Switcheroo: Favre will return if ankle lets him play

MANKATO, Minn. - Ready for another flip-flop? Brett Favre is planning to play for the Vikings this season if his surgically repaired left ankle allows it.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said yesterday that the 40-year-old quarterback plans to play if he is healthy. He had arthroscopic surgery on the ankle in May.

Bevell has been close friends with Favre since he was his quarterbacks coach with the Packers.

Bevell said he has spoken to Favre recently, but not in the last 24 hours. He said it's been his understanding that if Favre's ankle heals well enough, he will return to play for the Vikings this season.

Cook said Favre will visit his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, next week for an evaluation. Favre spent Wednesday morning throwing the ball around with high school students near his home in Mississippi.

"He's working out really hard,'' Cook said, "and everything seems to indicate that if he is healthy and can contribute and play at the level that he has become accustomed to, he will play."

The two-year contract Favre signed last year calls for him to make $13 million this season, and Cook said he has not begun negotiations on any adjustments to the contract.

In Hattiesburg, Miss., Favre told reporters his decision is "not about the money." He said he has been in touch with the team and "they know what's going on with me."

On Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told the AP that Favre had contacted teammates and team officials to tell them his ankle was not healing and that he wasn't going to return for a second season in Minnesota. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe confirmed the report, saying Favre "told a couple guys on our team he's going to retire."

Favre comes off one of his finest seasons, with career bests in completion percentage (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (7), while throwing for 33 TDs and 4,202 yards to lead the Vikings (12-4) to the NFC North title. He hurt his left ankle in the loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game.

Favre has considered retiring every summer since 2002.

"I know it's a decision that he wrestles with," Bevell said. "He's a great player. He's a great competitor. He mulls things over. He's an emotional guy. So he thinks things through long and hard and takes his time with his decision. So I'm not surprised that things started to come out. We just have to wait and see."