Luft’s Locker Room

Posts Tagged ‘NFC North’

With the likelyhood of Brett Favre becoming the 2009 Minnesota Vikings quarterback looking almost like the sure thing.  What happens to the competition between Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels that will make both of them better and on an improved team that won 10 games last year, should easily pick up 2 or 3 more and repeat as NFC North champions?  They were to have the ability to establish themselves as a long (or longer in the case of Jackson) term starting quarterback.  It was looking to be one of the highlights of camp for many Vikings fans.

Now, with the return of Brett Favre to football after he made the decision to get shoulder surgery to disconnect the torn bicep tendon, he has only two obstacles to overcome before he decides to call his buddies, Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell and ask to play for them.

1.  If, for some unexpected reason, a relatively routine surgery doesn’t take (or he gets a staph infection).

2. If, as ESPN injury consultant Stephania Bell has said in this video, we come to find out there was more damage in the shoulder than just a tear of the biceps tendon as she suspects.

The recovery time is supposed to take 4-6 weeks, and it is reported that Brad Childress gave Brett a deadline to make his mind up whether he is healthy enough to play or not.  If he does, it looks like the competition is for backup, but that causes its own set of new issues.  Right now the Vikings presently have 4 quarterbacks on their roster:

1)      Tarvaris  Jackson

2)      Sage Rosenfels

3)      John David Booty

4)      Sean Glennon

Sean Glennon, UDFA from Virginia Tech has at best a shot to make the practice squad (and we don’t have to worry about the Chiefs seeing him in practice).

John David Booty, second year man from USC and firm #3 developmental guy is probably the luckiest of all the QB’s on the roster because I doubt the Vikings end up keeping 4 quarterbacks and with Tarvaris entering his last year of his rookie contract, and Sage pursued over two years but just signed him for backup money, he sits in a safer position than either of those two.

So if Brett Favre is #1 and Booty #3 who gets #2?  Would Tarvaris want it in hopes that Favre gets injured again and he can come in and replace him and win the job that way?  Do the Vikings try to trade TJack because he still has this year on his contract and they might get a little something in return?  Do you think that if Jackson does stay but doesn’t play, that he will re-sign next year when he is a free agent?  I don’t.  What do you do with the guy that took you 2 years to sign [at backup wages] and promised a shot at winning the starting job?  That means if Favre starts all season then retires you’re down to Sage only next year as a starter (unless you want to consider Booty that good) and he will have 1 year left on his contract, wanting starting money but with no game time proof that he can step up and be the guy.

The other options is if the Viking cut Booty and keep both TJack and Sage behind Brett, then at the end of the year the Vikes end up with a retired Favre, Jackson leaving for free agency and not looking back after being yanked twice from the starting opportunity, Rosenfels with one year on his contract and no backups on the roster (unless the Vikes keep 4 quarterbacks on the roster this year, probably unlikely).

All I wanted was an equitable competition in camp between TJack and Sage with the best QB winning.  Is Favre that much of an upgrade that the Vikings will now have work through all the points above?  Is it worth it for the short and long term health of the organization?  Will the fans get a new stadium from it?  I wish we knew.

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.

I was asked by a reader why this season’s Vikings free agency has been so silent.  I agree is has been nothing more than a whimper than roar [not that the Bears have been doing much of that either].  It has come in like a lamb but will hopefully conclude like a lion [not to be confused with the 0-16 Detroit Lions].  The remainder of the NFC North has been just as frozen and smelling of old Limburger cheese.  Why?

I cannot give you any sane reasons why the Vikes seem almost silent during this free agent period.  I don’t think it has to do with the economy, because any big name like TJ Houshmandzadeh couldn’t hurt ticket sales, but TJ almost seemed an afterthought.  I can only surmise that most available free agents this year don’t fit the “coming off of their first contract with plenty of potential” mode that the Vikings like so much.

To date, The Vikings signed Sage Rosenfels after two years of courting and no visits to back up pay.  Yes, he will compete with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job (as of now), but a 3 year $9 million contract is only good back up money.

Speaking of 3 years and $9 mil, one of the first things the Vikings have done right so far was to re-sign Jimmy Kleinsasser, one of the very best blocking tight ends in the league.  Jimmy has been with the team since being drafted in 1999 and now that Matt Birk is a new Raven, makes him the longest tenured Viking.  His power and blocking abilities come in handy when lined up next to Ryan Cook and even Bryant McKinnie.  He has been part of the blocking scheme for 4 of the 5 highest rushing seasons by Minnesota backs.  Matt Birk can’t even claim that due to the season he was out with his sports hernia operation.

