Perhaps we’ve been following the wrong quarterback comeback story this offseason.

Lost in the shuffle of Brett Favre’s flirtation with the Vikings and Michael Vick’s reinstatement is that 41-year-old Jeff George may want in on the comeback action too.

Apparently a highlight video of George slinging the pigskin around with incoming University of Illinois freshmen is making the rounds in the NFL and UFL. And Illini coach Ron Zook liked what he saw.

“I coached against him when I was in the National Football League, and he was out there just throwing the ball around and I was like, ‘Holy smokes.’ He looked like he did when I coached against him,” Zook told IlliniHQ.com.  “He was throwing the ball on the money.  He can throw all the balls.  He looks about 25 years old, and I was very impressed with where he is right now.”

Jason Whitlock’s boy hasn’t seen playing time since 2001 despite a handful of gigs since then. Recall that his last stint on an NFL roster lasted just five days with the Raiders in 2006.

Any chance the Vikings set their sights on a different senior citizen? Has Favre’s decision to remain retired again/for now/whatever coupled with the less than savory QB situation in Minnesota caused Brad Childress to change his mind? When Childress was asked about George in 2007, he laughed out loud at the idea and said George should perhaps instead go to a fantasy camp.

Still looking for that video. I keep picturing a mustachioed, mulleted George going all Kenny Powers living with relatives, throwing cinder blocks through new cars and riding a Jet Ski with a topless hooker. Or is Uncle Rico’s football fantasies a more accurate comparison? After all if coach would’ve just put George in for Minnesota, he’d be wearing a Super Bowl ring. No doubt in his mind.

Jeff George workout tape creating a buzz (PFT)