Quarterback Brett Favre is coming out of retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings after all, the three-time NFL MVP said on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Favre, who three weeks ago told Minnesota he had decided to remain retired after negotiations to join them, signed a two-year contract with the Vikings and was on their practice field on Tuesday wearing his familiar No. 4.
“I felt I could offer experience and leadership,” Favre told a news conference. “I didn’t want to look back and didn’t want to say what if.”
PHOTO: REUTERS
Terms were not announced, although it was widely reported the contract was worth US$25 million.
Favre had announced his retirement after playing last season with the New York Jets following 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
He said he changed his mind when given a last chance in a telephone call on Monday from head coach Brad Childress.
Favre said when he had postseason surgery to repair a torn bicep, it was discovered he had a slight tear in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder.
That gave him pause about his playing future, Favre said, though he has been told by doctors there was a good chance he could deal with that injury.
“We all know there are no guarantees,” he said. “But I feel pretty good. Good enough to feel confident I can make the throws I have to make.”
This marked Favre’s second successive year where he had a change of heart about retirement.
Before joining the Jets, Favre also said he was retiring after leading the Packers to the playoffs.
Last season Favre earned his 10th career Pro Bowl berth as he completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,472 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Favre holds many NFL records including most career touchdown passes (464), most yards gained passing (65,127) and most wins by a quarterback (169). He also owns the mark for most consecutive starts for a quarterback (291, including playoff games).
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to