Pelissero: Brett Favre has faced a lot, but never adversity like this

NEW YORK -- Brett Favre's career has survived a near-fatal car wreck, painkiller addiction and a stint in rehab.

He's played on through deaths in his family, his wife's battle with breast cancer and a nasty divorce from the franchise and city where he became a legend.

But Favre never has faced adversity like this.

He's never been in a situation where everything he's worked for could fall apart around him -- with little time at age 41 to put it back together again.

Allegations of sexually charged misconduct during his time with the New York Jets could affect Favre's life, his marriage, his endorsements and perhaps his availability, if a fast-tracked NFL investigation finds wrongdoing.

The Minnesota Vikings' legendary quarterback will take the field Monday night to an unusually vociferous roar of boos, the tabloid reporters that have pasted his "SEXT BLITZ" across front pages here swarming in the bowels of New Meadowlands Stadium.

Favre is hurting physically, too. His problematic ankle hasn't noticeably affected him, but the tender throwing elbow he's been icing and wrapping might help explain his wavering accuracy.

And not even the acquisition of a receiver as talented as Randy Moss guarantees the tempo, rhythm and timing that's been lacking since Favre's three-weeks-late arrival suddenly will materialize at the start of the season's toughest stretch.

If anything, adding another limb to this Frankenstinian fantasy experiment -- one that's now costing the Vikings more than $124 million in 2010 salary and bonuses -- increases the burden on Favre, who knows Zygi Wilf and company remain convinced they've built a championship roster.

"I was talking to (his wife) Deanna about it and she was like, 'Do you feel good about it?'" Favre said of Wednesday's trade for Moss, whom Favre had recruited in his final years with the Green Bay Packers.

"I said, 'I feel a lot of pressure. More than I thought I was going to feel.' 'Why is that?' 'Now I've got to throw it to him and (make sure) it's not all the sudden we play three games and he's got two catches.' Everybody would go, whoa, what a reunion that is ..."

All of which makes it worth wondering if Favre's head and heart will be up to the task in Monday's nationally televised matchup with the Jets, no matter how many times he's proven that notion wrong before.

This isn't 2003, when Favre torched the Oakland Raiders for four touchdowns the night after his father passed away.

This certainly isn't 1996, when Favre went public with his Vicodin addiction, spent 46 days in a treatment center and emerged to win the Super Bowl and a second straight MVP.

There is neither tribute nor redemption in Favre's current predicament. It's a developing story, on and off the field, that has cast a rather dark backdrop on what was supposed to be his victory lap.

Comparisons to Tiger Woods' fall from grace are extreme and premature. They also fail to acknowledge that Woods, 34, still has years to rebuild his reputation and career, just as Ray Lewis, Michael Vick, Kobe Bryant and other sports stars accused of far more heinous acts have done before.

If Favre's reputation ends up ruined, chances are it'll stay ruined. And the fluidity of this situation means all Favre can do is block out everything -- the allegations, the investigation, the expectations, the pain and the pressure -- long enough to make everyone else forget about it all, too, at least for 3 hours or so once a week.

Considering everything that's at stake, that might be easier said than done.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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