4
Aug
2010
Brett Favre supposedly retiring again (insert dismissive wanking motion)
UPDATE: Aug 4, 2010 @ 13:10pm
This is probably the last time we’re going to post about this guy until the season starts. Given the media’s hard-on for any sort of Favre-related news, we’re going to be subjected to this kind of random speculation for at least the next month. And we’re just not going to ride that ride again.
So here’s the latest (and last from us), via ESPN.com:
Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday that he has not made any decision about returning to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season and says he will play if healthy.
Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said in a statement to the NFL Network on Wednesday that the quarterback has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews next week and will know more at that time. Andrews performed surgery on Favre’s ankle in May.
If you’re looking for Favre news for the next 5 weeks, just turn on ESPN. Trust us, it will be unavoidable.
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ORIGINAL POST: Aug 3, 2010 @ 13:43pm
So the big sports news today is that Brett Favre reportedly told Vikings teammates and officials that he’s not going to return to Minnesota this season.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune was the first to break the story early this morning, and the sports universe has been all atwitter since:
NFL sources said that Favre began contacting various members of the Vikings on Monday to say he was going to issue a press release Tuesday stating his intention to retire. Favre is not pleased with how his left ankle has responded to surgery in late May.
Of course, this report has now been followed by a statement from head coach Brad Childress that he has not heard from Favre, and is unaware of any decision by the ever-waffling QB. And Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell – one of Favre’s best friends – says he spoke with Favre on Tuesday and he didn’t mention anything about retirement. Either way, you can be assured that the Vikings brass are scrambling tonight to try and persuade Favre to come back for one more Super Bowl run.
Sorry, but we’re not buying any of this for a second. Favre also said he was retiring around this same time last year (on July 28th) and of course ended up joining the team on August 18th. The smart money says that Brett is just making another ploy to get out of training camp, so wake us in a few weeks when this decision may or may not become reality. Until then, we’ll just assume that Favre will be taking snaps in the NFL this season.
Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday that he has not made any decision about returning to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season and says he will play if healthy.
Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said in a statement to the NFL Network on Wednesday that the quarterback has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews next week and will know more at that time. Andrews performed surgery on Favre’s ankle in May.
31
Oct
2009
Brad Childress Halloween Costume Catches Fire!
Thanks to BustedCoverage.com for this one:
Looks like this year’s hottest Halloween costume is noneother than Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress (also known to some as the “Amber Alert” look).
Childress, however, may have done them one better.
Brad has balding, bearded followers! (Source: BustedCoverage.com)
9
Jun
2009
Going for broke in Minnesota
One intriguing crumb of the terminally dumb storyline around Brett Favre’s courting of the Minnesota Vikings: Favre would open the season facing his former coach, Eric Mangini, in the Dawg Pound. (I said “crumb”.)
There’s been a fair amount of speculation that Favre and Mangini (a) didn’t get along; (b) were best friends; (c) aren’t speaking to each other; (d) named children after each other, etc. Some have pointed fingers at Favre for helping to end Mangini’s career with the Jets. Mangini and Favre have taken the high road on this one, both have moved on, and there’s realistically very little drama here.
(I can’t believe I’m dedicating space to the Favre Saga, but…) The Vikings are falling into a boring, seen-from-a-distance trap here.
While Favre superficially thrusts Minnesota onto the map (through increased, yet unearned media exposure [see Dallas Cowboys]), his presence puts a young Vikings team on hold for a year [see 2008 N.Y. Jets].
If you’re head coach Brad Childress, do you have the luxury of time?
Under Childress, the Vikes have finished 6-10, 8-8, and 10-6: that’s solid progression. Childress, today, sits at .500, with 24 career wins and losses. With the (increasingly competitive) NFC North up for grabs, would you latch on to a 19th-year quarterback in this pivotal season?
Childress is looking beyond what most of us know. He grew up in the West Coast offense, influenced heavily by Andy Reid and, by default, Mike Holmgren. These are men who see incredible value in Favre’s ability to engineer the West Coast attack, no matter his age.
Experienced head coaches have been known to gravitate toward end-of-career, wisdom-filled quarterbacks. Moreover, what are the alternatives? Childress may counter the (now annual) Brett backlash by arguing that a 50-year-old Favre is better than the ragtag, wandering motley crew of John David Booty, Sean Glennon, Tarvaris Jackson, and Sage Rosenfels.
Per ESPN, if the 39-year-old Favre doesn’t agree to play for Minnesota by week’s end, the deal could be off. If that happens, there’s been talk (or rumor) that the Vikings might pursure Browns QB Derek Anderson (not recent talk, mind you). If not Anderson, someone else may find their way into the Vikings’ fold.
Bottom line: That Childress is going after Favre, surgery and all, does not suggest confidence in Minnesota’s current state of affairs on offense.
Tarvaris Jackson (7) and John David Booty (4) may need to wait another year to win the hearts and minds of football fans everywhere.
