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.

 

Tarvaris Jackson’s Top Five Landing Spots

With Brett Favre’s signing, one thing is certain, the Vikings have too many chickens in the coop. Someone’s gotta go and word is that Tarvaris Jackson is the one on his way out.

With Sage just acquired and John David Booty with untapped potential, Tarvaris’s chances are up and his likely place in 2009 won’t be in purple.

The word is that Minnesota will entertain offers until the weekend until they consider releasing him, but will probably want something for him. A late-round 2010 draft pick seems like a likely payment for the fourth-year quarterback.

The Vikings will want to keep him out of the division, but you can’t always get what you want. Here’s a look at the top five teams that could give T-Jack a second chance as a backup or Wildcat quarterback.

Begin Slideshow

The Favre Effect: Thoughts and Notes on the Chain Reaction

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Brett Favre retires, comes back, retires…what? You’ve heard already?

Well, I guess it isn’t really a surprise.

What is a surprise, however, is how quickly the media has taken to Favre. Again. Three weeks after…ahem…retiring, Favre signs with the Vikings, to the tune of a year for up to $12 Million. 

That’s serious loot for a 40-year-old QB who has a known shoulder injury.

That’s not what this article is about, however.  Without much fanfare, Favre has just laid the final brick in the 2009 season.  It is THE story of the offseason because of what happens from here. 

This is your guide.

 

1. Committed to Winning?

As Ross Tucker pointed out in his column on SI.com, this sends a message to the Vikings; we are committed to winning, and we don’t care how. The unraveling of an organization may have just started. 

As Eric Mangini can attest, this Favre mistress can be a bitch. Did Minnesota just become a favorite in the Super Bowl? That remains to be seen. 

What I do know, however, is the revenue boom the Vikings just got from No. 4. In a bid to build a new stadium, this grizzled, country-bred QB might just be the ticket.

That cannot be stressed enough.  In this world of CBA lockouts and rookie holdouts, one has to wonder how much do the Vikings think of Favre, and how much did they expect in terms of returns on their investment?

It is now being widely reported the Vikings will part ways with their one-time QB of the future Tarvaris Jackson. There is now no clear long-term option at QB, unless the Vikings are secretly banking on John David Booty, who has yet to see an NFL snap.

So we’re to believe the Vikings were willing to part ways with their handpicked QB, locker room credibility, and in some cases, fan loyalty for a season with an injured relic?

The paper trails says otherwise.

2.The Xs and Os

No one should argue that Favre needed training camp.  It’s possible that he would not have participated anyway because of his shoulder.  He knows the offense like the back of his hand, we’ve been told numerous times by ESPN.

Anyone who has witnessed a bad offense, like…for example…a Bears fan, can tell you it doesn’t matter how well you know the offense if you cannot execute it. 

The progression of Favre’s shoulder is absolutely paramount. If the Vikings got Favre circa Week 9 of 2008, you’d be stupid to argue the merits of the move.

However, the reality is the Vikings got Favre, circa 2009, and that Favre is the one whom Thomas Jones said should be benched for the good of the team.

Ouch.

The upside is obvious. Less defenders in the box, more rushing yards, better offense, better team.

The downside?

Favre, the turnover machine.

Anything that takes the game out of Adrian Peterson’s capable hands is a horrid mistake. Being down 17 or 21 points will do that simply by way of circumstance, not to mention it’s stupid to play ball control offense when you’re trailing.

The key is finding a balance and limiting Favre’s turnovers. Darell Bevell has just become the most important person in the NFL. To ask Favre to manage a game is not only a mistake, but stupid.

 

3.The North as the Bread and Butter

The NFC North is now a QB division. 

I’ll take “things I never thought I’d write” for a thousand, Alex.

Marquee names are strewn across the former black-and-blue division.  Brett Favre. Jay Cutler. Aaron Rodgers. Hell, even No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford is turning heads. 

The NFC North now has the juiciest match-ups, the best story lines, and the most anticipated games.

What has always been a historically close division is now a crap shoot. Lose a division game and you could be out of luck come January.

Common fans might actually care about the Bears-Packers rivalry now. Every football enthusiast in the Milky Way Galaxy will be watching that Monday Night Football where the Minnesota Favres take on the Green Bay Thompsons.

Suddenly, it looks like the Vikings aren’t the only ones cashing in on Favre…

4. The Right Call?

As much as I’ve trashed Favre and the Vikings, I have to say:  I don’t think they could say no. 

As I pointed out earlier, from a business standpoint, it’s almost flawless.  From a football standpoint, it’s relevant, fresh, and exciting. 

