Favre Made the Right Decision

So it is now official. After my summer of anxiety and agony (where I had already mentally prepared myself to see someone not named John David Booty wear a purple #4 jersey), Brett came through for me and Packer fans alike one last time. He decided to stay retired!

Most of you know that I am a lifelong, die-hard Packer fan and grew up with Favre as my childhood hero. But I truly believe that this was the best football decision that Brett has ever made. His arm virtually fell off the last 5 games of last season and he just flat out did not play well. He was not going to make the Vikings immediate Super Bowl contenders. Two to three years ago, yes. This year, NO!

Regardless if the Vikings would have gotten Favre or not, they would have still started the year with the 3rd best starting QB in the division! Granted Favre probably would have been a step up from Tjack, or Rosenfels, adding him would have torn the locker room apart. I must say that the Vikings did not handle the situation very well at all, and now they need to pull themselves together as a team and move on from all this garbage.

It would have made for some great drama next season, but it is for the best. Thank you Brett for making the right decision. Now please try to enjoy your retirement like a normal player. Everybody knows what you are capable of. Everybody knows what you did 2 years ago in Green Bay. Everybody also knows what you did in New York last season.

Did you tarnish he tarnish his legacy? Yes he did. Should he have retired after the NFC Championship loss to the Giants? Probably. There is no denying that people will remember the whole retirement limbo that he's played at the end of his career. But for us true fans, we will look past it and remember the Brett pictured above.

Brett Favre is one of the greatest QBs of all-time and will go down like that. It's time that the old gunslinger realize that he has nothing to prove. Now let's hope we don't have to hear his name or see too much of him on ESPN until he steps up to the podium in Canton, OH!

I Love the Vikings

So, just in case you are a first-time or simply casual reader I will clear the air right now. Any one who knows anything about me or my sports/interest, or has read much of my work on TSF knows that I hate the Vikings. So when I title a post, "I Love the Vikings". Please don't get the wrong idea.

I love the Vikings because of how pathetic they are. To be quite honest the Vikings scare me. The last 3 seasons they have entered into the season with a pretty scary-looking team. I love them because they almost always choke or underachieve. They have a great window of opportunity here with a star-studded defense and the best young RB in the league in his prime. As a life-long Packers fan this scares me. It is common knowledge to NFL fans everywhere that the Vikings are a QB and a upper-tier WR away from being insanely good. In fact, with a new QB and WR I would almost guarantee the Vikes to be favorites to at least go to the Superbowl.

So, when I saw on ESPN's front page headlines, "Report: Vikings Near Deal for Texans QB" I got scared. I thought maybe someone struck some sense into Mr. Wilf/Mr. Childress. I thought the Vikings realized their window was closing and they were making a play at Matt Schaub. Then I clicked on the link and had all my thoughts on the Vikings reaffirmed. Nope, they were going after SAGE ROSENFELS! I immediately had a vision of him diving for that 1st down against the Colts with the lead last year and fumbling away the game (PICTURED ABOVE). I literally laughed out loud.

Granted he may be a small upgrade because Jackson is complete dogcrap and Ferotte is old and injury prone, and not good at headbutting. But if you're going to upgrade why not truly upgrade!? Sage Rosenfels is basically a younger version of Ferotte and a lifelong back-up. Hell, he's even backed-up Ferotte before! He might be a small upgrade but he is certainly not the answer and as a Packers fan I find it so entertaining to watch the Vikings chase after the answers to their problems in such a ridiculous way. I also love when my friends who are Viking's fans can't stand their own team and their way of doing things. So go ahead Minnesota. Use that 4th Round pick on Sage Rosenfels so you can have 3 2nd-string QBs on your roster and we'll watch you underachieve again next season.

The Williams Wall Needs to be Very Careful

So most of my friends who like football are Vikings fans. Most were heartbroken when they found out about the suspensions to Pat and Kevin Williams. Then they were elated when they heard that their suspensions are being fought in court. Well don't jump to conclusions my silly purple-loving friends.

This appeal is not necessarily good. So if they fight this off long enough odds are is that they will be allowed to play this weekend against the Detroit Lions. The thing is that in the court of law these men are innocent until proven guilty. But what is innocent and what is guilty in this case? Players are claiming that the league knew that this masking agent was present in the starburst or whatever they are called. But the league is very serious about players knowing what they put in their bodies. These players have no defense against that. They can fight and say that they didn't know that that masking agent was present in the pill. But will that matter? They can say that others knew but they weren't told. Will that matter either? It is their responsibility to know what they put into their bodies, and the NFL is very clear about that. Not to mention that there are dozens of better ways to lose weight that a dietetic.

