First, let’s imagine that Childress is actually calling the shots on this decision. We all know that if Favre wants to play, he’s going to play. But, hypothetically, would Tarvaris make the Vikings any worse?
The Vikings have two wins; one against the Lions in which Favre threw for 201 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, the other against the Cowboys in which Favre threw for 118 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. These are not the results the Vikings wanted to get out of bringing Favre back for one more season, mainly because if they wanted these numbers, Tarvaris Jackson would be just fine, and for a lot less money.
The Vikings ownership desperately needs a Superbowl to turn the tide in the political drama of funding a stadium with public funding. The reason Tarvaris won’t start until Favre is in a wheelchair is that there’s still a glimmer of hope that Favre can turn the team around. On one hand, Favre has turned around some seasons that started dismally, like the 2003 Packers who started 3-4 and finished 10-6, and the 2004 Packers who started 2-4 and eventually won the division at 10-6 (only to lose to the Vikings in the Playoffs at Lambeau). On the other, Favre was much younger and much healthier in those seasons, and was competing in a less competitive NFC.
The Vikings looked like their quarterback skipped camp (oh wait, he did) against the Saints, but looked as if Rex Grossman donned a Favre jersey week two against the Dolphins. Favre threw three picks and fumbled in the Vikings endzone for a Dolphins score. Against the Jets, Favre overcame a first half with virtually no offensive production to throw three touchdowns and put the Vikings in an opportunity to win the game in a 2 minute drill, but then overthrew Harvin on one play, and threw a pick 6 right into the chest of Dwight Howery. In the loss against the Packers, Favre was a mix of brilliant and awful, with the awful being two interceptions that turned into Green Bay points in the third quarter.
If Favre looks too injured to start, Tarvaris at his best is slightly better than Favre at his most hectic. The last time Tarvaris started, he looked like he was begging to go back to the bench against a complex Eagles defense in the 2008 Wild Card round. But with Randy Moss now on the team, Tarvaris has the ability to get out of the pocket and has the cannon to throw balls up to Moss, who made Jeff George and Todd Bouman look like geniuses. Despite Favre getting his longtime wish of playing with Moss, he hasn’t been able to find him deep. Even though it won’t happen unless Favre’s ankle explodes walking on to the field, it might be fun to see what TJack is capable of with a player like Moss.
Either way, it is fair to say that either way, the Vikings don’t have great options this season. Favre is old, injured and distracted and Tarvaris simply doesn’t have the talent to turn into Childress’ McNabb (who was available for trade in early 2010). With that being said, and the Viking’s Superbowl run looking like a snowball in hell, the answer is that it doesn’t matter. NFL fans will be entertained by Favre’s demise or Favre turning it around for another inevitable playoff loss, or seeing if Tarvaris can help Childress change the offense to focus on Adrian Peterson, but that’s another article altogether.