By Dan Snapp, Patriots Daily Staff

For once, Brett Favre made a wise late-game decision, and the Minnesota Vikings are better off for it. Brett was built to disappoint, so better it happens now than in January.

An ESPN report Friday stated Favre was anguishing over his pending decision, fearing his body couldn’t handle a 16-game season. But here’s the thing: the Vikings wanted him for 19 games; else the whole campaign is pointless.

They only had to look to last year – when Favre’s body checked out in early December – to see the reality of the situation: Favre or no Favre, one of Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels will be helming the Vikings at some point this season.

Neither name elicits confidence, but neither does a 40-year-old Favre. If Brad Childress really believed quarterback was the last piece to the Vikings’ Super Bowl puzzle, he should have addressed it earlier, and in a more substantial manner than Rosenfels (Matt Cassel perhaps?), when he had the chance.

Instead, he cast the team’s fates and the fans’ hopes on football’s equivalent to cotton candy. Favre was great, but that was 10 years ago.

Childress explained the pursuit, saying he thought this was a rare opportunity. He’s right: It’s rare for an NFL coach to promise a starting job to a 40-year-old quarterback coming off arm surgery. Hopefully for Vikings’ fans, Childress’s folly will be rewarded with a pink slip at season’s end.

Most shockingly, Favre’s reason finally won out over his ego and his pride. He finally wasn’t like a kid out there, much to the benefit of his Packers legacy.

He’ll probably change his mind tomorrow.

E-mail Dan Snapp at dan@patriotsdaily.com