Shiancoe on Favre's surgery: 'That's some promising news'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- When Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe heard quarterback Brett Favre had ankle surgery last week, there was no question in his mind what it meant.

"I think that's some promising news," Shiancoe said today after the Vikings' organized team activity practice.

"Why's he getting ankle surgery? That's the first thing that came through my mind. Seems like he got it for the season, because that's what he needed to come back to the Vikings."

And that was good news for Shiancoe, who overcame a slow start last season -- when Favre signed with the Vikings in mid-August -- to post career highs in receptions (56) and touchdown catches (11).

"You guys seen the type of team that we had last, and that was almost like the missing piece of the puzzle," Shiancoe said. "It's like everything just gelled together once he came -- it was like he was the missing link almost. He basically brought out like the talent in a lot of guys on the team. People excelled through that -- he was almost like the orchestrator of this whole offense, and also, Favre brought up the morale of the team as well."

Shiancoe also responded to a tweet from his former teammate, Saints safety Darren Sharper, saying "'X' marks the spot" on Favre's ankle when the teams meet in an NFC championship rematch on Sept. 9 in New Orleans.

"That's all good, but Sharper had surgery, too ... and it was the knee," Shiancoe said. "If 'X' makes the spot on Brett, I wonder what marks the spot on Sharper."

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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