by Aaron Viner

August 18, 2009 quarterback Brett Favre signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings.  This move caused an uproar in the football world, but left many bridges burned.

The second news reached the media, mixed feelings formed amongst football fans.  Vikings fans celebrated the news of the Hall of Fame bound quarterback joining an already talented team, while fans of the Green Bay Packers, Favre’s original team, felt betrayed.

“I’m really excited for the upcoming season.  I feel that Favre really gives [the Vikings] a better chance to win,” Sam Hawley, a Viking fan and sophomore at North Scott High School, said.  “He is going to be a key component to our success.”
The Vikings organization feels the same way: “[Farve’s] innate skills give us a rare opportunity to further our goal of a championship,” head coach Brad Childress said upon signing Favre.

Quote from organization…

Maria Biddick, a lifetime Packers fan and senior at North Scott, feels quite the opposite.  “He has lost a lot of respect in my eyes.”  Like the rest of the Packer Nation, Biddick has little to say now that Favre plays for their division rival.

Earlier this summer, Favre retired from football for a second time, saying he “was done with football for good.”  Soon after, there were reports of Minnesota Vikings’ Childress traveling down to Farve’s hometown, Kiln, Mississippi, to discuss his future.  Farve remained retired at the end of July.

This event, however, creates some drama going into the upcoming NFL season.  With Favre now in the lineup, many believe the Vikings will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.  In addition, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson, one of the league’s premiere running backs, and a strong defensive unit.

The only team Favre has never beaten in his 18-year career is the Green Bay Packers, whom he will face twice this season, the first of which will on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, on Monday, October 5.