Minnesota Vikings: No Rift Between Players on Quarterback Job

The has been multiple national reports stating that the Minnesota Viking's locker room is divided over who they think is best equipped at the quarterback position for them to win.

Some players are said to be backing Tarvaris Jackson and others are behind veteran Brett Favre.  But the reality seems to be far different, based on conversations with Viking's players and coaching staff.

There's nothing to suggest there's any sort of split, rift, or divide in the Minnesota locker room.

Head Coach Brad Childress and all-pro running back Adrian Peterson said they didn't sense any widespread split emotions in favor of Jackson or Favre.

Tarvaris Jackson has friends on the team that want to see him succeed and have a productive career with the Vikings, and that is surely to be expected as he enters his fourth year with the franchise.

After Jackson's performance in the Vikings last game at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, you knew there may be some grumblings of the Favre signing.  Jackson went 12 of 15 for 202 yards and two touchdowns. 

This while the newest Minnesota quarterback (Favre) went 1 of 4 for four yards.

But as always, there is a difference between friends and business.

The players, as of now, seem to be on board with Brett Favre being the starting quarterback.  His leadership and knowledge of this West Coast offense team give them the best shot at victory. 

Only time will tell if there is a mutiny against him.

Tarvaris Jackson Might Have Done Himself a Favor

Unless you have been under a rock that last week you now know that Brett Favre has come out of retirement (yet again) to sign with the NFC North winners from last season the Minnesota Vikings.  The Vikes, already this offseason, went out and signed free agent Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans.  Assumedly to sure up the quarterback spot to their liking and away from Tarvaris Jackson.

On Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at the Metrodome, No. 4 took the field for the first time in the NFC North for another team other than the Green Bay Packers. 

Cheered loudly by the same fans who used to boo him when he played for the Packers, Favre played two series and went 1-for-4 for an amazing four yards. He moved around ok and his passes had some zip, just no direction.  Unless the yardage lines play for the Vikings.  He hit them more than he hit his receivers.

Enter un-wanted and shunned Tarvaris Jackson into the game for the Vikings.

Jackson, who actually prompted some mild booing from the fans when he jogged to the huddle, because that meant Favre was done; and rightfully so, evaded a blitz on 3rd-and-8 in the second quarter and found Visanthe Shiancoe for a 13-yard score. In the third, Jackson hit Darius Reynaud on a post pattern for a 64-yard touchdown to put Minnesota in front 14-13.

"Whenever you play well, you always feel good," Jackson said. "Regardless of the situation or the circumstances, it felt good. It was a long week for me. It just shows that if you just stay focused, you'll be fine."

The spotlight and much of the flashbulbs from cameras I'm sure were pointed square on #4 and his return/beginning of his Vikings "career."  But Tarvaris Jackson stole the show on the QB front this night.

Amongst trade and release rumors, Jackson with his play on Saturday night, just may have done himself a favor.  If the Vikings are looking to release or trade him, surely his performance against the Chiefs was a good reminder he still can be an effective QB in this league. 

The only knock on Tarvaris Jackson is can he replicate that performance on a consistent basis?  This remains to be seen.

Tarvaris Jackson Getting Dumped by Minnesota Vikings

You knew it was only a matter of time before rumors started flying around about Tarvaris Jackson and the Minnesota Vikings. Well, the rumors appear to be true now, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

What are you going to do when you've got the quarterback who led the New York (Jersey) Jets to a 9-7 and AFC East third-place finish last year in the house? You gotta trade or release the guy who helped your team to a 10-6 record and a first-place finish in the NFC North, right?

Well, now that Brett Favre is on board for the Minnesota Vikings, it's looking like Tarvaris Jackson is history. The team is apparently trying to trade or release him by Friday, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The team doesn't want to trade him within the division, of course, but beggars cannot be choosers, and it's expected that the Detroit Lions may try to snag him for a low draft pick. Otherwise, expect Jackson to be out on the street by the weekend with a whole lot of incentive to beat Minnesota wherever he ends up.

What a way to treat the player that helped you reach the playoffs last season. Stay classy, Vikings front office.