Posted by Will Brinson UPDATE (2:50): Favre is reportedly on an airplane heading "north," which we presume means he's going to Minnesota.
In a story that's sure to crash the Star-Tribune 's website (again), "Access Vikings" writer and Brett Favre expert Judd Zulgad is reporting that Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell were all absent from Minnesota's practice today.
The reason? They're believed to be in Mississippi visiting Favre and urging him to come back to the team -- or at least give the Vikes the answer that Allen recently requested from the quarterback.
None of the trio has dealt with injuries thus far in training camp, so there's no plausible alibi on that end, and Zulgad's sources confirm that the three members of the Vikings weren't at the team's morning meetings either.
There's been a pungent air of desperation regarding Favre's return in Minnesota since he announced his re-retirement recently , but Brad Childress, the team and the front office have gone out of their way to make it clear that they're fine whatever he decides.
If they've really sent a entourage of Favre's closest friends down to his home in order to convince him to return, the thin veil of confidence in Tavaris Jackson has officially been lifted.
There's also the possibility that they just want an answer other than "maybe" -- in which case the Vikings can resume pretending that Jackson can help them contend for the division and make a run at the Super Bowl.
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