Yochen, the Viking fan, in the early 1940s while stationed in California.

I think of my father often. He was a Renaissance man, a philosopher, a comedian, a dad. He made me do things that I didn’t want to do. He always encouraged me to follow my instincts and dreams. He died way too early.

Today I reprise a column I wrote about him months ago. I do so because it is Father’s Day – a time to remember, reflect and honor all those fathers who have tried their best to give their sons and daughters a better place in which to live.

As you read this, I hope you, too, understand the importance of all the fathers in this world.

Happy Father’s Day to you, Yochen. I miss you and will see you soon.

Yochen, the Vikings fan

My Dad, Richard Rivard, was affectionately known by family and friends as Yochen … Don’t ask me how or why … That’s just the way it was.
His love of the Minnesota Vikings could be viewed the same way … Nobody was really sure how or why. Living in western Wisconsin, his most ready explanation was through a question: Why should he support a team that was 200-plus miles away when he could jump in the car and be at a game in Minnesota in no time?
He had a logistical point there, but in my mind one constructed through convenience, not time-honored loyalty.
“Green Bush” is what he called the Packers with a smile.
You see, to me, I always felt he became a Vikings fan in the early 1960s because he wanted to be different. Everyone else was a Packers fan.
Though he would only ascribe his loyalties to the purple and gold, we all knew he had a soft spot for the Packers, especially when they won. He was not only around when the Packers were winning championships in the late 1920s and early 1930s, but he of course was pleased to see them win under Vince Lombardi in the 1960s (after all, the Vikings were a fledgling franchise at that point).
When the Pack came roaring back in the mid-1990s, he no doubt could see the greatness of those teams as well.
But he did have good reason to be a fan of the division rival to the west. He was always a big fan of Fran Tarkenton … Even cheering for him when he played those years in New York. I remember well 1969 when we attended a preseason game at the old Metropolitan Stadium and Tarkenton, then with the Giants, threw the ball all over the yard, mostly to Homer Jones … Much to the pleasure of Yochen.
When Tarkenton came back to Minnesota and led them to all those NFC championships in the mid-1970s, Yochen was ecstatic … And heartbroken when the team could never win a Super Bowl.
Nevertheless, he was a fan because … well, frankly, the Vikings were one of the best-run franchises for many years. Yochen knew excellence and appreciated it when he saw it. Clearly, the Packers could have learned a lot from the Vikings during the 1970s and 1980s. Year-in year-out the Vikings were contenders. For the Packers, winning was a distant memory.
Yochen died in May 1999, but it was on an early fall day just a few months after he left us that I felt his smile and laugh the strongest.
It was one of those clear, cool and crisp fall days – the type that Yochen would spend puttering around the yard on some needed project awaiting the start of the ball game.
This particular day also happened to be one when the Vikings invaded Lambeau Field.
The Packers, a shadow of their championship stature of just a couple of years prior, were still a threat to win … You see, the Packers had this guy named Brett Favre … One of those Packers players Yochen had come to appreciate.
It was one of those back and forth epic struggles between two teams that knew one another so well … It came down to the final minute. It was one of those games you knew Yochen would have loved … One of those that no matter the outcome, he would have greeted it with a “Wow! Holy cow! Can you believe that?!?”
I could hear his spirit yelling just as the Vikings went ahead with just seconds left in the game.
But the Packers had Brett Favre.
And in true fashion, the future hall of famer led the Pack downfield. As the clock wound down inside 20 seconds Favre hit Corey Bradford on a seam route for the winning score … Maybe you remember that game.
It was one that Yochen certainly would have appreciated.
I could hear and see him:  ”sonofabitch,” he would have said. Not out of disgust or anger … He more than likely would have been wearing that smile … Incredulous.
That’s who he was … Yes, he was an admitted Vikings fan, but more than anything he was just a fan … Happy to have been there and to have witnessed it.
Don’t ask me how or why … That’s just the way it was.

As the lockout nears its end and the start of training camp looms, I thought it a good time to search YouTube for some video from last year’s season.

As a matter of practice I don’t like watching too many highlight films during the offseason, but given this is a championship season I can’t help but burn up the YouTube files.

That’s why I’m posting this video from Truthseeker … This covers weeks six, seven and eight of the season just to whet your appetite … Enjoy the action … It’s a part of a season we will not soon forget …

Percy Harvin came out in support of the Vikings of the idea that the Vikings entertain the thought of pursuing a contract with Plaxico Burress. Raymond T. Rivard

This is just way too tempting to resist.

