In an exclusive interview with NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Hutchinson revealed how the three Vikings came home with Favre in tow.
Vikings QB Brett Favre (above) exits Ryan Longwell's SUV after arriving at team headquarters Tuesday. (Vikings.com/Special to NFL.com)
According to Hutchinson, the Vikings asked him, Allen and Longwell to visit Favre in Mississippi and either bring him back or wish him well in retirement. The trio arrived at Favre's house too late Monday to have a conversation and stayed overnight on the premises. In the morning, Hutchinson said, Favre took everyone on a tour of his property, then the subject of his possible return or retirement was broached.
"We told him how much all the guys loved playing with him and that we would love to do it again," Hutchinson told Eisen. "We also told him that if he didn't want to do it, then congratulations, you deserve it. You've had an incredible career, but we've got to know one way or another."
Hutchinson said Favre then did most of the talking, leaving the seven-time Pro Bowl guard with the impression that the quarterback had pondered his decision for several weeks, if not months. Over the course of two to three hours, broken up over two chats, Favre told Hutchinson, Allen and Longwell how much he loved playing with them and the other Vikings last season and also raved about the "special bond" they instantly formed.
At that point, according to Hutchinson, Favre matter-of-factly said, "OK, let's do it."
"I wish I had some sort of fairy-tale story about the way it all happened, but it really was not a big moment or anything," Hutchinson said.
According to Hutchinson, everyone -- including Favre's wife, Deanna -- then grabbed their belongings and headed to the airport.
Surprisingly, Hutchinson said Favre spoke little about his surgically repaired left ankle and instead focused more on personal reasons about whether or not to play.
When asked if he believed he and his teammates essentially sealed the deal and pushed Favre into coming back, Hutchinson said: "Not really. I mean, nobody can push Brett into anything. I think it was just the first time that some of his teammates came down to visit him (instead of coaches), and it sort of reiterated to him what he felt about playing with all the guys, and he just figured after going through it one more time, 'Let's do it.'"
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Originally Posted by Sea Monkey