If they fight this they might be able to hold off long enough to play this weekend against the Lions. But is that a good idea? By fighting this off for a week and then if the NFL rules they still have to serve the suspension that will mean that they must sit out the last 3 regular season games AND THEN the wildcard weekend playoff game that we are assuming they'd be able to hold on to. Is it worth it? For all my silly purple friends out there I hope that they put a little bit of thought into this and assess the risks of fighting this in court.

2008 NFL Preview - NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (13-3 in 2007)

Ok, so what everybody wants to know is will the Favre-less Packers be able to hold off the Vikings. I've been called a homer before but my true and honest opinion is yes. But the playingfield has certainly been evened dramatically.

Although replacing Favre with Aaron Rodgers causes the Packers to take a slight step back, if the young quarterback stays healthy he can complete a high percentage of his passes, and coolly handle the immense pressure he’ll be under from the very beginning of the season to the very end. He's really impressed me with how he's handled everything throughout the offseason and at this point I'm not so worried about his performance as I am his health. With Rodgers bringing those three factors to the table, a strong Packers squad that epitomizes the word “team” repeats as division champions. Favre alone didn't make this team 13-3 last season. The receiving corps is great, they have Grant and Jackson at RB and a quite above average D. I think they can edge the Vikes again. Schedules not too hard and they can beat up on divisional foes Chicago and Detroit.

Key Additions: LB Brandon Chillar, WR Jordy Nelson, QB Brian Brohm, TE Jermichael Finley

Key Losses: QB Brett Favre, TE Bubba Franks, DT Corey Williams

Prediction: 10-6 win tiebreaker over MN

2. Minnesota Vikings (8-8 in 2007)

Much like the Packers' season hinging on Rodgers, the Vikings season really hangs on Jackson. We all know what AP and Taylor can do, but if the Vikings are going to be relevant they have to be balanced. Jackson has made strides in my opinion. People just don't understand how bad he was last year. He had 12 picks, only 9 TDs while completing just 58% of passes when most everyone had the box stacked with 8 or 9 guys! He's better but I feel like he's just not quite there, and the injury bug worries me. Well, it actually excites me because I hate the Vikings but TJack is already running into knee problems and that's a red flag in my book.

Obviously the D is gunna be great and that will keep them in a lot of games. Had this team gotten Favre like so many Vikings fan's shasterbated about, I believe they would be a lock for the playoffs and compete for home-field advantage with the Cowboys. But, to this point they're short a QB and a WR to be great. Lucky for them they have an amazing D and Adrian Peterson to win games for them.

Key Additions: DE Jared Allen, S Madieu Williams, WR Bernard Berrian

Key Losses: FB Tony Richardson, S Dwight Smith

Prediction: 10-6 wildcard bid.

3. Detroit Lions (7-9 in 2008)

Jon Kitna ain’t getting any younger — he’ll be turning 36 in September — but the erratic veteran quarterback is still able to take complete advantage of the deadly receiving tandem of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. Rookie running back Kevin Smith makes an immediate impact and, along with Tatum Bell, to help balance the offensive attack. The Defense isn't very good however and that will stop this team from coming close to Minnesota or Green Bay.

Don't get me wrong, this team will be bad. They just won't be as bad as the Bears!

Key Additions: S Dwight Smith, CB Leigh Bodden, CB Brian Kelly, OT Gosder Cherilus

Key Losses: DT Shaun Rogers, RB Kevin Jones, LB Boss Bailey, DE Kalimba Edwards

Prediction: 6-10

4. Chicago Bears (7-9 in 2007)

The losses of Berrian and Muhammad prove to be a setback for the passing game, and both Orton and Grossman fail to solidify his status as the starting quarterback. The defense is forced to completely carry the team, and although it performs better than it did last season, a one-dimensional Bears squad is too inept to climb out of the cellar.

I mean for real, I consider the Bears to possibly be the least talented at the "talent" positions in the entire NFL. Think about it. At QB they have Grossman and Orton. At RB they have Forte, Peterson, and Kevin Jones. At WR they have Devin Hester & Brandon Lloyd(YAY!), Rashied Davis, Mike Hass, and Brandon Rideu. This team is BAD! Orton throws for 200 yds. +/- 5 times this year. Lemme know with a comment.

