Bus Cook Hints At A Favre Resolution “Maybe In A Couple Of Weeks”

Earlier this week, agent Bus Cook wasn’t talking about reports that the Vikings had temporarily suspended their pursuit of quarterback Brett Favre. But Cook was talking yesterday at a golf tournament in Huntington, West Virginia. And while Cook claims that he doesn’t know what Favre plans to do (yeah, right), Cook hints that an answer could be coming “maybe in a couple of weeks.” Cook also hinted -- strongly -- that Favre’s arm is now healed. “Can he play?” Cook told Doug Smock of the Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette. “Absolutely. He’s still as good as anybody in the business, even at 40 years old. It’s just whether he wants to go play or not.” Technically, it’s also whether the Vikings will pay Favre what Cook wants them to pay -- and also whether Cook can get a team like the Redskins to enter the bidding at the eleventh hour in order to create some leverage. Although, at the end of the day, Favre likely is destined to play for the Vikings, there likely is plenty of push and pull going on behind the scenes regarding the terms of Favre’s likely one-year deal in Minnesota. Our guess is that Cook has asked for $14.65 million, arguing that if Matt Cassel is worth that much for not taking the Patriots to the playoffs, then Favre is worth that much for not taking the Jets there. We originally had thought that the Favre/Cook bottom line would be in the range of $10 million; now that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is averaging $12.25 million over the next two years, look for Cook to aim for that ballpark. And look for the Vikings to come close to that number.