Tag: Minnesota Vikings (Page 9 of 61)

      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

      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

      Brett Favre walks off to locker room with injury

      December 5, 2010 /
      LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings walks off the field at the end of the first half 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)

      Is this the end of Lord Favre?

      During the first quarter of the Vikings’ game with the Bills in Minnesota on Sunday, Favre took a massive hit to his back from Buffalo linebacker Arthur Moats and had to come out of the game. Favre then sat down on the sidelines before walking to the locker room. Tarvaris Jackson entered the game and was immediately cheered by the Metrodome crowd. He threw a long completion to Sidney Rice down the sideline.

      Favre held onto the ball too long and he paid for it, as Moats crushed him and caused the ball to be intercepted. Favre’s return is being called “questionable.”

      Jackson just threw a pick-six, so maybe the crowd will cheer Favre back onto the field.

      Update: Check that, Jackson just threw a touchdown to Rice. So stay out, Brett…

      External Sports, NFL

      Childress says Moss tried to get him fired

      December 3, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 21, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

      In an interview with the Pioneer Press, Brad Childress gives his version of his departure from Minnesota.

      “If you pull a couple of quotes from a locker room, it all gets exacerbated a bit,” Childress said. “By and large, I know the support I had. It’s a good group of guys in that locker room.”

      Regarding Moss, Childress heard late in the process that Moss was lobbying to owner Zygi Wilf for Childress to be fired, but he was already set on waiving him. Childress did not consult with upper management about the move.

      Not every Viking was against parting with Moss.

      “Some players came up to me afterward and said, ‘Coach, we would have been disappointed if you didn’t do something,’ ” Childress said.

      Sure, Childress’s stories are anecdotal and he’s probably overstating the support he had in the locker room, but with the way Moss was reportedly acting, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were several players who understood why Childress put him on waivers.

      Whatever the issues, Childress will receive $5 million total through the 2012 season, which isn’t a bad severance package.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

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