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Posts Tagged ‘Bus Cook’

The headline may be what Brad Childress said, but it is obvious the decision to bring Favre in has been made.  Heck, there are reports of Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings contract guru already talking to Bus Cook.  Yes, there are stipulations like the arm must function (Childress’, “[eagerness to] see just exactly what he’s got left in that cannon.”) and a price for a year or two worth of service must be negotiated, but the go ahead has already been given.

It is looking like there was a deadline and it was for Brett to be these last OTAs.  The deadline that Childress is denying now.  “Absolutely not,” there was no deadline, Childress said.  It won’t happen at all because Brett isn’t comfortable with his shoulder yet, isn’t signed yet, or just more attention as this plays out longer. It may be because his arm isn’t back to the near pain free status he was looking for yet, or because not enough time has transpired from the surgery, and/or it may be because of his aversions to OTAs that Kevin Seifert and others have brought up.  If he shows up immediately after OTAs conclude then I highly suspect that as the reason. Or this is just part of the annual Brett Favre negotiation and dance.

For those in the anti-Favre camp, there is hope that his shoulder is messed up more than just the bicep tendon as ESPN injury consultant Stephania Bell suspects, or that Zygi Wilf or Brad Childress get fed up by the delays and being led around by the nose by this player, and then to put a foot down and say that, “this dance is over and we’re moving on.”  It is a slim hope, but a hope none the less.

For the pro-Favre camp, nothing has really changed other than confirmation that the team is indeed pursuing the almost 40 year old quarterback.  It just means the announcement is probably weeks off, sometime between next week and mid July. This means the drama and headlines will play out even longer as a buildup to Brett stepping onto the field in Vikings Purple.

As far as the work Sagevaris Jacksonfels have put in, let’s hope it pays off and neither get too upset over being lied to about having a shot at the starting QB position, which along with thoughts of being disrespected and used as a pawn in this game with Brett, they might be thinking. Brad Childress has even told them.  “I talked with Sage and Tarvaris.  They are competitors.  Do they like any of the conversation?  Absolutely not,” Childress said.  “But they know this. I’m charged with adding and subtracting players from this team to make us better.  Every day when I walk in this office there’s not a day that I don’t try to look and see if we can get better at some position.”

“And if this is going to make us better down the road and it’s got a chance to happen I’m going to take care of the Minnesota Vikings.”

Coach, you and I have disagreed on a lot of things, but as far as taking care of the Vikings, I think you have your own short term [save my job] goal in mind, not the build the team to be a perennial powerhouse like you had preached.  My last blog, I tried to point that out. I hope your right and I’m wrong on this.  But like you said, “I’m not into predicting the future, you know?”

After yesterday’s meeting with Packers President Mark Murphy in Hattiesburg, Miss., with Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, that lasted almost 9 hours, we are closing in on the Favre saga endgame, one that looks a lot like Brett suiting up for the Minnesota Vikings.

Later reports from ProFootballTalk.com reflected that the Packers tride to bribe Brett not to play. “According to WTMJ in Milwaukee, however, the Packers could try to buy such an approach, by paying Favre as much as $20 million over ten years not to play football for anyone.” He said no, that he wants to play.

This morning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Packers are considering trading Favre to an NFC north team, the Bears or the Vikings. Remember though, Brett Favre has a no trade clause in his contract and can basically pick the team he wants by denying the ones he doesn’t. That means if he wants to play for Minnesota, the Vikes are now in the driving seat. They can entertain a trade but at what value, or sit and wait for the Packers to release him. Any trade surely would come with the dropping of tampering charges, but beyond that, what is Brett worth for one or two years, a 4th round pick?

A member here at Vikings Valhalla wrote:
“If the BF ever becomes a Viking…I will start being a Packers Fan. Sorry, but this guy is not for anyone but himself. Screw him and anyone else who wants him. Wanna kick me out of here…if your a BF fan, fine.”

I agree that Brett Favre is probably one of the most self centered and self serving players in the league, but isn’t that the definition of a diva?

I’ve had long extensive conversations with my best friend on this subject and his argument is that we are fans rooting for a team, no matter who is on the team. Players are kept in one place for their careers anymore, but hopefully the team is. Most of us admire talented players or play from other teams in the league, especially if it involves you fantasy football team or pick, but we cheer for our team [and sometimes against our rivals]. No matter what happens the Vikings will be our team.

This has bothered me too, like a nagging pain in my stomach. I do not have any control over what the Packers do or whether the Vikings end up via trade or via release sign Brett Favre. My emotions run strong on the issue just as yours, but I have been trying to prepare my Vikings fan psyche for just this possibility for about a month now. It was the stories that Brett wanted to play for the Vikings that started the whole thought process.

I write about it [obviously] to help myself come to grips with the ever increasing possibility. My logical mind knows why the league leader of virtually every passing category [including INTs] that just came off his best year ever would be a good addition to the Vikes if those numbers continue in a Purple uniform. I know that just having him line up behind center would open up the running game. No team would dare throw 8 or 9 guys in the box with what Favre could do to them with his arm. That makes sense.

What doesn’t, is that I’ve be indoctrinated that Brett Favre has been the face of the Green Bay Packers for 16 years. The Green Bay Packers are our arch rival ever since the Minnesota Vikings came into the league in the early 60’s. The head to head record is almost even and usually is, the Vikes have won the only playoff game the two played against each other, and historically it has been either the Vikings or Packers division to win only with an occasional Bears interlude and a Lions wet dream.

We have rejoiced in the wins and the Brett Favre sacks [see John Randle or even Chris Hovan] and we have grieved the losses, especially when they cost us playoff seeding. We love give Packers fans grief and especially about Brett Favre. It has been part of community’s culture. We are good with that and it is comfortable, but the thought of the enemy taking over our team from within and with blessings from ownership and management has us anxious, upset and worried.

