Tarvaris Jackson and offseason acquisition Sage Rosenfels were expected to vie for the Vikings' starting position until the New York Jets released Favre. As time went on, it seemed more and more likely that Favre would sign with the Vikings, especially after he underwent surgery on his injured biceps and started working out with a high school team back home in Mississippi.

"It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but one that is very familiar with our system and division," Vikings coach Brad Childress said in a statement. "That does not detract from the team that we have. As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team and they have put forth a tremendous effort this offseason preparing for the season ahead. With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato and getting training camp underway."

Yep, certainly Jackson and Rosenfels believe Childress has every confidence in them, after he spent the summer playing footsie with a 40-year-old emotionally unstable quarterback with a bad arm. Childress is like the General McClellan of the NFL: nobody talks bigger and accomplishes less than he does.

Look, we all know this guy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. But even he must realize he dodged a bullet today. Imagine Favre starting for the Vikings in their home opener. He throws five picks, cries in the locker room on national television after the game, and announces the next day he's retiring again. They'd put a straitjacket on Childress, they wouldn't let him walk around out in the open.

People seem to have a weird trust in Childress, maybe because he sounds very confident and is always hinting that he's keeping mum about some secret strategy that he's about to unleash. But the guy is a stiff. You could give this clown the keys to the '86 Bears, he'd go 10-6 and would get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.