Face it, Favre is great for the NFL. What other player commands his own ticker on ESPN and can take over every sports page in America?

Much like the Jay Cutler move, from the merits alone, I don’t think anyone, as we sit here in August, can really say the Vikings did wrong. 

I do believe, however, in the long run, this is going to be a franchise turning moment, the effects of which will trickle out, and identify the Vikings as the new Redskins. 

Their credibility as an organization will fall in the eyes of players who seek the same commitment from the team as they expect from themselves. 

Players will ask “If they did it for Favre, what’s to stop them from completely discarding me at a moment’s notice?”

It’s a legitimate question.  Remember, this is a team that drafted just half of their 2009 starting lineup.  Only two have tenures longer than five years.

How’s that for commitment?

Retire The Notion: Vikings Better Off With Favre

I’m going to take my shots at Brett Favre, and they might be a little unfair, but you’ll get over it. I’m going to give the “old man” a little opinionated analysis on how he’ll fit in with the Minnesota Vikings.

I’ll be the first to say, I’m a jilted Packers fan and that he instantly makes the Vikings better (in theory).

So, I wanted to take a day to digest what happened, and make sure I still wasn’t shocked by it at all; and I can honestly say there was no doubt that the No. 4 on the Vikings roster was an ass, not a Booty.

At his last stop in New York, I still claim that Favre lost the team in the waning portion of the season. I fear (for his sake) that the same could happen in Minnesota.

The difference?

Adrian Peterson is already the leader.

Favre doesn’t have to step in and take over an NFL roster. He doesn’t have to command the attention of an offensive corps or create all the spark with the ball. The spark will be supplied by his arm. Throw in the fact, that Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian are two receivers with speed to burn. That had to be enticing.

Now, one of the greatest QB’s of all time is set up to run all his favorite plays. Pitch-n-catch, streak, and maybe a button hook here and there. This team is actually near perfect for the Mississippi (drama) queen.

The quarterback needs to have some control over the huddle, and Favre will not be given quite the “General” status he had in New York; but that does not mean he will be exempt from leading the team with 2:00 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Regardless of how little he will command the team’s respect or where he showers, he’ll still have the ability to put the ball down field more accurately than Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.

That makes the Vikings better and NFC North favorites.

I like how the move really hurts Minnesota in the broad scheme of things; since this is a one year solution; but it scares me as a Packers fan how much the move really helps them this year.

The Vikings may have a trophy case devoid of any Lombardi Trophies, and that might remain the case after this season. But the fact remains that they’ve got the ammo for No. 4.

The fireworks are in place for Favre in Minnesota, but that doesn’t mean this is just one big dud of a finale.

 

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.

A Bull Market: The Truth Behind the Rise and Fall of NFL Players’ Preseason Stock

We have reached the preseason for 2009, and many players have already rose or depleted their stock so far. In the midst of many storylines that make us salivate more than ever for the start of the regular season, some players have emerged to make their upcoming season look promising.

In contrast, many players have disappointed so far and need to regain form to enter the season on a high cloud. It may be early, but these players have stood out for the right, and wrong reasons.

Begin Slideshow

Tarvaris Jackson Rumored To Be Shopped by Vikings, but No Takers?

The Minnesota Vikings are encountering a busy week in August as preseason nears the halfway point.

After going through with the signing of Brett Favre on Tuesday, which resulted in a two-year, $25 million contract, we knew that in the end somebody would get the bad end of the deal and possibly be moved to another team.

In this case, it looks like Tarvaris Jackson is the odd man out.

According to a report, the Minnesota Vikings are shopping the quarterback around the league. Jackson is surely a quarterback that needs some adjustments and if put in good hands, maybe it could happen.

Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, who were searching for a backup, along with the St. Louis Rams, who could use a change of scenery as well, might be a good fit.

Who knows, maybe the New England Patriots will take Jackson on as a backup and turn him into a polished quarterback. (Hey, they’ve worked better miracles, haven’t they?)

A little over a month ago, Jackson voiced his opinion about wanting out of Minnesota, but that unrest settled down when Favre said he was going to stay retired.

The question still remains: Can the Vikings get any value for Jackson? After all, the franchise does see potential in him, believing up to this point that he would be the starter for this ball club.

Yet, as of now, they would be lucky to get a late round draft pick of any sort.

With the season inching closer, it will be interesting to see if any talks heat up, and whether or not Jackson can find a new home in 2009.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Brett Favre: A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Oh Brett Favre…

The long summer nights you carve,

Your story is much more interesting than Robert Marve‘s.

