Summarizing Brett Favre’s Interview With Joe Buck

Finally.

We now know what’s on Brett Favre’s mind after the media had been our only means of communication on what was going on from his camp.

Favre sat down with Joe Buck on “Joe Buck Live” on HBO Monday night, in the show’s debut.

Buck started with the most obvious question, is Favre considering coming back to the NFL? Bet you are shocked to hear that he answered, “Maybe.”That seemed to get quite a bit of laughter from the crowd gathered to watch in studio.

Favre then followed that up with a, “Yes. I am considering it.” He was then asked by Buck about surgery and the three-time MVP quarterback confirmed that he indeed had the operation.

“About 2 1/2 weeks ago I had surgery,” Favre said. “Dr. [James] Andrews did the surgery and he said more or less, ‘Four, five weeks you should know if it was completely successful.’ I can throw and I could throw before the surgery. But I couldn’t throw…and that’s what happened to me late in the year. I would throw it there and it would go there.”

As for contact with the Vikings, Favre also confirmed that, along with talking about the health of his arm.

“I knew I needed surgery and I didn’t want to have it and I ended up having it,” Favre said. “If it feels better, I’m rehabbing, doing what I need to do to get it back in shape. Have talked with the Vikings. Nothing other than, ‘Are you interested?’ Vice versa. I’ve had the procedure, which they know and it’s more or less how my arm feels and we’ll go from there.”

With all of the reporting and rumors that have been flying around, it was nice to finally get a confirmation from the man himself.

Buck asked about the latest report saying that Vikings coaches had traveled down to Hattiesburg, Miss. to talk with him and check on his progress.

“Not true,” Favre said intently. “I met with their trainer yesterday and all it was about was to go through some exercises that could help with the rehab. That was it. Different stretching and band work.”

When asked if the Vikings were the only team on his radar, Favre said it was and talked about the most helpful perk of going to Minnesota, the offensive system.

“That’s all I’ve talked to, yeah,” he said. “It makes perfect sense as far as coming back because it’s an offense that I ran for 16 years. I could teach the offense.”

He then elaborated on the offense and also commented on the strong running game that the Vikings have.

“It’s like the terminology with the offense,” Favre said. “It makes a lot of sense because the pieces are in place. They do have a great running back, they have a great running game. If I go there, I mean there’s no guarantees. We all know that. I went through that last year with New York.”

That is when his comments got interesting. When referring to the Vikings and the offense, he used “we” and not “they.” It seems like we have another statement from Favre where three or fewer words can change the whole meaning.

“I think every player should think that he’s a difference maker,” he said. “I think you have to believe that. I think in that situation understanding what is expected of you, knowing your team, knowing that as long as we can run the ball and complete passes when needed we should be pretty good.”

As far as him signing with the Vikings, the key is his arm and it’s health.

“I think first and foremost, I don’t think you can go past anything more than the arm,” Favre said. “If that’s not up to par, and it’s not up to par when the time comes, then I can’t play. I went through it last year and I’ve gutted it out or whatever but it affected me and it affected our team and I don’t want to do that again and I won’t do it again.”

“So that was why I went ahead and had the surgery. I didn’t want to wait and wait for this tendon to pop or whatever and be mid-season, then it’s too late. So I had the procedure done. As I rehab and continue to throw and things, if it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then that…the biggest question mark is out of the way.”

Then Favre did his best at proving the media’s reports wrong again, this time touching on the deadline that head coach Brad Childress had reportedly set for Favre on making a decision last week on whether or not he was coming back.

“No. It’s not like I’ve talked to those guys every day,” he said. “They knew I had surgery. Coach Childress had asked if I would come to OTAs. Not that I would have to participate and I totally understood that side of it.”

“I chose not to and you can pick sides on this and I think both sides are right. He wanted me to be there to be a part of the team and things like that, knowing that there’s not guarantee my arm will be like it was before.”

So why did he not show up at the organized team activities that Childress wanted him to attend?

“I chose to stay away because I figured there would be a media frenzy if I was there and there would be a media frenzy if I couldn’t play, if we had to say three weeks later, ‘You know his arm is just not up to par, he can’t play so we have to …’ I said, ‘Why not just have one media frenzy?’ And that would be later on. But it wasn’t anything to do with practicing or anything like that. It’s either all or nothing to me.”