As if the Minnesota Vikings veterans haven’t learned their lesson from the Brett Favre saga … now they move on to another retread veteran to boost them to a Super Bowl … Plaxico Burress.

With Vikings veterans chiming in this week … a topic today of our colleague Dan Zinski’s over at The Viking Age … it seems the players in Minnesota are chiming in with a chorus of “yeah mans” to their wants and needs to get former inmate Plaxico Burris into their camp. (more…)

Brett Favre leaves Lambeau Field for the last time last October after the Packers defeated the Vikings. The loss was one last season that helped define the spiraling demise of a franchise. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This week, Fansided Minnesota Vikings blogger Dan Zinski of The Viking Age reported his concern over the unstable status of that franchise and why recent developments could indicate that the Vikings’ 50-year tenure in the land of 10,000 lakes is in danger.
Zinski wrote in his blog this week:

“If billionaire Philip Anschutz has his way, Los Angeles will soon have a new NFL team. That team could end up being the Vikings.
“Tim Leiweke, president of the dreaded AEG, has confirmed Anschutz’s interest in purchasing majority stake in an existing franchise, with an eye toward installing that team in AEG’s proposed Farmers Field. Speaking to the Orange County Register, Leiweke named the five teams on his and Mr. Anschutz’s list of targets: Minnesota, St. Louis, Oakland, Jacksonville and San Diego.” (more…)

(more…)

NFL fans only want to be able to watch the players they love, not imposters. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The lockout and the possibility of a standoff between players and management well into this year’s training camps and maybe into the season raises some interesting questions: Number one being, what the hell do we do if there is no season? (more…)

Brad Childress - ex Vikings Coach

For the second time in 3 weeks, and after a loss to the Green Bay Packers, an NFL Head Coach has been fired.

The first was of course Wade Phillips, former Dallas Cowboys head coach immediately following the defeat that was handed to them Nov 7th at Lambeau.

This time it’s Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings head coach and play caller.  I think everyone knew it was bound to happen.  He’s made more mistakes this year than the average NFL head coach makes in a career.  First, bringing back Brett Favre and giving him a huge $20MM salary. Then signing NFL “problem child” Randy Moss for 4 short weeks, then releasing him and throwing away a 4th round draft pick. (more…)

After the exciting blowout win by the Packers over the Jets…o.k. so 9-0 isn’t a blowout but it sure as hell was a lot of fun to watch the Jets squirm like they did, I realized that this team isn’t bad.  They just make bad mistakes at the worst of times.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the up and coming QB’s in this league and it’s no wonder the team can stay in stride with their opposition but they have to be more consistent.  Sure, the loss of Ryan Grant early in the season and for the season really took a bite out of the offense, but good teams overcome bad injuries.  It appears that maybe, just maybe, the Green Bay Packers are finding a way to overcome theirs. (more…)

I for one believed for a second.  But then I realized this is Brett Favre we’re talking about, the most notorious flip-flopper, waffler, whatever you want to call him.  He’ll play when he wants.

Now FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer is reporting that Favre could join the Vikings in the near future:

If I were a betting man, I’d swear Brett Favre would be joining the Vikings in the next few weeks, or at least attempt to join the team in that time frame.

Glazer isn’t using reports from inside sources to make this prediction; he’s going straight to the players, talking to them to get their two cents on the subject.  And they seem to think it’s a “when” situation instead of an “if” scenario.

Glazer uses four things to gauge his speculation: “acceptance within the team that it’s pretty much already done”; “Favre has not closed the door on his decision”; “best available option”; “Favre hates camp.”

“I’m telling you it’s already done,” said one Viking. “Right after the Indy game (first preseason game). I don’t think anyone here doesn’t think that.”

Another Viking said, “I don’t know if it’s done, but I think he’ll be in by the third preseason game.”

If the players on the team are talking like that, the possiblities of having Favre suit up in the purple and gold look pretty likely.  Everyone knows that training camp is the last thing Favre wants to be involved in at this point in his career, and the Vikings will probably pursue him if they do not get what they feel they need out of Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, which is probably that they don’t think either one of them can take them to a Super Bowl while they feel Favre could.

The possibilities there.  All that’s left is to wait (again).

