ESPN Radio’s Freddie Coleman says Vikings fans can stop trying to decide whether they’d like to see future Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre wearing his trademarked number four in purple and gold this fall.

“Forget it, boys and girls,” he says. “It’s not going to happen.” During his Friday night GameNight broadcast Coleman says there are three teams Favre could end up with – and the Vikings aren’t one of them. It’d be too painful for the organization to deal with Favre coming out of the Lambeau Field tunnel with Minnesota, he claims.

Actually, Coleman insists that because of salary cap issues and the roster turnover that would be required by most teams to fit him under the cap it is most likely that Favre remains a Packer. But if a trade does happen – and his release is highly unlikely, Coleman says – three teams make the most sense.

* Tampa Bay: While Jon Gruden collects quarterbacks, “nobody on [Tampa’s current roster] their best day is better than Favre on his worst day,” Coleman says. While that is debatable at this point, Tampa did win the NFC South last season and does have a solid defense and improving, young offensive line. There might be some merit to this, as Favre also has a long-standing relationship with Gruden.

* Baltimore: This was one of my early favorites as Kyle Boller is a stiff and Joe Flacco could use a true veteran to learn from for a year or two. Coleman claims that the defense will not be as mediocre as it was last year because “Ray Lewis will start throwing guys around the locker room if that happens.”  While I still think this is a possibility, Favre is likely to want to go to a Super Bowl contender, if possible, and I see the Ravens as a team showing its age. Combine that with its schedule and the Ravens, in my opinion, are a long-shot for the playoffs.

* Carolina: Given Jake Delhomme’s injury issues, this one makes some sense too. John Fox needs to win now
and Favre at best provides an upgrade and at worst is better insurance than Matt Moore against Delhomme’s injury issues. Steve Smith would certainly benefit as would young running back Jonathan Stewart and wideouts DJ Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad. “If you are open Favre will find you as a receiver and your name does not have to be Steve Smith,” Coleman says.

Coleman often blathers on and on without really saying much. But his analysis of the Favre situation was interesting. In all likelihood he’s probably right that Favre doesn’t end up in the NFC North unless he stays in Green Bay. But this remains the most interesting NFL soap opera in a long time. There are few scenarios that would surprise me anymore.