Brett Favre Cheated The Minnesota Vikings

Well, Brett Favre has finally retired. For now.

With the whirlwind he created, I beg the question if he robbed the Minnesota Vikings.

It truly seems Brett Favre was to the Minnesota Vikings as Hurricane Katrina was to New Orleans in 2005.

Favre has left the Vikings in shambles.

Actually, he didn’t ever “land” with Minnesota; he stormed through the organization like a raging tornado and left it as quick as Usain Bolt to deal with the problems.

Toying with the Vikings for the entirety of the postseason is one thing. But to turn your back on them, and announce that he is staying retired is a whole other level. Not to mention he did it just two days before Vikings open up Training Camp.

Talk about waiting until the last minute.

There is no question while Favre was waffling with this decision, the Vikings were preparing for that possibility, including re-working their extensive playbook.

Now Favre has left the Vikings out in the cold.

This game of cat and mouse between the Vikings and future Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre was devastating for the Vikings.

News broke out last week that Minnesota’s top players, including Adrian Peterson, were texting Favre and insisting he should come out of retirement and play for the purple and gold.

This is bad news for Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, huh? It’s probably as bad as it can get.

There is certainly a lot of negativity to center in on in this mess. But let’s take a gander at the positives.

At least the Vikings will be able to zero in on the real quarterback competition for the entire Training Camp.

At the least, this four-month debacle of a situation is finally at its conclusion.

At the least, there is no more doubt in anyone’s mind that Favre could possibly play with the Vikings.

Or did he leave the door open when he said he could be ready to play by Nov. 1? Did anyone realize this is coincidentally a Vikings-Packers game at historic Lambeau Field?

It’s an interesting fixture, but something that I would rather see closed.

Earlier this summer, I stated my excitment about the possible return of Favre. And, although I am truly disappointed in his decision, I am more excited just to know we can move on.

An incredible amount of a team’s success is based off chemistry, more than the average person believes. And for the Vikings, the reigning NFC North Champions and Super Bowl hopefuls, that can’t be any more true.

With the Favre mess behind us for now, Minnesota can look ahead with their talent-filled roster, defending their division championship, and possibly—I say this optimistically—fighting for the Super Bowl.

And the answer to the earlier question: Yes, Brett Favre robbed the Vikings this offseason.

The 2009 Minnesota Vikings: The Man Who Will Make or Break the Season

No, not Adrian Peterson. And no, not that starting quarterback who has yet to be identified.

The Minnesota Vikings have worked, prepared, and established themselves as one of the better teams in the NFC and the NFL for that matter. But there always seems to be one Achilles’ heel that prevents the Vikings from hoisting the Lombardi trophy in the Super Bowl.

For the upcoming 2009 season, the Vikings’ Super Bowl chances seem to hinge on one player.

Rookie and wide receiver—Percy Harvin.

The two-time NCAA Football champion from the University of Florida has the game-breaking potential on both offense and special teams to elicit an NFC Championship for the Minnesota faithful.

Making him the 22^nd pick of this past NFL Draft has been said to be a risk versus reward pick. I believe we have found a much bigger reward in Harvin.

With that said, there are many ways within the X’s and O’s that Percy Harvin can elevate the adequate play that the Vikings have been making a mockery of this past decade.

First of all, we all know that Percy Harvin provides that game-breaking speed that is so rare to find at this level. He can make something out of nothing. Having a speed threat is always a plus; there’s the intimidation factor for opposing teams’ defensive backs and points are scored much quicker. But most importantly, “speed demons” provide a sense of momentum that can’t be found anywhere else on the gridiron.

Percy Harvin brings all three of those qualities to the Minnesota Vikings.

With him, the Vikings will be a defensive nightmare. We could easily see some double teams on Harvin out wide. With that, more and more options open up for Coach Brad Childress. Maybe Bernard Berrian frees up out as the flanker, or Sidney Rice or Bobby Wade in the slot.

But the best possibilities, you ask?

Well, look no further than halfback. Adrian Peterson is ready to attack his third season in the league in full gear. The speed on the edge that Percy Harvin provides will ultimately even help MVP candidate Adrian Peterson elevate his game.

If Harvin can sustain some success in the wailing moments of the season, defensive coordinators will be scratching their heads as if they were aerospace engineers developing new futuristic aircrafts.

This past season, Peterson faced many nine-man fronts—by far more than any other back in the league. If it wasn’t a nine-man box, he was facing eight-man fronts—which is already a fierce battle for a tailback and his offensive line.

But with success out wide with Harvin, the chances the Vikings are confronted with another nine-man front is as likely as Brett Favre actually being done toying with the idea of returning to the NFL. In other words (for the non-sports fan) it’s not going to happen.

For Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin is a godsend. After two completely successful seasons for the Vikings’ run game in 2007 and 2008, Peterson is ready to embark on a second consecutive rushing title, rushing for more than 2,000 yards, and earning the coveted MVP award.

I can’t even imagine what Peterson will be able to do to defenses with only an eight-man box in front of him. The sky will be the limit, or at least the Metrodome ceiling.

So, we can already see the immediate impact that Harvin can have on the running game and his fellow receivers. But we aren’t even close to being done, well, maybe not.

Percy Harvin also has a legitimate shot at initiating big strides in the special teams aspect of the game. In the past few seasons, the Vikings have had dreadful special teams, aside from field goal kicking. After watching their coverage teams the past two seasons, I feel my USC Trojans can do a better job.

No, Harvin will not help the coverage teams. Or, at least, I wouldn’t think so. But he can electrify the Dome in an instance with a shifty punt return to the house. Or an equally exciting play in football—the 100-yard kickoff return for TD. He will definitely bring some smiles to Vikings’ fans that haven’t been evident in years past.

Another reason he is so crucial, and maybe the most obvious; Percy Harvin will help out the quarterback—whoever that may be.

While we don’t know who will be starting for Minnesota in 2009, either Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, or even Brett Favre, Percy will be a major factor in facilitating more options.

But regardless, the Vikings’ quarterback situation is iffy at best. And I’m still not confident—although hopeful—we have the quarterback for a late playoff run.

However, no matter who quarterbacks the Vikes, Percy Harvin will create creases against the defenses. This will definitely ease the job for the starting QB. His speed will create double teams, leaving holes for open wide receivers, and he will simply provide another solid option for the Vikings to look at for the upcoming season.

But lastly, Percy Harvin may even assist in running the offense. This past weekend, the usually conservative-minded Brad Childress finally broke out of his shell and, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, unleashed 30 new plays involving Harvin in the shotgun—all running the Wildcat offense.

With Harvin Having successfully ran the Wildcat in some fashion at the University of Florida, this is what really excited most Vikings fans, including myself. A player who can be utilized in various positions is always a weapon, especially if those include WR, RB, and QB. Just imagine him taking a snap with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Oh my, this could get exciting.

Or Percy Harvin running the option with AD right behind him.

Or Percy running a play-action with AD, and turning up the field for a 40-yard score.

Wow. I can’t wait for this season.

At this time, there can’t be any real accolades or predictions of how Harvin will perform in his rookie year. But, let me tell you; everything is shaping out to be exactly as I hoped.

It all seems like a perfect fit for Percy Harvin in Minnesota. With the off-field work and practices getting done, he just needs to keep on running like the Energizer bunny. If so, the Minnesota Vikings just might be playing in February.

Gosh, I sure hope so.

Enough Is Enough With Michael Vick Critics

No, this is not another nagging article attempting to persuade an audience of Michael Vick’s bad sportsmanship or to prevent him from re-entering the NFL. And no, I’m not an associate of PETA.

I’m just a sports fan. Who likes his sports. And his games. And his players.

And I am over the constant pestering over Michael Vick as he is released from prison and returns back to his Virginia home.

I also believe his 23 month sentence was sufficient for his previous actions. The dog fighting he participated in was both illegal and immoral. And I don’t condone it whatsoever.

But he has served his time.

Now that he is in the home stretch of his sentence—and now in home confinement— serious thoughts about playing football are coming afloat—by both us fans and Vick, himself. Paralleled with that is NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell’s decision on reinstating Vick.

Which ultimately becomes the biggest and most important decision in this whole Vick case.

Many people are arguing he shouldn’t be reinstated because of his crude acts committed years ago.

That’s ridiculous.

If my memory serves me correctly, didn’t Adam “Pac-Man” Jones get reinstated this past offseason? Yes. After repeated instances of weaponry and strip club antics? Yes.

I am a strong believer in second chances. But “second” chances are over after a few. Adam Jones abused that privilege of “second chances” about 12 times. Vick has yet to do that.

He deserves another shot in the League. I believe that he remorsed often in prison and changed his life around, learning what is right and what is wrong.

Sometimes it’s even more meaningful to go through something like a two-year hiatus, learn from mistakes, and grow emotionally.

Even though I have never met Mike Vick, I can guarantee he went through some kind of emotional and remorseful mediation process to get his head in the right place.

But I will need to see Vick come out publicly. He needs to apologize for his heinous acts once more. And truly and genuinely convey his sorrow and apologetic personality. Maybe even work in the public eye against dog fighting in the future.

Back to the playing field, Mike Vick is an athlete with skills that most of us probably have forgotten to a degree. Do you remember, in 2006, Vick was the first QB to rush for over 1,000 yards? Yea, pretty unreal.

