Tarkenton critical of Favre signing

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Former NFL great Fran Tarkenton says the Brett Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings was "an absolute circus."

Favre came out of retirement Tuesday and signed a one-year contract with the Vikings, but earlier this year, he said he was done with football despite efforts by Minnesota Coach Brad Childress to convince him to continue his illustrious career.

"I really have no interest in what Brett Favre does," Tarkenton, a Hall of Famer, said Wednesday on "The Opening Drive" on Sirius NFL Radio. "(But) It's an absolute circus, and it takes away from all the other things that are going on with the Vikings, with the NFL."

Favre decided to retire following a disappointing end to the 2008 season, when the Jets won just once and went from playoff contender at 8-3 to missing the playoffs completely with a 9-7 record.

He was with Green Bay when he first retired following the 2007 season.