From the beginning I did not care,

I would much rather be at the county fair,

But yet you are the only subject of all my nightmare’s.

Once you were a Packer of the city of Green Bay,

The Vikings wanted you but there was nothing they could pay,

So the Jets swooped you up at their own dismay.

Another retirement fell upon us,

You could have been on a safari with a rhinoceros,

But in the end the Vikings only had Tarvaris.

ESPN said the deadline had passed and you were going to be staying home for the season.

The coverage of your decision was all without rhyme or reason,

But in the end you had made up your mind to commit the greatest treason.

Retired, still retired, then unretired,

What have you really desired?

Are two more seasons of contracted football really worth all that transpired?

Now you have even more money than you already had,

And in the end you are the only one glad.

For the whole country has forgotten all the great things you have done, and unless you win a Super Bowl in Minnesota you will be remembered as the guy with the most career interceptions who did not know when to stay retired…and no one will be sad.

Brett Favre Signs With Vikings; Star Players Get Preferential Treatment

Remember that kid on your high school basketball team who would miss practice but still start in the next game?

Brett Favre is that kid.

And Brad Childress is the coach who allowed it.

The double standard for perceived star players is sickening. The reason I write perceived stars is because Favre is no longer an elite player.

But that’s besides the point.

The Minnesota Vikings have set a terrible example by signing Favre.

Why?

Find out by reading more about Brett Favre at my new blog, The Sports Journalists.

What Are the Minnesota Vikings Thinking?

This is going to be more of a rant than anything, so please bare with me. I understand that Brett Favre loves to play football and that it is very hard to give it up, but this is just beyond ridiculous now.

However, I believe most of the blame lies with the Minnesota Vikings.

Forget the fact that Favre may only be coming back to get revenge on Green Bay.

Forget the fact that Favre is up there in age and that this may only be a one year investment for Minnesota.

For starters, they have almost certainly been lying to the public (and more importantly, some of their players) about the whole situation for at least a few weeks now.

There is no way that anyone can tell me that all the details between the two sides had been figured out over the past few days. I believe both Favre and the Vikings front office knew this deal was done a few weeks ago when Brad Childress said they were each going to go their separate ways.

I’m not saying this was some kind of elaborate conspiracy, but the writing is clearly on the wall.

Brett Favre just did not want to go to training camp, much like other veterans of the NFL. In fact, as much disdain as I have for him now, I have to say Favre played this pretty brilliantly.

He got out of going to training camp, and now he’s essentially being handed the keys to a team with Super Bowl talent.

This brings me to Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

I’m not really a fan of either. However, if I were in their shoes, I would want out of Minnesota as soon as possible.

These two guys competed throughout training camp with the thought that (despite everything going on with Brett Favre) one of them was going to be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. However, it has been made crystal clear throughout the entire summer that the Vikings have zero faith in either of them.

Think about this: it has to be difficult to go out on the field and give everything you have for your teammates and organization knowing that your coach, who is supposed to have your back, is actively doing any and everything in his power to bring in another quarterback.

It has to be hard knowing that some of your teammates, the guys you should be able to count on, are almost campaigning for Brett Favre to join the team.

Minnesota cut these guys off at the legs and Jackson and Rosenfels should be furious.

One of my biggest problems with how they handled this situation was that they had guys out there months ago who were certain they wanted to play football and, in my opinion, are better than Favre at this time.

Jeff Garcia, who I think is criminally underrated, was sitting around for months and the Vikings didn’t go after him.

Byron Leftwich, who is much younger than Favre, was on the market for a little while. I think he is very hungry this season and is poised to have a breakout year.

Also, if they were so dead set on getting another quarterback, why in the world did they trade for Rosenfels in the first place, after he made it clear last year that he is and will always be a backup?

Finally, I don’t know if Zygi Wilf, Rick Spielman, and Childress have all been immune to the absurd amount of TV coverage that Favre has received the past three or four off-seasons, but they should all know that they are in for another rough off-season in 2010.

Favre will once again go back-and-forth on whether or not he wants to play and the Vikings will be forced to deal with it.

At the end of the day, I will admit the Vikings are undoubtedly a better team with Favre under center compared to Jackson or Rosenfels. I believe they will make a relatively deep run in the NFC, but is it at all worth it if they don’t at least make it to the Super Bowl?

What if Minnesota gets off to a 1-3 or 1-4 start? What if Favre plays like he did in the Jets’ last four games?

Will everything the Vikings have gone through and will continue to endure be worth it?

Only time will tell, but it is very clear to me that the Vikings are desperate and are making bad decisions that will haunt them in the future.

« Previous Page — Next Page »