Luft’s Locker Room

Yes, the Brett Favre story has hit the presses with the 2009 edition and as much as it may or may not be just titillating subject matter for sports writers and bloggers, it is like the coming of spring and discussions about the weather, we just can’t resist. But, more on that later, let’s talk the draft: I haven’t had much time to digest it a whole lot, being busy over here in Kuwait and all (which is probably a good thing), but I do have a first impression.

Percy Harvin – I was sort of surprised by this pick. I thought all the press about the Vikings wanting him was pure subterfuge. Tice was rebuked for expressing the Vikings’ desired pick one year. Then there was the whole “culture of accountability” thing, the stupid act in judgment of Percy to decide to go organic prior to the scheduled test, and the fact that he is an under-sized hybrid that will be asked to fit into the rigidity of the KAO scheme, a round peg into a square hole type of thing. With all of that, I thought all of the talk was pure smoke. …The type that gets you busted on a pee test. I was wrong.

If Childress gets creative (and Percy abstains from trouble), this could be brilliant and make whoever plays quarterback almost irrelevant. If he gets lined up in the slot opposite of B2 and with AD in the backfield, who gets the one on one coverage or drops out of the box to help defend leaving Adrian with almost an unfair advantage. I’m drawing up plays in my head now and starting to get excited. …But can we really expect that from Mr. Predictable who may still be laying awake trying to think of new ways of, “How am I going to get the ball to Tahi?” (Thanks Jim Souhan for that disturbing mental picture).

Talking with a good buddy of mine, Noroof from Vikings Valhalla and author of The Purple Buckeye, about the Harvin selection and here is what he had to say.

If Childress has a plan for Harvin, and it works, my God…imagine AP, No Mercy Percy, and Berrian all available to get the ball. If you focus on AP, Harvin will kill you. You focus on neutralizing Harvin and AP will run all over you. Concentrate your efforts on neutralizing Berrian’s deep threat, and the next thing you know Harvin takes a 5 yard swing pass and goes 80 yards untouched. At Florida Harvin was like Moss in his prime, Devin Hester, and Adrian Peterson are…when he touches the ball, you hold your breath, because you’re thinking something big is gonna happen. When he makes the first guy miss, your pulse picks up, and when he gets to the second level it becomes a foot race. You mutter ‘My God’ and rewind the Tivo to make sure you really just did see what you think you saw. Can Childress use Harvin correctly? He better be able to, or he’ll be out of a job.

Phil Loadholt will be that competition for Ryan Cook that I talked about in my previous blog. I worry that he was written up as having issues with speed edge rushers. But hey, that is no different than we have now on either side of the line. He can also play left tackle if Bryant McKinnie gets his groove on one night and gets a little too feisty. Loadholt has the size and comes from a good program at OU. This was a good pick and should pay dividends for years.

I think picking the corner, Asher Allen, next was a good move. The kid sounds like a young version of Antoine Winfield and from what I’ve heard idolized and emulates him as a player. He will at least have the opportunity to watch and learn from him for a year if not hopefully a couple. I also saw this move as a motivational one for Winfield’s extension talks. The team can say, “we’ve drafted your replacement”. That can also possibly said about Harvin being Chester’s.

Speaking of the runningbacks, I like what I read about the undrafted free agent (UDFA) we signed out of Boise State, Ian Johnson. We needed at least one more body back there like I had pointed out in my needs blog. Did you notice that there wasn’t a fullback picked like I thought? They are cheap and we may have signed an UFDA one already…(the Vikings haven’t), or with the Harvin drafting, Chilly may be moving away from using them so much (or he’s happy with who is on the roster already).

It looks like Rick Spielman read The Purple Buckeye blog and we picked up that linebacker, Jasper Brinkley. He is big enough to play MLB, but what I’m really hoping is that he’ll be the bookend twin of Heath Farwell on the special teams.

I’m starting to get excited about the possibilities of the new season and for some reason, even think Childress might even pull it off. “In 2009, the Vikings will play a remarkably easy schedule. They will play in a mediocre division. They will be in their fourth year under Childress’ guidance, and will have maintained continuity on their coaching staff and throughout their football operation.” – Jim Souhan

Remember, we also now have a new special teams coach [a sore spot from last year] and that alone should mean a couple more wins. The Packers had a decent draft and have started to rebuild and mold their new 3-4 defense. The Lions have started the Stafford era and in a couple of years hopefully will have something to show for it. I like the new redesigned logo and uni’s, and Detroit is due for a fresh start. The Bears had nothing but a second day draft, but they did land Jay Cutler and will be tough to play against and the most likely team to have a shot at challenging the Vikings for the NFC North crown (sorry Cheeseheads, you’re destined for at least 3rd again).

Now to the story that just keeps coming back year after year for the last few years or so, “to retire or not retire,… or even un-retire… again”. Brett Favre’s agent, Bus Cook passed his words in a message Tuesday, “Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

“At this time” is the key phrase in the statement that has folks all over the NFC North in a bit of a tizzy. No matter which side of the love-hate side of Brett Favre the future Hall of Famer and player, this begs the question of will he get the itch to come off the tractor and play? He is now a free agent, one that could sign the $1 contract with the Packers and call it officially a career. Then again, he being the same best friend of Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and a good acquaintance with Vikings head coach Brad Childress. These are the men running the offense on the team that Brett openly said that he wished to play for last year and the only one that has question at quarterback. There is a small question of a torn bicep tendon needing extensive rehab or surgery, but who knows what Brett has been doing since the end of last season.

My friend Noroof, an avid Brett to the Vikes advocate last year, doesn’t quite think it would work this year.

Here’s the problem with signing Favre now, as I see it. First off, which QB do you get rid of? TJ is still a Childress guy and will be given every opportunity to win the job. They just traded for and gave an extension to Sage, and for God sakes, they spent two years trying to get him. That leave JD Booty, who might be an insurance policy as your long term QB if Jackson flames out, because Sage is over 30.

If you get Favre, you really upset the apple cart now, because you’ve promised TJ and Sage that they will compete for the job, and the best man will win. If you bring in Favre and make him the guy, you embitter your top two guys that will be here next year (because I doubt Favre will be around more than a year) and as great as Favre is, Childress could really lose a lot of creditability in the locker room.

Is a healthy Brett Favre leading very talented team worth the locker room credibility that Childress has tried to establish in his first 3 years? Does Brett have it in him physically after fading last season due to his arm injury? What about the Vikings other quarterbacks, the newly acquired starting competition Sage Rosenfels, Childress’ own pick Tarvaris Jackson and even John David Booty and UDFA Sean Glennon? Do you think the Vikings would carry 4 quarterbacks on the starting roster, or get rid of Rosenfels who they spent 2 years trying to acquire, or Tarvaris who played his best ball in the final games of last season [not including the Wild Card loss]? Is the gamble worth it?

Worth it or not, it is and will be the talk of the summer again and I’m interested in your opinion.

I’d like to give a shout out to the men and women serving in Kuwait and the rest of the CENTCOM theater, especially the folks I spend time with at Camp Arifjan, K-Crossing and those Camp Buehring. Thanks for keeping America free and enjoying the greatest sport on earth.

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