Buck brought up former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton and his comments on Favre, which included that he wanted Favre to fail if he came to Minnesota. He also asked about the fans of Green Bay and if he thought his legacy has been tarnished to his indecisions on coming back to the NFL.

Favre said that Tarkenton hasn’t been the only person in his life that has wanted him to fail at playing, and there is nothing he can do to change that.

“I think the 16 years that I spent in Green Bay speaks for itself,” he said. “This whole process and what’s happened in the last couple of years—and I was talking to Chad [Johnson] backstage just a little while ago—and I truly believe this.”

“There are those people who are in your corner no matter what, you can’t do any wrong, even when you do wrong. And then there are those people that no matter what you do they are going to dislike you and that’s not going to change. And then there are the rest that don’t give a shit.”

Asked if Favre could still do it physically, he admitted that he had his doubts. He also brought up his family and the role they play in his decision making.

“At 40 years old, which I will be in October, we’re not getting any younger,” he said. “And believe me, I wake up every day and I go, ‘Why am I even thinking about playing?’ Obviously things that you think about at 39, you didn’t think about at 25, even at 30.”

“Obviously, I have a family and as much as I ask them what I should do, I get the same response, ‘Whatever you want to do dad.’ I’m like, ‘That’s not what I wanted to hear.'”

One of the final questions asked by Buck was what Favre thought about wearing a Vikings jersey into Lambeau Field and the fans reaction to that. He said that he wouldn’t be the only famous Packers in franchise history to leave Green Bay and head somewhere else.

“I don’t know what to tell them,” he said. “Vince Lombardi went to the Washington Redskins when he left. His name’s on the [championship] trophy. We give that trophy out every year. I don’t hear too many people saying, ‘That damn traitor, he went to Washington.’ Time heals a lot of things and I have nothing but the highest regard for Green Bay and I mean that sincerely.

“Did some things happen there that may have ruffled the feathers for both sides? Yes. But, once again, the 16 years I spent there you can’t take away. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”

“They chose to go in a different direction and that’s OK. I chose to play again and that’s OK. Just because I had former players, friends of mine, I had family, I had friends that said, ‘I can’t picture you playing anywhere but Green Bay. I can’t do it.’ It’s football. It’s not life or death.”

So, where does that leave Vikings fans and the Vikings organization?

Well, the future Hall of Famer pretty much summed it up: If his arm heals like it is supposed to, he will most likely sign with the purple for the 2009 season.

It has to be a relief to fans to finally hear him speak and he gave us some good information on Monday night.

So as Favre continues to rehab his throwing shoulder, be prepared to stay patient. This story will probably wind into July.

After all, straight stories from Brett Favre would just not be norm.

 

 

Brett Favre To Appear on “Joe Buck Live” Monday Night

The silence of retired quarterback Brett Favre throughout the offseason will end on Monday night when he will do a live interview on “Joe Buck Live” at 8 p.m. CT on HBO.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the interview will take place—one that Vikings fans will be sure to catch.

In recent weeks, Vikings head coach Brad Childress has come out to say that the team is interested in taking a look at the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, who has reportedly had surgery to release a tendon in his right arm to relieve the pain and help him come back for a 19th NFL season.

However, Favre has not said anything to the media since the rumors started. His only communication has come from his agent, Bus Cook, who has basically given nothing to fans with his statements.

Many have thought the only barrier between Favre and a comeback with the Minnesota Vikings was the health of his shoulder. The surgery was reportedly done approximately two weeks ago, and from reports, rehab for a surgery like this takes around 6-8 weeks to complete.

The most recent news came on Saturday when it was reported that a trainer and coach from the Vikings organization would head down to Hattiesburg, Miss., Favre’s hometown, to check on the quarterback’s progress with healing his shoulder.

So, with all of the news and rumors floating around, Favre will finally speak to the NFL world and tell them what is on his mind.

This should be the best indication we get on his future, so tune in.

 

Brett Favre and Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress Talked Last Week

Thursday’s practice was the only one open to the media at Vikings headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., and head coach Brad Childress most likely knew the Brett Favre patrol would be out and about, waiting to jump on every word he said during interviews.

Childress did admit that he and the retired quarterback talked at some point last week, but would not elaborate on what they talked about. He was also asked if he plans on watching Favre throw the ball at any point in the near future.

“That’s down the road stuff,” Childress said. “The guy is retired right now and you’d have to talk to him about that.”

Is Favre a distraction to the team? Childress said he believes he is just another player the team looks at in order to possibly make the team better.

