One player is getting a second chance, and another is getting a second chance… again.

Quarterbacks Michael Vick, who was held in federal prison at Leavenworth for 23 months on dogfighting charges, and Brett Favre, who retired, then unretired, then retired and unretired yet again, have found NFL suitors.

Favre, who decided to stay retired prior to the start of training camp, has since changed his mind and is reportedly signing with the Minnesota Vikings pending a physical.

Vick, on the other hand, has been reinstated in the NFL and signed Aug. 13 with the Philadelphia Eagles, a move that sparked a great deal of outrage from members of PETA and other animal rights organizations and sparked several crude comments from fans regarding Vick’s history with dogfighting, including “Hide your beagle, Vick’s an Eagle.”

As a Vikings fan, I’m excited to see if Favre still has anything left in the tank to get the Vikes over the hump and into the Super Bowl. The good thing for Favre is, with all-star running back Adrian Peterson in the backfield and a tenacious defense, he won’t have to make a lot of big plays to be successful-he just has to manage the game.

However, questions about Favre’s arm, which was surgically repaired during the offseason, may hinder his performance as the season wears on.

You have to feel bad for backup quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, who were set to battle for the top quarterback spot prior to Favre’s return. However, having seen Jackson’s development during the past few years, another year on the bench couldn’t hurt.

As for Vick, I’m glad NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is giving him a second chance, and I hope fans will do the same. The acts he committed were heinous, but he has paid his time, admitted wrongdoing and is now working hard to repair his tarnished reputation and teach people about the ills of animal cruelty.

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy is also mentoring Vick during his recovery and return to the limelight, so I don’t see him repeating his offenses any time soon.

The fact is, the return of these quarterbacks can only be good for the NFL. Favre’s return gives him a chance to end his career at the top, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. Vick’s return gives him a chance to pay off his massive debt, become a new man and give some new excitement to a team that is in desperate need of an X-Factor.

Worst case scenario: Favre blows his arm and Vick relapses to his dogfighting ways. Either way, it’ll be an interesting year in football.