Tag: Minnesota Vikings (Page 14 of 61)
In rather shocking news, NFL.com’s Michael Lombardi is reporting that the Vikings have waived receiver Randy Moss.
Or maybe it’s not shocking given what transpired following the Vikings’ 28-18 loss to the Patriots on Sunday. Moss essentially called out Brad Childress and the coaching staff for not listening to him more throughout the week while game planning to stop New England’s offense, then he waxed poetically about how much he missed the Patriots, then he didn’t even travel back to Minnesota with his teammates (he reportedly stayed in Boston with his family).
I’d probably waive him too if I were in charge, just so he knew he wasn’t bigger than the team. That said, it’s only been four weeks since the Vikings acquired him for a third round pick and now they’re going to give up on him? I don’t care what he said or how big of a malcontent he is – that’s just not smart. Obviously they knew Moss had a penchant for being a headache and they still felt the need to trade for him in order to revive their dead passing game. But the minute he acted up, they dumped him and essentially sacrificed a third round pick for nothing.
Don’t get this twisted – I’m not defending Moss. He completely disrespected the Vikings and it was embarrassing to watch him campaign for his return to New England just minutes after changing in Minnesota’s locker room. He’s too talented for a team not to pick him up on waivers, but why anyone would want this guy (who obviously hasn’t learned a thing since coming into the league) is beyond me.
After all this, how great would it be if he wound up back in New England? The Patriots trade him to Minnesota for a third round pick and wind up getting him back four weeks later? You can’t make this stuff up. (Although initial reports are that the Dolphins and Seahawks are interested and the Patriots are not.)
The Vikings are a complete and utter mess both on and off the field. Brad Childress has no idea how to handle big personalities like Moss and Brett Favre and will never be competent enough to lead his team to a Super Bowl. Favre has also showed his age and the team just dumped their biggest receiving threat. Unbelievable.
For as banged up as they are, the Packers have a clear shot at the NFC North crown. The Bears are an overrated mess and the Vikings are essentially dead. The second best team in the division may actually be Detroit, which could climb back into the race with a couple of wins. (It’s a long shot I know, but it could happen.)
Even given Moss’s comments after the game, this is pretty surprising. He has always been very moody, even for a prima donna wide receiver. He was targeted two or three times on Sunday and had a chance to make a play when he drew a pass interference penalty on a deep pass down the sideline. Once the flag was thrown, he still could have made an attempt on the ball but didn’t bother to dive.
Moss is too talented to cut in most fantasy leagues, but there’s no telling what the rest of 2010 has in store. Someone will pick him up on waivers, so unless he lands back in New England, he’ll have to learn a new offense and show some effort if he hopes to garner a new contract after the season. All Moss owners can do is wait and see what happens to him this week.
As for the rest of the Minnesota passing game, this is probably going to hurt Percy Harvin, who was flourishing over the middle while Moss was attracting a lot of attention along the sidelines. Harvin may see more targets but will likely be less productive. Visanthe Shiancoe gets a big bump as he becomes the team’s second-most reliable receiver. Greg Camarillo, Bernard Berrian and Greg Lewis should also have an opportunity to shine.
On the whole, this hurts Favre, who has really struggled with Sidney Rice out of the lineup. Rice now becomes the wild card. If he can come back at full strength, there’s a chance that he’ll be able pick up where he left off last season. He’s worth a stash if you have the room. I wouldn’t cut a productive WR to acquire him, however.
I almost choked on my Fruit Loops when I read Randy Moss’ comments to the media after his former team beat his current team on Sunday.
In case you missed what the receiver had to say, here it is (from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune):
Let me hold it down. Alright. I really haven’t had a chance to talk to the guys, so this is no disrespect to the Minnesota Vikings and their organization. The [Patriots] captains, [Vince] Wilfolk, Tommy Boy [Brady], [Jerod] Mayo, Kevin Faulk, man I miss them guys. I miss the team. It was hard for me to come here and play. It’s been an up and down roller coaster emotionally for me all week. And then to be able to come in here and see those guys, running plays and I know what they’re doing, and the success they had on the field, the running game, so I kind of know what type of feeling they have on their locker room.
“I just want to be able to tell the guys, I miss the hell out of them, every last helmet in that locker room. I mean, Deion Branch came up to me after the game. I’ve never had a chance to meet Deion Branch, but it was definitely a pleasure to meet him. Coach [Bill] Belichick, he gave me an opportunity to be a part of something special. That’s something I really take to heart. I actually salute coach Belichick and his team and the success they’ve had before me, during me and after me. So I’m actually stuck for words, just because of the fact that, man, this is just, a lot of memories here. To the New England Patriots fans, that ovation at the end of the game, that really felt heart-warming. I think I actually shedded a tear for that. Like I said, it’s been an emotional roller coaster all week.
