Critical Comments From Green Bay? I’ll Take My Chances With No. 4

I haven’t written any articles for awhile, mostly due to my involvement around Vikings training camp and learning the media side of the NFL.

Now that training camp has subsided in Mankato and the Favre media frenzy has passed, articles and comments from around the national media and on Bleacherreport.com have lit a fire under me.

Media members have seemed to automatically slip the Vikings to third in the NFC North, most notably Sirius NFL Radio host Adam Schein, since the signing of quarterback Brett Favre this off-season.

Then again, I’ve learned to deal with these sort of comments that seem pretty out there to me.

These people say the Vikings can’t win until they bring in a consistent quarterback and when they do, they say it is not the right guy and the team will be penalized for it the upcoming season.

Although they seem to get under my skin, comments from national media are not the reason I am writing this article.

The comments that did came from right over the border in Cheese Land.

I knew the Favre-bashing would come the first few days after his signing from Packer fans, and I can’t blame them too much. This was the guy that took their team to the last Lombardi Trophy and was the face of the franchise for more than a decade.

But now they are getting to be too much.

Sports radio, television, blog, forums; you name it, Packer fans are giving their two cents on why Brett Favre is comparable to Satan himself.

Well now, it’s my turn.

During Favre’s retirement and unretirement in Green Bay after the 2007 season, the part that will never leave my mind is General Manager Ted Thompson making sure Favre never entered the Packers facility when training camp was about to open.

I also remember Favre’s family commenting on the organization during this time, saying that it seemed Brett had always been under the pressure to end his time so the young Aaron Rodgers could start a new era in Green Bay.

While I did meet my share of Favre followers who couldn’t let go of their hero, I heard a majority of fans saying they were ready for Rodgers to take over, supporting the organization’s decision of telling Brett that his time was up.

Now, after one season of seeing their former quarterback in a different jersey and conference while also watching Rodgers play sufficiently for the most part, Favre has done the unthinkable and signed with the Vikings, even undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder to enable him.

And Packer fans from all over are saying that what Brett is doing is terrible, a crime even, and that he will never be liked again.

But wait, weren’t these the fans that though it was right to move on without Brett because he had already retired?

Weren’t these the fans that said he should stay at home in Hattiesburg, Miss.. on his lawnmower?

Yeah, those ones.

Well, now they see what the one-time Packer has went to. A team that is No. 1 at stopping the run and the best running back in the NFL right behind him when he is under center.

Yeah, I guess you have a right to be angry, only please admit it’s out of frustration.

Most of you wanted him gone, and you got your wish behind Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. 

Here’s to payback in week four at the Metrodome.

Go get ’em, Brett.

Report: Vikings Trainer Visits Favre, Surgery Was “Complete Success”

Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Vikings trainer Eric Surgarman visited retired quarterback Brett Favre in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Wednesday, the second visit this offseason.

Sugarman paid a visit to Favre back in June after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder to show him some stretches that would help his arm heal successfully.

According to an unnamed Vikings source, the surgery performed around seven weeks ago was considered a “complete success.”

This is the just the latest information that points to a second annual Brett Favre unretirement. Many believe that the biggest surprise would be if he decides to not return to the NFL and simply stays retired.

There are only a few events that could happen to stop Favre from signing with the purple. One would be both sides disagreeing on a contract. However, this seems to be unlikely to me due to how much Favre has done to get to this point. He underwent surgery and has been rehabbing to make sure his arm is 100 percent.

The report that there is already a contract agreement in place seems to be likely, pending the health of the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

The second and unlikely event would be Favre changing his mind and deciding to stay retired for whatever reason.

Like the contract, it seems that this also won’t be the case because of the work and effort he has done to come this far.

Get ready Vikings country, you’re about to get one of the best in the biz.

Report: Brett Favre Puts Deposit on Minnesota Condo

According to a report by Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, retired quarterback Brett Favre and his wife Deanna have put a $30,000 deposit down on a condominium in Edina, Minn., close to the Minnesota Vikings’ team facilities.

It seems we who have been following Favre this offseason get a bit at a time, and this is the latest that makes us believe that we will see the future Hall of Fame quarterback leading the Vikings offense this season.

Vikings single game tickets will go on sale July 20, so if Favre does become a Viking, it would most likely happen before that date, as the team would want to sell those tickets fast.

