Last Chance?

As most you have already heard, Brett Farve is now a Viking. After spending 16 glorious seasons with the Green Bay Packers, the oft fickle Farve has now signed with the hated NFC North rivals Minnesota for two years and 25 million dollars. I am as tired as anyone about the soap opera that has become the Brett Farve saga. But if somethings fall into place this might be a chance for Farve to redeem himself and alienate himself forever from the Cheesehead Nation.

Before Farve arrived on the field in Minnesota yesterday, the Vikings' chances to win the North and make the playoffs were high. With a ferocious defense and a top notch running game the Vikes only need a quarterback that can manage a game and not screw up. I really think that I could stand back there and hand the ball of to the freak phenom, Adrian "All Day" Peterson, and toss the ball up to speedy wide outs like Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian. I think Sage Rosenfels could've have easily stepped in and managed the game and I also believe that Tavaris Jackson could've been an added weapon for the Vikes. So what is it that makes the Farve acquisition so important?

If, and it is a big one, Brett Farve can follow in the footsteps of John Elway and put his gunslinger mentality on the shelf, this team will be damn near unstoppable. See Brett's biggest knock is all the mistakes he makes while trying to make big plays. But if you give him the opportunity to mange the game and hand the ball off, he can succeed in Minnesota. Brett's leadership abilities have never been called into question and his heart is undeniable. With a great running game and a heavily controlled offensive scheme, Brett can step in and be the emotional leader on this team and the veteran presence that the offense needs to make it an elite offense in this league. But as we have seen with the vacillating, Brett seems to only think about himself. He will have to drop the concept of gunslinger and embrace the role of game manager.

It sounds simple on paper but Brett Farve usually has his own ideas about how things work. He has definitely turned a lot of sports fans off with his indecision. I don't happen to be one of them. I understand how hard it is to walk away from the game and I believe Brett when he says it doesn't matter to him what we think. But I hope that he understands the situation he has been put into and the opportunity he has to end this story on a good note, at least for him. Packers fans will see it differently I am sure. Live like no one is watching and keep playing until they don't want you anymore!