“All you’re ever looking for is every day when you check the waiver wire, wherever you’re looking, wherever there are players that can make this roster one person better,” Childress said. 

“We look at that every single day and everyone is a completely different situation.”

Childress also said he has watched film on the three-time MVP quarterback, just like he does with every player the team could be interested in.

“Somewhere I saw him on tape, throughout the course of the year, and obviously I know how he was throwing it early and how he was throwing it late,” he said. “Just like you evaluate all players that go to the waiver wire. How much film did we watch? I don’t know. Four or five games.”

Childress was also asked again about current Vikings quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. He said that Favre is never a subject that is brought up between them.

“I really don’t talk to them about Favre,” Childress said. “Those guys play football and I coach football and look at personnel, as I mentioned before. So they’d be out of their lane and I’d be out of my lane in sharing any of our business.”

“Whether it be surgery, injury, talking about other players. We just don’t do that. It’s more of a coaching relationship.”

Jackson also spoke to reporters, and said that this type of baggage comes with playing quarterback in the NFL.

“If you had to hear it year in and year out all the time, eventually you’re going to be tired of it,” Jackson said. “But I guess it just comes with being the quarterback for the Vikings right now. It is what it is.”

My personal favorite quote of the day from Childress came when he was asked if he thinks Favre could still be a great quarterback.

“[I] don’t know, [I] don’t know,” Childress said. “Stay tuned.”

The Vikings will wrap up organized team activities on Friday. The team was scheduled to practice on Monday and Tuesday, but Childress canceled those plans. That is not a surprise as he usually does not use all 14 sessions that the league allows.

So as the Favre situation picks up, follow Childress’s advice and stay tuned.

Steve Mariucci: Favre Intent On Playing For the Vikings This Season

According to Jim Corbett of the USA Today, former NFL head coach and friend of retired quarterback Brett Favre, Steve Mariucci, told the paper that Favre has some business to take care of and definitely would love to play in Minnesota this season.

Mariucci and Favre go back to their time with Green Bay when Maricucci was an assistant and Favre was the team’s starting quarterback.

“Often times, there’s a little bit of unfinished business,” Mariucci said. “Even though Brett’s done all those Hall of Fame things with winning a Super Bowl, winning three MVPs, going to all those Pro Bowls and setting the records he has, I think there’s a part of Brett that wants to do more.”

Mariucci said that his communication with Favre is confidential, but says that his decision on whether or not to come out of retirement for a second consecutive season is a decision he is still torn on.

“I talk to him every now and then,” Mariucci said. “Some of the things we talk about are confidential. All I can say is this is an ongoing decision for Brett and the Vikings.

Mariucci told the newspaper that Favre’s wife, Deanna, supports her husband’s decision to come back to play in purple.  

The two main points that will help that decision according to the former head coach are the health of his arm that he recently had surgery on and the type of contract that could get done between him and the Vikings.  

Overall, the three-time NFL MVP is just concentrating on getting his throwing arm back to one hundred percent according to Mariucci.

“The main thing is Brett feeling good enough to perform well with the shoulder. That has yet to be determined.”

Favre’s Family Books Hotel Rooms for Vikings-Packers Game

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, retired quarterback Brett Favre’s family members are preparing for the three-time MVP to make a return to the NFL again as a Minnesota Viking.

Around two months ago, a member of the family booked 25 to 30 rooms at the Midway Motor Lodge, a hotel near Lambeau Field, for the Nov. 1 game in which the Vikings visit the Packers.

Although much can be read into this, the report also states that the hotel lets a person cancel the reservations 45 days in advance of the stay with no financial penalty.

The fact is, this could just be a couple of family members who want to prepared in the case Favre ends up in purple.

It has been reportedly recently that the future Hall of Fame quarterback underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder to release a tendon that was partially torn last season when he played for the Jets.

The surgery was done to totally release the tendon, easing the pain in his arm. This suggests that Favre could be serious about his return to the NFL.

The Vikings started their organized team activities this week and will continue through Friday.

Who wants to bet somebody will ask Vikings head coach Brad Childress a question regarding Brett Favre this week?

Minnesota Vikings Great Ron Yary: Favre Would Have Brought Team Championships

Hall of Famer Ron Yary, who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1968 to 1981, has thrown in his two cents regarding retired quarterback Brett Favre.

