Favre Experiment Already a Success? Still Too Early To Judge

After Brett Favre orchestrated the 'Drive of the Decade' to cap off one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent Minnesota Vikings history, many former critics are now calling Brad Childress' Favre experiment a success. 

I say that it's ludicrous to judge the success or failure of Favre's tenure with the Vikings after Week Three. 

First, I will point out that I never was a critic of the Vikings picking up Favre.  I thought it was a big gamble, but I never thought it was a bad move.

With the seemingly perfect mix of talent and experience, the Vikings window of opportunity to get to the Super Bowl is closing quickly. Too quickly to be experimenting with mediocre quarterbacks. 

I always felt that Favre was the missing piece to this puzzle, but his addition also carried some risk. 

Furthermore, with the plethora of talent on 2009 Vikings, I am convinced that Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels would be capable of leading this team to a playoff appearance if called upon. 

Unfortunately, that is not the end goal. 

The end goal for this team is Super Bowl XLIV, February 7, 2010 in Miami. 

The only reason Brett Favre was paid $12 million to un-retire (for the 3rd time) and join the 2009 Minnesota Vikings was to lead this team to the Super Bowl and hopefully win it. 

In the end, while I celebrated this unbelieveable win by jumping up and down and yelling at my TV like many fellow Vikings fans, I can't help that morning after feeling I experienced today when reality set in.  

The reality of the situation is that the Vikings regular season goal is to stay healthy and make the playoffs.  This game was merely the third successful step in the 16 step road to the playoffs.  

The final goal is a Super Bowl Championship. 

Until that goal is reached, I suggest we refrain from making any judgements as to whether Favre's tenure with the Vikings was a success or failure, regardless of how many regular season wins he pulls out of a hat. 

The only thing that is certain after the Vikings' first taste of Favre magic in purple... the locker room is officially 'schism' free.  Winning has a way of fixing those things. 

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10 Bold Vikings Predictions That Could Actually Happen

With all the hype surrounding the Vikings this offseason, here are 10 predictions that could actually happen starting from mildest to boldest.

I will forewarn you, some prior Vikings knowledge will probably be required to truly appreciate these predicitions, but I've tried to give as much detail as possible as to where some of these ideas come from without being too longwinded.

These are now set in stone. I can't take them back and I'm fully prepared for the backlash when (not if) I get some of them wrong.

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With Favre on Board, Who Will Be the Odd Man Out?

After setting up the battle of the ...err... Titans for the starting quarterback job, Brad Childress abruptly ended the battle by bringing in Brett Favre on Tuesday. With the starting quarterback job now taken, the Vikings now have a different decision to make... who stays and who goes?

After Favre, the Vikings are left with Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, and John David Booty. They can only keep two. At first glance, the quarterback with the expiring contract, who has been given every opportunity to earn the starting role and who has proven to be inconsistent, at best, would make the most sense to be sent packing. 

As such, speculation is running rampant that the Vikings are shopping Tarvaris Jackson and that he is the most likely candidate to be cut come September. When you take a closer look, it may not be the wisest decision.

First, I am going to assume that in giving up a 4th round pick to acquire Sage Rosenfels and subsequently signing him to a contract extension that the Vikings will be keeping him. It would be bad business not to.

Next, I'm going to make one thing clear... this team is ready to win NOW! With aging veterans and Peterson arguably in his prime, the window for a Super Bowl is very slim for this team. 

Additionally, despite his impossible run of consecutive starts, Brett Favre is turning 40 this year and the risk of injury is amplified that much more and his backup, Rosenfels, has never played a full NFL season. 

With both of these factors in mind, who would you feel more comfortable guiding your team into the playoffs if the unthinkable were to happen and both were to go down?

Is it the guy with all of the physical tools, who has been in the system for 3 years and has proven to be at least capable of handling this team? 

Or the guy, who has never taken a regular season snap in the NFL, with serious arm strength concerns that probably not have been drafted if he wasn't leading a certain school in Southern California? 

I think the answer is clear.

What about next year? Jackson will be a free agent and will almost certainly look for employment elsewhere, which would leave Sage Rosenfels as the only QB left on the roster, assuming Brett retires. 

This isn't as bad as it sounds. 

With a year in the system, I think Sage will be capable of running the offense and leading this team. However, he is not the long term answer. By cutting JD Booty now, the front office leaves the door wide open to draft the proverbial "QB of the future" in the early rounds of the 2010 draft.  

Whereas, if they were to keep Booty, they may be more hesitant to grab a top prospect early. The other roster spot could easily be filled with a veteran capable of stepping in if necessary. 

Upon further review, I think the Vikings need to really consider who the third quarterback of this team should be and, despite the media grumblings of the contrary, Tarvaris Jackson is the right man for the job, regardless of the 7th round pick they might get in return.