Key Additions: WR Marty Booker, WR Brandon Lloyd

Key Losses: WR Bernard Berrian, WR Mushin Muhammad, QB Brian Griese, RB Cedric Benson

Predictions: 5-11

Pennington Best in Purple

Well upon being waived after the Jets picked up Favre Chad Pennington is now the most coveted veteran QB on the market. Unlike Favre, he was released and can go really anywhere he wants. Where should he go? Well he's going to have a lot of options. Here's my answer.

Chad Pennington should go to the Minnesota Vikings. I think it's the perfect place for him. Pennington simply isn't an outdoor QB. He is a very smart QB who can sit back and pick you apart with little 15 yd. outs. Well Brad Childress doesn't like any passing plays beyond 15 yards anyways so why not!?

But seriously, Pennington is great in domes (12-1 career I do believe) so why don't the Vikes bring him in? You don't have to start him right away either. Even just so that you have him to put a little pressure on Tarvaris. Then when Tarvaris Jackson doesn't elevate his play and totally sucks anyways you have a veteran guy who can take you into the playoffs.

With Pennington at the Helm to manage the game and hand off the ball to AP I think the Vikings can go deep into the playoffs. Pennington in Purple just makes the most sense for both Chad and the Vikings. As a Packers fan, I hope it doesn't happen though!

Thoughts on Jared Allen's possible trade to the Vikings

Big news today as the Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed they are shopping star defensive end Jared Allen. The Vikings are thought to be one of the frontrunners - along with Tampa Bay and possibly Jacksonville.

Of those teams, the Vikings have the highest first round pick to dangle in front of the Chiefs. And they have the greatest need for a sack specialist, so they should be willing to give the Chiefs what they want.

It should be mentioned however, that Allen has a booze problem, notably two outstanding DUIs. This seems very contradictory for a team that Zygi Wilf is trying to assemble that is "accountable for it's actions" and trying to build up the team's character problems that surfaced around the "sex boat scandal". His problems with the law propose more problems than that though. He'd also have to be signed to a long-term deal for big money and would take up a lot of cap space and one more run-in with the law like that would result in AT LEAST a 4-game suspension (probably more than that). Still, this is a risk worth taking for the Vikings.

Legitimate pass rushing ends are hard to find. The Vikings have been looking for one for years. Allen is that kind of player. He had 15.5 sacks last year and has 43 in his four-year career. And he's not just a pass rusher, he can defend the run, make tackles, knock down passes, and even catch touchdowns as well. He's 26 and in his prime. He's been a durable player. He fills perhaps the Vikings greatest need. He could have the kind of effect on the Vikings defence that Patrick Kerney had in Seattle last season.

If I were a Vikings' fan (for some godforesaken and unforeseen reason) I would be very excited about this. To get this deal done I would pull the trigger for a 1st and a 3rd in a heartbeat. I think they should do it if the deal is for a 1st and a 2nd round pick. If, however, they are wanting two 1st round pick the Vikings will find themselves in a pickle. In that case I would almost say that they should save their money and hold onto their picks and take the best DE available at pick 17 in this year's draft.

Now, as a Packer fan, I was pretty concerned upon first hearing about this trade rumor. However, upon further thought going into it I'm ok with it. This is come Monday Night Football in Week one when Jared Allen injures Aaron Rodgers and the Packers lose, Brett Favre will come out of retirement and lead the Pack to a 15-1 season and a Superbowl championship. Then afterwards entertain the thought of retirement or staying once again.

Allen is going to be at Winter Park this weekend and if/when this deal goes down it's gunna be before the draft. So, we'll just have to wait and see. If it happens for the Vikings they will have a pretty boring draft day, but I think it would be worth it for them.

Who should the Minnesota Vikings next QB be?

Although I'm not a Vikings fan, but since I do live in Vikings territory I've heard a lot of debating about who the Vikings QB should be next season. Now I have myself pondering the same thing.

Any NFL fan, not just a Vikings fan can tell you that the Vikings need a new QB (WR as well). The Vikings haven't had a great QB for awhile and have relied heavily on some pathetic ones recently. Tarvaris Jackson just isn't getting it done right now and should not be the starter.

Candidates:

Tarvaris Jackson?
I say give him a few more seasons to get used to the offense, the flow of the game, and gain more experience before starting. He'd be a good back-up for the Vikes.

Donovan McNabb?
Seems like a good fit. But how would the his hometown Chicago Bears fans take it? When Donovan is healthy he is one of the best and most accurate arms in the NFL. He can find the open receiver, run out of the pocket, and lead the Vikes deep into the playoffs, especially if they find a good WR too. But he is injury prone and would the Vikings want to risk that? Word is they could nab McNabb for as low as a 3rd round pick, so looks like a no-brainer to me. I think if he does leave the Eagles though, he will more than likely end up a Bear than a Viking.