In Yary’s opinion, the Vikings would be displaying some Lombardi Trophies at Winter Park if Favre had been their quarterback when he played. He recently told the St. Paul Pioneer Press his thoughts on the former MVP quarterback.  

“If the Vikings would have had Brett Favre during the time of my career, we would have been 7-0 in Super Bowls. Absolutely,” Yary said.

Yary said he isn’t the only Vikings offensive star who loves what Favre has done on the field. Former Vikings offensive coordinator and head coach Jerry Burns, who was known for his great offensive mind, told Yary that he considers Favre the best quarterback of all time.

“In 2000, I had dinner with Jerry Burns in Washington, D.C., and I asked Jerry who he thought was the best quarterback of all time,” Yary said. “And before I even got the sentence out of my mouth, he said, ‘Brett Favre.'”

“It’s easy to draw a play based on defensive schemes,” Yary said. “But a great coordinator can take the best skills of their players and incorporate that into their offensive scheme or defensive scheme.

“That’s what makes a coach a great coach. Jerry Burns was able to do that with every quarterback he coached, as well as every other player on the offense. So I respect Jerry’s opinion of Brett Favre as being the best who ever played the game.”

Because of all that he has done as a player, Yary thinks Favre should have the right to do as he wishes.

“Brett Favre has played great football for many years, and at 39 years old, because of all the great things he’s done for Green Bay, and that he’s at the end of his career, he should have the right to decide when he wishes to leave and how he leaves football, and the right to talk to who he wants about it,” Yary said.

It was reported Sunday evening that Favre had surgery last month on his throwing shoulder to cut an injured tendon. The injury occurred last season when he was with the New York Jets.

According to various reports, the partially torn tendon in his right arm was causing the pain, but the release of the tendon could eliminate that and help him recover.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Favre was still testing his arm and that it wasn’t close to 100 percent yet. It generally takes six to eight weeks to recover from that type of surgery.

Still, it is easy to say that the three-time NFL MVP wants to return to the league if he can get his arm in proper condition.

The Vikings will run another organized team activities session from Tuesday through Thursday. The team also has OTAs scheduled for next week, but head coach Brad Childress has been known to cancel those practices as a reward to players for their work in previous sessions.

Five Things Benny Sapp Must Do to Win the Minnesota Vikings’ Nickel Job

This is a multiple-part series in which I will be breaking down Vikings position battles, highlighting what players need to do to win their respective starting positions in 2009.

 

Vikings cornerback Benny Sapp seemed to fit in well his first year under defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s scheme, making a few big plays as well as being a nice addition to the defense on sure passing downs.

However, when asking fans about what they remember most about Sapp’s first year in purple, they will complain about the penalties he committed when the Vikings absolutely could not afford them. 

This summer, Sapp will compete with Karl Paymah, Charles Gordon, and rookie Asher Allen for the team’s starting nickel back job for the 2009 season. 

Although he has plenty to work on this off-season, he also has an advantage over Allen and Paymah due to having one year of experience in this defense.

These are five things Benny Sapp must do in training camp to win the starting job and play along a very talented Vikings secondary heading into this season.

 

1. Eliminate the Penalties

In my opinion, more people would be on Sapp’s side right now heading into the season had it not been for a couple of very unintelligent penalties he committed in 2008 in very big games.

The first was in a week 13 Monday night game when the Vikings hosted the Bears in a game with first place in the NFC North on the line.

In the second quarter with the Bears up 7-3 and driving, it appeared that the Vikings defense had made a key stop on a third down.

But after the play, Sapp hit Bears wide receiver Rashied Davis in the helmet and was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving Chicago a first down.

Luckily for Sapp, the defense made a goal line stand at the conclusion of the drive and on the next play, quarterback Gus Frerotte hit a wide-open Bernard Berrian down the left sideline for a 99-yard touchdown in what turned out to be a Vikings win. Whew.

The next week at the Detroit Lions, with the Vikings up 10-6 and trying to hold on to first place in the NFC North, the Minnesota defense was again hurt by a holding penalty on Sapp after stopping the Lions on a third down in the third quarter.

On the next play, Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper fired a 70-yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson to put the Lions on top.

Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson came back with a touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the 4th quarter as the Vikings won 20-16.

This summer in camp, Sapp will need to show in scrimmages that he won’t commit silly penalties in big situations. Teams always have officiating crews come in to watch for penalties and look for him to not raise the awareness of the men in stripes.

