The Minneosta Vikings would be insane not to sign Brett Favre if they believe his right arm will be healthy enough to play this season.

They have room under the salary cap and nobody who's better at quarterback, and Favre wants to be here. And, oh yeah, it wouldn't cost them a draft pick or a player.

Other than ESPN annexing Winter Park, where's the downside?

In 2007, the New York Jets were 4-12 without Favre. In 2008, with a healthy Favre completing 71 percent of his passes through the first 11 games, the Jets doubled their victory total to 8-3 by upsetting the undefeated Titans in Tennessee.

A healthy Favre threw 20 touchdown passes in 11 games and made the Jets a much better team. An ailing Favre threw nine interceptions and caused them them go 1-4 down the stretch.

So it seems like an easy call at Winter Park. If the medical staff believes Favre's torn right biceps is easily repairable or will heal soon, Favre joins the Vikings and they become a better team.

If his arm goes kablooey, the Vikings simply return to Plan A, Sage Rosenfels and/or Tarvaris Jackson. If Favre stinks it up after eight to 10 games, there's no John Madden Rule that says the Vikings can't bench or release him altogether. Plenty of Hall of Famers have been released before. Jerry Rice, the greatest receiver in NFL history, was cut when he couldn't make it as a fourth receiver in Denver.

From a purely football IQ perspective, signing a healthy Favre is a no-brainer. He'd be in a West Coast offense that's similar to what he ran in Green Bay. He also would be paired with a great running game and a solid defense, both of which should lessen Favre's desire to take risks with the football.

Yes, Favre throws interceptions. But here's a stat for you: In the 29 games before his arm and shoulder began hurting last season, Favre threw 23 more touchdown passes than interceptions (53-30) and led the Packers to an NFC title game.

One of those touchdown passes perfectly illustrates the savvy playmaking ability a healthy Favre offers that Jackson and Rosenfels don't at this time. It came Sept. 30, 2007, at the Metrodome.

The Packers were facing third-and-7 at the Vikings 16-yard line. Receiver Greg Jennings was split wide right. Tight end Donald Lee was tight right.

The call from the sideline was a pass to the left side. But Favre saw an opening across from Jennings on the right.

With the play clock ticking down, Favre didn't panic. He used a hand signal to let Jennings know he was switching the play to "Dragon."

That told Jennings he'd have to switch his route to a slant pattern. But there was a problem. Lee hadn't seen the hand signal and was about to run a pattern that would have collided with the slant being run by Jennings.

Favre simply ran over to Lee, yelled "Dragon" into the left ear hole of his helmet, ran back and got the ball snapped with the play clock at :01.

Jennings ran the slant pattern. The first window of opportunity to throw the ball closed quickly. Favre waited. Jennings kept slanting toward the goal line.

The second window opened and, as Madden would say, "Bam!" Favre threw it. Jennings caught it. And Dan Marino's career record for touchdown passes fell with Favre's 421st TD.

"It was a perfect read by Brett," Jennings said that day. "But that's what we expect from him. He sees everything on the field."

For this to work in Minnesota, Favre would have to spend time at Winter Park during the offseason. He would need to be there when there's actual football being taught, because his new set of receivers would need to learn ASAP how his mind works on game day in this offense.

Then, perhaps some day, when it's third-and-7 in the red zone and the play clock is almost expired, one of those purple-clad receivers will know to switch his route, sprint past the first window and look for one of those Favre bullets coming through that second window.

Of course, that's only if the Vikings truly believe that 39-year-old gun can be back up and slinging in less than four months.