Of course, as how everything with Favre has been, time will tell.

Remember, get your daily updates from Lombardi Ave through its RSS Feed here and follow @LombardiAve on Twitter here!

Chicago Bears
The Bears brought in a franchise quarterback during the offseason in Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos in a massive trade.  The Bears now have a face to the franchise on offense to go with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on defense.  Although I said that Bears receivers are bad a few posts ago (a statement I still stand behind), Cutler makes them a bit better, while the presence of Cutler takes the pressure of Matt Forte and the running game.  So would you throw Vick in this mix?

The Bears already have one gimmick player on offense in Devin Hester.  Hester is the main decoy on many plays and the Bears love to use his vertical speed to stretch the defense and give the coordinators headaches.  Adding Vick would give the Bears two potentially explosive players on offense at the same time.  Putting Vick into the offense without a full offseason and training camp to get everything to work between him and Hester would be a burden for Cutler, who’s learning a new system, and the offense in general.

Also, owner Jerry Angelo and head coach Lovie Smith are classy guys.  While I think Vick should be allowed back in the league as soon as commissioner Roger Goodell can approve of him and I don’t think he’s a threat to society, Angelo and Smith would want to avoid any backlash.  Vick could really work in Chicago, but I feel that Angelo and Smith wouldn’t run the risk of the backlash and something going wrong.

Detroit Lions
It doesn’t seem like things can get any worse for the Detroit Lions.  With last year’s debacle, there is really nowhere for the Lions to go but up.  With Matthew Stafford and revamped linebacking corps, there is hope in Detroit for a few wins here or there.  But would Vick be a fit in Detroit?

The first thing you have to look at his playmakers.  Who are the Lions playmakers?  Stafford isn’t even the starter yet, as he’s behind Daunte Culpepper.  Kevin Smith guaranteed the playoffs this year for Detroit and he does give them a steady option at running back, but he’s nothing too special yet.  Calvin Johnson is the closest thing the Lions have to a star player.  After Johnson, there’s a mess with Keary Colbert, Ronald Curry, Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and rookie Derrick Williams.  Those guys are all going for the spots behind Calvin Johnson.  Is there room for Vick in here?  I’d say yes.

The Lions could definitely use Vick’s playmaking ability.  However, Stafford is the quarterback of the future and coach Jim Schwartz wants to use Culpepper as the stop gap.  Vick would be relegated to a Wildcat role and basically be a gimmick player.

Image-wise, the Lions can’t really get that much lower after the 0-16 season.  Getting Vick would show that they are serious about making an attempt to get better.  But then again, they might look as a risk for getting their reputation dumbed down even more.  They could use his talent, but will stay hands off, as there is enough work to do on that team already.

Green Bay Packers
First off, I don’t see Vick in a Green Bay Packer uniform.  Sure, if he was more of a traditional quarterback, I could definitely see Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy run the risk and sign him to back up Aaron Rodgers if Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn can’t improve.  But the fact that Vick is all over the place with his play, I don’t see it happening.  Vick could also serve the purpose of a Wildcat in the Packers offense, but the team has been prolific enough the last few years that they should (and will) stay with what works.

Also, I can’t see Vick meshing too well in Green Bay.  He’s done his time and deserves to be back in, but Green Bay doesn’t seem to be the town to take him.  This is a big year for the Packers, so anything to upset the balance could gain the ire of the stockholders, which the team does not want.

Minnesota Vikings
Finally, the Minnesota Vikings.  There are three reasons why I think the Vikings are the least likely to land Vick in the division: 1) Brett Favre; 2) Percy Harvin; 3) Tarvaris Jackson.

Favre.  Right now, the Vikings are waiting for Favre to notify Brad Childress and the team whether or not he will be returning to football and joining the Vikings on July 30 (or sooner).  If the Vikings get Favre, it can give them a quarterback that can hand off to Adrian Peterson and get the ball down the field and make plays if necessary.  No need for Vick there.

Harvin.  Harvin fills the role of Minnesota’s Wildcat.  He can run with the ball, he can catch the ball, and the Vikings have had him throwing in practice.  If he can do all that, why do they need Vick?  Plus, they’re waiting on Favre; why wait on Vick too?

Jackson.  The Vikings have been dealing with the mobile quarterback with shoddy decision making over the past few years with T-Jack.  Vick is an exponentially better version of Tarvaris, but do the Vikings and their fans really want to go through this ordeal all over again?  I don’t think so.  Small chance of Vick in Viking purple.

