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Friday, July 31, 2009
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Former Viking believes Favre knows his role - for now COMMENTARY Sports Editor Brett Favre tantalized the Minnesota Vikings all off-season with the possibility he might sign with the NFL club.
On Tuesday the eventual Hall of Fame quarterback finally decided - for the moment anyway - that he won't be in training camp with the Vikings in Mankato this week.
Former Vikings linebacker Matt Blair hoped Favre would play in Minnesota this season but may have been one of the few who didn't think it would happen.
"It would have been good to have him come and sacrifice a year for the Vikings because they have everything in place," Blair said before Tuesday's Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers game at Mills Field. "Their defense is good, the offense has the greatest running back in the NFL, and the receivers are solid. To get a quarterback to deliver the experience, that's what they were trying to put together for a team this year to go and challenge everybody.
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Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Matt Blair threw a football for the ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday's Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers game at Mills Field. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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"With that, I felt all along that he probably wouldn't come. He's a smart enough player to understand what took place between leaving Green Bay and going to the (New York) Jets. His body just couldn't take it, he had to get the operation on his shoulder. I think he understands ... go ahead and retire, enjoy the rest of your life, go out and help people, encourage young people as well. I think he knows his role now."
Favre, the ever-waffling superstar, said on Sports Illustrated's Web site Wednesday that, "I truly, truly believe that it's over. But if someone calls Nov. 1, who knows?"
Blair, who played all 12 of his years in the NFL (1974-85) with the Vikings, can relate to Favre's vacillation. He said it's difficult to walk away from teammates and the money players make today. He said he would have played longer but a body can only take so much physical pounding.
"It was a little bit easier for me because I had hurt my knee, and I figured it was probably enough for me," said Blair, who played in six consecutive Pro Bowls and in two Super Bowls. "After 12 years playing linebacker that's pretty good. I was just so happy to play the 12 years, and I just said 'OK, I'm out of here.'
"It's a hard thing to do. But once you do it and walk away, and what I'm doing now helping people, helping situations, I would say I'm glad I made that decision to walk away and move on."
The Vikings' lease at the Metrodome expires following the 2011 season. In the midst of an economic downturn the last thing on state lawmakers' plates is a Vikings stadium. Despite that Blair believes it will happen - eventually.
"I don't want them to leave like the Colts left Baltimore, in the middle of the night," he said. "As a state we have to understand the economy, jobs, the taxes we'll lose.
"I think the state will step up, but we just need to get out of the position we're in now with the economy, get it back on track and have that part work. Then I think a stadium will come about."
Blocking kicks was one of many facets of the game at which Blair excelled. He blocked a franchise-record 20 kicks, including five during the 1979 season. He blocked two kicks in one game on three separate occasions. His blocked punt in Super Bowl IX led to the Vikings' only touchdown in a 16-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Blair, who appears fit enough at age 58 to still be playing, said he derived his leaping ability from his days as a basketball player.
"It's something that I had a natural ability to do, but again it's not me, it's the team," he said. "It's 11 guys out there making their plays, and doing what they need to do.
"When they ruled you couldn't take a running start from five yards back, or whatever it took, that's when it all shut down because the NFL came in. (Miami coach Don) Shula was on the rules committee and he said, 'Let's cut these guys out' because he had three kicks blocked during the playoffs, and it kicked him out of the playoffs, so that's why it was changed."
Mike Bialka, sports editor, may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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