Favre arrives at Minn. Vikings facility

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre arrived at the team's suburban Minneapolis headquarters Tuesday amid speculation he has decided to play this season.

Favre, accompanied by teammates Ryan Longwell, Jared Allen and Steve Hutchinson, arrived by private jet at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minn., and Longwell drove the signal-caller to the Vikings' nearby Winter Park headquarters, the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported.

About 50 fans gathered on the tarmac to greet Favre as he deplaned, the newspaper said, adding that it was unclear if the team planned a news conference Tuesday to officially announce the 40-year-old quarterback's return.

Kicker Longwell, guard Hutchinson and defensive end Allen went to Hattiesburg, Miss., to urge Favre to return, the report said. He had not made a decision on playing this year due to a slow recovery from May surgery to repair an injured ankle.

The Star Tribune reported two weeks ago Favre had decided not to play in 2010 because the injury was not responding well to treatment and speculated the Vikings may have asked him to take some more time before coming to a final decision.

A year ago this week, Favre ended a second retirement from the NFL to play for the Vikings. He has one year remaining on a two-year contract with Minnesota.