As the Vikings were adding one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to their roster this week, a Minnesota icon was making the media rounds blasting the move.

“I really think the whole Brett Favre saga of retiring, unretiring - it’s a circus.” Vikings great Fran Tarkenton told NFL Radio earlier this week. “It’s an absolute circus, and it takes away from all the other things that are going on with the Vikings, with the NFL. We’re getting ready for football season and this is a circus and I just have no interest in it.”

What I find interesting is that Tarkenton is suddenly so passionate about his former team.  The Hall of Fame signal caller never attends Viking Alumni functions and is always conspicuously absent from the yearly “Ring of Honor” inductions. Does anyone even remember the last time he was in Minnesota?

I am too young to remember Tarkenton in action with the Vikings, but I do appreciate the game’s history and what he did for the Vikings franchise. It would’ve have been nice if he’d have won one of those Super Bowls, but still the man retired as the NFL’s career leader in completions, yards and touchdown passes. Not bad.  If I still haven’t proven my Tarkenton cred, just check my closet – you’ll find a 1975 Mitchell and Ness #10 throwback jersey hanging in there.

That being said, Tarkenton sounds like a bitter, out-of-touch old man when he discusses Brett Favre. If you still don’t believe me check out this quote from his interview on KFAN in May, “I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I’ve ever seen. Look at his final game in a Packers uniform. He blew that game (NFC championship) against the Giants.”

Tark, we still love ya here in Minnesota and we’d like to hear from you more often, but next time try and make it sort of positive or at least constructive.