Lions, Bears, Packers, Vikings.  That’s the order (from most likely to least likely) of teams in the NFC North going after one Michael Vick.

Follow @LombardiAve on Twitter or subscribe and get daily updates from Lombardi Ave here.

No.

Brett Favre.

I was doing some investigating for a Jackson tribute post comparing Jackson’s song titles to players and teams in the NFL. For example, the song “Bad” was matched up with the Detroit Lions because the Lions were, well, bad (“horrendous” is my word choice, but MJ doesn’t have a song called “Horrendous”). Favre was on that list in it’s infancy under the song “Circus Girl” (more on that later). I was looking for more songs. And every song I looked at reminded me of Favre. Am I serious? Yes, I am. Favre parallels the Jackson song titles quite well. Almost too well…

“Bad” – Originally for the Lions, this aptly describes Favre play for the New York Jets down the stretch in 2008. And hopefully it will describe is play in 2009 for the Minnesota Vikings.
“Circus Girl” – The circus follows Favre everywhere. Originally this was usually applied to ESPN’s tendency to be on their knees 24/7 for Favre, but the circus tent has gotten bigger as NFL Network has joined in (Scott Hanson staking out Favre’s plane was just too much). Also, many people think Favre is a girl. Something that his intense waffling and teary-eyed “retirement press conference” exuded.

“Cry” – Just watch this video. Self-explanatory.

“Dangerous” – Favre with the ball. He’d burn the defense deep or burn his offense with a pick. Either way, danger was imminent.

“Dirty Diana” – For all intensive purposes, I’m calling this one “Dirty Deanna” as it has been suggested that Deanna Favre is the one that has a problem with Ted Thompson and that she is the one driving him to come back.

“Don’t Walk Away” – What legions of fans told Favre to do.

“Fly Away” – I feel this one suits Brett the Jet. He flew away to the Big Apple, but as the season ended, I think all he wanted to do was “Fly Away.”

“For All Time” – Favre is an all-time quarterback. He’ll still be a Packer for all-time in most people’s eyes.

“Give In To Me” – Favre wanted the Packers to give in to him and give him his job back last summer. Thompson didn’t blink and Aaron Rodgers is the Packers new franchise quarterback.

“History” – So much history around Favre in all his records. Touchdowns, yards, interceptions, it’s all there. Not to mention he played on the hallowed tundra of Lambeau Field.

“Invincible” – Favre thought he was indeed invincible and his play showed it. Consecutive games streak. You need to be nearly invincible to do that.

“Money” – According to multiple sources, money and a contract is the only thing between Favre and Minnesota purple.

“Morphine” – A low blow here, but we all know how much Favre loved his painkillers…

“Never Can Say Goodbye” – I don’t think he will ever be able to say goodbye to the game. He’ll be on the sidelines in a hospital bed asking Brad Childress to put him in.

“One More Chance” – For Brett, one more chance to play in New York has turned into one more chance to play in Minnesota. God only knows how many chances he’ll have before he’s done.

“They Don’t Care About Us” – I’d guess that’s how Brett and Deanna felt after supposedly being forced out of Green Bay by Ted Thompson. Of course Brett, the whole world’s against you.

“Thriller” – I’m sure most of you scrolled down to this one on the list first. Favre was an entertainer. He was a thriller. His game was to thrill you with the touchdowns and then kill you with the interceptions. But damn, watching some of those games were some of the most thrilling experiences a fan could have watching football. It’s one of the reasons that people still want to watch him. He’s a thriller, hands down.

So what do you all out there have? Comment with your Favre connections to MJ songs. 80 points for whoever can come up with one for “Superfly Sister.”

After a monologue by Buck and some small-talk between the two of them, Buck gets started right of the bat:

Buck: Do you plan on playing in the NFL next year?

“Um, maybe. (audience laughs and claps.) I am considering it.”

Well that’s everything we already knew.  For the last five-to-eight years, Favre’s whole career has been one big “maybe.”  Are you returning next year?  “Maybe.”  Are you retired?  “Maybe.”  It’s a word we’re all used to hearing coming out of his mouth.  But for those of you who would lost interest right away, Favre does not do a good job of keeping that maybe fresh in your mind.

Buck: You’ll have in Minnesota something you haven’t had in your career, a running back that’s a superstar? Great defense, a line, a lot to like with the Vikings.

