Brett Favre played in the NFL until he was 41 years old. Donovan McNabb said Sunday after reporting to training camp that he plans to exit before Favre did, but then made it clear that won't be anytime soon.
"I feel like I've got five more years left, five or six more years left," said McNabb, who will turn 35 on Nov. 25. "If that puts me at 40, so be it. The whole thing about it is playing at a high level, still competing at this game, and I still feel like I have gas [in the tank]."
If McNabb accomplishes this goal, his career isn't likely to end in Minnesota. The Vikings did not draft quarterback Christian Ponder with the 12th pick in the first round last April to put him on a five-year development plan.
Ponder realizes this but also understands McNabb's outlook.
"Obviously, I think anyone in this league is always trying to be here as long as they can," Ponder said. "Of course that's going to be his mentality. And he's good enough to do that.