The only free agent that was brought in so far was TJ Houshmandzadeh, and even though the Vikings offered the veteran receiver the best chance at winning, he sided with the money.  He had proclaimed earlier that he would, so that, and being closer to his LA home shouldn’t have surprised us that he chose the Seahawks.  Do you really want a player that doesn’t want to be there?  You can say the same about Matt Birk and wish him well as he moves on to the Ravens.

Then today, we hear the good news that the Vikings re-signed their special team ace and #4 linebacker Heath Farwell.  Heath, like Jim, was allowed to test the free agent waters and visited the Pats and the Browns but felt like his place was in Minnesota.  He, like Jimmy wants to be here.  The Vikings ended up signing him to the richest special teams player contract in their history, a 3 year, $7.75 million that calls for $3.25 mil in guarantees.  With the release of Vinny Ciurciu, who wasn’t as good as Heath anyway, the need to have the special teams ace was all the more important.  Vikings fans everywhere don’t want to see a repeat performance of the horrible coverage teams from last year.

Karl Paymah is scheduled to come visit this coming up week.  He is a cornerback from the Broncos who started a couple of games last year.  He is a second tier free agent that fits that “coming off of their first contract with plenty of potential” mold.  We need depth in the secondary with not only Antoine Winfield getting older, but also with Darren Sharper not being re-signed.  Paymah, if signed, will fit that depth role and could hope to earn more though improved play combined with an unfortunate injury to Winfield or Griffin.  He will only be the second free agent to visit if he makes it past his meeting with the Buccaneers and Browns first, and definitely nothing to get excited about.

Hoping for excitement, that roar of the warrior right before battle may manifest itself in a blockbuster trade like last year’s to get Jared Allen.  The only hint of that may be in the rumors of the Vikings being interested in disgruntled Jay Cutler from Denver, but the theories on how to pull that off are not real plausible.  It will take a huge leap on the Broncos’ part to give up their Pro Bowl quarterback with no real alternative waiting in the wings.  Here’s hoping to their stupidity.

The other big name quarterback situation that the Vikings are watching is of Donovan McNabb in Philly.  If that relationship sours again, you might see a move by the Vikes to trade for Brad Childress’ claim to fame.

Another option may be the discarded Terrell Owens, but word from Vikings personnel guy Rick Spielman said the Vikings have no interest.  “We would never say never, but you can put the pieces together and the history with Coach Childress [in Philadelphia].”  Word had it that Chilly and T.O. had buried the hatchet and were getting along, plus with George Stewart being T.O.’s father figure and old receiving coach from his 49ers days, you have to wonder if a deal could actually work.  T.O. does make quarterbacks into legitimate stars (at least for the first year) as pointed out by my good friend Pacifist Viking.  But he is getting older, his production is dropping off and he doesn’t fit the free agent mold the Vikings like, but then again neither did TJ Who…

Like the rest of the NFC North, free agency has been eerily quiet.  Hopefully the draft will stir more excitement, but the Vikings having the #22 pick won’t net the team any blue chippers.  Let’s just hope we can get some quality starters at need positions and depth where it is needed.  Our favorite coach, Brad Childress will be on the hot seat after finishing the season with a 21% approval rating, so you hope he tries to make some move to ensure that the Vikes win the division again and make a long drive into the playoffs.

I think the overall answer to your question is that there weren’t the players available to make the noise with so far, or at least ones that the Vikings and Brad Childress were interested in.  Let’s hope something changes for the better.   Here’s to a roar sometime this offseason and hoping that your spring will be a little more exciting.

After the game (and while I was updating Luft’s Locker Room and Vikings Valhalla), I was thinking who deserved the game ball for the win.

I would love to give one to Zygi Wilf and his family for investing in the Vikings and now coming away with their first of hopefully many, championship banners.

But though Zygi was definitely an integral part of the success, he never touches the ball during the game. So who in the game deserved it?

One man came to mind.

Usually it is a player that is in the mix for a weekly leader spot in rushing, or touchdowns, sacks, interceptions, turnover recoveries, etc.. T-Jack had a decent day with 239 yards, 1 TD and the 1 pick resulting in an 88.5 QB rating. AD had 103 yards, topping the 100 yard mark for the 10th time this season a Vikings record to go along with league rushing title and 1,760 on 363 carries. Bobby Wade had 98 yards and Bernard Berrian 81 with a clutch TD. Berrian had his best yardage total ever and almost reached 1,000 yards on 48 catches this season. And there was the defense, #1 against the rush, much improved against the pass and hard to score against, but that would not be it either.