“…But in that situation, knowing what is expected of you, knowing your team, knowing as long as we can run the ball, and complete passes when needed, we should be pretty good.”

The maybe is now nullified.  He’s coming back people.  The kicker is that he uses the pronoun “we.”  He’s not even part of the team yet and he’s already talking as if he’s on the team.  If there’s some Packers fans who have their heads so far up where the sun don’t shine, they need to take them out and look and believe: Favre will be a Viking.  It’s not what Packers fans want, but it’s what’s happening, and the Packers defense will have to gameplan accordingly.  Right here, the interview could be over as what we expected him to avoid, is right out there in the open now.

But he still had some more things to talk about during the 10-minute interview.  He talked his arm, the golden chariot of his career.  The main thing that has to be 100% for him to come back is that arm.  If the surgery works and he feels good, he’ll suit up in purple and gold next year.  If it doesn’t, he won’t.  Or at least that’s what he says.  I’d say that even if he doesn’t feel 100%, he still gives it a go.  That’s been his attitude his whole career and I don’t see him changing it now for one or two more years.  Additionally, Favre said that Vikings coach Brad Childress did not impose a deadline on Favre to attend OTAs.  Gotta love ESPN right there.  Favre said that Childress wanted him up there to be with the team and check out the team at OTAs and not participate, but Favre declined, citing a media circus as the main reason he didn’t attend.  Hmm.  I thought he loved those.

Next, Buck brought up Fran Tarkenton‘s recent comments on Favre before dropping the question a lot of people had bouncing around in their heads:

Buck: Do you worry about tarnishing your legacy in the league by retiring twice and coming back twice?

“I think the 16 years I spent in Green Bay speaks for itself.”

“I’m trying my best not to fuel the fire, even though I am. This is the first time I’ve spoken…”

“I’ve had so many people tell me, one in particular, Coach [John] Madden, that, it’s simple yet true: When you’re gone and you’re away from this game, you can’t go back. Maybe as a coach you can, but you just can’t go back.”

That’s the response we were pretty much expecting.  To me, his legacy is tarnished as I will never think about him in the same way again.  Instead of Super Bowl XXXI coming to mind, seeing him on NFL Network arriving in Green Bay and New York will stand out.  And obviously him in purple will standout as well.  I’m sure time will change some of that, but for now, it’s safe to say his legacy is tarnished in the fact it will be hard for people to think the same way about him again.  But as a player, it’s still there.  He’s got the touchdown passes.  He’s got the yards.  He’s got those interceptions too.  The last quote confuses me a bit, but I feel like he’s saying he never really walked away from the game, even though he “walked away” twice, one time tearfully, one time not so tearfully.  So if he never actually left, is he still coming back?

Now he goes for somewhat of a jugular on Packers fans:

Buck: Your legacy in Green Bay? Run on to field in Lambeau with a purple 4 on your chest. That’s a knee to the gut of the people of Green Bay.

“I don’t know what to tell them. Vince Lombardi went to the Washington Redskins when he left. And his name’s on the trophy. We give that trophy out every year. I don’t hear too many people say, ‘That damn traitor. He went to Washington.’”

JSOnline writer Greg Bedard fired back for all Packers fans via Twitter (@Greg_A_Bedard):

Favre invoked Lombardi going to the Redskins to explain how he’s not tarnishing his legacy in GB. Uh, that ain’t the Vikings.
about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck

And there it is.  Big difference in going to Washington instead of Minnesota.  The Redskins at that time were not on the cusp of a Super Bowl.  It was more of a rebuilding project than anything for Lombardi.  It wasn’t, “I’m going to go win a Super Bowl and stick it to Green Bay.”  It was more, “I’ve accomplished everything I need to here, time to move on.”  Totally different from Favre, in my view.

And their final exchange:

Buck said there was time for one more question. Something about the fishbowl of Green Bay compared to living in New York  … ?

“As I got older I cared a lot less about what was going on outside of football. I went to meetings. I went to practice, I came home, me and my youngest daughter, we’d go over to the stadium in Green Bay, we’d ride scooters around the concourse and no one was there. It was great. I would go huntin’ come back, go to the stadium. I mean, I’d do it all over again.”

“And I’m at a place where I’m at peace.”