 

2. Control Emotions

If you read my article on what Charles Gordon needed to do to win the starting nickel job, you noticed my reference to his injury that was popular on YouTube.com.

Well, you can definitely say the same for Benny Sapp, who at times has let his emotions get the best of him.

When you type in his name, you will find a video titled, “Benny Sapp Goes Postal,” in which Sapp is furious on the sidelines with teammates after being called for a personal foul.

Although no incidents took place with teammates in 2008, penalties like the one against Chicago that I mentioned in point No. 1 are bound to happen more if Sapp can’t hold his emotions inside.

Having a season under his belt will now help this. Frazier, along with head coach Brad Childress, have seemed to develop a nice core of disciplined players. Look for Sapp to take a more mature role in 2009.

 

3. Capitalize On Opportunities Given

One play that makes me cringe more than any other during the 2008 season was a play in week 10 against the Packers at the Metrodome.

Sapp was filling in for Gordon after he went down with a gruesome ankle injury he suffered while returning a punt earlier in the game.

Green Bay had the ball at about their own 10 yard line. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a pass over the middle that was tipped by linebacker Ben Leber and fell right into the arms of Sapp, who had a sure pick right in his hands.

However, he failed to concentrate on the ball as it feel right through his arms and into the field turf.

Talk about a play that makes a defensive coordinator grimace.

With even more competition for Sapp this summer at training camp, he will need to hold on to every ball he has a chance at.

Like many say, football is a game of turnovers. If Sapp can’t make the play when he has the chance, Frazier and company will find the guy who can.

 

4. Step Into a Leadership Role

Sapp seemed to be the little brother of the cornerback group last season, it having been his first season wearing purple.

With a free agent in Paymah that is a couple years younger and a rookie in Allen, Sapp could prove a lot to coaches with his knowledge and leadership this season.

When the younger corners on the team have a question, he will need to help them out no matter if it’s on the field or in the film room.

When watching Benny Sapp in practice this training camp, watch his communication with the guys around him.

While learning from some solid corners in Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield (assuming there is no contract dispute), he will need to be a teacher as well.

 

5. Do Not Gamble When It’s Not Necessary

When Sapp took over for Gordon after the injury in 2008, he seemed to play well in the slot on quicker receivers.

However, when watching him on film, it seems Sapp likes to gamble on passes a lot. Now, sometimes gambling pays off for defensive backs and it did at times for the 5-year corner.

The part I did not like to see was when the Vikings defense faced some long yardage situations and Sapp took some chances that cost them some big chunks of yardage.

In camp, look for Sapp to give more cushion on wide receivers when the offense is trying to get 15+ yards.

I am not saying he needs to lighten up on jumping routes, just that he needs to be award of when he is doing it and not letting the offense pick up first downs that they had no business converting in the first place.

 

Next Article: Five Things Karl Paymah Must Do to Win the Vikings’ Nickel Job

Vikings’ Camp Review 5/31: Childress Disguised; Johnson Keeps Learning

Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who many think of as a boring, monotone kind of guy, proved that he actually might have a sense of humor during Vikings mini-camp practice on Sunday.

And if he does, it’s an interesting sense of humor.

Childress sported a visor and also a wig that resembled spiked brown hair, making him look like a different person. He addressed the media after practice.

“There’s a bunch of those guys who walked up and had no idea who [I was],” Childress said. “My wife tells me all the time, it’s the bald head that gives you away. Put a hat on.” 

He said his wife Dru-Ann purchased it for him when she was in Florida. This isn’t the first time he had fooled players and others in the football world.

“I wore it to the Senior Bowl with a little bit of a beard and some sun glasses,” he said. “I looked at probably 15 people that I know pretty well in the face and was able to fool them. They didn’t know who it was. Including members of my staff.”

But the practice portion of the day was all business.

Second-year center John Sullivan is impressing coaches with his play during this weekend’s mini-camp session. He will definitely be under the microscope this year if he is the starter after six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk signed with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that just because Sullivan has a different body type than Birk, it doesn’t mean he can’t play at a high level.

“I’m not saying he hasn’t handled himself well (physically), because he has,” Bevell said. “I just think it’s pretty easy mentally for him.”

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels also agreed with Bevell on Sullivan’s mental advantage.

“He’s a very, very smart guy,” Rosenfels said. “He grew up (with a) silver spoon in Greenwich, Conn., so they have a pretty good public-education system there.”

