He’s back! Chris Carter seems a little pissed.
The 39-year-old quarterback turned his back on retirement for the second time in as many years, agreeing Tuesday to play for the Minnesota Vikings.
The deal is worth between $10 million to $12 million, according to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.
The Vikings made it official with a news release early Tuesday afternoon. A news conference to introduce Favre is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
The first inkling that something was afoot came early Tuesday, when two television stations in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Minneapolis reported that the Vikings had sent a private plane to Hattiesburg to pick up Favre.
Favre and his wife, Deanna, arrived to cheering fans outside the team’s practice facility and was in a helmet and pads less than 90 minutes later. His red practice jersey was the familiar No. 4, the same number he wore for years with his now-rival Green Bay Packers.
Coach Brad Childress, who greeted the Favres at the airport, had confirmed the planned meeting in an early Tuesday e-mail to The Associated Press. Asked if the plan was to sign Favre, Childress replied: “In a perfect world.”
Childress’ wish came true shortly afterward, when the Vikings announced the signing.
The day’s developments and Favre’s arrival were a surreal tableau, with a throng of fans who somehow learned early on of Favre’s deal with the Vikings and ran alongside the SUV as it arrived at the Vikings’ practice site from the airport, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, with a lone police officer trying to maintain order.
ESPN analyst Cris Carter reported that Childress already has told the Vikings that Favre would be starting in Friday night’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
