Brett Favre will need heavy protection in 2010 season

As the Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre has had a surgery on his left ankle, his playing status is highly expected to be active in the 2010 season, and his return will mean that the team will have to make full preparation to protect the 40-year-old starter from further injuries, which will end Favre’s career immediately if not successfully avoided.

Favre played the leading role for the Vikings well last season, but his aging body was also a leading target to opponent teams. His ankle injury was just suffered during the NFC championship game against the New Orleans Saints when some Saints defensive players saw the void in quarterback-protection and gave Favre several heavy blows. Although they received punishment after the game, the game lost was lost, and the quarterback in Brett Favre jersey was so frustrated with the loss that he showed intention not to play again in 2010 season.

Fortunately, Favre did not really mean to retire when he was still able to lead a team to playoffs. Having the surgery done just indicated he is having serious consideration of career resume. But what he needs the Vikings to promise are more than money or the starting job, but also a heavy protection that will prevent opponents from reaching him easily to give more attacks.

Two-year contract indicates Favre’s 2010 return

The Minnesota Vikings have been confident that their starting quarterback Brett Favre, who has not made his final decision on his playing status in 2010 season, will return to play his 20th NFL season. The confidence is nothing about any underground contacts, but simply because the team signed a two-year contract with Favre in 2009 offseason.

You may think that Favre can choose not to finish that last year on the contract, but if he intended to do that, why did he still sign a two-year deal instead of a single-year one? Favre must have made the plan to play for his last two NFL seasons before retiring. Frustration after the NFC loss to the New Orleans Saints caused him to say that he was unlikely to play again in 2010, but self-esteem will anyway push him back to finish his last season. Favre is not a coward man fearing challenges. At age 40, he still managed to have one of his best seasons, so we still have reasons to believe that he could make a Super Bowl appearance at age 41.

No matter what reasons caused Favre to sign a two-year contract with the Vikings, the deal itself just showed the quarterback’s willingness to work with the team for as long as he could. That willingness would also bring Favre back into his No.4 Vikings jersey before the 2010 regular season.

The Vikings continue with their patience in waiting for Favre’s decision

According to the Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, he did not have any conversation with Brett Favre recently except for some texts exchanges. However, the team is just as optimistic that the legendary No. 4 quarterback will wear back his Vikings jersey for the 2010 season.

Childress said he would have another visit to Favre during the offseason but it is unlikely to happen in near future, he would like to let Favre enjoy some downtime right now away from the game. At the same time, the Vikings have also been ready to get some new quarterback from the draft that begins next month.

Another hot topic to be discussed among the Vikings is about running back. They are in need of a qualifying running back that could replace departed Chest Taylor. The team originally hoped LaDainian Tomlinson could join to fill that role but the running back chose to sign with the New York Jets. And there is no other comparable running back available on the free agent market now, so the Vikings could also have to get a new running back from the draft.

Redskins may retain RB Portis

Although running back Clinton Portis has said that he does not expect to be retained by the Washington Redskins, he is still likely to continue wearing Redskins jersey for longer as running backs Coach Bobby Turner believes that Portis has something left.

"Oh, he definitely has something left," Turner told The Washington Post. "We were excited about Clinton when we drafted him. And I’ve looked at a bunch of (2009) games, I mean, pretty close to every one. Matter of fact, to be precise, I’ve looked at 14 games already. Not that he was in 14, but he definitely has something left."

Portis is turning 29 in 2010 and he played in only eight games last year with a concussion. And he could still earn $6.43 million of guaranteed money if he continues playing for the Redskins in 2010 season. As Turner also coached Portis when he was playing with the Denver Broncos, what he said of Portis could be right.