Derek Anderson?
Anderson is a restricted free-agent at the end of the season and with his very impressive season and nearly leading the Browns to the playoffs, the Browns might try to keep him. But if they can get a 1st rounder for him they will likely trade him away, especially with Brady Quinn behind him. Anderson seems like a good fit as well with Minnesota, but it seems like the players around him make him more of the player that he really is. He has Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis, and Kellen Winslow. Yes, he would have Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, but he would need some good WR's around him as well, which the Vikings don't have.

Steve McNair?
Too old. I think McNair just needs to retire. He's just too old, has lost his step and just doesn't have the cannon anymore. Plus he's lost some of his accuracy, if the Vikings get McNair than they are going backwards even more.

Chad Pennington?
Would it be worth the risk? When was the last time he wasn't injured. Pennington can be a good QB when he is completely healthy, but odds are he never will be. If they get Pennington, then Jackson will be your starter again half way through the season or maybe even earlier.

Matt Ryan?
Should they take their chances on a college QB who has yet to step on a pro field to play? He looks like a pro-style QB, he has the arm, the vision, and the accuracy, but I think the Vikes are in a situation where they desperately need a veteran at QB.

Thoughts? Who should it be?

Buy or Sell: Adrian Peterson as the 2nd Best RB in the NFL Right Now

I'm sure all you readers know that I am far from a Vikings fan. However, almost all of my friends are and I've seen quite a bit of Vikings football and I would like to make an announcement: Adrian Peterson is the REAL DEAL!

I was sceptical at first, thinking that the Vikes should have taken a QB (probably Quinn) in the 1st round. I now believe that they made the best pick in the draft in getting a guy with arguably the most talent to come out of the draft since LT.

Before the season he seemed like a solid/safe choice for NFC ROY being as the Vikings still didn't have much of a QB and a weak group of WRs. In 6 short weeks (5 including a bye) he has proved he is THE pick for NFC ROY, not just a probably candidate.

Obviously, being a rookie he has a lot to learn. He's not a great pass catcher yet, and he still has room to work on his blocking. However, I do agree with Complete Sports in saying that, "I think that Adrian Peterson is already the most explosive RB in the NFL with the ball in his hands".

Through 5 games he now has 607 yards rushing, 4 TD, and 6.3 YPC. He's also caught 10 receptions for 175 yards and a receiving TD. Go ahead and throw in 248 yards return yards. Through 5 career games, Adrian Peterson has 1030 total yards. That's mind blowing.

With all this said, knowing what I know, seeing what I've seen (especially what he did in the 1st half against the Packers and against the Bears on Sunday) I feel pretty confident in saying that I'm buying Adrian Peterson as the 2nd best RB in the NFL right now - only behind LT. Just imagine what the 5-1 Packers would be like if they were starting Adrian Peterson instead of DeShawn Wynn! From what I've seen he can and will continue to carry the ball and the team on his back (assuming Brad Childress gets him the ball).

Are you buying or selling Adrian Peterson as the 2nd best RB in the NFL right now? If not lemme know why.

A Letter To: Vikings Fans Everywhere

Dear Vikings fans both friends and mostly foes,

In my opinion, it's not really a matter of if Brett Favre breaks Dan Marino's all-time TD record against you. It's more of a when he breaks the record against you this Sunday. I really wanted to see Favre break the record, however, to see him do it in the Metrodome will be strangely awesome.

I'm also a little afraid. I ask you to reach down underneath that itchy, ugly, purple jersey you're wearing and dig deep down into your heart Sunday. I ask you that you please not boo Brett Favre when he breaks the record. While I don't see how anyone who loves football could not love Brett Favre, I however (living in ND) understand that Vikings' fans are particularly unfond of number 4.

Please break the mold this weekend. I've always thought of Vikings fans to be rather rude, bitter, and nonclassy. Maybe that's because of personal experience, maybe it's because I'm a Packers fan. I don't know, I'm not a doctor.

What I do know, however, is that Brett Favre is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football. When it is all said and done, he may be regarded as the best ever. I ask you to show a little class this weekend and stand up and clap when he breaks the record. Try your best to be happy that you had the honor to see this man play the great game that we all love. I don't see how anyone can not respect Brett Favre. If you try your best, which I ask you to, I think you can find it in your football-loving hearts to find some respect for him to. Even if it's just for that moment.

Thank you for your time,

A Lifelong Packers fan, and a boy who's looked up to Brett Favre all his Life