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Once again, Brett Favre says he isn't
sure what he wants to do.

      The 40-year-old quarterback told ESPN that he needs surgery on
his left ankle in order to play this season for the Minnesota
Vikings. In an e-mail posted to ESPN.com on Friday, Favre said he's
deciding whether to have the procedure or finally retire after 19
seasons.

      Currently holding all the NFL's major career passing records,
Favre will turn 41 in October. He told ESPN the injury that hobbled
him three months ago in the NFC championship game still causes
swelling and pain, and said orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews
told him an operation is unavoidable if he wants to keep playing.

      "This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the
fans and the entire Vikings staff," Favre said in the e-mail.
"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."

      According to ESPN, Favre didn't specify the diagnosis or
elaborate on a timetable for recovery from such a surgery.

      Favre's agent Bus Cook didn't immediately return messages left
by The Associated Press. Vikings officials, including coach Brad
Childress, were not available before a Friday afternoon rookie
minicamp.

      Favre was a mainstay with the Green Bay Packers before waffling
on his playing status and departing in an ugly divorce that got him
traded to the New York Jets. After a so-so season in New York, he
announced his retirement in early 2009 for the second time, then
reconsidered and signed with the Vikings.


      Favre beat the Packers twice, and he was heartily booed in his
appearance at Lambeau Field. With or without Favre, Green Bay
should give the two-time defending NFC North champion Minnesota
stiff competition for the division title next season.

      "Somebody tell Brett to have that surgery so I can make up for
last year!!!" Packers linebacker Nick Barnett posted on Twitter.

      He enjoyed one of the best seasons of his storied career,
throwing for 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions and guiding
the Vikings to a 12-4 record. They finished just short of the Super
Bowl, falling in overtime to New Orleans after an ill-advised pass
by Favre was picked off by the Saints to stop a promising
fourth-quarter drive.

      Now Favre and the Vikings are back in the same place as last
year.

      The quandary then was whether he wanted to have surgery to
repair a partially torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder, a
decision he made and didn't regret. That surgery was with Andrews,
the noted physician who works in Alabama and Florida.

      Favre worked out last summer at the local high school in his
Mississippi hometown, and video clips of him firing passes in a cap
and a cutoff T-shirt to teenage wide receivers became must-see TV
as intrigue about his intention increased.

      His arm took a while to feel strong and it still took some
persuasion from Childress, but three weeks into training camp Favre
arrived and quickly ingratiated himself into the locker room and
the fan base.

      Favre is under contract for $13 million this season, but that's
only if he plays. The Vikings hope he does, with unproven options
in Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels on the roster behind him.
They declined to take a quarterback in the NFL draft last weekend.

      Childress and the players have repeatedly said they're fine with
Favre taking his time to recuperate, refocus and recommit to
playing, even if that means again skipping the grind of training
camp.

Gallery

Saints beat Vikings 31-28 in OT for trip to Super Bowl

Was NFC championship loss Brett Favre's last game?

ESPN reported Friday that Favre is deciding whether to have the procedure or retire after 19 seasons.

Favre tells ESPN he needs surgery to play again

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