Bus Cook, Favre’s agent, will likely be busy this week after his former client Steve McNair was tragically killed this past weekend in an apparent homicide that took place in Nashville, Tenn.

So if we rule out this week and anytime after July 20, next week would be the best bet to put your money on an official Favre-to-Vikings announcement.

Stay tuned for the next clue, purple country.

Former NFL QB Steve McNair Found Dead

News Channel 5 in Nashville is reporting that long-time Titans quarterback, and one-time Raven, Steve McNair has died due to a gunshot would to the head.

Early reports are that the gunshot would was the result of a double homicide.

McNair was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1995 and played for the Oilers/Titans until 2005 when he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He played two seasons in Baltimore before retiring.

According to the report, the incident took place near 2nd South and Lea Ave. in downtown Nashville.

More details will be released later.

 

Confirmed: Favre Looking for Twin Cities Home

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, it is indeed true that retired quarterback Brett Favre, or at least a someone from his camp, is looking for a place to live in the Twin Cities area.

There had been rumors floating around local and national media that Favre had already bought or leased a home in the Edina, Minn. area and those weren’t too far off.

This is just the latest confirmation that points to a Favre return to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings.

Around a week ago, WCCO’s Mark Rosen confirmed that Favre had a deal in place with the Vikings and that he would be at the team’s training camp that starts at the end of July.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com had guessed at a Favre signing announcement on July 3, today, but that was with the assumption that Vikings single-game tickets would go on sale July 9.

Single-game tickets actually go on sale July 20, so if we do get the return of a quarterback legend, look for an announcement to come the week before that date.

 

Jets DE Calvin Pace Suspended Four Games

The New York Jets just got news that will put pressure on Vernon Gholston to step up his game.

Defensive end/outside linebacker Calvin Pace has been suspended for four games by the league for violating it’s anabolic steroid and related substances policy.

Pace signed with the Jets in 2008 after playing his first five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

In his first season with the Jets this past season, Pace recorded 80 tackles, 7.0 sacks, and 5 force fumbles during all 16 games in which he started.

In a team-issued statement, Pace said he wasn’t intentionally trying to get an illegal edge, but also said he is responsible for this suspension.

“This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the league’s policy,” Pace said.  “I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the league’s guidelines. 

“I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans.  Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.”

Why July 3 Would Be the Perfect Time for a Brett Favre Signing

It seems all is quiet on the Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings issue, for a change.

However, talk that reporters having nothing to write about might just be the calm before the storm that is an official Favre-to-the-Vikings contract announcement. 

The buzz is this week might be the perfect time to for the Vikings organization to announce the signing. More specifically Friday, July 3, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com mentioned recently when looking over events in the near future. 

Florio gave good reasons for this prediction—ones that I could not disagree with because they make very good sense.

First of all, with the news last week that the future Hall of Fame quarterback was in Eden Prairie, Minn. getting his right arm evaluated after surgery in May, many would think that was a good time for the Vikings to end this never-ending story.

There was just one problem.

Head coach Brad Childress was on vacation with his buddy Andy Reid, the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Childress worked under Reid as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator before being hired as the Vikings head coach in 2006.

So that was a good indication that a Brett Favre press conference was not likely.

What about the weekend of July 10?

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Childress’ daughter is getting married on July 11, so don’t expect any deal to be reported then. I am sure Cara Childress would never forgive her father for that one.

The team could announce the deal the following two weeks but it is pretty clear that this would not be in the best interest of the organization for two reasons:

1. This would cause a stir in the media too close to training camp. It might be a better plan to get the fireworks over sooner rather than later so players at camp aren’t affected (as much).

2. The Vikings single game tickets go on sale in the couple of weeks and the team would rather sell these tickets sooner than later.

So why July 3?

First of all, this is the one weekend Childress will not be in the middle of personal commitments and would have time for a rather large press conference.

If the team doesn’t want to create too much of a media uproar, this would be the time to do it as many reporters from various sites will be with their families during Independence Day.

Like I mentioned before, the team’s single game tickets will go on sale soon and a signing of the three-time NFL MVP would ensure that those tickets are eaten up by a hungry fan base.

Keep your eyes open this week Vikings fans, there is a good chance you will see more fireworks than just the ones in the sky.

