What? Brett Favre May Return With Carolina?

Quarterback [intlink id=”41″ type=”category”]Brett Favre[/intlink] may return to the NFL for the 2011 season, according to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, but not with the [intlink id=”35″ type=”category”]Minnesota Vikings[/intlink].

The Vikings seem intent on choosing a quarterback in this year’s draft and possibly adding a veteran like the Washington Redskins Donovan McNabb as a bridge until he’s ready.

Walters didn’t provide much information on Favre’s future, other than to say another unretirement is a possibility.

Don’t discount the possibility of Brett Favre, who turns 42 in October, returning next season, but not with the Vikings. Maybe Carolina.

If it happens, it wouldn’t come as a surprise. We’ve all seen this movie before.

There are, however, a couple interesting angles here.

Favre was quick to file his retirement papers with the league after the 2010 season, something he didn’t do the previous year. For all intents and purposes, the move, along with Favre’s continued refrain that 2010 would be his last season, was a clear sign he was finally hanging it up for good.

Why the [intlink id=”249″ type=”category”]Carolina Panthers[/intlink] would be able to lure him out of retirement is a mystery.

The Panthers were an NFL-worst 2-14 in 2010 and put up a league-worst 12.2 points per game. Their offensive line isn’t exactly good, either — they gave up 50 sacks, last season.

Favre wanting to be part of what looks like a substantial rebuilding effort seems like a long shot.

That being said, the Panthers do have some upside. The team has a solid running game, even with DeAngelo Williams likely gone as a free agent. They still have Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson, who came on when Williams and Stewart were dealing with injuries, last season.

Carolina also has All-Pro Steve Smith at receiver and second-year man David Gettis, who looks like he’s on the verge of becoming a playmaker. The Panthers also signed tight end Jeremy Shockey, who was cut by New Orleans earlier this offseason.

The cupboard isn’t bare on offense, by any means. Carolina’s biggest downfall in 2010 was their quarterback play, so it’s easy to see why they might be willing to take a chance on Favre while they wait for either Jimmy Clausen or a draft pick to develop.

As Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said, this offseason is perfectly suited to Favre. Traditional offseason programs are likely to be eliminated and training camps could be cut short by the lockout.

The less Favre has to do in the offseason, the more likely he is to play. Perhaps the biggest question is, can he stroll in at the last minute and pick up new coach Ron Rivera’s offense?

With the Vikings, Favre was already familiar with then-coach [intlink id=”66″ type=”category”]Brad Childress[/intlink]’ west coast offense. He was familiar with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who was his quarterback coach in Green Bay.

The situation was tailor made for Favre to do little-to-no offseason work.

It may not be so simple in Carolina, providing Brett even wants to consider the situation.

(Via Jason Wilde)