I want to ride a scooter around Lambeau Field.  But that’s besides the point.  Favre sounds serious about what he’s going to do and what he wants to do, and he’s going to do it.  It’s time to start looking at him like Brett Favre, opponent, not Brett Favre, back-stabbing ex-quarterback.  And when November 1 rolls around, we’ll be ready to boo.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert has his five questions he would ask Favre at the interview.  The highlight (or the “bomb” question as we like to call it):

A conspiracy theorist could conclude you’re at the end of a remarkable manipulation to get from Green Bay to Minnesota against the Packers’ wishes and despite a “poison pill” inserted into trade language last summer. The plan would include announcing your retirement in February and then quietly asking for your release after the New York Jets drafted your replacement. Try talking us out of that one.

Seifert opened up the comments for the readers to give some of their questions.  And there are some good ones.

From melliot74:

Would you please just go away?

JamesIII012:

6. Why do i read about you?
7. What are the chances of you having a good second half of the season?
8. Are [you] certified to fit me for a pair of Wranglers?
9. Do you care that you have permanently tarnished you legacy?
10. Not a question but you will get pwned this year and i gurantee it

cranksandbeans:

1) Will you be chartering a sex boat to win over your new team mates?

2) How many more playoff intecep… uh, I mean runs do you think you have left in you?

pjacobsen699:

3. Is the high you are feeling from the constant manipulation of your idolators on par with 3 Budweisers and 1 Vicodin, or more like 3 Vics and a 12-pack?

I think it’s safe to say that the masses are through with this story and just want it to end.  Unfortunately, it’ll just keep going.  Now, the five questions I would ask Favre:

1. What is going through your head with all of this?

2. Do you feel a team is stronger if they have a great back like Adrian Peterson and (less than) decent wide receivers like Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice?  Or do you feel that a team is stronger with great wide receivers like Donald Driver and Greg Jennings and a decent running back like Ryan Grant was during the 2007 season?

3. What is the exact source of your ill-will towards Ted Thompson?  The drafting of Aaron Rodgers to be your successor?  Not acquiring Randy Moss?  Or what?

4. What are your thoughts on Aaron Rodgers, NFL quarterback, not Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre’s successor?

5. If you run out onto Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 1, 2009 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, what thoughts will be running through your mind?  What will your feelings towards the fans of Green Bay be?

Bonus question: What if this doesn’t work out?  At all?

There we have my questions.  Feel free to chime in with your own.

Again on JSOnline, Michael Hunt has a great piece highlighting the last year and how Favre’s actions this year have made him look like one of the most egotistical athletes of all time.

Remember how he flew into Green Bay last summer in one of the most egocentric stunts ever pulled by a professional athlete. Remember how it was his intention all along to play for the Vikings after his first retirement. And remember how he began to distance himself from his teammates by dressing in a private chamber, away from the locker room.

If Favre wants to play for the Vikings because they have a scary good defense and a freak-of-nature running back, and if he truly believes he can somehow stay within himself to become that final piece to get them to the Super Bowl, then more power to him.

But if his driving motivation is to stick it to Ted Thompson, such an impulse would be misplaced and pathetic beyond reason, sort of like the way Warren Spahn ended his Hall of Fame career in New York and San Francisco.

Either way, should Favre decide to further risk his dignity and legacy by dragging himself back on the field with Minnesota, he would do so without the heroic illusions that accompanied his 16 seasons in Green Bay. And there would be the good in crossing over, because if anyone didn’t know it by now, these are just guys, most of whom don’t play for altruistic reasons.

It’s a great piece.  Head on over to read the whole thing.

Because of instantaneous new media, such as Twitter, we’re able to get a constant view on things that are going on.  Take NFL Networks Scott Hanson‘s (@hansonscott) latest tweets from today:

Back in good ol Hattiesburg. Might have a Brett Favre update later. To quote [Brad] Childress, “stay tuned”…
about 8 hours ago from mobile web

Waiting at the airport for Favre to take a private jet to NY for his Joe Buck interview. If we catch his departure, you’ll c on NFLN.
about 6 hours ago from web

They are fueling up the jet we think Favre will be on. First video of Brett post-op soon… we hope.
about 4 hours ago from web

Jet has been fired up on for over an hour… no Favre. (maybe changed mind?) ha – that would re-define irony.
about 2 hours ago from mobile web

And we have a Favre sighting. Got in the jet and just took off 10 sec ago. How’d he look?
27 minutes ago from mobile web

how’d he look? watch NFL Network and find out. (and check out his right hand/arm.)
24 minutes ago from mobile web

In my humble opinion, this is just insane.  Of course, we all want to know what is going on with Favre as soon as we can, but putting the “Favre-arazzi” out there to Tweet is every move is a little over the top.  I feel NFL Network is so much stronger than ESPN, but this is an ESPN-like move right here, to film the flight’s departure from Hattiesburg.  And it’s not even like he’s going to Minnesota to meet with Childress and Zygi Wilf.  He’s meeting with Joe Buck.

