DownSwinging.com

As I watched Sportscenter before heading to sleep last night, I heard a comment that left me utterly befuddled when I first heard it. In another puzzling display of ESPN sucking up to Brett Favre, I heard Trent Dilfer enthusiastically proclaim in a short 20-second tidbit that because the Minnesota Vikings are currently undefeated, their much publicized and scrutinized signing of the 40-year old Hall of Fame quarterback is already justified. If I did not question the logic and reasoning behind such a statement, the die-hard football fan inside of me should never be forgiven.

Yes, the Vikings are playing at a very high level and Favre is certainly a reason why they have busted right out of the gates with an impressive 5-0 start. He has provided a legitimate passing attack to complement their running game and defense, something that has been sorely lacking during the Brad Childress era. Anyone who caught even a mere glimpse of the Vikings’ much anticipated matchup against the Packers two Mondays ago or the aftermath of Favre’s dramatic last second touchdown pass to beat the 49ers, it also is clear that Favre has given the Vikings locker room a shot in the arm that neither Sage Rosenfels nor Tarvaris Jackson could have given them. It is fair to say that the Vikings are arguably the best team in the NFL and thanks in no small part to Favre.

However, here is why I immediately shut Sportscenter off in frustration and went to bed when I heard Dilfer make his statement: the Vikings are doing what they are supposed to be doing anyway. Even if Favre were sitting at home in Mississippi instead of playing in Minnesota, the Vikings would probably still be 5-0 or at the very worst 4-1. If Rosenfels or Jackson were at the helm, the Vikings were still going to be the favorites to take the NFC North and be a contender to play football well into January in the NFC. Adrian Peterson and the defense led by the monstrous Jared Allen still have played larger roles in the Vikings’ early success so far. Favre is no where near the point of accomplishing what he was brought in to do yet.

Childress brought Favre in to win the games he felt the Vikings could not do so with Jackson or Rosenfels at quarterback. The combination of Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, Green Ba and St. Louis is not exactly the most difficult stretch to begin a season. Most quarterbacks (even maybe JaMarcus Russell) would still win behind the rock solid offensive line, running attack, and defense that Favre currently has at his disposal. Remember, this team still won the NFC North with incredibly erratic play at the most important position in all of sports with the dynamic tandem of Jackson, then Gus Frerotte, and then Jackson again. I would even have to say winning just one playoff game would not be enough to truly justify the Favre signing. The Vikings went all in this year to lure him out retirement for the umpteenth time to do one thing and one thing only: win a Super Bowl. When Favre leads the Vikings onto the gridiron on Landshark Stadium in Miami this coming February, Dilfer then will be right. For now, hold your horses on being so quick to anoint Favre as the savior of the Vikings.