GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre will run out of the Lambeau Field tunnel today wearing purple, and nobody really knows how Green Bay Packers fans will react.

But if the angry buzz generated by the mere appearance of in-stadium video highlights of Favre and the Vikings during the first few Packers home games is any indication, the once-beloved face of the franchise will be booed. Loudly.

The tempest of emotion leading to today's Vikings-Packers game could make for one of the most awkward homecomings in sports history. Favre, perhaps the league's most emotion-driven player, will try to tune it all out.

"The people that have jumped ship or whatever completely, what can I do?" Favre said. "I'm not going to concern myself with it."

Everybody else is ready for some great sports theater.

Joe Montana faced the 49ers as a Chief. Michael Jordan faced the Bulls as a Wizard. Heck, Favre already faced the Packers — and beat them — at his new home, the Metrodome, less than a month ago.

But as Favre returns to the scene of his surreal standoff with the Packers' front office last summer, it's hard to imagine a more intense setting.

Favre has been booed before at Lambeau, something that's bound to happen when you're the NFL's career interceptions leader — even in mild-mannered Green Bay. And that, Favre said, felt "kind of a kick in the stomach."

Bring it on, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen says.

"They might still like Brett, but they're Packer fans," Allen said. "They're going to boo the Minnesota Vikings. It's not going to hurt my feelings. They're not going to make me cry. As a matter of fact, I expect good harsh ripping-on."

REDSKINS

Washington Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels is out for the season, and linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Byron Westbrook are recovering from knee surgery.

The Redskins made the expected move of placing six-time Pro Bowl lineman Samuels on injured reserve yesterday. Samuels has a chronic spinal condition and will decide in a few months whether to return next season or retire.