“I’m not sweating whether Brett comes back or not because I’m a free agent,” Jackson blogged.  “Depending on the collective bargaining agreement I’ll be either restricted or unrestricted, just waiting to see. Right now I still feel like a Viking, but I’m just going to have to wait a while to find out what’s going to happen.”

One thing has become clear:  Jackson’s blogging is nearly as generic as his football playing.

And there’s another thing that’s clear to me:  I never want to see Tarvaris Jackson take another snap as a member of the Vikings.

I said the same thing last year while the team was pursuing various quarterback options, including (it was rumored) Jay Cutler.

This off-season, the options include Favre, Sage Rosenfels and (according to rumors) Donovan McNabb.

If the Vikings do somehow land McNabb, they will need a solid guy to start the 2+ games he is sure to miss with injury, and for my money, Rosenfels is that guy.

The only way I see Tarvaris returning is if the Vikings realize they will not have Favre, McNabb or any better veteran option.  They will then be forced to enter camp with T-Jack and Rosenfels, and let those guys duke it out.

A terrifying prospect.  But not as terrifying as watching Favre become Y.A. Tittle.

Let’s face it – we’ve grown used to the Vikings going on the road for big season-defining games and laying eggs.  But today’s egg-crapping session was more frustrating than usual because, at halftime, it really looked like we had a handle on the game.  We were up on the scoreboard, 13-6.  Our offense was clicking as well as it ever clicks.  Our defense was bending but not breaking (aided by some iffy redzone playcalling and ill-timed Tampa Bay penalties).  For a minute, Vikings fans could let themselves imagine that the team had gotten over the hump and were ready to ascend to the top ranks of the NFC.  And then…the second half happened.  You don’t need to look much beyond the statsheet to figure out why the Vikes were outscored 13-0 in the final two quarters to lose the game.  It’s all right there in black-and-white (or maybe black-and-blue in the case of Gus Frerotte):

Total Yards:  Buccaneers 200 – Vikings 64

Passing Yards:  Buccaneers 119 – Vikings 50

Rushing Yards:  Buccaneers 81 – Vikings 14

Time of Possession:  Buccaneers 20:38 – Vikings 9:22

Turnovers:  Buccaneers 1 – Vikings 2

(more…)