Do yourself a favor and read all of his comments – trust me, you won’t be disappointed. He starts off the interview by telling the media that he’s not going to answer any more questions. But since he’ll be fined if he doesn’t speak to them following games, he’ll ask and answer questions himself. He also goes on to say that he tried to help the Vikings win by sharing his knowledge about the Patriots, but they didn’t listen. It’s a hoot.
But back to his comments about the Patriots. Is this, or is this not the same guy that started pouting about his contract in New England earlier this season? And is this, or is this not the same guy who (reportedly) got into it with Brady and a coach in the locker room during a game before he was traded? And is this, or is this not the same guy that dogged it in Oakland when the Raiders were losing week in and week out, yet were paying him handsomely to run half-assed routes?
Right, I thought it was him.
Moss should be embarrassed for what he said and even though he tried to soften the blow for the Vikings (a team that gave up a 3rd round pick to acquire his services), he still disrespected them by dry humping the Patriots for 10 minutes. He doesn’t miss the Patriots – he misses playing for an organization that knows how to win. Do you think that had the Vikings beaten the Patriots on Sunday to get to 5-2 that Moss would be saying how much he misses New England? I sincerely doubt it.
How important is that contract extension now that you’re playing for a loser, Randy? Had you shut your mouth and played out the remainder of your contract, you would have won and then maybe the Patriots would have rewarded you. But now you can rot in Minnesota for all Bill Belichick cares.
Moss wants a contract extension – that’s not going to change. But winning can be just as important and his comments on Sunday prove that.
Brett Favre left the Vikings’ 28-18 loss to the Patriots in the fourth quarter on Sunday after taking a hard hit to his chin/jaw. He was examined on the sidelines and was then carted off the field in the fetal position. (That’s not a stab at Favre, I just don’t know how else to describe the position he was in.)
Tarvaris Jackson replaced Favre and immediately threw a touchdown pass to Naufahu Tahi, then converted a 2-point conversation pass to Percy Harvin to cut New England’s lead to 21-18. Minnesota’s defense then allowed the Patriots to march right up the field and score with under two minutes to play to put the game out of reach.
Despite suffering from ankle, elbow and biceps issues, as well as acne, foot fungus and bad breath, Favre managed to complete 22-of-32 passes for 259 yards before coming out with the laceration on his jaw.
What’s interesting is that his ankle/foot injury never appeared to be a big problem, yet Brad Childress gave the impression throughout the week that Favre may not play. If the decoy was intentional, it was a smart move by Childress because it forced New England to prepare for two different quarterbacks. But because this is Favre and Childress we’re talking about, I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the entire situation was freaking annoying. It basically forced the media to talk about Lord Favre’s consecutive starts streak, which again, was really, really annoying.
It’s been an honor to watch you play, Brett. Now hurry up and retire.
The loss now drops the Vikings to 2-5 and while they’re not completely out of playoff contention, no team has ever made the postseason after starting 2-6. Minnesota hosts a horrendous Arizona team next week, so I’m sure the will-they-or-won’t they, will-he-or-won’t-he torture will continue after the Vikes win next Sunday.
Here’s a shock: there are conflicting reports coming out of Minnesota about Brett Favre.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says that head coach Brad Childress is leaning towards starting Tarvaris Jackson against the Patriots on Sunday. But ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that Childress wants to start Favre (who is dealing with a bum ankle).
While I would normally side with the beat writer who covers the team on a weekly basis (that being Zulgad), I find it hard to believe that a man who has allowed Favre to get away with murder since arriving in Minnesota last year would sit Brett against his will. When push comes to shove, Childress will always submit to Favre so if Brett wants to play, he’s going to play.
That said, if Favre is too injured to play, I wouldn’t be surprised if he handed the ball off to Adrian Peterson on the first play of the game and then pulled himself out to protect his consecutive starts streak. Your majesty will probably hobble off the field and tell the media later that he intended on playing the full game, but re-injured the ankle on the first play.
Either way, the Vikings’ quarterback situation looks bleak for Sunday. If Favre plays, that ankle can’t be in too good of shape to make it through an entire game and there’s a reason Childress sold his soul to bring Brett to Minnesota two years ago. If Favre is too injured to play, will the Vikings keep him active as Jackson’s backup or will he be inactive? If he’s inactive, who would be Jackson’s backup – Bernard Berrian? (Remember that Sage Rosenfels was traded to the Giants earlier in the year.)
It should be an interesting scene in Foxboro come Sunday afternoon.
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