The Joe Buck angle is another interesting aspect of this scenario.  How will Buck interview him?  According to sources, the interview is supposed to “revolve around the celebrity status of pro athletes.”  I doubt that will last.  I have never seen Buck give a one-on-one interview such as this, so I have no idea how he will deal with Favre.  If definitely will not be like Favre and Greta Van Susteren last year, and I doubt it will approach the Alex Rodriguez and Peter Gammons lovefest that came after the New York Yankees star’s steroid admittance.  If it was an ESPN interview, we would definitely expect that, as all the ESPN personalities have reputations for being on their knees for Favre making any interview on ESPN for Favre impossible to take seriously.  But for Buck, this is different.  If he conducts a smooth interview and does not cater to Favre’s ego and asks Favre the tough questions, I will have a whole new respect for him.  If he peters out as the interview continues, he will fall down the list of my respected broadcasters.  Buck’s reputation could be as much as stake as Favre’s.  After all, he will have to broadcast a Packers-Vikings game this year for Fox.

So there we have.  Five hours and twenty minutes until interview time.  Let’s see what happens.

Favre would be right at home under the big top right now.  By himself with all the attention, of course.

“He has the necessary belief in his team to make bold changes and make them pay off. Last year, he dumped Brett Favre for Aaron Rodgers. This season, he moves his defense to a 3-4 scheme. He always is looking for ways to make the team better.”

If the Packers had not finished 6-10 last year, McCarthy would be a top 10 coach.  The team would also not be switching to a 3-4 defense, but that is a moot point.  Fact is, McCarthy is a much better coach than the 6-10 record and the 16th ranking indicate.  He gets the best out of his players in games and he handled the Favre saga extremely well for a young head coach.  Granted, the Packers did struggle last year which is the main reason for his low ranking, but he is much better than that ranking indicates.

The only NFC North coach ranked above McCarthy was the Minnesota Vikings Brad Childress at No. 11:

“The team has gotten better every year under his watch, and last season he got the Vikings to the playoffs without a viable quarterback.”

Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears was ranked at No. 20 while new Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was ranked at No. 27.  New England‘s Bill Belichick was first overall.

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress has imposed a deadline of this week for Brett Favre to decide whether he will be the team’s quarterback for the upcoming season, according to two sources.

Favre, however, is apparently reluctant to commit to playing a 19th NFL season without first being more confident the arthroscopic surgery performed recently on his throwing shoulder has succeeded in eliminating all of the problems related to a torn biceps tendon.

The big question is whether or not the Vikings will stick to the deadline.  Favre recently had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder and is reportedly rehabbing to get back into football shape.  The surgery was pretty recent so it remains to be seen whether or not he will know where he is when the deadline comes and passes.

I don’t the Vikings will stick to the deadline.  It will come and go with Favre making no comment and then the Vikings saying they are not interested in him, but when push comes to shove in early t0 mid-July and Favre keeps talking comeback, the Vikes will let him back in the competition with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.  And John David Booty‘s there too.  I don’t think the Vikings will be able to resist him.

Word on the street is that if the shoulder requires major surgery, he will not return. If it doesn’t require surgery, he will return. However, according to Greg Bedard of JS Online, there are some major problems with Favre’s shoulder that could hurt his chances of a come back:

But there is a palpable fear around Favre that there is a more serious injury to the shoulder. One source said, “If you put your finger in (Favre’s) shoulder it goes right through. That’s not a good sign. There’s a reason why he hasn’t picked up a football yet.”

The fear, according to two sources, is that one of three other injuries will be found: additional damage to the rotator cuff; that the biceps tendon has come out of its groove possibly by a rupture in the sheath that surrounds it; or that there is cartilage damage in the shoulder.

Any of the three would likely end Favre’s latest comeback attempt.