Look to the logical argument to get through this. There are all the simulations: Madden / WhatIfSports / AccuScore all having the Vikings winning even more games with Favre at the helm and instantly making the Purple the favorites to win the NFC. He has been in the West Coast Offense for virtually his entire career. He made the Pro Bowl last year in the system. Then there are the friendships with Darrell Bevell and Brad Childress. If it happens, it makes some sense.

This story has some more chapters yet, but right now the obvious ending will be that Brett Favre will be playing his home games in the Metrodome. Can you even imagine it? You might want to start, it will make it easier when the time comes.

Call it the Madden curse, call it Ted Thompson genius or Brett Favre’s egomania, or all of the above, and please keep the Vikings out of it. It was fun to watch the best soap opera in July, all up to the point it crossed the border.

As of Wednesday, the border crossing was made official. The unwanted drama that has affected some previous Vikings teams and seasons in the past is back in a new and improved way. Wednesday, 16 July 2008, the Green Bay Packers filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings. The league is investigating accusations that offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell had “inappropriate communications” with Brett Favre. [What ever happened to “don’t ask, don’t tell”?]

Minnesota’s defense to the league is to vehemently deny any wrong doing and that the conversations were that of being between friends. Brett could have been asking if the walleye were biting or Darrell wondering where to pick up his next pair of Wrangler™ jeans. They could have been reminiscing about old times when as coach and pupil, Brett had the worst QB rating of his career. They could be discussing their fantasy NASCAR league and how one was beating the other. It could have been lots of things, but Green Bay is adamant that it was to convince Brett that he is wanted in Minnesota, and if he could just get released from the Packers, he’d be starting in Purple.

Since retired players that are still under contract are considered members of the team that owns their rights, any other team trying to affect their outcome to play somewhere else without permission is guilty of tampering. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com explains it well.

All of this last week or so we have read numerous stories on how coach Childress views and endorses Tarvaris Jackson as the undisputed starter and franchise quarterback of the Vikings. He is right on schedule in his development for a third year QB and he looks forward to the season. Was or is this a smoke screen? Could this be the fall back line if after an attempt to gain Favre’s service fail? Has he suddenly come to the epiphany that the Vikes have a better shot of winning with Brett than with the QB he drafted and always be associated with? Or is it the truth and some people just have a hard time handling that Brad Childress does believe in T-Jack that much?

Vikes Geek goes over possible defense strategies in his blog. The Vikings will have to battle this now, taking time from preparation for the season.

“For Minnesota, there are two saving arguments. One is that Bevell’s conversations with Favre had nothing to do with Favre’s desire to sign with Minnesota. That might be a tough sell in the league offices, but it is an argument that the Vikings must make–true or not. If Bevell can produce evidence of calls between Favre and him that at least pre-date Favre’s announcement of his desire to return to the NFL or, more convincingly, calls that pre-date Favre’s retirement, the Vikings might prevail.

The second argument that the Vikings need to make is that the Favre situation is unique and that, while a team coach may have discussed issues that carelessly seeped into the arena of tampering, the discussions were with a player in a unique situation–under contract with an organization that does not want him to return.”

The league has stated it wishes to crack down on tampering, especially after Chicago accused San Francisco of it over Lance Briggs and won a draft choice from them and swapped another as punishment imposed by the NFL. Then later Briggs signed again with the Bears and the 49’ers were the big losers on the deal. This is duplicitous of the league, because in the spring when free agency is about to beset the calendar, all sorts of contact is made prior to the official expirations or changes in the status of contracts. This is quite evident by the one minute after midnight signings with one or no visits. The NFL turns a blind eye to that year after year.

If there is sufficient evidence that tampering did indeed take place, Minnesota could lose one or more draft picks and still not gain Favre’s services. This is what would make Ted Thompson a true football genius. He would have taken a retired player that he no longer wanted, wring out at least one free draft pick from the Vikings, the team’s arch rival, then gain one or more draft choices/players if Favre unretires and gets traded to one of the other 30 teams. That folks is turning a big something out of a retired pain in the rear.

All of this commotion and unrest caused by the “itch” the Brett Favre contracted can also be contributed [if you believe] to the Madden curse. When Brett was selected to grace the cover of this year’s version of the popular game, fans blew a sigh of relief because then knew their favorite player wasn’t in line for the production disaster that follows all coverees. Admiral Big Gun discusses it very well in “Madden Curse Strikes Again” at VikingsValhalla.com [a great place to talk Purple]. But since Favre is “retired” the curse has still found a way to throw a team and its fans in turmoil, and now has just bled over to a second team and may not stop there. Yes ABG, the curse is alive and well.

I had speculated before that this was Brett’s ego taking over and like those ill advised interceptions late in playoff games; his comeback is starting to look like one of his helicopter balls Steve Mariucci was so fond of.

Bus Cook, Brett’s agent has had Favre hold off on his petition to the league to be removed the reserved/retired list hoping to for force the Packers’ hand and gain the release of his client. “We’re going to let Green Bay decide what they want to do. It’s their move.”

Ted Thompson now seems to be in control now, and could do nothing and let Brett stay retired, still all the while trying to squeeze a free draft choice from Minnesota. This, for a guy that does even play anymore? That doesn’t seem right of the league. Lance Briggs did play, but if Brett stays on his tractor it would be the NFL giving a freebee to the Packers at the Vikings expense, and definitely look like they are favoring one team over another.

Bus Cook will continue to look at options to free Favre and supposedly is spinning through the CBA and Wisconsin law to find the loophole, but until then, he belongs Green Bay and the Vikings will do well to not call Brett for whatever reason. Let Bus work, and please keep the drama over in the land of cheese where it belongs.