Hail The Conquering Hero

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

We all thought the on-again, off-again mating dance between Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings ended three weeks ago, with Favre saying he would stay retired. Tuesday, the wedding took place.

Amid news helicopters hovering over SUVs arriving at Winter Park, the Vikings' practice facility in Eden Prairie, Favre signed a two-year, $25 million contract. Then he put on his old number 4 and started practicing with his new teammates.

There are reports that Favre will play in Friday's preseason game at the Metrodome against the Kansas City Chiefs, but we'll believe it when coach Brad Childress sends him in.

The Vikings are betting that Favre, who's nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, will take them to the promised land of the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl. They think he's the final piece of the puzzle for a team rich in running backs and an improving defense. But the road is littered with aging quarterbacks whose high expectations don't always measure up. They could get injured or start throwing footballs to the other team, leaving them to wonder whether it was worth the trouble.

So where does this leave the remaining QB's? Tarvaris Jackson, who did not play well in last Friday's preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts, is considered the most vulnerable. Sage Rosenfels did OK but is now injured, and John David Booty is still a work in progress.

Now that Favre's in the fold, who will benefit the most? Certainly Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who doesn't have to worry about TV blackouts this season, and is hoping that the ongoing quest to get a new stadium leads to success. ESPN, which will televise three Vikings games on Monday nights this season. Also NFL-licensed apparel firms, which couldn't crank out Favre's new jerseys fast enough to meet demand.

About the only ones who aren't happy are Green Bay Packers fans, who'll be booing like hell when Favre and the Vikings visit Lambeau Field November 1.

Now that the Vikings and Brett Favre are together at last, let's see how far they take the relationship.