Archive for February, 2009

You can officially forget about harboring any last secret hopes that Brett Favre might reconsider his retirement and join the Vikings.  Sure, Favre may still unretire, but if he does, the Vikings will not be interested in acquiring his services.  And this is coming straight from the top.  Zygi Wilf himself has slammed the door once and for all on any Favre speculation.  Wilf is quoted by Sid Hartman: I would have been interested [in Favre] 15 years ago.  No, I’m not interested. No way. I think he’s done well, he retired, it’s good. He’s a great guy. I’m just [...]

As you may or may not know, Fan-Sided has its own mock drafts site, called NFL Mocks.  Starting tomorrow, Daniel Evans of NFL Mocks will be conducting a fan mock draft…which is just what it sounds like – a mock draft run by the fans.  Each day, another two teams will come on the clock, and you – the fans – will be able to vote on who you think that team should draft.  Obviously, our main concern will be the Vikings who are picking #22, but Daniel encourages y’all to vote on each team if you want.  Again, this [...]

Gus Frerotte told Sid Hartman that he thinks he deserves a chance to return to the Vikings and be the starter next season.  “I was only in the offense for six months, so I should get a lot better with another year under my belt,” the aging QB said. “I think I’ve earned the right to be a starter. It wasn’t handed to me. I went in and played well and gave everything I had to the team.”  And Brad Childress still preferred Tarvaris Jackson, who ain’t exactly Fran Tarkenton.  Sorry Gus, but when Chilly didn’t go to you in [...]

Was just watching ESPN with the sound off, and here came John Clayton‘s creepy Paul Williams face with the graphic underneath: Is Jeff Garcia a candidate for the Vikings?  I assume, since they were asking the question, the answer was “yes” (again, I had the sound off).  Of course this does not prove that the Vikings are interested in Garcia or that Garcia would consider signing with them were they to pursue him.  But, the tea-leaves are there to be read, and frankly, I think they say Jeff Garcia will be our quarterback in 2009.  Maybe it isn’t inevitable yet [...]

Everyone already knew the Falcons would try to trade Michael Vick, especially after the emergence of Matt Ryan, but today the whole thing became official when GM Thomas Dimitroff said the following: With regards to Michael Vick, we’ve decided to seek a trade of his contractual rights to another NFL club. We took a number of steps in the 2008 season, including using our first pick to draft a quarterback.  We feel a trade is the best move for the Falcons, and it’s also in the best interest of Michael.  This has been a really unique situation from a variety [...]

Mike Florio has built himself a nice little internet sports bullsh***ing empire with PFT, a place that has become indispensable to football junkies and scandal lovers alike.  Of course, with great success comes great arrogance, and in the internet universe, nothing reveals the latter more than an iron-fisted attitude toward commenters, those often anonymous folks who not only digest the power-mad blogger’s baloney but, if things are working correctly, act as a check on it.  Evidently, Mr. Florio doesn’t think he needs to have his arrogance checked by commenters, hence his policy of deleting those remarks he deems too scathingly [...]

Most agree that the Vikings could use another good wide receiver to flesh out their offensive attack.  Many argue the draft is the best way to go in filling this need, with guys like Percy Harvin and Hakeem Nicks potentially being available when the Vikes pick at no. 22 (Jeremy Maclin looks like he will be gone).  Others say the Vikes should pursue a free agent:  Maybe Bengals Pro Bowler T.J. Houshmandzadeh, maybe Antonio Bryant.  Not many people are advocating the third option – make a trade.  However, were the Vikings to look into this third, seemingly unlikely choice, there [...]

From today’s Access Vikings:  The L.A. real estate developers who want to build a stadium in Industry, CA and lure the Vikings there have been in periodic contact with the team, admits Viking VP of public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley.  But, says Bagley, “I haven’t heard anything from them within the last few weeks. But we’ve basically said we’re not ready to talk to you. We’ve got issues to resolve here. We’ve still got time. Our product is ready to go. If we get some collaboration, we don’t have to worry about it.”  The Vikings’ Metrodome lease expires [...]

ESPN is reporting that Brett Favre has instructed his agent Bus Cook to tell the Jets that he is retired.  Favre has since emailed ESPN’s Ed Werder with the following statement: Mike [Tennenbaum] and Woody [Johnson], as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding.  My teammates — Thomas [Jones] and Kerry [Rhodes] included — were a pleasure to play with. Eric [Mangini] could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I’m honored to be given that chance. Favre singled out Jones and Rhodes for special [...]

Sec119RayJay of The Pewter Plank thinks the Buccaneers‘ re-signing of Luke McCown all but seals the deal on Jeff Garcia leaving Tampa – and he couldn’t be happier about it: I pined last season for Luke McCown to be the Bucs QB and with the signing of this contract, it appears he will certainly get that chance in 2009.   He is a great fit for Jeff Jagodzinski’s offense with his mobility and arm strength. The best news for me is that this almost certainly spells the end of the Jeff Garcia era in Tampa.  I will now take two [...]