Tag: Minnesota Vikings (Page 11 of 61)

      The Packers continue to be better off with Rodgers

      November 21, 2010 /
      ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers passes during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 27, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

      I’ll admit that it’s awfully convenient to write a “Packers are better off with Aaron Rodgers” piece when Rodgers throws for 301 yards and four touchdowns while Brett Favre plays like elephant dung. But I’ve always felt that the Packers were unfairly criticized by some fans for the way Favre was ushered out of Green Bay and I’m not going to shy away from an opportunity to note that they handled things correctly in that situation.

      Favre forced himself out of Green Bay – not the other way around. He told the Packers that he wanted to retire and when he started to change his mind, members of Green Bay’s front office met with him to say that they would welcome him back with open arms. It wasn’t until he told them for the second time that he would retire that they decided to back Rodgers and move on. He got his feelings hurt, requested a trade and after one bad season in New York, he’s now in Minnesota.

      Well guess what? The Packers were better off then and they’re better off now.

      I thought for sure that Sunday would be the day where we would see some of that old Favre magic and he would put it all together to beat his old team. But he stunk up the joint instead. He was inaccurate with his throws, he overthrew open receivers and he could be seen refusing to talk with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the sidelines (which isn’t unlike Favre to take an it’s-my-way-or-the-highway approach with his coaches).

      Rodgers, on the other hand, was brilliant. He started slow, but eventually he was shredding Minnesota’s suspect secondary. It helped that the Vikings’ pass rush was once again non-existent, but it didn’t matter. The Vikings weren’t going to beat Rodgers on Sunday. He was the best player on the field – for either team.

      Had the Packers bowed to Favre a couple of years ago and allowed him to dictate their quarterback situation, maybe they would be the ones in complete disarray right now like the Vikings are. Maybe they’d be the ones sitting at 3-7 and without a clue on what they’ll do at quarterback next year.

      Instead, they’re set at the position. Rodgers has yet to win a Super Bowl or even a playoff game, but it’s clear that he has the talent to be elite. It’s clear that he’s the future of the NFL and because of him, the Packers will remain Super Bowl contenders the rest of the year.

      As for the Vikings, they’re done – as is Favre. The Packers backed the right horse a couple of years ago.

      External Sports, NFL

      It’s time for Vikings to bench Brett Favre

      November 21, 2010 /

      MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

      It’s time, Minnesota.

      Bench Brett Favre. At 3-7, there’s really no reason to keep playing him and he’s shown time and time again that he’s only about himself. Bench him and move on.

      Favre isn’t coming back in 2011 and why would the Vikings want him to? It’s time to see what they have in Tarvaris Jackson because he may be around past this year. Favre won’t.

      Favre’s effort in the Vikings’ 31-3 loss to the Packers on Sunday was pathetic. His final stat line (17-of-38 for 208 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT) would be fine if he were a rookie, but he’s a veteran with plenty of motivation to beat his former team and maybe get his team back on track in the second half. Instead, he was highly inaccurate, he missed open receivers and he was shown refusing to talk with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the sidelines. Grow up, Brett.

      Brad Childress won’t (nor shouldn’t) be back next year. But he needs to play Jackson. It doesn’t matter that Favre is a proud veteran because he’s brutal right now. If he weren’t a legend he may have been benched weeks ago. Jackson may not be the answer but it’s hard to argue that Favre gives the Vikings their best chance to win now. And seeing as how he won’t be a part of their future, it’s time to move on.

      Hey, the Vikings took their shot last year and they came up a little short. They went back to the well this year and now realize that it’s bone dry. So regroup. They still have Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen. They’re not in complete disarray but they need a quarterback. Can Jackson be their man? How will they know if Favre continues to start?

      The season is over. If Favre doesn’t want to go to the bench, then cut him. It’s time to look towards the future.

      External Sports, NFL

      Could Bill Parcells wind up with the Vikings next?

      November 19, 2010 /
      Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells at training camp at the Marriott Residence Inn in Oxnard, Calif. on Monday, August 9, 2004 Photo via Newscom

      You knew that somebody, somewhere was going to cast a line for the Big Tuna as soon as he escaped Miami.

      Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune speculates that the Vikings may be interested in Bill Parcells as soon as they fire Brad Childress if they decide to part ways with Brad Childress at the end of the year.