The game ball should go to a man that has improved on his distance, and always been clutch. He definitely was yesterday and after three time outs and the confusion of poor clock management. Ryan Longwell trots out and bangs the NFC North winning 50 yard field goal.

This kicker has earned it.  (And you say I pick on kickers…)

Speaking of that defense, they deserve credit for their history setting effort this season.

The Vikings run defense made history Sunday, but they clearly are not the same without their top run-stopper clogging up the middle. The Vikings became the first team to lead the league in run defense for three consecutive seasons since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. They allowed an average of 76.9 yards rushing.

First Mike Tomlin received credit as the defensive coordinator, and we know this year Leslie Frazier will reap the credits and get hired as a head coach SOMEWHERE ELSE! But there has been one common denominator between the both of them: Karl Dunbar, the defensive line coach. If Leslie goes off to coach his own team, then in my opinion, Karl should be asked if wants the DC job and who he’d like to see replace him as line coach.

The quote above was taken from a Chip Scoggins at the STrib story on how Pat Williams is going nuts not being in the game.

Pat Williams says he’ll put a stop to the run

Pat Williams is sorely missed in his two and a half game absence. Both Kevin Williams and Jared Allen have been guaranteed double teams and held to no sacks in each of the final two games. I think that would have been different if Phat Pat were healthy and playing. Hopefully, like he says, he’ll be back against Philadelphia pushing the offensive line backwards and causing all sorts of havoc.

Congratulations to the line, linebackers, defensive backs and the coaches for being the first team to lead the league in run defense 3 years in a row since the merger. In case you were wondering, the NFL record is 4 seasons and held by the Cowboys. That will be the goal for next season, but for now it is onto glory in the playoffs!  Enjoy it Vikings fans, just like for Zygi, it is well earned.

Brad Childress is obviously feeling the criticism and not liking it.  He is focusing his anger on writers and bloggers.  Usually most of those can be synonymous with fans like you and me, that care to peck out a word or two in discuss of the team we love.

There are pieces written in multiple spots this morning that highlight this.

Access Vikings / Vikings War Cry / Pro Football Talk

Arrogance in feeling that because we are not there with him, fighting the battles to be a head coach, we cannot judge.

Childress said, “I read a great quote the other day.  It was author unknown.  It read like this:  That editorialists and columnists are like men that come down from the mountains after the battle and shoot the wounded.  I thought there is a certain something to that.  I didn’t just make that up.  I didn’t just dream that up.  I’m not that deep.”

That was probably a time when gun technology was decades or centuries ahead of medical technology and it was thought of as a mercy killing, but I doubt Brad bothered to see what time period it originated from.

As Phil Mackey over at KFAN wrote,

OK, fair enough. But many of the “wounded” in this case are being paid seven figures to patch the bleeding, roll to their sides, and answer softball questions about the battle — the head coach included.

If Minnesota media members shoot the wounded, imagine what New York and Chicago reporters do to them.

Brad, If only I could talk with you, but you probably wouldn’t listen because I’m one of those men on your mountain…

People are asking why the best runningback in the league, who took the team to victory the week before was on the sidelines for most of the 4th quarter.  Chester Taylor is a good back, but Adrian Peterson is your star.  He wants the ball so that he can do what is necessary to win and the only carry he gets is on a kick return.  Fans are absolutely incredulous over the fact.  Do you want to win ball games or not?

In the Tennessee game you opted to punt hoping the defense would get the ball back when all the Titans had to do was kneel downs.  You throw your punter under the bus for failures on your coverage teams, along with a lot of other questionable calls on your part That could fill this blog for days, make us question your ability.  And you believe we shouldn’t criticize?  We are tied for first place in the NFC North for heaven’s sake, you say.  A mediocre 5-5.  With the talent on this team, you should be ashamed that the Vikings aren’t at least 8-2 at this point.  You promised Zygi Wilf a winning ball club and after time and his sweat and dollars to give you the opportunity, you want us to think 5-5 is good?  You have the same road winning percentage that Mike Tice was fired for (.333%) and you can do is attack your critics…

You are staring at the possibility that your three Pro Bowl defensive linemen will be suspended at the same time.  You are trying how to win the division (though that is starting to look questionable as your motive) and you blame us, the fan for caring.