Another second-year player that will likely become a starter this year is safety Tyrell Johnson, who will take over for veteran Darren Sharper after he signed with the New Orleans Saints in March.

Although many have written him in as the starter going into 2009, Johnson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he still must earn his job in practice.

“I see it as being in a competition,” Johnson said. “Everybody tells me, you’re the starter, don’t get a big head. It’s impossible for me to get a big head because I always feel like I have something to prove. I always view myself as the underdog. I always feel myself needing to do better than the next guy.”

“I know it’s not an individual game, but I feel like if there are 11 individuals on the field, shoot to be the best individually and collectively we’ll be good also.”

Starting opposite of Johnson this season will be veteran safety Madieu Williams, who attended the team’s organized team activities two weeks ago so he and Johnson could work on feeling each other out.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier says it is not only important for them to be able to communicate with each other, but it is important for the success of the whole defense.

“We count on those guys to be able to communicate and get information to our corners and also help our linebackers with some information,” Frazier said. “To get those two working together is extremely important. It takes a lot of time and a lot of repetition.”

The Vikings wrapped up their first mandatory mini-camp on Sunday. The team will next hold an OTA (organized team activities) session on June 2 that runs through June 5.

 

Photo by Bruce Bisping/Star Tribune

 

 

Vikings Mini-camp Review 5/30: Peterson Praises Harvin; Murphy Adjusts

Saturday meant imagination and excitement for the Vikings offense, as offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell implemented some “wildcat” plays into practice for rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin.

This shouldn’t be surprising, considering Harvin’s speed and explosiveness. The wildcat offense consists of Harvin lining up next to a quarterback or running back out of the shotgun and running draw plays or handoffs to confuse the defense.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Bevell said the offensive changes will grant players the opportunity to use their best abilities.

“We’re up there trying to diagram everything we can,” Bevell said. “We’re looking at things we do, we’re looking at things other teams have done and trying to get the ball to our playmakers.”

Harvin agreed when asked about using the wildcat at the University of Florida, saying he had success with the formation because it lets him use his explosiveness.

“I did that a lot,” Harvin said. “That is a lot of my versatility. They put that in now and we’re kind of working that with me and a couple of the other running backs.”

Along with practicing the wildcat formation, Harvin also impressed with many nice catches over the middle. He did say that it was a bit overwhelming with everything that was going on during practice.

They just want me to learn multiple positions,” he said. “We don’t know quite where I’m going to play right now. I’m just learning kind of a little bit of everything. I’m just working hard and whatever they need me to play, that’s what I’ll do.”

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is also quite impressed with the young rookie and the way he plays the game.

“We’re throwing in some new plays and different looks out there,” Peterson said. “I know that guy is exhausted because I’m exhausted for him— all the running around he’s doing. He’s a tremendous athlete, and he has a lot of ability.”

Peterson is also quite excited about some heat being taken off of him with the addition of Harvin.

“When you have guys out there with speed running around in different formations—you’ve got running backs out wide and motioning across and things like that— (defenses) are really going to have to be on top of their game,” he said.

The offense is not the only unit making adjustments. The special teams unit has taken a cue from the new NFL rule that only allows a maximum of two players on a wedge during the kick return. New special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said the NFL is just looking out for the health of the players.

“It was player safety,” said Murphy. “To my understanding, they felt that if you had a two-man wedge, there was a better chance of a guy running around a wedge and not having to go in between two giants. That’s what it was. It was three offensive linemen running right into a safety or a corner.

“They felt like if they removed one of those guys it gives the safety or corner a chance to run around a block and make it, rather than have to put himself in harm’s way and go into the wedge.”

If a team has three or more players creating a wedge on a kick return, they will receive a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the wedge.

The Vikings will wrap up their first mandatory mini-camp session on Sunday. Check back for more updates from everything that is happening at Winter Park.

Photo by Jerry Holt/Star Tribune

Five Things Sage Rosenfels Must Do to Win the Vikings QB Job

This is a multiple part series in which I will be breaking down Vikings position battles and highlighting what players need to do to win their respective starting position.

 

A chance. That’s all Sage Rosenfels has wanted since coming into the NFL back in 2001 with the Washington Redskins.

Along the way, from Washington to Miami, then to Houston from 2006-2008, Rosenfels has had to work his butt off just to be in the conversation. He has received his opportunities to start football games at quarterback, but that has usually come at the expense of an injury (like last year’s game at the Metrodome when starter Matt Schaub went down).

