So, it seems like the biggest reaction to the latest news about Brett Favre is, "Who cares?"

In answer to that question, let me say, clearly and without any chance of being misunderstood: I Care. Deeply. I really, really care about Brett Favre playing football again.

Even for the hated Minnesota Vikings.

Let's start with the Vikings. I understand about rivalries in sports. But, I don't hate the Vikings. This is football, after all, not war. Do I like the Packers more than the Vikings? Of course I do. It's not even close. But hate? That's a word that is reserved for a very few special things, like broccoli and selfish people.

The Vikings have a good football team. Probably the best team in the NFC North division. If the Packers can't go to the Super Bowl, I'd rather see the Vikings go than, say, the Dallas Cowboys. At least there are people I know and like in Minnesota. There is nobody I know and like in the whole state of Texas.

Next, let's talk about Favre.

Everybody seems ready to brand him with a scarlet letter (C for Crazy or G for Greedy). They think he's motivated by a variety of things, depending on whom you believe.

It could be revenge and hate for Ted Thompson. It could be lust for Darrell Bevel, the offensive coordinator for the Vikings. It could be demons dancing in his head. It could be that he wants to get away from Deanna. It could be money. It could be fear that life will come to an end without football.

I am not one of those conspiracy nuts who see bogey men behind every rock. I think the reason that Favre wants to continue playing is that he wants to continue playing. How many times has he cited John Madden with that line about when you walk away for good you have walked away for good? It's over. Pretty clearly, Favre doesn't think it's over.

I suppose you can make arguments all over the place about Favre and his continued flirtation with a return to football. What I can't understand is those people who roll their eyes and talk about how this is just "Brett being his obnoxious old self."

There are a few athletes in this world who I wish were still playing. I wish Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan was still playing. I wish Jerry Rice and Jim Taylor and James Lofton were still playing. I wish Robin Yount and Paul Molitor and Lew Burdette were still playing. But, they aren't; and, they aren't coming back.

I also wish Brett Favre was still playing. He's that kind of athlete. Absolutely thrilling. Sure, he's not the same at 40 than he was at 30. But he still has the ability to thrill. He belonged to my team for 16 years. Last year, I watched him in a Jets uniform. Every chance I got. And there is still a magic about him.

If you are a small-minded petty person I can understand how you might want Favre to stay retired.

But if you are a true fan, if you love football, if you love the eternal grace of a quarterback being a field general, then you want Favre to keep on playing as long as he wants. As long as he can.

Somehow, people have to find a way to put all the bull into a closet. Although Favre has been the centerpiece of the "will he or won't he" drama for the last few years, if you really love this game you've got to find your way past all of that.

I really don't know what has fueled this dislike for Favre. In 16 years. he gave us more thrills than the average fan has a right to expect. If there was ever a quarterback who could put a team on his shoulders and carry it to victory, he was that quarterback. And he was ours.

He's made a comparison to when Vince Lombardi left Green Bay to coach the Washington Redskins and Favre says nobody complained about that. Well, he's wrong. There were complaints when that happened and a portion of the Green Bay brotherhood felt like it was a slap in the face.

None of that, however, really matters in this discussion. What matters is what you feel in your heart when you watch this man play football. If you're honest with yourself, you can't help but say that you've never seen anyone who plays it the way he does. And if you're honest, you can't help but say that you'd like to see him keep on playing.

Even for the Vikings.