When talks between Brett Favre and the Vikings heated up late last summer, Tavaris Jackson wasn’t pleased. But after a 9-1 start to the season, he’s flipped the switch and taken the team first approach that Minnesota hoped he would when they brought Favre in to be the savior they needed to lead them to the promised land.

Given the fact that Jackson was coming off a reasonably solid season last year that included a trip to the postseason, it makes sense that he would be more than a little upset about a move to bring in a QB that would definitely usurp his starting position. Many players might have even demanded a trade or sulked enough on the sidelines to make themselves a distraction in an effort to force the team’s hand.

But instead of taking that path, Jackson has quietly watched and learned from Favre, enjoying the Vikings tremendous run thus far through their 2009 schedule and crossing each bridge as he comes to it.

Vikings beat writer Sean Jensen recently sat down with Jackson and asked him about the difference between his pre-season and mid-season feelings towards his demotion:

“You always go over all the different scenarios. ‘Oh, this could be a great situation for me,’ ” Jackson said of another NFL club. “But you never know. If it would have happened, I would have welcomed the challenge. But being here, I welcome the challenge. It’s out of my hands.”

“I don’t know what guy would be happy to be a backup, but some situations you have to take advantage of. Not many quarterbacks can say they learned from a hall of fame quarterback. I don’t know how long he’s going to be here. But as long as he’s here and I’m here, I’m going to try to learn as much as possible.”

- Minnesota QB Tavaris Jackson

Even though he still has a lot to prove as an NFL quarterback, comments like those will definitely give the Vikings pause before they choose to move him, as he obviously has matured quite a bit underneath the tutelage of Favre and could become a legitimate starter down the road.

That said, with Sage Rosenfels in the fold as well, Minnesota may feel Jackson is expendable enough to trade him away for a draft pick or a role player in the off-season, so his desire to be in charge of a team again may come sooner rather than later.

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