Favre Out, Tittle In, Says Childress
(Mankato, MN--August 2, 2010) The Minnesota Vikings, reacting quickly to today's apparently official announcement by Brett Favre that he will indeed "retire" from the NFL, have announced their new quarterback selection: former NFL great and Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle.
Tittle, now 84 but described as in "near game shape" by those who've seen him working out recently with the local junior high football team in Marshall, Texas, held numerous passing records during his sixteen-year career. He played college ball at Louisiana State and went on to play professionally for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. Tittle threw seven touchdown passes on October 28, 1962, in a game against the Washington Redskins that the Giants won 49-34. In 1963, he set what was then an NFL record by throwing 36 touchdown passes, a record that stood for 21 years.
"You just can't ignore passing performance like that," said Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress. "Sure, there are questions about Yelberton's age and durability, but we had the same questions about Favre two years ago and look what he was able to do. We've got medical reports that show Tittle as having two solid ankles, which is what we didn't have with Favre. That makes us very optimistic."
Reached by phone shortly after his daily 3 p.m. nap, Tittle seemed happy about the opportunity to return to the NFL. "I liked playing football," he said. "I remember playing football. Sure a few things have changed, but it all comes down to throwing the ball to someone who wants to catch it."
In a simultaneous and perhaps related announcement, the NFL Rules Committee said today that helmet faceguards will once again be an optional rather than mandatory piece of equipment.
Tittle, now 84 but described as in "near game shape" by those who've seen him working out recently with the local junior high football team in Marshall, Texas, held numerous passing records during his sixteen-year career. He played college ball at Louisiana State and went on to play professionally for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. Tittle threw seven touchdown passes on October 28, 1962, in a game against the Washington Redskins that the Giants won 49-34. In 1963, he set what was then an NFL record by throwing 36 touchdown passes, a record that stood for 21 years."You just can't ignore passing performance like that," said Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress. "Sure, there are questions about Yelberton's age and durability, but we had the same questions about Favre two years ago and look what he was able to do. We've got medical reports that show Tittle as having two solid ankles, which is what we didn't have with Favre. That makes us very optimistic."
Reached by phone shortly after his daily 3 p.m. nap, Tittle seemed happy about the opportunity to return to the NFL. "I liked playing football," he said. "I remember playing football. Sure a few things have changed, but it all comes down to throwing the ball to someone who wants to catch it."
In a simultaneous and perhaps related announcement, the NFL Rules Committee said today that helmet faceguards will once again be an optional rather than mandatory piece of equipment.
