Tag: Brett Favre (Page 6 of 64)

      Assessing blame for Tarvaris Jackson’s lack of development

      December 16, 2010 /
      GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 14: Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 14, 2008 in Glendale, Arizona. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 35-14. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

      To the 12 people that watched the Vikings-Giants game on Monday night, it was apparent that Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t grown as a quarterback. Granted, he hasn’t had much time to grow while watching Brett Favre play over the last two years, but he’s been in the league since 2006 and yet you would swear he’s still a rookie.

      The Vikings placed quarterback Jackson on injured reserve Thursday with turf toe, effectively ending his season and most likely his tenure in Minnesota. Brad Childress wanted a “diamond in the rough” when he selected Jackson with the last pick in the second round of the ‘06 NFL Draft and he got one in Jackson, although he never wound up polishing it.

      Part of the blame for that falls on Childress, who was too busy chasing Brett Favre on his ranch in Mississippi to develop the former small school product. Or maybe Childress knew that Jackson was a mistake and that’s why he took painstaking measures to ensure Lord Fave would grace Minnesota with his presence. Either way, somebody failed Jackson along the way.

      The former Alabama State product was projected to go in the later rounds of the ’06 draft but as we all know, projections mean very little. The truth is that other teams wanted Jackson that year too but the Vikings were the ones who got aggressive in the end. Hindsight is always 20/20 and while many people thought it was a reach to take Jackson in the second round, the bottom line is that Childress wasn’t the only one who saw a raw but talented athlete.

      The draft is littered with success stories about quarterbacks who weren’t taken in the top 10. Tom Brady is one – Drew Brees is another. Jackson didn’t play against top competition while at Alabama State but that’s not the only mark of a college quarterback. Given the right amount of time and coaching, there were plenty of people who thought they could turn Jackson into a bona fide NFL starter and Childress was one of them.

      Alas, it didn’t happen. Maybe Jackson just needs a change of scenery and a coach who won’t spend all of his time sucking face with a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Some players take a long time to develop and maybe that fits Jackson.

      Or maybe he’ll never develop. After all, the draft is littered with plenty of those cases, too.

      External Sports, NFL

      Brett Favre’s streak expected to end tonight – does anyone care?

      December 13, 2010 /
      FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 31: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the sideline in the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

      As we get closer to kickoff for the Giants-Vikings game on Monday night, it appears as though Brett Favre’s consecutive game streak will end.

      And you know what? I truly don’t care.

      That sounds harsh given how long this streak has gone on. It started back on September 27 of 1992 and has lasted 297 games. We may never see another quarterback even sniff that number and that’s a testament to how gritty a performer Favre has been over the years.

      But again, I couldn’t care less. Cal Ripken’s streak is more impressive to me because of the man he was. It’s much easier to string together consecutive starts in baseball because the game is so much less violent on your body. But give me Cal’s streak over Lord Favre’s any day.

      I could be totally off base here, but I firmly believe that Favre wanted out of Green Bay. I think he was bored and wanted a new challenge and I think he always wanted to play for Minnesota. It made a great story, him coming back to Green Bay as a player that was wronged. But I never bought it and I’m sure neither do guys like GM Ted Thompson, who tried his best to keep Favre a Packer but eventually made the right decision to move on with Aaron Rodgers.

      The media is partially to blame for the way I feel. Had they not saturated the sports market with so many Favre headlines over the years, maybe I would have felt less inclined to write a piece like this. But he only fueled the fire by giving opened-ended comments to direct questions about his yearly and weekly playing status. He wanted to remain in the spotlight and congratulations to him – he did. But he’s paying a price with people like me (I can’t be the only one who feels as though his actions have taken most of the luster out of this achievement), who don’t care whether he suits up Monday night or not.

      Even now, hours before kickoff we wait for Brett’s answer. I’m tired of it. I don’t care if he plays and I don’t care if the streak continues. Maybe once he finally does retire and we’re not exposed to daily updates on his health and/or retirement status, I’ll begin to appreciate what he’s done because it truly is magnificent.

      But as of right now, I can honestly say I don’t care.

      External Sports, NFL

      If it’s not about keeping Favre’s streak alive, why play him?

      December 10, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings is assisted by medical staff against the Buffalo Bills defense at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      Leslie Frazier said something on Friday that has me scratching my head. (It’s not lice – I’m clean.)

      He said that he wouldn’t play Brett Favre for just one snap or one series to keep his consecutive games streak alive. He said, “I wouldn’t do that. We wouldn’t do that. And I can tell you Brett wouldn’t want it that way. I can tell you this: If we decide to play Brett, it’s with the mindset that he’ll play the game, and play well.”

