With Brett Favre reportedly hemming and hawing about whether to join the Vikings and with key offensive players on the team reportedly begging Brett to grace them with his presence (it definitely won't be awkward in the huddle if Favre decides not to play), here's a suggestion.

The Vikings should tell Favre to get on his tractor, point it south, and ride until he hits the white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.

And then keep going.

The Vikings don't need him. Apart from the fact that they've got two fairly decent (but not great) quarterbacks on the roster, there's a Plan B.

Or maybe I should call it Plan V.

Mike Vick is expected to be reinstated to participate in training camp and the preseason. Though he's also expected to be suspended for the first four games of the 2009 campaign, he provides much more than a one-year, Hail Mary, quick fix for a coach who knows he needs to get back to the postseason and win a game or two, or else.

Speaking of a coach who needs to get back to the postseason and win a game or two or else (hey, I'm on a minimum word count here), Brad Childress has previously boasted about the "kick-ass" nature of his offense, which has in reality been a sputtering, up-and-down attack that more often helps keep games close in the hopes a late break will result in a win.

The offense was derived from the coach's time in Philly, where he served as the non-play-calling offensive coordinator. The quarterback was Donovan McNabb, a capable blend of runner/passer who made it to the Super Bowl, with Childress not calling the plays.

So given Favre and Vick, which one plays more like McNabb? (If you need more than five seconds to answer, we're happy you have discovered the sport of pro football, and we hope you will learn much about it in the near future.)

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Indeed, Tarvaris Jackson arrived via round two of the first Chillyball draft because of his potential ability to play like McNabb. But Jackson tends to remind people more of Mike Vick — without the explosive, jaw-dropping quickness and acceleration.

So imagine a Childress-style offense featuring Vick, Adrian Peterson, and rookie Percy Harvin. The wideouts might feel a bit neglected but, frankly, they've already been forgotten thanks to a passing game that can't take advantage of the mismatches created by the presence of Peterson.

Of course, Vick likely wouldn't be able to step right in and win the starting job in his first season with the Vikings. But he'd be an ideal change-of-pace Wildcat-style contributor in 2009, with the understanding he'd have a full and fair chance to compete with Sage Rosenfels for the every-down job in 2010.

For 2009, the combination would give defensive coordinators fits.

Already, we're hearing that NFL coaches are concerned about the amount of time being devoted to defending the Wildcat offense, given that it dilutes preparation for the base attack. With Vick running the trendy alternative offense, opposing defenses probably would have to divide their focus each week equally between the two approaches.

Previously, the Vikings have suggested they won't pursue Vick. But owner Zygi Wilf also said in February he wasn't interested in Favre.

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Circumstances change. Just as Favre became an option once the Jets released his rights in April, Vick could be a Viking now that he's out of prison and soon will be reinstated by the league.

While it would be easy to hide behind the notion that the post-Love Boat Vikings are out of the bad boy business, let's remember that they broke the bank — and gave up plenty of draft consideration — for defensive end Jared Allen, a two-time DUI offender. This year, the Vikings drafted Harvin in round one, despite a positive marijuana test in February.

Winning supposedly is the best deodorant. For Brad Childress, the importance of winning sooner rather than later has been more than enough to get him to hold his nose.

When it comes to tracking down a big-name quarterback, Vick's short-term stink eventually could become the sweetest perfume Vikings fans ever have smelled.