After the 2008 season, Rosenfels went to the Vikings via trade for a fourth-round selection in the 2009 draft. Vikings Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Speilman had tried to make a play for Rosenfels before the 2008 season, but the Texans wanted more than Speilman was willing to give up.

Now that he’s a Minnesota Viking, Rosenfels will get his shot this training camp in Mankato, Minn. to win the starting job when he competes with fourth-year man Tarvaris Jackson.

In order to win this job, Rosenfels will have to pick up a lot mentally before the last week of July when practices start. Here is my list of what he needs to show head coach Brad Childress and the assistants in training camp if he wants to lead this team in September.

 

1. Eliminate the Turnovers

Ask any NFL fan what first comes to mind when they think about Sage Rosenfels and they will tell you it was the helicopter dive against Indianapolis in week four of the 2008 season in which he lost the ball and Colts linebacker Gary Brackett picked it up and returned it 68 yards for the touchdown. Rosenfels later threw the game-ending interception in a 31-27 loss in a game that the Texans had led by 17 with under five minutes left in the game.

And that’s exactly how you pour opportunities down the drain in the NFL. Rosenfels was the backup the following week at home against the Miami Dolphins.

In 2008, he threw 10 interceptions to only six touchdowns. In training camp, Rosenfels’ duty will be to show the coaching staff that he can take care of the ball and not make the foolish pass when it doesn’t need to be thrown.

Many fans will tell you that the Vikings need a playmaker running the offense, and that is not true. They need a quarterback that can step in and effectively manage the offense and take care of the football so that they can win the time of possesion battle and give a guy named Adrian Peterson enough shots at breaking a bigoff a big run.

 

2. Don’t Do Too Much

With the Texans up on the Colts 27-17 in the game I mentioned above where Rosenfels fumbled the ball, he was scrambling to the left to try and pick up a first down.

Well, instead of sliding and holding on to the ball to chew up more time, Rosenfels decided he would try to be a hero and virtually ended up costing Houston an important game against an AFC South rival.

In practice, he must learn how to hold on to the ball before diving for a first down or forcing a pass into a tight spot when it’s just not worth it.

That would be a big step in proving to the coaching staff that he is the man for the job, especially since Jackson has also been known to take some chances in close games that just aren’t worth it.

 

3. Show His Quick Release

When watching film on Rosenfels, the attribute he possesses that impresses me the most is his ability to get rid of the football quick and on time to receivers.

This is one quality Jackson has struggled with when I watch him drop back to pass. He seems to take his time when setting up in the pocket and doesn’t get rid of the ball with a quick motion, letting defenders read him a little more accurately.

In training camp this summer, Rosenfels will need to continue to show his quick release in passing drills and in scrimmage. This will help the offense click, eliminating sacks to put them in long yardage situations.

 

4. Show That He Can Pick Up the New Offensive Terminology and Playbook

Although Houston’s offense is similar in some ways to what offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Childress want, it will be a huge change for Rosenfels from a mental standpoint.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak ran more of a zone blocking scheme in the run game while letting the quarterback make plays down the field on bootlegs.

This season, Rosenfels will throw more timing and shorter routes while staying in the pocket most of the time.

Right now, he is doing his best and studying the playbook and building chemistry with his receivers during mini-camp sessions while also studying film on what the Vikings want from their quarterback in the west coast system.

This summer at camp, Rosenfels will need to prove that he has a grasp on Childress’ scheme and that he is the piece of the puzzle that fits perfectly within the offensive picture.

 

5. Don’t Force Passes in the Red Zone

In week nine against the Vikings at the Metrodome, the Texans were driving into the red zone at the end of the third quarter in a close game. Rosenfels, stepping back in the pocket and not finding a receiver available, floated a pass into the end zone that Vikings safety Madieu Williams intercepted to give the ball back to Adrian Peterson and company.

This should be another area of concern if Childress sees Rosenfels as the future starter at QB for this offense.

Vikings fans saw Tarvaris Jackson throw a costly interception to Giants safety James Butler in the end zone last season in week 17, and don’t want to see more of the same in big games.

If Rosenfels wants to earn starting quarterback points this summer, he will need to show that he is willing to throw the ball away in the red zone if nothing is available. Although field goals can come back to haunt a team, no points can kill a team.

 

Next Article: Five Things Charles Gordon Must Do to Win the Nickel Job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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