      A reporter from the Palm Beach Post saw an advance copy of the NFL Network film about Bill Parcells that will debut tonight. In it Parcells makes it clear that at the age of 69 he isn’t ready to ride off into the sunset.

      “Get me back out there,” Parcells says. “I can do this one more time. That’s how I feel.”

      Well, isn’t that interesting. Parcells most recently worked as a consultant for the Miami Dolphins and last coached in 2006 with the Dallas Cowboys. He is best remembered, however, for winning two Super Bowls as coach of the New York Giants.

      That is the same organization that Zygi Wilf has a huge fan of before he bought the Vikings in 2005. Already many have connected the dots that Wilf might be interested in bringing Parcells to Minnesota.

      Zulgad goes on to note that Wilf has been more than satisfied with the job president of player personnel Rick Spielman and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have done. Thus, it’s not even certain that Wilf would want to bring in Parcells. But there’s no doubt it’s an interesting thought.

      True-blue Giants fans love themselves some Parcells. The man can do no wrong and if Wilf still bleeds “Big Blue,” then he’s going to have at least a faint interest in hiring Parcells (especially after Childress gets done making a mess of everything this season).

      Will everything come together? Who knows – again, this is just speculation on Zulgad’s part. There needs to be more to this than, “Wilf was a Giants fan so surely he’ll be interested in Parcells.” But it’s not difficult to connect the dots here.

      External Sports, NFL

      Vikings’ Sidney Rice may not return in 2010

      November 17, 2010 /
      Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice celebrates as he walks off the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys in their NFC Divisional Playoff at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis on January 17, 2010. The Vikings won 34-3. UPI/Brian Kersey

      According to Vikings’ beat writers Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, there’s a good chance that Sidney Rice won’t play again in 2010.

      Rice had offseason hip surgery and decided not to play in Week 10 against the Bears. There’s some belief that Rice and agent Drew Rosenhaus won’t risk further injury in what is quickly becoming a lost season for the Vikings. Rice becomes a free agent after the year and Rosenhaus may want to use his 2009 stats as a selling point, so if the receiver gets hurt again then Rosenhaus loses his leverage.

      Brad Childress maintains that it’s up to Rice as to whether or not the receiver will return this season. The Vikings’ roster exemption for Rice ends on November 24, which means he’ll either need to be activated or go on injured reserve. Chances are if he doesn’t play this Sunday, the latter is more likely.

      One would think that Rice would be eager to get back on the field to help his team, but if he gets hurt again then he’s going to have to settle for whatever contract a team wants to give him next offseason. It’s easy for fans to say that he should go out and play, but money is a factor here. It’s hard to judge Rice without being in his shoes.

      External Sports, NFL

      Brett Favre plays poorly, so of course there’s injury news to report

      November 15, 2010 /

      Whenever Brett Favre loses there always seems to be injury news that surfaces either directly following the game or a day after.

      ESPN.com is reporting that Favre will contact Dr. James Andrews about the pain he’s having in his right shoulder. The fear, apparently, is that the pain stems from a 2008 surgery that Favre had to repair his biceps tendon. As usual, his playing status for this week is up in the air.

      I’m not one to call for someone’s retirement. If Lord Favre wants to play until he’s 97 then he holds the right to do so. And if a team still thinks he can play at a starter’s level, then by all means – lace ‘em up, Brett.

      But every week there’s a new injury to go along with his poor play on the field. I’m sure there was a report in some dark corner of the internet, but I don’t recall him suffering from anything last week when he rallied the Vikings from two touchdowns down late in the fourth quarter to beat the Cardinals in overtime. But sure enough, a day after he throws three picks in a lousy effort against the Bears, he’s getting an MRI on some part of his anatomy.

      With all that has transpired this season (Jenn Sterger, injuries, losing), it might be a good time for Favre to start his retirement tour. I’ve enjoyed watching him play throughout the years, but he’s turned into one big punch line after another. Maybe it’s time to call it a day.

      Of course, now that I write that, you know he’s going to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns against the Packers this Sunday in Minnesota. Then the Brett Favre media cycle from hell will start again.

      “He can still play this game! It’s amazing what he can do at his age! Look at him – he sure has fun out there, doesn’t he?”

      News, NFL

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