Didn’t they teach you Brad, that being a coach opens you up to public criticism?  I don’t care if you are coaching Pop Warner or in the NFL, at every level there are folks that will dissect and analyze what you do.  You are on display for those that care about the game.  (If they didn’t care it wouldn’t matter.)  You learn to take valid criticism as lessons to be learned and grow from.  All other you let slide off your back, but when you think that none are valid, your ego has placed you on a pedestal that soon will have the legs blown out from under it.  Then, should the media poke at your wounds, get under your skin and fester like gang green?  You just might just want the man to come off the mountain to put you out of your misery.

At that time, you might be willing to learn but hopefully that will be long after Mr. Wilf notifies you that your services have been terminated.

Rough and stormy seas have beset the Vikings coming out of the bye week.  Jay Glazer announced on national TV that Pro Bowlers Pat and Kevin Williams have failed the banned substance test, both for use of water pills.

He later writes on the web,

“The Vikings’ suspension appeal was slated for this past week, the team’s bye week, but it was pushed back.

Many of the players who have taken the product have long used water pills in order to make weight as they show up to camp or in order to make certain weight on a weekly basis. Guys like the Williams duo, Grady Jackson, Charles Grant appear on the surface to clearly fall under this reasoning.

It’s a shame that players who use such pills, which are readily available at drug stores and health food stores, are swept in the same category as those who try test positive for juicing.”

Precedence was already set in August when the New York Jets running back Jesse Chatman was suspended for four games for violating the league’s drug policy. He said he tested for a diuretic – called Bumetanide.  Now, was he doing to mask steroid use or lose weight?  I don’t know.  Saints offensive guard Jamar Nesbit already served a four-game suspension from the use of the pills.

According to FOX’s Josina Anderson.

“There are about six to ten [players] overall positive tests. Three to four of them are from the Saints organization alone including McAllister and Smith,” the source told her.

“Most of them tested positive for Bumetanide. The last few tested positive for another substance that works similarly,” said Anderson’s source.

We have yet to know if Kevin and Pat tested bad for Bumetanide or the other similar substance, but with the precedent set with Chatman and Nesbit, and it looks like no leniency for the big boys just trying to make their weight.  I hope that I am wrong.

Confidentiality until the appeals process is complete is required.  It is appalling that it has been disregarded.  We now know the names of Will Smith, Charles Grant and Deuce McAllister of the Saints along with Falcon DT Grady Jackson and now Pat and Kevin Williams.  The NFL has a problem in its front office, because it is clear that the source had to come from there.  (There is a slight chance it came from the testing lab, but they probably don’t know whose sample is who’s by using a nondescript ID number or code to keep prejudice from affecting results.)  There needs to be strong disciplinary actions taken when the leak is found at the minimum.

Looking ahead at the last 4 games of November, Green Bay, @ Tampa Bay, @ Jacksonville, and Chicago, the earliest we could see the Wall suspended, can you see wins without them especially considering that EJ Henderson is gone too.  I hope Napoleon Harris, Fed Evans, Letroy Guion and maybe Ellis Wyms sliding over can pull the load.  Plus, Jared will be facing double teams the whole time making running up the middle a definite option to go along with taking shots at the secondary.  All this after facing a hot Houston Texans that put the Vikings on what could be a 6 game losing streak, and then to think that Brad Childress will try to spin that as an excuse not to be fired, just galls me to no end.

Looking at the schedule I wanted to take gander at predicting the outcome, especially in the light of the core of the Vikings defense gone.  Now if the Vikings offense continues to put up 41 points a game (thanks Chicago), we’ll do just fine.  However, there are two phases of the game, special teams and defense.  The strongest aspect of the Vikings game this year had been the D, the weakest and basically the teams Achilles heel has been the special teams.  They and the offense will have to play their best ball of the season because the defense that was ranked 2^nd against the run and 20^th against the pass just had its run stopping pass pressuring core put on notice of a 4 game suspension.

Texans (Nov 2/noon/CBS) – The Wall should be still playing as the Vikes welcome a hot Houston team with a good special teams and 5^th ranked passing offense to go along with their 11^th ranked rush.  The Vikings will have to play at their best with Madieu Williams back for his first game and Napoleon Harris starting his.  I question in light of the allegations, is there enough coaching and leadership to make this happen?  No, and the boo birds start yelling loud enough for coach Childress to hear.  The team is coming out of the bye and should win, but doesn’t due to more bad play calling.

