Seriously, how could we go through a football season without this guy?

Minnesota- from www.nytimes.com – Well, that didn’t take long.

Brett Favre, who only three weeks ago said he planned to remain retired, changed his mind yet again Tuesday, agreeing to join the Minnesota Vikings after all. It’s the second time in two years that Favre announced he was retired, only to reverse course soon after.

The Vikings, who had courted Favre throughout the off-season only to be left empty-handed on the eve of training camp, planned to address the media later Tuesday. When Favre initially said he would not come back, Coach Brad Childress said the team would move forward with the quarterbacks on its roster and had no interest in Favre.

But now, Favre is en route to the Vikings training camp. He and his wife Deanna were spotted boarding a team plane at the Hattiesburg, Miss. airport.

The U-turn in Favre’s future wasn’t a complete surprise. He had left the door slightly open for a return – likely only to the Vikings – back in July, but almost everyone expected that he wouldn’t make a move until the regular season. Instead, Favre becomes the Vikings starter ahead of Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson with three preseason games remaining. He is already familiar with the offense run by his friend, the Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. The Vikings have viewed Favre, 39, as the final piece needed to make them the N.F.C. favorite to reach the Super Bowl.

Favre too had viewed the Vikings as a perfect fit for him, because of his familiarity with the N.F.C. North. Favre also said earlier this year that he was motivated to come back last season in part to get back at Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, who shipped Favre to the Jets.

Favre’s play with the Jets dropped off precipitously late last season and the team missed the playoffs, leading to the firing of Coach Eric Mangini. Favre asked the Jets for his release and they granted it, in part because they did not want to endure Favre’s drawn-out retirement deliberations.

Favre had arthroscopic surgery during the off-season on a partially torn right biceps muscle, but then, with the Vikings urging him on, he began throwing again and preparing for a comeback.