      Frazier went on to say that he doubts whether Favre would play through the “tremendous pain” he suffers when he starts his throwing motion. Yet we’ve seen this all before. Brett can barely stand up on Friday, but he starts on Sunday. Brett is in too much pain to even tie his shoelaces on Saturday, but he’s in uniform and under center on Sunday.

      My question is, why play him if he’s not even close to 100%? I realize he’s never healthy and he’s played through injuries countless times before, but is the 2010 version of Brett Favre at 60% better than a fully healthy Tarvaris Jackson? Even the staunchest Favre supporters and harshest Jackson critics can’t say yes to that, can they?

      I believe Frazier when he says that he wouldn’t play Favre to keep his consecutive starts streak alive. But I have a hard time understanding why Frazier still believes that Favre gives the Vikings their best chance of winning. He’s compiled a 69.6 QB rating this season and has thrown 18 interceptions to just 10 touchdowns. While he’s still completing over 60 percent of his passes (60.4%), the Vikings are converting just 35.76 percent of their third down opportunities and have a turnover margin of –0.9.

      Granted, I understand those last two stats aren’t all Favre’s fault. But he’s the quarterback. He’s what makes the offense go and if he can’t keep drives alive and is failing to protect the ball, then get him out of there. Furthermore, if his health is factoring into his shoddy decision-making, then playing him makes little sense.

      I realize Jackson isn’t the answer and his receivers bailed him out on a couple of bad throws in last week’s win over the Bills. But at least he’s healthy, mobile and hungry. Two of those descriptions don’t fit Favre and I’m starting to wonder if the third one does either.

      External Sports, NFL

      Sterger may go public with photos of Favre’s junk

      December 7, 2010 /
      FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 31: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings walks off the field after a missed opportunity against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

      Straight out of the “Does anyone really care anymore?” files, the Huffington Post is reporting that Jenn Sterger might reveal the photos that Brett Favre sent her of his junk if the NFL does not punish the Vikings’ quarterback.

      TMZ reported on Monday that Sterger’s manager, Phil Reese, said his client provided enough evidence to prove there was harassment.

      “No matter what happens Jenn has all legal remedies, including going public … if the NFL doesn’t clear her name,” Reese reportedly said.

      The NFL started its investigation of the alleged sexting scandal in October. Favre admitted to sending voicemails to the former TV host, but denied sending inappropriate photos.

      Allison Torres, a friend of Sterger, reportedly said she was there when Sterger received the pictures.

      Couple of things here:

      1. Nobody wants to see Favre’s wrinkled junk mail.

      2. Didn’t Deadspin already show the photos? Unless she has photos of him smiling and giving the camera a thumbs-up while holding his crotchel region, then what more is there to show?

      And whom does she think she is trying to press the NFL into a corner? They’re not going to bow to her whims and do whatever she asks. They’re the NFL for cryin’ out loud.

      She’s got four weeks to try and further her career with this story before Favre retires and then nobody officially cares anymore.

      External Sports, NFL

      Why on earth would the Vikings continue to play Favre?

      December 5, 2010 /
      LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings sits ont the bench between offensive series against the Washington Redskins at FedExField November 28, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Vikings won the game 17-13. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

      Following the Vikings’ 38-14 win over the Bills on Sunday, interim coach Leslie Frazier told the media that Brett Favre (despite being replaced by Tarvaris Jackson in the first quarter after suffering a shoulder injury) would remain Minnesota’s starting quarterback if healthy.

      My only question is: Why? If you’re the Vikings, why would you play Brett Favre for the rest of the season? If you’re Leslie Frazier and you’re trying to earn a full-time coaching job, why would you play Favre?

      Look, you know Lord Favre is going to say that he’s healthy enough to play next week. The guy hasn’t missed a start in his entire career. If his arm was hanging out of the socket and he only had one foot left, he would play. So you know he’s going to force Frazier to make a decision about who to start next week.

      But Favre hasn’t been the same since he threw that interception in the NFC Championship Game last year. He’s been downright brutal at times and he’s a walking mess in terms of injuries. In other words, stick a fork in him because he’s done.

      If Favre was even an average quarterback at this point and signed through next season, I could see continuing to play him. But not at this point. He has zero future in Minnesota and who’s to say that Jackson doesn’t give the Vikings their best chance to win right now anyway? He threw three interceptions on Sunday, but he also completed 15-of-22 passes for two touchdowns and compiled an 85.0 QB rating. That’s not bad for a quarterback who never plays. Plus, he may be on the roster next year – Favre won’t.

      If Frazier is hoping to rattle off four in a row to finish the year 9-7 and sneak into the playoffs, then he needs a reality check. Especially if he believes Favre is the man to accomplish that unrealistic feat.

      External Sports, NFL

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