NEW ORLEANS — Fighting off tears that welled in his eyes and dealing with a sprained left ankle, Brett Favre stood at a podium inside the Superdome on Sunday night and made no promises about what the future may hold.
The Vikings’ painful 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game less than an hour old, Favre said he did not expect to take long to make a decision about whether he will return for a 20th season. Favre signed a two-year contract when he ended his second consecutive attempt at retirement last August in order to join the Vikings.
“I wouldn’t say months,” Favre said when asked for a timetable. “I know people are rolling their eyes or will roll their eyes. In a situation like this, I really don’t want to make a decision right now based on what’s happened, because I do know the year could not have gone any better aside from us not going to Miami. I really enjoyed it, to be honest. Just wondering if I can hold up, especially after a day like today. Physically and mentally. That was pretty draining. I am going to go home, (take) a couple of days and just talk it over with the family.”
Favre’s first season with the Vikings ended just like his last season with the Packers: with an extremely painful overtime loss in the NFC title game in which he threw a crucial interception. In January 2008, it was the Giants who kicked the winning field goal after picking off Favre in overtime. This time, Favre didn’t even have the chance to touch the ball in OT. However, he did throw two picks in regulation, including one with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings at the Saints 38-yard line and the score tied.
Favre said he came to Minnesota to win a Super Bowl and made it clear that was still his goal. The problem is time is running out for a future Hall of Famer who will turn 41 next October.
“I’d love to win the Super Bowl. Who wouldn’t?” Favre said. “Of course, I can’t print anything for you guys, but I know I’m going out on top one way or the other. I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove coming in, but if there were doubters out there maybe I served notice to them but my goal is to get to Miami, and obviously that’s not going to happen.”
Favre said “yes” three times when asked if the season was a success. “It’s hard to even think about anything other than the loss,” Favre said. “I may wake up tomorrow and who knows?”
Coach Brad Childress said he does not know if Favre will return, adding, “I told him to go home and lick your wounds and I’ll do the same and we’ll catch up down the road. Nobody wants to be rash about any decision-making, I’m sure, right now.”
Favre completed 28 of 46 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions Sunday. He wasn’t sacked but he took a serious pounding, and he had to be helped off the field after throwing an interception late in the third quarter.
“I knew when I got hit I felt my ankle — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve twisted my ankle or had it bent one way or the other,” he said. “That was one of those times where I knew if I were to come back I needed to come back right away. Because that’s one of those when you sit around for a little bit … I won’t be able to move it tomorrow.”
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