve lost their objectivity and become crazy and cultish.
I hope these people are prepared for the disappointment when Favre either doesn’t sign, or plays and ends up being a bust. I’d hate for there to be another Waco situation.