Source: Brett Favre Reaches Contractual Agreement with Minnesota Vikings

According to Mark Rosen of WCCO News in Minneapolis, a top source has told him that quarterback Brett Favre has reached an agreement on a contract with the Vikings and will indeed report to Vikings training camp at the end of July as long as there is no unlikely setback in his throwing shoulder.

The source also said that the Vikings equipment manager was given the green light to produce No. 4 Vikings jerseys for the season.

ProFootballTalk.com wrote a story yesterday on the Vikings and Favre possibly being under contract already and this is just another source that makes it appear that much closer to being official.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, notified the St. Paul Pioneer Press that there was no agreement in place, but this could mean nothing due to Cook’s habit of denying everything related to the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

What I do know is that I have worked with Rosen and he knows the people in that organization quite well.

As SI’s Peter King recently wrote, “Get ready for mayhem Mankato.”

Brett Favre Not Required To Be Reinstated If He Wants To Return

If retired quarterback Brett Favre does plan on making an NFL comeback to sign with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, he will not be required to be reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell like he had to be last offseason.

The reason?

When Favre was released off of the reserve/retirement list by the New York Jets in April, the issue of being reinstated did not matter anymore.

“He’s a free agent,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ProFootballTalk.com in an email response.

There have been many rumors that Favre and the Vikings already have a contract in place and are waiting to break it to the media. This gives that rumor a little more steam.

Stay tuned, Vikings fans.

A Brett Favre Report Straight from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

If you weren’t familiar with the National Football League and were driving through the town of Hattiesburg, Miss., you would have no idea that football immortality lived in the vicinity.

Well, I do know the future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre lives there and I have had a wish fulfilled by currently being in Hattiesburg on part of a trip with my dad.

I must point out that my dad wasn’t as big on this as I was, he was simply doing it because he wanted to make me happy. He thinks I’m a little crazy for wanting to stop in Hattiesburg, which I might be, but its a story I have been following everyday and to see the sights in person would be something very unique.

Thanks to Garmin, we were able to find Oak Grove High School, the school where Favre has been doing his training throughout the offseason, throwing passes to test his arm strength. The latest thought is that Favre will sign with the Vikings if his arm is okay, and many have reported that it is.

The field was empty at approximately 5:45 pm local time, with only drill equipment being on the hot turf. Like us, another car was checking out the scene but left as soon as there was not too much to be seen at the moment.

Now, it was put in place that we must see his home. However, there was one problem. Garmin does not list Brett Favre’s house in it’s system, not even under points of interest.

Well, this was my only interest and I wasn’t going to be stopped.

Next destination, the Microtel down the road, our spot to stay for the night. My dad checked in, found out that internet was free (makes this article possible right now) and asked about Favre’s location in the city.

“Everyone knows where Brett Favre lives,” the front desk worker said and gave us the directions, which were pretty simple. Drive to the high school, but instead of turning off of the highway, drive another three miles.

We took the directions, thinking many gated areas might be his place, but not being confident in our guesses. Finally, we saw a nice fence and a big gate that we knew had to be it the second we saw it. Sure enough, a big “F” was on the gate. Somebody driving along would not be able to see the house because it is tucked away behind trees.

Last night, I did some research and came to the conclusion that most of Favre’s high school workouts took place in the morning.

My alarm rang today at 7:00 am this morning (Monday) and we made our way over to Oak Grove High School for the second consecutive day.

My excitement grew when I saw players on the field doing some sprints. As we made our way to the gate, a man who worked at the school told us that Favre usually worked out on Wednesdays.

Well, there went that idea.

Of course, I had to ask him about Brett’s work and how he was looking on the field.

“He says it hurts, but he knocks those kids right into the ground on those 20 yard passes. It doesn’t look like he’s hurt,” the man said.

This would make sense after the Oak Grove Head Coach make comments similar to this statement this weekend on Sirius NFL Radio.

Although I did not get to see the legendary quarterback, I did get to see much of the setting that had only been a television sight for me the past two offseasons as I have followed Favre’s situation.

It was well worth the trip there and although I did not see Favre in person, my guess is I will see him in a different setting later on.

That being in a purple jersey on the Metrodome turf for the 2009 NFL season.

 

Next Page »

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