The Viking Age’s reaction:

Ew.

I’m not sure Favre realizes that Zygi Wilf and Brad Childress aren’t going to take a chance on damaged goods. If they see Favre’s shoulder like this, they aren’t going to jeopardize a roster spot and team chemistry just so Favre can have one last hurrah and try to stick it to Ted Thompson. What’s the point of having a quarterback that can’t throw the deep ball when that’s the only thing you brought him in for?

TVA also puts another theory out there: Deanna Favre. Apparently the Favre family “likes watching Favre play” and has a “loathing” for Thompson. So now Favre is trying to appease his family? The amount of angles on this story are infinite. Can it just be September 13 already?

Of all the FanSided.com sites, the Atlanta Falcons blog, Blogging Dirty, had the most direct opinion on Favre. It speaks not of a Packers fan being alienated by Favre, but a football fan. Favre is leaving football fans everywhere in an uncomfortable lurch on whether or not this man is worthy of their respect after the stunts he has pulled in the last few years. SideLion Report, everyone’s favorite Detroit Lions blog, also has the cautionary tales of Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, and O.J. Simpson (no, not one involving a white Bronco) to consider when making his decision. Although it might be too late for that.

There isn’t much else to say, besides the fact that Favre will probably change his mind, either tomorrow, or in August.

Even more absurd, Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, apparently doesn’t even know anything about the Vikings and Favre’s talks.  According to this USA Today article, Cook had no knowledge of Favre’s desire to return.  This is incredible hard to believe for the man who pushed for Favre’s return in 2008 and successfully orchestrated Jay Cutler‘s trade from the Denver Broncos to the Chicago Bears had no idea of his star clients desires.  From the article:

Brett Favre’s agent James “Bus” Cook says that the quarterback is not reconsidering his second retirement in as many offseasons.
Cook told USA TODAY Wednesday that, after speaking with Favre late Tuesday, “As far as I know, he is retired.”

When asked about ESPN reports on Tuesday that the iconic quarterback plans to sit down this week with Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress to discuss a comeback following February retirement from the New York Jets, Cook said emphatically, “To my knowledge, that is not true.”

But it is difficult to know for sure with the indecisive Favre, who began changing his mind about his March 2008 retirement from the Green Bay Packers around this time last spring.

“As far as I know he is retired and he’s not told me he’s changed his mind,” Cook said Wednesday morning. “I’m on the golf course (Tuesday) and my phone was blowing up with all these messages.

“I said what in the world is all this stuff about Brett coming back?

“I talked to Brett yesterday. I said, ‘What’s all this about?’ He said, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know where that’s coming from.’”

“I would think the first order of business would be that Brett would tell me, ‘Bus, I want to play again.’ That hasn’t happened.”

That’s pretty unprofessional of Cook not to know that.  He isn’t my favorite person ever, but come on, can you be that stupid not to know what’s going on?

Also, Shaquille O’Neal has tweeted his opinion on the whole ordeal:

Hey brett favre, dnt retire bro, retire when I retire in 4 yrs, and o yea I will sack u , keep playin You are legend

I already put my opinion on the state of tweeting yesterday with Nick Barnett‘s post, so I won’t get on that again.  Although I’m not sure what O’Neal means when he says, “o yea I will sack u.”  Probably take care of that ruptured biceps tendon.

Over at Pacman Jonesin, they examine Favre’s vocabulary and how a key word isn’t present in it.  I totally agree with this sentiment as well.  Inside the Iggles says that everyone should be fearless of Favre.  They pose the question, “Why should anyone fear a bitter 40-year-old with a messed up shoulder?”  Good point.

 The one thing I’m really wondering about this is how much more absurd this can get.  We’ll have to wait and see.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of the former Packers and Jets quarterback renouncing his retirement from the NFL to play the 2009 season with the Vikings, according to a source with direct knowledge of discussions between the two parties.

We all knew this was coming, and I touched on it in the last post. However, some of the stipulations to Vikings have on Favre are interesting. Number one, they want Favre in camp and in the offseason programs, something that he hadn’t even been doing during his last years in Green Bay. Number two, an “undisclosed location.” Really Chilly? That just sends this whole situation into a new realm of the absurd.

This year, the idea of Favre in Minnesota is actually real.  But instead of getting a guy with some childish enthusiasm that New York got last year, the Vikings will be left with a bitter old man with a bum shoulder on his last legs.