Favre says he wants to play for the Vikings
Brett Favre will know in several weeks whether his surgically repaired arm will allow him to come out of retirement again.
The quarterback made his first public comments since retiring from the New York Jets in February in an interview Monday night on "Joe Buck Live." He said the only team he has spoken to is the Minnesota Vikings - and that they would be a perfect fit because he's familiar with their offense.
The three-time NFL MVP said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery 2½ weeks ago on his throwing arm. Andrews told him it would take 4-5 weeks to know if he'll be able to make all the throws he needs to.
"If it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then the biggest question mark is out of the way," Favre said.
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Favre said Vikings coach Brad Childress wanted him to attend Minnesota's recent organized team activities, but he declined.
"I figured there would be a media frenzy if I was there," he said. "And there would be a media frenzy if I couldn't play, if we had to say three weeks later, 'You know, his arm's just not up to par. He can't play.'
"So why not have just one media frenzy, and that be later on?"
HBO said Favre agreed in April to appear on the show at the request of Buck, the longtime baseball and football announcer. That was before his release from the Jets, which prompted Minnesota's pursuit of the NFL's career leader in touchdown passes.
Asked by Buck if he would play this season, Favre replied, "Um ... " After a pause, he said, "Maybe."
"I know people are tired of it, really," Favre said earlier of the drama that accompanies his annual waffling over retirement. "My intentions are not to - although it's good for you - create controversy."
The Vikings were a presumed suitor last summer when Favre renounced his retirement from the Packers and was told Green Bay was going with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. But the Packers weren't going to let him go to their NFC North rivals, and after a messy divorce with Green Bay, Favre was shipped to the Jets.
He threw 22 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions last season. The team finished out 1-4 and missed the playoffs, as Favre was bothered by a torn biceps tendon.
The Vikings won their division without him, but have been unsettled at the sport's most important position for the past three-plus years. Quarterback continues to be viewed as one of the team's few weak spots on an otherwise talent-laden roster.
"It makes a lot of sense because the pieces are in place," Favre said.
He said he met with a Vikings trainer Sunday to go over some arm exercises as part of his rehab, but the team has not made plans to evaluate his readiness to play. Favre said his conversations with Vikings officials have been infrequent and limited.
"Nothing other than, 'Are you interested?"' he said. "And vice versa."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