And it is with my whole heart that I hope Vick will get a chance to play for a club this season in the NFL. Whether it be starting in September or sitting back for a year or two to learn the offense again, he deserves a shot to show his uniquely rare skill set.

Yes, he hit a big bump a few years ago. And yes, it was a major speed bump. But now he has spent the time of punishment and has equally paid for what he did.

If the world is right, it should be a clean slate for Vick; and a whole new venture in the NFL.

As a sports fan, I cannot wait. 

This article was orginially published on The Purple Trojan

Brian Wagner is a Minnesota Vikings staff writer at Most Valuable Network.

A True Vikings Fan’s Outlook on Brett Favre

The Favre saga just will not go away…

This past February, when Favre announced his retirement, I predicted that we would be seeing more of his name across news media later in the offseason.

Well, here it is. And here we are. The looming questions on Brett Favre discussing the possibility of returning to the NFL—three years after originally thinking of retiring from the league—have re-surfaced from the depths.

After being released from the New York Jets last week—after they drafted QB Mark Sanchez from USC—Favre is on the market. And the only team he is looking at is the Purple and Gold, the Minnesota Vikings. The team he hated more than anything for 16 years of his NFL career is now his “Dream Team.”

As a true Vikings fan since birth—my dad propped a Fran Tarkenton jersey on my chest at just two months old—I have bled for the Purple and Gold.

Once I could understand football and the basics of the game, I learned to despise the Green Bay Packers. And the guy most synonymous with the Packers all my life? You guessed it. Brett Favre.

The image of No. 4 was engraved into my mind at an early age. We hated him. We wanted him to fail. Although I respected him as a player, he was my family’s most hated player in the National Football League. Hands down. Why, though?

Maybe it was his ease of winning. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was the fact he would always win in under 40-degree weather. Or maybe it was simply the fact that he was the quarterback, the leader, the icon, of my most hated team.

As simple as it is, let’s be honest. That’s probably it. Players are greatly defined by the colors they wear on Sundays. I love Adrian Peterson because he’s a Viking. I hate Jay Cutler because he’s a Bear. I love Percy Harvin (now) because he’s a Viking. I hate Calvin Johnson because he’s a Lion.

The same goes with Brett Favre. Even though I regard him as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, and I greatly respect him, I hate him at the same time.

But back to the present.

Today, the most important information on the ongoing situation arose. Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings coaches and front office personnel will be meeting this week to discuss the future.

My stomach dropped when I saw this on ESPN.com.

But when you look at it deeper, though, it seems to be the most perfect fit for everyone involved.

Even me.

The Vikings are a team “built to win now” and in need of a quarterback that can do more than just “manage” the game, but instead play well—and throw 30 balls per game—in taking some pressure off of Adrian Peterson and their deadly running game.

Brett Favre is a quarterback who still has the desire to play. Still has the juice to play. And has the adrenaline to play against the Green Bay Packers, a team that now is a bad seed in Favre’s eyes.

Favre knows that going to the Vikings, he is going into a situation that can only be profitable. Going to the playoffs is almost a guarantee and the Super Bowl reach is now as easy as a baby reaching for his pacifier.

My thoughts on Favre are quickly changing.

He has energy unique to NFL quarterbacks, not to mention amazing arm strength and accuracy. Maybe I do like where this is going? Hmm.

I knew this offseason was going to be just like the last three. Brett Favre starring in his own soap opera by going back and forth on retiring. Not to mention, the media constantly overlooking the entire situation.

After a brief three-month hold-out, Favre is back in the news. Originally, I was fed up with the whole situation. But I seem to be coming around. Like a true sports fan.

My adolescent fandome that always hated on Favre is quickly leaving my mind, as I begin to look for the future. The vision of Favre in Purple is clearing up day by day.

It has taken a lot of time, but the true Viking is soon to open his arms and welcome No. 4 to the Metrodome. (And No. 4 is not referenced to the current No. 4, John David Booty.)

My true fandom to the Minnesota Vikings takes allegiance over my personal hatred on Favre. Even though he is only good for a year, maybe two at the most, the potential the Vikings can reach is unimaginable. It only excites me.

Yesterday, I hated Brett Favre because he was a Packer (and Jet). Today, I begin my admiration for him. Simply because he could be a Viking.

This story is a true testament to the power of teams in the NFL. You love and hate with that as the foundation.

My most hated athlete in any sports and in the entire world joining forces with my most favorite team in the entire world is now sounding like a good combination. Really?

It sure is a tricky one to follow.

2009 NFL Mock Draft (1-10)

1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Matt Stafford may not be the No. 1 player on Detroit’s Big Board, but they can’t go another year without a leader on the field. Stafford is the pick. Now they look to build around him.

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010