Packers (Nov 9/noon/FOX) – Brad Childress’ worst nightmare.  In his tenure as coach he has faced the Packers 5 times and lost every single one of them.  I figure that this will be the first game the Williams Wall will be at home watching.  Make this game Childress’ 6^th and final loss.  The Vikings will be 3-6 virtually eliminated from any playoff hopes, plus Zygi Wilf wanting revenge on Green Bay for their fictitious tampering charges, takes it out on Childress instead.  There is a press conference after the game and Leslie Frazier is named interim head coach.  No Rooney rule needed there.  (Sorry St Louis.)

@ Buccaneers (Nov 16/noon/FOX) – Now led by a Tony Dungy disciple, the team treks down out of the cold to visit a team battling to stay in the race for the NFC South.  But like first outing for new coaches this year, the Vikings take away at least a turning point victory like Mike Singletary had in San Francisco, or an upset and a real one like with the Rams and the Raiders.

@ Jaguars (Nov 23/noon/FOX) – A visit to Jack Del Rio’s team along with a private apology from Zygi to Mike Tice turns in a good hard fought effort, but the Jags trying to get another wildcard birth defeat the Vikes on the second road game in a row.  At least it is warm.

Bears (Nov 30/7:30pm/NBC) – After the 48-41 defeat in Chicago, the Vikes are looking to return the favor.  The only problem is that the Williams Wall is desperately needed and Forte runs all day, and Kyle Orton finishes the rest.  Looks like the Bears will be winning the division.  The count is now 4-8.

@ Lions (Dec 7/non/FOX) – Over to Ford Field to play St Mary’s School for the Blind.  The offense scores over 50 points and Adrian Peterson screams past the 1,000 yard mark.  The Wall is back and takes it out on the boys in Honolulu blue.  This is the Vikings feel good game and start of some well deserved momentum.

@ Cardinals (Dec 14/noon/FOX) – The defense has found it’s soul again and even though Kurt Warner throws for over 300 yards, the 3 interceptions (2 by Darren Sharper) and the fumble do the red birds in for the upset.

Falcons (Dec 21/noon/FOX) – Matt Ryan has hit his rookie wall, and though the Falcons are on the way to a better future, today is not the day.  Both the Offense and defense dominate and more importantly, the special teams play well too.

Giants (Dec 28/noon/FOX) – The Giants have already sewn up the NFC East and home field advantage.  The Vikings defense tears apart Eli’s backup just like if Eli was there playing catch with Darren Sharper and Antoine Winfield.  The loss is meaningless to the G-men but turns out to be the Vikings 4^th win in a row.  The team finishes 8-8 and the Leslie Frazier era continues into 2009.

I’m no swami, but that looks to be about as realistic as it gets. Tell me what you think, but first I  want to give a shout out to one the best writers in the Vikings’ blogosphere, Pacifist Viking.  PV has wrote on what is his final straw with Brad Childress and his unwillingness to learn and expand from his system with the goal of playing better football.  That to me is the point of a coach, not only does he teach, he thrives on learning and hopes to advance his craft to an art form.  He then goes on to introduce the possibility of one such coach and former Viking: Mike Mularkey.

PV’s pointing out Mike Mularkey might be a good option too if my prognostications fail to pan out exactly the way they were typed.  But if Childress manages to limp to the end of the season with an 8-8 record or so, the Wilf’s will probably look for a big name guy instead.  The shocker would be if old Gus Frerotte and the KAO score 40 points a game and the Wall isn’t missed.  The Vikings win the division and Brad the Man is saying, “See!”   Either way is good, and it is always a good (and somewhat masochistic) time to be a Vikings fan.

This is turning into a series and I’m getting really sick of talking about Brett Favre, but someone needs to keep on top of it, and like the Jarred Allen trade, it has struck my interest. First there was The Story That Won’t Die: Allegations of Tampering then came Tampering Update; Oh the calls… and now I give you Tampering Update: Possible Hard Evidence.

Fresh off the presses or in this case, the TV. WBAY in Green Bay is reporting hard evidence that tampering took place has been found.

Sources: Favre Text-messaged Vikings on Packers Cell Phone

Updated: July 23, 2008 06:47 PM

The ongoing tampering investigating involving Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings has a new twist.

Not only has it been reported that Favre used a Packers-issued cell phone to make repeated calls to Minnesota head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel, but there may also be text messages to support the tampering claims.

That latest nugget comes from Tuesday Night Touchback contributor Jason Wilde, citing league sources.